When a Champion Wants You Read Online Free Page A

least not without a commitment. She was
that type of woman – the long-term relationship type. He knew her
last relationship was with a guy who had cheated on her, as the
story went, and because of it, she never wanted to have another
relationship for fear that it would end the same way.
    Two quick taps at the door
interrupted his thoughts. Dimitrius looked up and saw Dante walking
in.
    “ Got a minute?” Dante
asked.
    “ Sure,” Dimitrius said. He
exited out of Facebook. “What’s up?”
    “ Nothing…ah…just was
wondering if you were okay. You seemed a little tense in the
interview.”
    “ I’m cool. I just want to
make sure we get the right person for the job.”
    “ Even though this person won’t be reporting
directly to you, you want to make sure we get the right
person…”
    “ That’s right.”
    “ So why is it that you’re
not sitting in on the remaining three interviews with me and Des
today? You only wanted to be there for Melanie’s
interview.”
    “ Like I said…I want to make
sure we get the right person. And why are you telling Desmond to
steer clear of Melanie?”
    “ Because I know you like
her.”
    Dimitrius frowned. “And
what makes you think I like her?”
    Taking a seat, Dante
crossed his legs and said, “Well, I’ve seen you checking her out,
Dimitrius, and I’ve been pretty curious about why you haven’t made
a move yet. She’s a good woman.”
    “ That’s fine and all, but
I’m not interested.”
    “ I think you are. Look,
Dimitrius, I haven’t seen you with a woman in quite some time even
though you claim to have a woman on speed dial for every day of the
week.”
    “ I never claimed that.
Desmond made that up. That’s more of his method of
operation.”
    “ And what’s
yours?”
    “ Why are you suddenly
interested in my love life?”
    “ The same reason why you
and Desmond were interested when I made it clear to you that I was
falling in love with Emily. Because I care about you, man. We’re
all we have, Dimitrius. We lost our parents. Now, it’s up to us to
create our own families…our own legacy, and if you’re ready to do
that then, do something about it. Don’t let anything hold you back
from getting what you want. That’s the Champion way.”
    Dimitrius was
silent.
    “ Tell me you’re not the
least bit interested in her, and I’ll drop it. Tell me,” Dante
said.
    Dimitrius knew he couldn’t
deny it for long. Besides, Dante already caught him staring at
Melanie. And then there was the fact that Dimitrius seemed to lose
control of his urges whenever she was around. His feelings for her
were bound to be made apparent sooner or later, especially if she
got the job.
    “ Dimitrius?”
    “ What if I did like
her?”
    “ Then I’ll tell you like
you told me…if she’s the one, go get her. But you can’t continue to
beat yourself up over some past relationship.”
    “ I’m not beating myself up
over anything,” Dimitrius griped.
    Dante shook his head.
“Jeez, Dimitrius…are you that much in denial? Ever since Emily and
I married, your attitude had changed.”
    Dimitrius shook his head.
“Changed how?”
    “ Well definitely not for
the better. You used to be so calm and pragmatic, and you still are
in certain circumstances, but in the interview, you nearly bit
Melanie’s head off. And for what purpose? Because she was five
minutes late to an interview that you didn’t need to be a part of?
If you want love and happiness, like I have with Emily, and you
think that Melanie might be the woman for you, then by all means,
talk to her but don’t drive a good woman away because of what the
wrong woman did to you.”
    Crap …his brother had made a point. Dimitrius didn’t want to admit
it, but Dante was right. He had been irrational and downright
thoughtless in his efforts to put distance between himself and
Melanie. But why stay away from her when all she really wanted was
to get to know her. Maybe he’d been taking the wrong approach