What the Greek's Money Can't Buy(13)

                He caught her chin with his forefinger and gently forced her head up. When her gaze connected with his, he saw the trace of distress in her eyes.

                ‘That’s what the investigators are here for. Besides, you’ve had a lot to deal with in the last several hours. What I need is the list of journalists you promised. Can you handle that?’

                Her nod made her skin slide against his finger. Soft. Silky. Smooth.

                Stási!

                He stepped back abruptly and pushed the aberration from his mind.

                Turning, he moved towards the shoreline, conscious that she’d fallen into step beside him. From the air, he’d guestimated that the oil had spread about half a mile along the shore. As he surveyed the frantic activity up and down the once pristine shoreline, regret bit deep.

                Whatever had triggered this accident, the blame for the now-blackened, polluted water lay with him, just as he was responsible for the missing crew members. Whatever it took, he would make this right.

                The captain of the salvage crew brought the small boat near and Sakis went towards it. When Brianna moved towards him, he shook his head.

                ‘No, stay here. This could be dangerous.’

                She frowned. ‘If you’re going aboard the tanker, you’ll need someone to jot down the details and take pictures of the damage.’

                ‘I merely want to see the damage from the inside myself. I’m leaving everything else in the hands of the investigators. And, if I need to, I’m sure I can handle taking a few pictures. What I’m not sure of is the situation inside the vessel and I won’t risk you getting injured under any circumstances.’ He held out his hand for the camera slung around her neck.

                She looked ready to argue with him. Beneath her T-shirt, her chest rose and fell as she exhaled and Sakis forced himself not to glance down as another spike of erotic heat lanced his groin.

                Theos...

                The unsettling feeling made him snap his fingers, an irritatingly frantic need to step away from her charging into him.

                ‘If you’re sure,’ she started.

                ‘I’m sure.’

                By the time she freed herself from the camera strap and handed it over, her face had settled once more into its customary serene professionalism.

                Her fingers brushed his as he took the camera and Sakis registered a single instance of softness before the contact was disconnected.

                Taking a deep breath, he started to walk away.

                ‘Wait!’

                He turned back. ‘What is it, Moneypenny?’ His tone was harsh but couldn’t stop the disturbing edginess creeping over him.

                She held out a large yellow jumpsuit. ‘You can’t get on the boat without wearing this. The health and safety guidelines require it.’

                Despite the grim situation, Sakis wanted to laugh at her implacable expression as she held him to account.

                ‘Then by all means...if the guidelines require it.’

                He took the plastic garment, shook it out and stepped into it under her watchful eye. He glanced at her as he zipped the jumpsuit and once again saw her lower lip caught between her teeth.