“I know Dimitri Bosalis. He’s the owner and a good man. Tough, but fair.”
Sloane tilted her head slightly. “That’s high praise coming from you.”
Josh shrugged. “I’ve worked with him on several deals. He’s brilliant. I admire him a lot.”
“Good. Some guy tried to get Pepper’s contact information. He said he works for Bosalis Industries. Tell this Dimitri guy to keep his employees from harassing my sister.”
Josh’s eyes hardened. “When did this happen?” he demanded, his voice low and threatening.
Sloane didn’t admonish Josh for his overly-protective-brother act. When it came to her sisters, she loved that Josh was as protective of her sisters as she was. “Just this morning,” she explained. “Some guy actually stopped Pepper on the sidewalk, demanding her contact information!”
“It won’t happen again,” he promised, already lifting his cell phone as he headed for his next meeting.
Chapter 2
Dimitri walked into the old building, taking in the details as he went. The brick building was old, but solid with huge windows that harkened back to the industrial era when factories needed big windows to allow air flow in order to cool down the factory floors. It had character and charm, he thought, even if he preferred more modern, clean lines.
“I’m here to speak with Ms. Pepper Abbot,” he told the first woman he spotted. She was sitting at a sewing machine and looked up at him with a stunned expression.
“I’m sorry?” the woman replied, not immediately moving to find the woman in question.
“Ms. Abbot,” Dimitri repeated impatiently. “Is she here?”
Another woman stepped out of an office, a professional, if wary, expression on her face. “May I help you?” she asked, obviously someone with more authority.
Dimitri moved towards the other woman. “I’m looking for Ms. Pepper Abbot. I’m told that she works here.”
The woman crossed her arms, pressing the large notebook to her chest like a shield. “Ms. Abbot isn’t here at the moment. I’m her business manager, Nancy Coldron. How can I help you?”
Dimitri wanted to snap at the woman, impatience making his blood boil. He paused, irritated by his annoyance over such a simple issue. He never got angry, he reminded himself. He was always cool and in control. “My name is Dimitri Bosalis,” he said, handing her a business card. “Tell Ms. Abbot to call me and set up an appointment.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, looking around to ensure that his prey wasn’t hiding somewhere. Although, why the lovely woman might hide, he wasn’t sure. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind ever since that morning when he’d spotted her in Central Park. He’d been trying to contact her for three days. It was infuriating that a woman could distract him so badly. He was sure that a simple conversation with her would satisfy his curiosity and allow him to regain his normal control.
“Can I tell her what this is in regards to?” the woman called out from behind him.
Dimitri rested his hand against the door handle as he turned back to the woman. “It’s personal,” he admitted, then walked out, fully expecting a phone call from Ms. Abbot within the hour.
Although, he’d been expecting that phone call for three days now, and it hadn’t happened.
Curiosity, he told himself as he slipped into the open door of the waiting limousine. He was simply curious. Nothing more.
Twenty-four hours later, Dimitri was ready to fire anyone who spoke to him unless the person was a gorgeous brunette in outlandish clothes. He was furious that the beautiful, elusive woman hadn’t called, which was why he was now standing in front of her apartment door, ready to break it down if she didn’t answer.
A moment later, the heavy door swung open and there she was! He stared down into a face surrounded by thick, dark, wavy hair, enormous light blue eyes fringed by dark lashes and pale, beautiful skin. Her nose was small and her lips red and impossibly sexy as she smiled up at him.
Damn, she was even more beautiful up close. Of course, he’d only seen her through the window four days ago, but still…those eyes! Her blue eyes were surrounded by the longest, lushest lashes he’d ever seen. Surely, they must be fake. But he didn’t care. Those crystal blue eyes glowed up at him and he felt that ridiculous zing shoot through him. He remembered feeling that same sensation four days ago when he’d watched her smell that damn flower. Now he knew it wasn’t a fluke.
Jerking out of his stunned silence, he shifted his feet slightly. “Ms. Abbot?” he asked.
“Yes?” she replied, leaning against the door as if she were prepared to slam it shut at any moment.
“I’m Dimitri Bosalis,” he explained. “I have a business proposition for you.”
The woman blinked, watching him warily as if she knew that he was lying. The truth was, he had no idea what he was doing here. And that infuriated him. This woman had ignored his calls, hadn’t responded when he’d gone to her office personally, and had ignored every other effort on his part to contact her. Which was why he was standing here in front of her door, looking like a fool. Dimitri hated looking like a fool!
“Um…I think that you should speak to my business manager,” she explained cautiously. “I’ll get her phone number.”
His hand sliced through the air impatiently. “I don’t want to deal with Nancy Cordon. I will deal only with you.”
The woman frowned thoughtfully and he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her
