“Can I get you something?”
“I don’t need anything, but I’d like to ask a favor of you if you’re willing, and provided you can even do it. This can’t wait.”
“Hmm...you’ve got me curious.” She walked over to the bed and sat on the chair Leon had placed there.
“My brother brought me unsettling news.” After he’d finished telling her about his father’s plan to sabotage his business, and what part Tina’s father played in the whole scenario, her eyes filled with tears.
“Your own father would do that so you’ll marry Tina Nasso?” Her voice shook.
“He’s afraid of the consequences if I don’t. He and her father have business connections in common, so he’s hoping I’ll cave before he has to carry out that threat. Leon came to warn me.”
She shook her head. “But you’re his flesh and blood.”
“With a father like yours, I realize you can’t comprehend it. Unfortunately, the time has come where I have to be a step ahead of mine because I’ve worked years to see the fruition of my business plans. As I told you earlier, if I fail, it’ll be letting down my colleagues, not to mention hundreds of employees with families. I can’t risk that.” Or you...
She drew in a deep breath. “What favor do you want from me?”
“In the next few days I have to visit some quarries in Thassos not owned by my family in order to negotiate contracts for their marble refuse.”
“But you’re supposed to be resting your leg or it might not heal.”
“That’s why I need someone to drive me around and be my mouthpiece. I can’t expect my colleagues to do this. I’ve let them know I’m laid up for a few days. In that amount of time, I can get this other work done. Is it possible your boss would give you the time off? I’ll pay you for your time.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t want your money. You saved me from the stingray. That’s payment enough. Since I’m leaving Greece so soon, I think Sakis has kind of given up on me doing much work. He would probably okay me for one more day off. I already asked him if I didn’t have to come in until Tuesday.”
His heart did a swift kick. “You did?”
“Yes. The doctor told me you shouldn’t try to go to work before then, and he wants to see you back on Friday. But, Stavros—riding around in the Jeep would never do.”
“We’ll go in the Mercedes. I’ll rest my leg across the backseat. By Tuesday we should have covered four or five quarries. Hopefully I’ll come home with enough contracts to keep the plant running in case my father carries out his plan.”
Andrea got up from the chair. “I’ll phone Sakis first thing in the morning. If he’s in agreement, then I’ll be happy to drive you around. But tomorrow’s Sunday, and you have to stay down.”
“I’ll be good.”
“Ha! The doctor and I had a discussion about you.”
He smiled. “What did he say?”
“It’s a secret. Now, is there anything I can do for you?”
“One thing.”
She shook her head. “Just not that one.”
“You’re still afraid of the way you feel about me.” He loved it because it meant her feelings for him ran so deep.
“Good night.”
When she’d gone, he turned off his lamp. At least she hadn’t left him yet.
* * *
Andrea got up early and dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved, botanical-printed blouse. She hadn’t heard a peep out of Stavros. After fixing him a breakfast tray, she took it through to his bedroom and discovered he wasn’t in bed.
She put the tray on the dresser and waited for him to come out of the bathroom. In a few minutes, he emerged shaved and wearing a navy toweling robe. His hair was still damp from his shower. She could smell the soap.
It wasn’t fair that one man should be endowed with the kind of male attributes that made a woman breathless at the very sight of him. The fact that he was limping did nothing to take away the sheer vital essence of him.
“Good morning, Stavros.”
His gaze zeroed in on her. Maybe it was the color of his robe that made his gray eyes look almost black. “How long have you been waiting?”
“For just a minute. I brought breakfast for both of us. Though I’m sure that shower felt good, you need to get right back in bed. I’d like to take a look at that wound. You probably need a fresh dressing. If you’ll lie facedown, this will only take a moment.”
He limped to the bed and stretched out. She pulled one clean dressing from the box and leaned over to undo the old one. “There’s been a little drainage, but that’s to be expected. Everything looks good.”
Andrea applied the new one and discarded the other one. “If you’ll turn over while I wash my hands, then we’ll eat.” Satisfied he was able to get on his back with less difficulty than last night, she hurried into his bathroom and came right back. “If you’ll make some room, I’ll put the tray on the side of the bed and we’ll eat.”
She brought their food over. “As you see, I can make toast and coffee, just like you. I also brought you some fresh water to take your pills.”
He took them first, then lay propped on his side while they ate. She’d peeled an orange and pulled the wedges apart for them. “How’s the pain?”
“It’s sore, but the intensity of it has gone.”
“When you climbed into the boat yesterday, I could see the pain in your face. I’m so thankful you’re feeling better.”
“Me too, and we both know who deserves the credit for getting me immediate help.”
“Except that, in my haste, I’m afraid the hamper is still in the boat.”
“No problem. I’ll get it later in the week. Did you phone your boss?”
“I left him a message to call me.”
“Good.” When he’d finished eating, he said, “Okay. Now that we’ve gotten all the small talk out of the way, let’s get rid of the tray.”
