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Contents
Copyright
Her Greek Bodyguard
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Also By Amanda Horton
Greek Recipe
Her Greek Bodyguard
By: Amanda Horton
Prologue
One year earlier…
Kassi Lykaios trailed her fingers through the water of the pond that stood in the center of the garden on her father’s estate. It was late April and the hyacinth were in full bloom. Their heavy sweet smell mixed with that of the nearby citrus trees was such a familiar fragrance. It reminded Kassi of home and was comforting to her.
She heard the sound of footsteps on the gravel path and turned to see Piotr walking towards her. She turned and observed his body; his walk was more like a prowl and he exuded strength with each step. He wasn’t smiling today and Kassi immediately made it her goal to bring a smile to his face and find out what had him looking so somber.
“Kalispera, Piotr,” she called out, smiling at him and barely managing to keep it in place when he didn’t return the gesture.
“Kassi,” Piotr murmured her name when he was ten feet away from her.
He stopped and Kassi closed the distance, kissing him on both cheeks before pulling away and frowning slightly. “What’s wrong?”
Piotr looked at her and then reached for her hand.
“Let’s walk.” He set off down the path, moving them further into the garden and towards the elaborate arbor her father’s gardeners had created in the center of the luxurious greenery. Trees lined the path; lemon, bergamot, olive, and chestnuts. Wildflowers grew around their bases, the vibrant colors evoking happiness within Kassi’s soul.
She remained quiet, not having seen Piotr quite this serious since his arrival at her father’s estate a year earlier. Kassi had been on summer break at the time and completely enamored by the handsome young man. Her interest in him was piqued because at first, Piotr kept her at arm’s length. Her father had assigned him to escort her around as an extra security measure. From what, she didn’t really know and since her father wasn’t offering that information, Kassi didn’t let it bother her much.
She met friends for brunch, went shopping, danced at her favorite clubs, all the while Piotr followed at a safe distance, his dark eyes rarely leaving her person. When she had too much to drink, he helped her into the limousine and then rang for one of the household maids to help her to her bed. When her best friend broke up with her longtime boyfriend, Piotr kept others at bay while her friend sobbed out her anguish on Kassi’s shoulder, at the private cabana at her father’s golf club.
Kassi finally plucked up the courage to see if he liked her by throwing herself at him in various ways over a sizzling two week period. He had remained impassive to her advances until one night, close to midnight, when they were on the beach. Kassi had slowly shucked her sundress to reveal the miniscule bright orange bikini underneath. She’d started walking towards the ocean, ignoring Piotr’s suggestion that it was too late to go swimming. Unsafe.
Kassi hadn’t cared and had simply giggled and motioned for him to come after her. She’d almost reached the water’s edge, the tide still rising, before she saw Piotr toe off his leather shoes unbuckle his belt.
She’d not been able to take her eyes off of him as he’d shed every stitch of clothing, striding towards her confidently, completely uncaring that he was naked before her. She’d backed up, suddenly aware that her lack of experience with members of the opposite sex had left her completely unprepared for this level of interaction. Piotr hadn’t been messing around and once he’d decided to accept the invitation she had been so blatantly throwing at him for weeks, he’d pursued her like a large cat stalking its prey.
She’d given in almost immediately after he’d touched her, and by the time he’d escorted her back to the estate, her heart had been well on the way to falling in love with him.
That had been eleven glorious months ago, and as Kassi looked forward to finishing up her last year of school, she was already envisioning the future. With Piotr.
He stopped walking once they were inside the arbor. “We need to talk,” he told her softly, his thumb brushing over the back of her knuckles once before his expression tightened and he released her hand.
Kassi watched him, bringing her hand back to her side, frowning when he put several feet distance between them. “Piotr? I missed you earlier.” He was supposed to have met her in town at her favorite restaurant and from there, they were to have gone dancing. He’d been busy with her father for most of the day and he’d sent one of the other security guards with her when she’d gone shopping hours earlier. When he’d texted that he was going to be unable to make their dinner date, she’d been disappointed and replied back that she would meet him at the club.
He’d immediately told her that wasn’t going to be possible either and he would simply see her back at the estate – sometime later. Kassi had foregone her evening’s plan and returned to the estate to find Piotr holed up in the security office. When she’d tapped on the door twenty minutes earlier, he’d brusquely told her he would meet her in the arbor and then closed the door softly in her face.
Kassi wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but Piotr wasn’t acting like himself. Even now, he was acting aloof and he appeared to be holding himself very stiffly. He wasn’t talking, just looking at her broodingly and Kassi had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She took one step towards him, “What’s wrong?”
“This,” he gestured with his hand the space between them. “This is wrong.”
Kassi frowned and imitated his gesture, “What is this?”
