by Amy Ruttan
Wouldn’t it?
CHAPTER EIGHT
THE BELL RANG at seven.
“Don’t worry, Lisa, I got it!” Chris called out as he ran down the steps to the front door.
Naomi was waiting on the front step, holding a bottle of ouzo.
She held it up. “I thought this might make things easier.”
He took the bottle from her as she came inside and he shut the door. “This is strong stuff. Yeah, it might help if I can get my father to take enough shots, but he grew up drinking this stuff like water.”
Naomi laughed. “It’s like my grandpa and his bourbon—or moonshine. That stuff is horrible. It’ll knock you flat on your butt if you get it from the right place.”
Chris chuckled. “Well, we’ll take it easy—but thank you for this.”
“Where’s Lisa?” Naomi asked, following him up the stairs to the kitchen.
“She’s in her room. Evan is asleep and she’s resting. She’s still getting over a cold too. She’ll bring the baby out later, after dinner. She’s had the pleasure of meeting my father before and says she’d rather keep to her room.”
Naomi’s eyes widened. “Oh, good Lord, what am I in for?”
“Hold on to your hat,” Chris teased.
Naomi wandered out to the terrace. “We’re dining al fresco tonight?”
“It’s cooler out here.”
“I’m going to quickly say hello to Lisa.”
Chris nodded. “Good idea.”
Naomi slipped in through the living room doors and Chris tried to calm the erratic beating of his heart. His father coming over had him on edge, and the idea of Naomi spending another night under his roof wasn’t helping. He seemed to be digging this deep hole for himself—and he wasn’t sure how he was going to get out of it.
Naomi returned a couple minutes later. “She was sleeping, so I didn’t bother her. Can I help you with anything?”
“No, I have dinner mostly taken care of. Would you like a shot of ouzo?”
“Sure—why not? I can hold my moonshine.”
He grinned and poured them two shots. He held it up. “Yamas.”
“Yamas,” she replied, and then downed it. “That’s strong, all right.”
He laughed and took back the shot glass. “I told you.”
“So, how did Stavros take the news? Is he going to go through with the surgery?”
“He’ll let me know—but he’s having increasingly worse symptoms of anaplastic oligodendroglioma and he really doesn’t like it. He has all the facts now, and I’ll prepare a battle plan on how to take it out without too much damage to the nerves.”
“It’ll be good to prepare. Speaking of preparing—is there any topic of conversation I should steer clear of when your father is here?”
“You mean like how we dated a few years ago?”
“Did he know about me then?”
“No,” he said. “My father and I aren’t close, and I didn’t ever tell him about the women I was dating. He knows that I was a bit of a playboy—he read the gossip papers that were floating around—and he knows about Evan’s mother because I had to go to him to ask for the money.”
“The money?” she said blankly.
“The money his mother demanded from me to keep the child. She was going to get rid of my baby unless I paid her a huge sum of money.”
The color drained from Naomi’s cheeks and a strange, sad expression crossed her face. “That’s horrible!”
“What? That I paid her?”
“No, that she blackmailed you. I thought that you never wanted children.”
“I didn’t,” he admitted. “But I wouldn’t want to lose one of my children once I knew they existed.”
She looked away and then headed out onto the terrace, as if she was upset. He was confused by her behavior and followed her outside.
“Naomi, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, but her voice shook. “I guess I’m just horrified by the greed of some people.”
“Then you’ll be horrified all over again when you meet my father. He can be pretty greedy too.”
The bell rang again.
Speak of the devil.
“You got this,” she said. “You’re a brilliant surgeon and a good father. It’s his problem if he can’t see that.”
Chris nodded and then touched her hand. It sent a jolt of electricity through him. Just a simple touch of her skin did serious things to him. He was doomed.
“Thanks for being here.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
She smiled at him, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. He could still see sadness in their depths.
He would try to find out more about that later, but right now he had to steel himself against his father. Against the constant disapproval and disappointment his father smothered him with.
He ran down the stairs and opened the door. “Yassou, Pateras,” he said formally.
“Yassou,” his father responded in clipped tones as he stepped inside his childhood home and began scanning the walls, looking for faults. “There’s some cracks in the plaster there.”
“From the quake. The house is under renovation, Pateras. It takes time.”
His father made a tsking noise under his breath. “You should hire men from Athens to deal with it. They’d get it done. Modernize this house and sell it.”
“Why would I sell it?” Chris asked disapprovingly.
“You’re not seriously going to stay here, are you?”
“Why not?”
“And give up your neurosurgery practice in Manhattan?” his father asked in disbelief.
“You never wanted me to be a surgeon,” Chris snapped. “Now suddenly you care about whether I’m giving it up or not?”
“Only if you mean to give up a lucrative business just to grub around in that nothing of a...”
His father trailed off and his eyes widened as Naomi came down the stairs. She was a beautiful woman, and his father did have a soft spot for beautiful women.
