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Chapter Nine
Sam had been watching Sophia from a restaurant on the opposite corner. He’d been waiting for her to enter the old town area and knew she’d most likely come through the gate closest to her grandmother’s house.
He’d arrived in Rhodes the day before, spending every minute investigating and familiarizing himself with the place. Since it was his first time in Rhodes, he was annoyed he had to work rather than vacation like the rest of the lucky folks wandering around happily immersed in their historical surroundings. Instead he spent his time making plans on how he would meet up with his so-called partner.
Forced to ignore the many wonderful sightseeing possibilities, he stuck with the tactic he’d chosen and made up his mind they would meet asap. His brilliant and snoopy computer genius, John-john had informed him of Sophia’s love of this specific restaurant and how she’d most likely be showing up sometime on her first day.
Planning the hours of her arrival, the time it would take her to settle in and hopefully wander to the market, he’d only had an hour’s wait before she’d appeared.
Not expecting the beauty who’d arrived wearing a pretty, flowy white dress and sparkly sandals, he’d watched for the same agent he’d last seen in black pants and leather jacket. The shock of her appearance hit him hard.
Agent Sophia had been stunning as his sister’s guest, but in these surroundings, she shone. The constant gentle breeze that gave one respite from the heat of the sun floated her white hair that gleamed like fine silk. And her carriage – walking tall, straight-backed, and smiling nostalgically made him see a woman who had faith in her abilities and liked herself.
His solar plexus took a beating from the tightened muscles. If allowed, this female could be his nirvana. There were very few times in his life where he wanted nothing to do with his business, his world, his responsibilities, but this young woman could be the catalyst for him to give it all up and lose himself.
Tempted, but knowing the stakes were too high to mess up, he forced his interest back to the job and watched for a chance, a way to introduce himself to her without there being any suspicions.
Delighted when it became so easy, he observed her interference with a wrongdoing and cheered her on for helping some unfortunate tourists being taken advantage of.
He’d seen this sort of thing often in the many terribly disgusting poor countries where he’d worked, places unlike Rhodes. Completely opposite of the mind-blowing beauty seen here. Where the wonderful Mediterranean colors, incredible smells, pretty tourists, and wonderful shops battled for prominence in the colorful, cheerful marketplace. He’d fallen in love with everything in the city and wished he could leave his life for a month, rent an Airbnb and stay put.
When Sophia finally returned to her table and approached him, she wore an obstinate glare for his impudence. All he wanted to do was pick her up in his arms, swing her around crazily and spend the next few days getting to know the woman under the mask she’d quickly assumed.
Instead, he played the part of the lothario vacationer who had nothing to do but flirt with pretty ladies. He’d even dressed the role, wearing summer-weight well-fitting slacks and a short-sleeved navy T-shirt that showed off the military tattoos on his arms and the tan he’d acquired during his on-going assignment in Tehran. All he needed now was for her to believe his story. That his last three tours overseas had done a number on him that forced a well-deserved recuperation.
Convincing her would take some acting on his part, but wasn’t that exactly what he did for a living? Pretend to be someone he wasn’t. Taking on the hard-assed shell of a man who cared about nothing and no one when in fact, he had more principles than most and a bigger heart than many.
His problem wasn’t having the woman take him seriously, it was him taking himself seriously. She was nothing like the usual hardened female he encountered out in the world while doing his job. Females who knew the rules had erased their femininity and wanted the same from a man that he’d want from them. A night of kindness and a shared bed.
Agent Sophia had nothing in common with them. Sam didn’t like breaking hearts, but if it meant getting Casey and Jack home to his sister, he would do whatever it took.