“Us.” His voice was darker than normal and almost angry sounding. “You are much so young and I knew I should leave you alone. Forgive me. I should have never dallied with you.”
Kassi was shocked. “Dallied? You call the last year merely dallying with one another?” Her voice was scratchy with tears that were threatening to break free. She couldn’t believe he was standing there so calmly discussing their romance as if it were nothing more than a small fling! He’d apologized!
“Kassi, I realize you believe yourself to be infatuated with me…”
Kassi made an angry sound and cut him off. “I am not, as you put it, infatuated with you. I love you - you big dumb… ilithios!”
Piotr flinched, “Moron? That seems weak, at best. There is no need for name calling. I am trying to do what is best here.” His expression hardened and he lowered his voice, speaking firmly and calmly. “This, whatever your choose to call it, is over.” He paused and then added, “I hav
e important things that require my attention. I no longer have time for games, as pleasant as your company is.”
Kassi felt her heart breaking in two as Piotr dismissed what they’d had so easily. “Piotr, this doesn’t make any sense,” she pleaded with him. “Tell me what’s happened…”
“Nothing has happened, I’ve simply come to my senses. You and I were never supposed to happen. It was fun, I will admit that, but there can be nothing long-term between us. Surely you can see that?”
Kassi clenched her hands by her side, tears filling her eyes.
Piotr sighed unhappily and shrugged, “I’m sorry my actions have hurt your feelings. You’ll find someone else, someone your own age and then you’ll realize what you thought we had was nothing. Just a passing fancy.”
As if on cue, his beeper went off. He glanced at it and then straightened before looking at her one last time. “I’m needed elsewhere. Don’t stay outside too long, it’s supposed to rain later.”
He turned and disappeared into the gardens, leaving Kassi standing in the center of the arbor with tears streaming down her face. She let her legs collapse and crumpled to the wooden floor, sobs shaking her body as her heart bled itself dry. Piotr had just destroyed her, and she wished the ground would simply open itself up and swallow her body.
She stayed in the garden long into the night, letting her tears cauterize the giant hole Piotr’s rejection had left in her heart and soul. As morning began to arrive and the sun peeked over the horizon, she climbed to her feet and dusted off her designer jeans. Her tears were all cried out and in place of the hurt was now a determination to forget Piotr and everything about him.
As she made her way to her suite of rooms, she promised herself that she was going to do everything she could to put Piotr and the last year out of her mind. No matter what it took. She deserved to be loved the same way she gave love and if Piotr didn’t want her, she’d simply find someone who did.
Chapter 1
“Kassi, tell me why you are so willing to stay with Stephano when all you do is cry about how horribly he treats you?” Dr. Schwartz asked, her image getting closer on the computer screen as she leaned forward in an effort to catch Kassi’s eyes.
Kassi sighed and shook her head, “I don’t know. That’s why I’ve been talking to you for the last two weeks. Right?” Dr. Schwartz was a therapist who specialized in relational therapy and when Kassi was forced to return to Greece, the doctor had agreed to keep working with Kassi via videoconference.
Dr. Schwartz sat back in her chair and pursed her lips. “Let’s recap a bit. You came to see me two weeks ago at the insistence of Tyler because he and your cousins back in Greece were very worried about you. You had run away…”
Kassi shook her head, “I didn’t run away…”
“You didn’t stay and deal with your problems in Greece. I call that running away.”
Kassi gave the computer screen a hard look, seriously thinking about just closing the lid so she wouldn’t have to hear the hard truth the therapist was spouting. “Whatever.”
“You returned to Greece and immediately started going to the clubs and found yourself a boyfriend. Am I missing anything so far?”
“You make it sound like I went trolling for a boy toy,” Kassi complained.
“Didn’t you?” Dr. Schwartz inquired, her tone of voice coming through the speaker on the computer loud and clear.
“I don’t like being alone.”
“Not many people do,” Dr. Schwartz agreed. “I think your biggest problem is the character of the men you seem to gravitate towards. You shouldn’t be looking for a lasting relationship at one of those meat market dance clubs.”
“And just where do you think I should be looking for love? One of those internet dating sites?” Kassi asked sarcastically.
“How about you just learn to be happy with you for starters and wait for love to find you?” the therapist suggested.
Kassi nodded her agreement. “Thanks, Dr. Schwartz. Really, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. Kassi, believe in yourself. I’d like to meet that spunky young woman I know is buried deep inside.”
“You’ll have to come to Greece to do that. I doubt anyone in my family is going to let me anywhere near an airport for a long while. They weren’t happy with my little impromptu trip.”
“That’s because they love you. They know how wonderful you are. Talk to you soon.”
Kassi nodded and then disconnected the web camera and closed the lid to her computer. She reached for a tissue and wiped the traces of tears away, her mind replaying Dr. Schwartz’s last word. She didn’t dispute that her family loved her dearly. They had been there for her after her father passed away.