Of course, once she started exuding her sparky personality, his father wouldn’t be as gracious. His father was too old-fashioned to appreciate an outspoken woman.
“Pateras, let me introduce you to Dr. Naomi Hudson. She works with International Relief, the aid agency that is helping us after the earthquake.”
His father nodded. “It’s a pleasure. I am Nikos Moustakas.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Naomi said graciously.
“Come up, Pateras. I know you have to get back to Athens tonight and dinner is ready.”
Chris shot Naomi a look, which made her chuckle a bit under her breath as she led them up the stairs.
His father glanced around the kitchen. “Well, this is more like it. Very modern.”
It would be the closest he’d get to a compliment all night from his father.
“Naomi, why don’t you and my father head outside and I’ll start serving the food?”
“Sure.”
Naomi and his father wandered outside. Chris watched his father as he held out a chair for Naomi and sat next to her.
He took a deep breath. He could get through this.
Although it might take a bit more ouzo than the one bottle Naomi had brought.
* * *
Naomi could tell that Chris was uncomfortable in his father’s presence. She had never seen him like this, and it almost made him seem a bit more human. In fact, she liked this more mature version of Dr. Christos Moustakas much better than the man she’d originally fallen in love with.
The man who had broken her heart.
Be careful.
She did understand why Chris didn’t like his father. Nikos Moustakas was cold, and appeared uncaring, but Naomi couldn’t help but wonder if
there was a caring father buried deep inside him somewhere. Nikos had obviously been hurt when Chris’s mother had left him, and he had built up strong walls to keep everyone out—including his son.
Chris and his father were so alike they’d probably always butt heads, and both of them were so stubborn they couldn’t see beyond the end of their noses.
“Where is my grandson?” Nikos asked when they’d finished their dessert and were having a drink of wine.
“He’s sleeping. He was ill earlier this week,” Chris said.
“If the boy is sleeping, then let him sleep. I will see him next time.”
“Oh? And when will that be?” Chris snapped.
Nikos shot his son a warning look before he turned to her. “So, Dr. Hudson, tell me—what kind of charity events is your relief agency holding to raise money for the earthquake victims?”
“I’m running a bachelor auction, but charity is not my primary focus. I’m a surgeon first and foremost.”
Nikos looked slightly horrified and ignored her latter statement as he turned to Chris. “And you have single men here agreeing to take part in this auction?”
“Pateras, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Women bid for a date. That’s all. And it’s usually something over the top—like a helicopter ride or... Well, I’m planning a night cruise and dinner on one of your yachts, if you’d be kind enough to donate it for a night.”
Nikos looked even more horrified by this. “You’re one of the bachelors?”
“He is,” Naomi said, interrupting. “And his date for the auction is definitely generating the most buzz.”
“I don’t like it,” Nikos stated. “Christos, do you think it’s wise to be doing this when your track record with women hasn’t been the best?”
Chris’s back stiffened, and she saw him glare through the dim light of the terrace at his father.
“This is just for charity—and I don’t date anymore. I have a son to think about now.”
“Exactly,” Nikos growled. “You have a son to think about. And what would he think about his father selling himself, even if it’s for charity?”
“I’ll pay to rent someone else’s yacht, since you disapprove so much.”
Nikos rolled his eyes. “And how would that look? I’m a shipping magnate and my son has to hire out a yacht for a charity event? I don’t think so.”
“It’s an event you don’t approve of, but I think it will bring in lots of money and help raise funds for people in need as well as for the clinic. So, yes, if I have to hire a yacht, I will,” Chris snapped.
“I will lend you a yacht, Christos. All this fuss for something that I think will bring you nothing but trouble in the end. Need I remind you of—”
Nikos stopped and eyed her.
“I have to be going. Dr. Hudson—it was a pleasure meeting you. Can I escort you home? It is late...”
“My apartment is in Athens and I’ve missed the last ferry. I’ll stay here.”
Nikos frowned. “I can take you to Athens in my boat. You don’t need to stay here.”
Naomi blushed and glanced over at Chris, who was scowling at his father.
“Chris...?”
“Go with him,” Chris said curtly.
Naomi felt as if she was stuck between a rock and hard place. She wouldn’t mind sleeping in her own bed tonight, but she didn’t want to make Chris mad at her for taking off with his father. Both of them were so stubborn. Exactly the same. Why couldn’t they see that?
Nikos didn’t wait for her on the terrace but headed through the kitchen and down the stairs.
Chris scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said. “My father is...”
“Don’t worry. He’s not that bad,” she said gently. “If you want me to stay, I can.”
“No,” he said quickly. “It would be foolish of you not to take the ride. Besides, if you refuse, it’ll just make matters worse and then he’ll start shouting. Everyone does what he says.”
“Except you?”