Adrenaline filled her bloodstream. “I’ll take it out. Is there anything you want me to bring you?”
“If you’d bring my laptop from the den.”
“Coming right up.” She hurried to the kitchen, darted to his den and returned. “Here you go.” As she handed the computer to him, he pulled her down on the side of the bed where the tray had been. “Stavros—” Her heart pounded outrageously.
“What’s the matter? I only want to thank you properly. Come here, Andrea.”
He’d put one arm around her neck, forcing her down until their mouths fused. The unexpectedness of his action had caught her off guard. She half lay against his chest, unable to fight those seductive forces taking over her body. Her hands had a will of their own and slid into his hair. She loved its vibrancy.
“I could eat you alive,” he cried softly, treating her to every kind of kiss imaginable until she was losing awareness of the surroundings. Her longing for him had reached a dangerous level of intensity. She had to fight not to go under.
“Your leg—we have to stop.” She found the strength to tear her lips from his and pulled away so she could stand up. Weaving on her feet, she drank in gulps of air. “This isn’t the kind of bed rest Dr. Goulas had in mind.”
“Not even if it’s the best medicine for me?”
She let out a laugh bordering on hysteria. “Only you would say that. You’re impossible, Kyrie Konstantinos, so I have an idea. While you do some work, I’ll drive down to the marina in the Jeep and bring the hamper back. I might as well fill the gas tank and buy a newspaper for you at the same time. You can phone if you need me. I promise to be quick.”
“As long as you’re going, buy me a pasteli.”
“I’ll get one for me too.” She reached for the car keys on the nightstand. “Those sesame seed candy bars are yummy.”
“So are you, An
drea. Hurry back.”
Two hours later she returned, having done all her errands. She emptied the hamper, then did the few dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. With that accomplished, she hurried through the house to Stavros’s bedroom with goodies. He’d propped himself on his side to work on the computer.
She put the newspaper and candy bars down next to him. His piercing gaze found hers. “You were gone so long, I was starting to worry.”
Andrea laughed. “Sure you were.” She sat down on the chair next to him. “What have you been working on?”
“Our trip. Did you hear from your boss yet?”
“Yes. He’s rough around the edges, but has a kind heart. When he heard about your encounter with the stingray, he told me to take care of you and not worry about things at the office. Dorcas is going to fill in for me.”
“I haven’t heard that name before.”
“She’s a friend of mine who works in Accounts. Already I can tell Sakis is thinking ahead.”
One side of his mouth turned up at the corner. “You have him wrapped around your little finger. Even though you haven’t left him yet, inside I wager he’s been mourning his loss.”
She let out a sigh. “You always manage to say the right thing.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. For being so nice, I’ve brought you another present.” She pulled a packet of playing cards out of her jeans pocket. “How about a game of diloti?”
“You know how to play that?”
“Casino is the game of choice in every country where I’ve lived. Diloti is the Greek version of virtually the same thing. Are you up for a few rounds?”
“Watch me,” he said with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
“But we won’t play for money.”
“I’m way ahead of you.”
Her adrenaline surged. “I bet you are, but since I intend to win, I’m not going to worry about it. We’ll play until one o’clock.”
“What happens then?”
“Lunch. I bought some fresh spanakopitas.” She loved cheese pies more than about anything.
“I’ll set my watch alarm so we have to quit at the same time.”
“That’s fair.”
“So be it.” She glimpsed fire in his eyes. “You’re on!”
The race was all about winning the most points. She got lucky and made a sweep early. Then luck was on his side and he made one. As the pressure began to build, Andrea started to eat her candy. Stavros had already devoured his.
Cards had always been serious business for her. Naturally he was good. What Greek man worth his salt wasn’t! So good, in fact, she feared she might lose. Andrea kept looking at her watch. Time was almost up. “I can hear your awesome brain doing calculations, Stavros. You’re making me nervous.”
That deep chuckle of his permeated her bones just as the alarm sounded. He checked her last play. “You can’t build upon a four-join with an ace on the board and a five in your hand. I win!”
“You don’t have to sound so gleeful about it.” She gathered up the cards and put them back in the pack. “It’s time for your pills.” She handed him the water.
His smile taunted her before he swallowed his medicine. “What’s the matter? You have nothing to fear from me. I’m pretty much incapacitated.”
Stavros wasn’t the problem. She was. “Come on. I’ll help you to the bathroom on the condition that you behave.”
A glimmer of a smile hovered on his lips. “I don’t know how to do that.”
Her temper flared. “Do you want help or not?”
“I do, but then I want to eat on the patio. The lounger out there is as good as this bed.”
She knew he was going stir-crazy. “You’re right.”
Andrea offered her support and in a few minutes they reached the patio. She fixed the lounger so it lay flat. That way he could stretch out on his side. “Don’t get any ideas about pulling me down with you or we’ll both end up with a broken back.”
