Chapter Twenty Eight

But he didn't. Knowing that it was a bad time and he would only end up pushing her further away from him. So all he did was to step closer and stand beside her.

"This party was organized so we could find potential investors. Your aim is to bring down the company, so why exactly are you here, Dimitri? To talk them out of it just like you did with Edward Franklin?" she asked.

He didn't look at her. He couldn't. Maybe because he was a little embarrassed about what he had to say, and he didn't even know why, but he wanted to be honest with her.

"I guess I came because I wanted to see you" he said simply, still staring out the balcony, refusing to face her.

She turned to face him then, and he knew that she was surprised by his answer. Hell, he was surprised that he had admitted it, so he didn't blame her when she gave him that look and said, "What?"

"Yeah I know" he said, nodding his head, "It's crazy I know. I didn't have to come here tonight. But I wanted to spend some time with you.... Outside of work... You know.... Without all the drama about the company. Just two people who are attrac.... Urhmmm.... People who want to hang out, or something.... I don't know"

He swept his hand on over his hair, ruffling it a bit, still not facing her, and Kelly almost smiled. For some stupid reason she liked seeing him like that.... She liked knowing that she had some kind of effect on him, and that she wasn't the only one feeling this way.

She knew she shouldn't believe him. Maybe this was another strategy he was employing in other to get his way with the company. The wise thing to do now was to walk away from him. As long as this thing was going on, she couldn't be friends with him.... Or anything else for that matter

She knew all that, but when she opened her mouth, she found herself asking, "So why didn't you just ask me if you wanted us to hang out so bad?"

He turned to face her then, and she shivered, not from the gentle breeze there in the balcony, but at the intense look in his eyes.

"If I had asked you out, knowing everything that's happening now and how angry you were the last time we talked, would you have said yes?" he asked.

She wouldn't have, she knew that. She would have said no, not because she wouldn't want to go out with him, hell, she would, but things were complicated right now.

She gave him a small smile and shook her head,"I guess you're right" she replied, "I would have said no"

There was a glint in his eyes that moment, "What if I asked you now, Kelly?" he asked softly.

Kelly didn't reply. She wanted to say yes. Dear God, she wanted to be with the man. Why the hell did this have to be so complicated. She felt as if she would be betraying her father if she agreed to go out with him.

“Is that a yes?” he asked, when she didn't say anything for a while.

“I didn’t say anything,” she replied.

“Exactly,” he said. “You didn’t tell me to get the hell away from you, nor did you try to walk away again.... Or mention calling security. So I’m asking, is your silence a yes?”

Kelly licked her now dry lips. “My silence?" she asked stupidly.

He closed in on her, and once again, Kelly was enveloped in that amazing smell of him. She inhaled deeply. “This isn’t new, Kelly. We both know that we want each other, and that those times we had would never be enough. It’s been brewing between us since we met. Are you going to keep brushing it off? Just tonight, Kelly,” he said.

“I'm tired of these quickies,” he continued. "We both want to explore this thing between us... Whatever it is, so let's do it right"

“There is no ‘thing’ between us to explore,” she whispered.

He eased closer, brushing his lips lightly against hers before pulling back. “Are you sure?” he asked softly.

“Yes.” Kelly replied, breathing a little hard

Dimitri stood up straight. “You’re sure there’s no ‘thing’ between us? Or you’re sure you won’t give us one more night?”

“I’m sure you’re trying to push my buttons and I’m not in the mood,” she replied.

“And yet, you’re still standing right here.”

“You’re in my way,” she countered.

Dimitri stepped to the side “Now I’m not,” he said. “And you’re still here contemplating whether or not you’re up for one night with me. You want it but you won’t do it. You are running because that’s what suits you.”

No. He did not just make this a dare. But as Kelly continued to stare at him, she knew that was exactly what he was doing. He was a very attractive man who made her body respond every time she saw him, regardless of what her brain warned. He was the man who had just teased the hell out of her with his kisses and Kelly knew that she wanted more.

“I have to go say goodbye to the guests before I leave,” she said, trying to change the topic. The earlier she got away from him, the better for her.

Dimitri shook his head and grinned. “You’re killing me here, Kelly. Do you really want to brush this off?” he asked.

Tired of this verbal sparring, Kelly shook her head, a little scared of what she would do if she didn't get away from him

"I have to go home, Dimitri" she said

"All right" he said softly, "Then at least, let me take you home"

She shook her head, "My driver is here

He can take me home"

"I know that Kelly" Dimitri replied, "But I want to take you home. Please don't say no to me for the second time tonight"

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Kelly glanced at Dimitri, the shadows from passing streetlamps whispering over his sharp features like ebbing waves. Somehow he had managed to convince her to let him take her home, and after the party, she sent away her driver.

And now they were in the back seat of his car. Kelly noticed that something had changed in his demeanor. Oh, he was still polite and charming, the playboy and charismatic businessman both making appearances, but hadn't made a move on her again.

Tension seemed to vibrate within him, and it set her on edge. Turning from him, she gazed sightlessly out the window. She was still thinking about what he had said on the balcony.