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mind.
    Sleep eluded her for a long time. The smell of his cologne, the sound of his voice, the gentleness in which he touched her, all seemed to take pleasure in torturing her. The seductive whisper of his voice tantalized her skin and she ached with want.
    When her wake-up call came, Landi knew the day was going to be long. She didn’t feel the slightest bit rested.
    “Morning, doll,” Jason said as he met her outside her room to go to breakfast.
    “Hey, Jason,” she responded.
    “Oh, boy, I know that tone. You didn’t get any sleep, did you?”
    “I’m fine,” Landi snapped.
    “Don’t take it out on me, Ilanderae,” he admonished. “I’m not the enemy here.”
    She flushed. Jason was right; he wasn’t to blame. “I’m sorry, Jason. I’m just…”
    He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay. Let’s eat; we’ve got to go over the presentation again before we show it.”
    “Okay,” she agreed. “I am sorry, you know.”
    “I know. God help that man; I hope he has thick skin. Your tongue is wicked.”
    “I don’t like people thinking they can push me around just because I’m short. Add to that, I’m in a cutthroat business. I’ve had to learn to speak up or get run over.”
    He slipped her arm through his. “I know. Just don’t forget some of us are good.”
    She sighed. “I know, I know. And I am sorry.”
    Jason said nothing further and Landi knew he understood. They were each other’s confidants. Never lovers, just extremely close. Many 38
    Aliyah Burke
    thought Jason was gay, given he worked in the fashion industry and was always very well dressed. They were wrong. He had style and taste. She considered him a metrosexual, but he was definitely not gay.
    Landi had walked in on him in bed with a woman before.
    She squeezed his hand and continued on toward the place they were eating breakfast. They chatted about the presentation while they ate and continued to do so during the ride to the office where the meeting was being held. As they climbed out of the taxi, Landi swallowed and smoothed her hands down the side of her skirt.
    No matter how many she’d done, her nerves got tight before a pitch. This wasn’t just a job for her. This was her passion, her calling.
    She had worked hard getting her name out there.
    Desires of the Moon had begun as a lingerie line, but she had quickly expanded it to all aspects of clothing wear. The men’s line, Lunarwear, had begun shortly after Jason had joined the company.
    Now they were acquiring more retailers to carry her clothing.
    Landi was extremely picky about who sold her lines. She was proud of her clothing and took great pains to make sure there were few knock-offs.
    She had begun taking her company globally in stores now, branching from Internet-only sales. It had taken many trips and many samples of her work, but now she was hopefully going to find a place for her line in one of the top boutiques in Athens.
    Personally, it was hard for Landi to buy clothes over the Internet; she wanted to be able to try them on, and she knew customers wanted that ability as well.
    Gripping her attaché, she waited for Jason and the garment bags he had. Together they entered the glass building.

    Dimitri swore. Landi hadn’t returned. He had been waiting for her so he could explain why he’d left her. Powerful strides took him across the lobby floor as he paced.
    “Mr. Melonakos,” the manager said as he approached.
    Dimitri stopped. “Yes?”
    “I’m sorry you’ve been waiting for so long. Ms. Nycks is no longer a guest at our hotel. She checked out this morning.”

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    Dimitri clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. Gone? Damn it, Landi, where are you? Forcing a smile, he nodded his thanks. “I appreciate you telling me.”
    “No problem.” The manager walked off.
    Dimitri was furious. He berated himself as he left the hotel.
    Shoulda gone to her room. Shoulda made her listen to me!
    He was still in a foul mood hours later as he