That made him smile. “I suppose so. Which is why he doesn’t like me very much.”
“I think you’re wrong about that.”
Chris snorted in disbelief. “Go. Don’t keep him waiting. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Without thinking, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Good night.”
His eyebrows arched in surprise and she blushed.
She didn’t stick around to gauge his response further or discuss what had happened. Suddenly she was glad she was going to be riding back to Athens with Chris’s father.
It would be a good thing to get some distance from Chris right now. She had to remember he was just a friend. A work colleague and nothing more.
There was a luxury sedan with a driver waiting outside, and Nikos opened the door for her. He was quite charming, like his son. The only difference was that he was cold, whereas Chris was warm, but they both kept people at a distance in their own way.
Nikos climbed in beside her and the driver drove away as Nikos pulled the door closed.
“I’m sorry for my son’s behavior. He really doesn’t think sometimes.”
“I think he does think. He’s very careful about his decisions in the operating room, which is why he’s one of the best neurosurgeons in the world.”
Nikos grunted in response. “If he’s one of the best, why is he here, instead of back in America? And he piddled away good money on that clinic.”
“‘That clinic’ saved so many lives when the earthquake happened, Mr. Moustakas.”
“Nikos, please.”
“Nikos, then,” Naomi said gently. “Your son is a good man, and in my opinion you two are very much alike.”
“We are not! I would never have had a string of affairs just because my heart was broken over some woman. He gave up a good woman, from my understanding. Ah, well, he’s paid the price for that mistake.”
Nikos turned away and was quiet.
Naomi was stunned.
He’d had all those affairs after he left her because he regretted his mistake in giving her up? It seemed unlikely, and she didn’t know how to process the information. If it was true, then karma certainly was biting Chris in the butt.
Still, she thought Nikos was being too hard on his son. Chris was doing right by both baby Evan and the clinic. Deep down, regardless of all the mistakes Chris had made, he had a good heart. She could see that. He’d changed.
Still, there was a part of her that was still deeply hurt. That remembered all too vividly how he’d thrown her over for a job. How he’d told her that he never wanted to settle down and have a family.
He’d been so sure, and she was having a hard time trusting him again—trusting that he’d really changed when there were still glimpses of his old self simmering just below the surface. She really didn’t want to get hurt by him again.
But then there was that other part of herself. The old part of herself, of who she’d been when she’d first met Chris—the part of her that had believed in love and happily-ever-after and wanted to try again.
They pulled up at the docks and Nikos helped her out of the sedan like a gentleman. They boarded the yacht and the captain waited for instructions.
Nikos turned to her. “I have some business to attend to, but please make yourself at home, Dr. Hudson. I have to arrange a yacht for my son to wine and dine some woman with apparently more money than sense.”
“International Relief really appreciates that you’re donating the use of one of your yachts for this. The money will help so many that were affected by the earthquake.”
Nikos softened. “You’re welcome. When we dock, my chauffeur in Athens will take you back to your apartment.”
“You’re too kind...”
Nikos nodded and disappeared below decks.
&nbs
p; Naomi stayed outside. The night air was cool and the sea was calm and there were so many stars glittering in the sky. It was a perfect night.
Too bad she was alone—but that was her choice. It was for the best.
As the yacht pulled away from Mythelios and the island grew smaller, she began to long for something different. For a second chance and a life there with Chris. But Chris had just come here to say goodbye to his grandmother and deal with her affairs after she’d passed. His time on the island might not be permanent.
Chris would most likely return to Manhattan, or even go on somewhere else. And she had a great job and didn’t want to give it up to follow a man who probably didn’t really want her—not after what had happened between them before.
Even if his father had said Chris’s string of affairs had been an attempt to get over losing her...
She needed to hear those words from Chris, and he hadn’t been very forthcoming about it. She wasn’t sure that she could put her whole life on the line again. She’d be a fool if she did—but that old part of her wanted her to take a chance, nonetheless.
“You’re cursed, Naomi. Cursed.”
She shook her crazy yia-yia’s words from her head. She had to stop thinking about this. There was so much to do this week. The bachelor auction was coming up fast, and she’d promised to help Chris with Stavros’s surgery. Then there was Giorgos, who still needed careful monitoring, and Chris had agreed to help her with that.
She had to focus on her career. That was all she had time for. Because the alternative—love, happiness—had brought about a world of hurt the last time she’d experienced it, and she wasn’t willing to put herself through that kind of pain again.
CHAPTER NINE
CHRIS WAS UNUSUALLY quiet the next morning, when they met at the clinic to do an emergency surgery on a patient who was having a gallbladder attack. Not that Naomi could blame him. Things had not gone well with his father the night before.
This was the Chris she remembered from when things had ended between them in Nashville, just before he’d left for Manhattan and hadn’t looked back. This quiet, brooding, cold man who had broken her heart. The man she’d almost thrown it all away for.