Leo knew she had a new boyfriend, but so far, she’d not been brave enough to bring Zak around to the Moustakas estate. Piotr would no doubt do a complete background check on the man and be as obnoxious as possible. Zak seemed to have a short fuse and Kassi was afraid that the two men would become enemies with very little provocation.
She glanced at the time and then headed for the shower. She was supposed to meet Zak at a warehouse downtown and then they were to have dinner somewhere, just the two of them. Kassi was looking forward to the evening and determined to prove that Zak wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
*****
Kassi pulled up at the warehouse and honked the horn, cringing when Zak and a few of his friends came barreling out of the doorway, scowls on their faces and looking ready to take on a threat. She waved at him and he stomped over to her door, yanking it open and pulling her roughly from the driver’s seat.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he snarled at her.
“Uhm, picking you up. We had dinner plans, remember?” She winced and pulled away, rubbing her arm and wondering if she’d have a bruise there tomorrow.
Zak seemed to take a step back and his anger was forced aside.
“Sure, I forgot. Give me a sec.” He walked back over to where his friends were eyeing her and after a brief conversation, he rejoined her. “Get in, I’ll drive.”
Kassi wished he would have walked around to the passenger side and opened her door, but then again, there was no reason for him to do so since he was already at the driver’s side. She let herself into the car and was barely reaching for the seatbelt when he floored the gas pedal and the tires screamed as he tore out of the parking lot.
He grinned at her like a little kid and Kassi started to relax a bit, connecting her belt before turning towards him. “Did you have a good day?”
“So, so.” He looked over at her and then frowned as he took in her dress. It was a designer piece she had picked up while in the United States. It hugged her figure just right without appearing slutty. A high neck and a keyhole back gave the dress a hidden sexiness Kassi had fallen in love with while the dress was still on the hanger.
“What are you wearing?” he asked, fingering the fabric of the dress and shaking his head.
Kassi’s smile faded a bit and she looked down. “You don’t like it?”
“It looks like something my grandmother would wear. I mean, the collar is all the way up to your neck. You need something that helps accentuate your tits, not something that completely covers them and makes them disappear. It’s not like you have so much that you need to hide them.”
Kassi swallowed back tears. “I thought it looked okay…”
“For a nun. Are you a nun, Kassi? Is that what’s wrong with you?” Zak asked as he pulled the sports car into the parking lot of a local club. It wasn’t one of Kassi’s favorites, but Zak seemed to like it.
He parked the car and she cleared her throat, “I was thinking we could maybe go somewhere a bit quieter tonight?”
Zak shook his head, “Why would you think that? I like this place and they have great burgers. I’m starved.”
Kassi looked at her dress and then quietly replied, “I’m a little over-dressed for this type of place. I was hoping…”
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“Not happening, babe.” Zak got out of the car and headed for the entrance, not even giving a cursory look back to see if she was following behind.
Kassi slid from the vehicle, Dr. Schwartz’s words ringing in her ears. Zak was being very rude and once again, he’d done nothing but put her down. Suddenly, the idea of spending the evening with him no longer appealed. She wanted to go home.
“Zak, wait up,” she called after him, hurrying in her four-inch heels to catch him before he entered the club
“What? Why are you taking so long?” Zak groused at her as she reached him. “Man, that dress really does have to go. Maybe you can talk one of the waitresses into lending you something. I really don’t want to be embarrassed if we see anyone important tonight.”
Kassi had finally had enough. “I’m going home.”
He stared at her and shook his head, “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Zak, give me the keys. I’m not in the mood. I’m going home. ”
Zak moved towards her, grabbing her upper arms and pushing her back so that their conversation was hidden from the security man checking I.D.s at the door. “What in the hell, Kassi? You tear me away from something really important and now you just want to leave?”
“Look, this isn’t working. You’re obviously not happy with anything about me and frankly, the feeling is mutual. You know what, I don’t think we should see one another again.”
He stared at her incredulously and then backed up, raising his hands up and tossing the keys over her head and into the parking lot behind. “Fine. Have it your way. You weren’t that good in bed anyway. I’ve had better virgins.”
Kassi watched him stride back to the club, making a big show of joking with the doorman. She clenched her jaw so tight that it trembled. He’d just destroyed the last piece of their relationship Kassi had thought was better than okay. Their sex life. It seemed she’d been deluding herself in that area as well. She turned and quickly located her keys lying up against a concrete parking marker. She retrieved them, ignoring the whistles and catcalls coming from behind her as she bent over to pick them up, her heels making it nearly impossible to do so without flashing more of her backside than she was comfortable with.
Her Greek Bodyguard (The Greek Brothers Book 3) Page 1