Page 29 of Her Greek Protector
“You had a good day.” She’d left her hair down. When she nodded, he lifted his free hand and pushed it beneath the curtain of her hair. Silky waves flowed over his hand as he lightly massaged her neck. “You are tense. Relax.”
Aimee made a noise, opening her mouth twice before finding her voice. “Alexi, what are you doing?”
He moved their joined hands up so he could kiss the back of hers. “What do you think we’re doing?”
Emotions crossed her face. Indecision. Attraction warring with reluctance. It was all there for him to see. Challenge. He’d always liked one, and Aimee presented one he could not resist.
She tried to shrug the hand massaging where her neck and shoulder met away. “You never answered my question.”
Alexi moved his hand forward, brushing his thumb over her lips. “Yes, my head hurts. No, that’s not why I’m here.”
“So, this?” She indicated their joined hands and how close they were sitting. “This is why you’re here?”
Alexi held her gaze while his thumb brushed her lips once more. Her breathing had sped up. He could see her pulse beating at the base of her throat. Her eyes were dilated, and a slight flush spread over her cheeks.She’s curious and interested.
Deciding to test the waters, he lowered his lips to hers. Just before their lips touched, she turned her head to the side, presenting him with her cheek. Alexi hid his smile.Interested but still fighting her attraction to me. I can be patient. For a while.
He kissed her cheek and then moved back from her, still keeping their hands joined for now. He waited until she turned to look at him, silently questioning his actions. “Do you like puzzles?”
Aimee’s forehead creased. “Puzzles? You mean the little pieces of cardboard with part of a picture on them?”
Alexi shook his head. “Maybe the word I’m looking for is riddles. Or mysteries.”
Aimee tugged her hand once more. “Let go.”
“Okhi. I like having you close to me.”
“Why are you talking to me about mysteries?”
“I have one I need solved, but the people who would know how to solve it cannot know that I am me. Not yet, anyway.”
“I’m not following you. What people are we talking about?”
“I.T. people who know about computers and how to track things. People who can find information others are trying to hide.”
Aimee raised an eyebrow. “You mean like hackers? Do you know people like that?” She shook her head before he could answer. “Don’t answer that, of course you do. Money can buy anything, right? Just snap your fingers and people will be jumping to do your bidding.”
Alexi frowned at her. “Money cannot buy everything, and I’ve never snapped my fingers at people.”
Aimee rolled her eyes, “You may not have actually snapped them, but the effect is the same. You like being in control.”
“I will not deny that. My position requires a certain amount of control. But, to answer your question, yes. A hacker would be able to get me the information I need to solve my mystery. I’m sure the people working in the I.T. department at Moustakas Shipping possess such skills, but asking them to do something like this would result in too many questions being asked.”
Aimee looked at him for a long minute. “I might know someone. What exactly are you trying to find out?”
“You know hackers?”
Aimee nodded. “I worked for a lobbyist organization. They have a few on staff, but we all pretend they are just programmers. What do you need to find out, specifically?”
“I need to know who is sending me some emails.”
“That’s all? Really?” Aimee asked in disbelief.
“You’re acting as if it’s rather easily accomplished.” Alexi squeezed her hand more tightly.
“That’s because it is. I used to have to figure out who was sending certain emails to my bosses all the time. It takes some special software and being able to log into a not-so-public server, but it can be done. Unless they know to re-route their IP address to a dummy account, and then it becomes exponentially more difficult.” Alexi stared at her. She blushed. “What?”
“You are not what you seem to be at all, are you?” Alexi grinned. He liked the way she blushed whenever he complimented her. “I find you intriguing.”