Page 3 of Claimed Gem
She walked back to the bar, relieved when she saw that her shift was over. “Tomas, I’m clocking out,” she told him, heading for the backroom to wash up, donning a dress over her bikini, and retrieving her bag. It was still fairly early, and she decided that she couldn’t let the crime gounreported. The police station was only a few blocks away.
With a plan in mind, she grabbed her bag and pushed through the back door. She rounded the corner, her eyes on her phone as she consulted her GPS to make sure she was headed in the correct direction, when she suddenly collided with a man.
She backed up quickly, almost toppling over in the process but managed to keep her footing. She looked up into the eyes of the handsome man she’d seen in the bar from time to time but never up close. He was tall, at least 6’2”, with midnight black hair that looked mussed up. His bangs were just a little too long and she resisted the urge to put them back into place. He was handsome in a classic way, strong jaw line with a shadow of a beard. His shoulders were broad and there was an aura of strength about him.
She inhaled and the scent of sandalwood reached deep inside her, making her want to do nothing but stay near him a bit longer. He reached out for her and she instinctively backed up, breaking the spell he seemed to have cast around them.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, intending to go around him and continue her mission.
“Whoa!Panemorfi.”
Stephanie shook her head, “What?”
The man gave her a grin and took a step toward her, “I called you beautiful.” His eyes raked up and down her body and she saw the heat ignite in his eyes.
Stephanie shook her head. “I need to go.”
“Wait. You speak English. I do not have anyone who speaks this language in my party this evening. Join us. We are going to my yacht for a night you won’t forget.” He looked toward the backdoor of the bar and raised a brow. “You finished working tonight?”
Stephanie nodded, “I have someplace to go.”
“Go later,” the man stated. He moved closer and lifted a finger, rubbing it across her cheek and then down to her collarbone. Stephanie shuddered, despite herself. His finger was very gentle.
“I’m Ries Kafatos. You and I could have a good time this evening.”
Stephanie shivered and then moved back, realizing she’d allowed herself to get backed up against the wall of the building. She shook her head and brushed his hand aside. It suddenly dawned on her that she wasn’t afraid of this man. She was just disappointed that he was like all of the others.
“Look, I really need to go. Now. I have to report a crime.”
Ries smiled at her and played with a lock of her chestnut hair which escaped the clip. “Do you really need to go?”
“Yes. Please move. I must get to the police.”
Ries sobered a bit then and gave her a quizzical look. “The police?”
“Yes. I witnessed a crime and…I told the officer inside. He didn’t believe me.”
“I saw you speaking to the police but did not know it was about something official.”
“I saw someone selling stolen items…”
“Truly? You witnessed this?” Ries asked with an arched brow.
“It doesn’t matter. I need to find someone else who will listen to me.”
“I would be very willing to listen to you,” Ries told her, once again crowding her and pushing his hand in her hair. Stephanie grabbed his hand and pulled it down, ignoring how nice his touch felt.
God this is wrong. This man is a drunken stranger. He won’t even remember this conversation tomorrow.
“Come to the yacht with me. I promise to listen to you and if I can help…”
Stephanie shoved him out of her way, giving herself a few inches to get away from the wall. “Get out of my way. I need to find someone who is sober and cares more about seeing justice done than adding another notch to his bedpost.”
“That is not what I was…”
She gave him a disgusted look and hurried down the sidewalk. She pulled her dress tightly around herself, wishing she’d worn jeans and a t-shirt instead. Ries’ actions had been nothing more than she should have expected from a spoiled rich boy. He’d promised to listen to her story but she was sure it was just a ruse to get her to his yacht.
Prior to coming to Greece and taking this job, Stephanie had never given a second thought to her looks. The guys she’d known back home hadn’t bothered to hit on her and she’d always been treated like one of the guys. Here though, she was treated like nothing more than a sex object. The men who frequented the bar only cared about what she looked like on the outside and whether or not she was willing to play their flirtatious games.