His chuckle followed her as she left for the kitchen. Before long, she brought out the pies and iced tea he’d liked before. After she put his drink on the stone flooring and handed him a couple of pies, she pulled one of the chairs over and sat by him to eat.
“Uh-oh. You’re facing the wrong way and can’t see the coast.”
“I’ll be looking at it for the rest of my life, but you won’t be here after a few more days, so I’d rather look at you.” Stavros knew how to press on a sore wound.
“If the heat gets too much for you, tell me and I’ll help you back in the house.”
“Why is it you always change the subject when I mention your leaving?”
Because I’m in pain and don’t want to be separated from you. “I didn’t realize I did that.”
He eyed her over his glass. “Where will you be living in Brazil?”
“The Serra do Ouro gold mine is near a town called Itapetim in the northeastern area. Dad says it’s mostly agrarian.”
“What kind of work do you think you’ll do there?”
She took a long drink first. “I’ll find something. We won’t be there very long.”
A stillness seemed to come over Stavros. “Why not?”
“Dad’s tired of traveling the world. He wants to go back to his roots in Denver and work in the home office.”
At this point, Stavros sat up, propping himself with his arm. “You mean for good?”
“Yes. When we left Denver, he had everything put in storage. Furniture, photographs, albums, so many things I’ve never seen. Things I’ve forgotten that are mine. He plans to buy a house for us.”
Stavros lay back on the lounger. “I wonder if a man can return home after so many years away and find the happiness he’s looking for.”
Andrea jumped out of the chair. Thoughts of that future without Stavros sounded so bleak, she could hardly stand it. “I’ve been haunted by the same question. Now you know why I don’t like talking about it.”
“I’m sorry, Andrea. It was insensitive of me.”
“Not at all. I’m going to run inside and bring you the laptop. I plan itineraries for tours and am interested to see what you have mapped out for us.”
When she came back to the patio, she found Stavros on the phone. She heard the name Theo and knew he was talking about business. How much he would divulge to his colleagues about his father’s ploy, she didn’t know. He hid his heartache well, but deep down she knew he had to be devastated.
After handing him the computer, she slipped inside the house for her novel, imagining he’d be on the phone for quite a while. She couldn’t conceive of her father doing something so cruel. And even though Stavros’s father might not carry through with his scheme, it didn’t take away the hurt of betrayal.
When she came back out on the patio, she found he’d finished his conversation. His eyes were closed. There were shadows and lines on his arresting face that hadn’t been there before his brother had shown up last night. Alarmed, she cried, “Is your pain worse again?”
He turned his head toward her and opened his eyes. Through the black lashes they looked like a dark cloud before a storm. “It’s not my leg.”
“Then it’s this threat your father poses.”
“Afraid so. Theo and Zander will be arriving at the house within the hour so we can talk strategy.”
“I’ll make more iced tea and fix some sandwiches.”
“Andrea Linford, do you know you’re the best thing that ever happened to me?”
Stavros, Stavros. Don’t say things like that. Don’t you know I’m dying inside at the thought of leaving you?
CHAPTER SEVEN
MONDAY MORNING, STAVROS was able to walk out to the car on his own. Yesterday’s rest had made all the difference. He stretched out in the
backseat with his laptop and waited for Andrea to come. She was so practical she packed everything they’d both need in her duffel bag for their overnight trip. He loved it. His and her things all thrown together. A precursor of a future with her. He refused to think any other way.
Stavros watched her walk toward him dressed in a wraparound khaki skirt and a cream-colored knit top. Her shapely figure did wonders for anything she wore. The guys had done triple takes when he’d introduced them to Andrea yesterday. Theo was married, but Zander was still a bachelor and had had a hard time keeping his eyes to himself.
She’d brought them a never-ending supply of food and drinks. Stavros could tell how impressed they were that she knew so much about their line of work and had been inside the plant.
He’d asked her to stay with him while they discussed the threat facing them. His partners hadn’t left until much later that evening because Andrea had entertained them with a few hair-raising stories of her adventures in the Gran Chaco of Paraguay. Close calls with a poison dart and a feeding frenzy of piranha fish in an area inhabited by natives who spoke Guarani had had them glued to every word. She’d fit in like a guy, but retained a beguiling femininity.
He heard her close the trunk, and then she came around and slid behind the wheel. She looked over her shoulder. “Have we remembered everything? Did you talk to Raisa?”
“I told her we wouldn’t be back until Tuesday night.”
“Then we’re good to go.” She started the engine and backed the car around. “I used to think it might be kind of fun being a driver for some top-brass military general. But driving the legendary Kyrie Konstantinos around is much better.”
He never knew what was going to come out of her luscious mouth next. Their eyes met through the rearview mirror. Hers were a vibrant blue this morning.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’re in a different kind of war—one I believe in—and I want you to win.”
Sometimes the things Andrea said and the way she said them...
The Renegade Billionaire Page 11