Husband By Request

by Rebecca Winters

  Dominique buried her face in her hands. “She’s not about to go away. I don’t know what to do. Since coming back to Greece I’ve decided to play along. The other night Andreas promised me he’ll never keep secrets from me again.”

  “He means it.”

  “I know, but—”

  “But you don’t trust Olympia any more than I do. She’s the one who abused Theo, not the other way around. If you want my opinion, she planned it so he would find her and Andreas together.”

  Her head shot up. “You’re kidding!”

  “No. The only reason she married him was for additional security.”

  “That’s what Theo said.”

  “I imagine it didn’t take him long to realize Olympia was using him. Mrs. Costas is on a fixed income. With her health slowly fading, Olympia decided she needed someone to foot the medical bills if she required extended hospitalization.”

  “She used him.”

  “Olympia doesn’t have a conscience that I can see. When Andreas didn’t succumb to her wiles, she married Theo. But she made certain her relationship with Andreas never changed. Not long after that he met you and fell in love. I could tell she was consumed by jealousy. It drove her to cause problems both before and after your marriage.”

  Dominique reflected on those moments. “I didn’t want to believe she could be so cruel, but there were times…”

  “She’s a dangerous person. But, no matter what she did, Andreas only had eyes for you. It’s my belief she intentionally enflamed Theo so that he wouldn’t only divorce her, he would charge them with adultery. Anything to make it as ugly as possible, so Theo would give her a settlement but want nothing more to do with her.”

  “Then she achieved her goal,” Dominique said sadly. “I went to see Theo at his office.”

  “When?”

  “The day you and I flew to Athens—after we left Zakynthos. He told me he gave up his parental rights.”

  “I can’t say I blame him. To try to work out visitation with a woman like that would be hell on earth.”

  “Poor Ari. He’s so sweet and innocent.”

  “I don’t like it any more than you do, but Olympia’s not normal.”

  “That’s what Andreas said about Theo.”

  “Because Andreas is blind when it comes to Olympia. She’s always known how to play the victim. Throughout their lives she used Maris to get to him.”

  “In what way?”

  “She’d make remarks about how lucky Maris was to have a father and brother who always looked out for her. Olympia knew exactly what she was doing. She conned Andreas, and she conned Theo until he proposed. But as soon as she didn’t want him anymore she knew how to get rid of him.”

  The picture Paul was painting made a horrible kind of sense, but it struck new fear in Dominique’s heart.

  “Can you think of a better way for it to end than the way it did in that trial?” Paul asked. “Especially when Andreas felt sorry for her because of the rape. She knew that if Theo abandoned her Andreas would always take care of her.”

  “I’m afraid he always will.” Dominique’s voice trembled.

  “Olympia planted those seeds early on and they took root. Andreas would have to be presented with proof that she lied to him about the rape in order for the blinders to come off.”

  “That would be next to impossible, Paul,” she half sobbed. “My husband’s the kind of man who believes in a person’s innocence until they’re proven guilty. I don’t want to believe all these horrible things about Olympia, but when I was talking to Theo he denied having said certain things about me. He called her a liar.”

  “That comes as no surprise. I really feel sorry for him. But you know what frightened me most?”

  She blinked back her tears. “What?”

  “The first time I met you, I was afraid she would make mincemeat of you. I’ve never seen a man fall as hard for a woman as Andreas did for you. He was never the same again and Olympia knew it. She despised you for it. I knew in my gut there was going to be trouble. Andreas couldn’t see it. He was too happy, too in love. But in his way, he’d abandoned Olympia.”

  “In her eyes, I’m sure you’re right. But of course he couldn’t have known what he’d done. He’s told me repeatedly she doesn’t mean anything more to him than a close friend of his sister.”

  Paul nodded. “He assumed she was happy in her marriage to Theo. He didn’t realize how devastated she was when he got married. He still didn’t figure it out when Olympia managed to get you to invite her and Theo on the yacht for those little weekend get-togethers. You were on your honeymoon, yet she played on your goodness, Dominique. She knew you would do anything for Andreas. You were all puppets dancing on her strings.”

  She took a fortifying breath. “Not anymore we’re not. Forewarned is forearmed.”

  Paul reached out to squeeze her hand. “I’m glad. You’re the best thing that ever happened to Andreas. You’ll never know my surprise and delight when you told me you were going to fly back to Greece with me. I had a feeling in my gut your intention was to try to save your marriage.”

  “I love him so much.”

  He smiled. “That’s obvious.”

  “Thank you for being my friend. Andreas loves you without question. Now I know why. With you on my side, I won’t let Olympia win.”

  “Are you going to confront her?”

  She eyed him narrowly. “Not unless she forces me. One thing is certain: there won’t be any more secrets.”

  “Are you going to tell Andreas we met for lunch?”

  “Of course. In fact I was hoping to ride back to the office with you and surprise him.”

  He looked relieved. “Then let’s go.” He started to pay the bill, but she threw down the money. “Nope—this is my treat.”

  Paul helped her up from the table. “I know the boss. He’s going to love it when you pop in. You’ve never done anything like that before.”

  “There are so many things I never did before. I don’t know how our marriage lasted four months.”

  “Yes, you do,” he murmured. “You and Andreas have the real thing going for you.”

  Paul was a sweetheart.

  He rang for a taxi. Before long they reached the building and rode the elevator to the top floor.

  Like a girl anticipating her first date, she felt her heart skittering all over the place as she followed him past a pool of secretaries to the door of Andreas’s private suite. The rooms were very light and contemporary. He loved the sun.

  When the two of them walked in, he was standing at the window talking on the phone. Paul gave a knuckle rap, causing Andreas to look around.

  She’d purposely worn a soft lemon outfit with a fitted short-sleeved jacket Andreas had admired when they’d gone shopping. To humor him she’d tried it on, and he’d said she looked good enough to eat.

  That was how she wanted him to feel now that they’d walked in his office unannounced.

  When he saw her, a slow smile broke out on his impossibly handsome face. His conversation ended in short order and he hung up.

  “You two look like the cat who swallowed the proverbial canary. What’s going on?”

  “I took Paul to lunch.”

  “Without me?”

  “It was my special thank-you to him for coming all the way to Sarajevo on a terrible mission to save you and me from destruction. He’s been a true friend to both of us. I’m very grateful.” Her voice wobbled.

  “So am I,” Andreas murmured.

  Paul’s face went red again.

  “Oh—here, darling.” She put a sack on his desk. “I brought you a pastry to feed your sweet tooth. It was my dessert, but I decided to give it to you. I’ve got to start working out in a gym so I’ll be in shape to run some marathons.”

  “We’ve got one downstairs on the third floor. Use it all you want. When I can arrange it, I’ll work out with you.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “So would I,” he s
aid, before he retrieved the baklava from the sack and promptly devoured it.

  Paul eyed both of them in amusement. “I’ve got work waiting for me. See you two later.” He left the room, closing the door behind him.

  Andreas’s gaze traveled over her with heartstopping intimacy. “What are you doing way over there?” he whispered. “We don’t have much time before I have to go into a big meeting.”

  She put her things down on his desk, then hurried around to him. He molded her to him, running his hands over her back with increased urgency while rewarding her with a long, hungry kiss.

  When he finally relinquished her mouth, their lips more or less stuck together. She started to giggle. “You’re covered in honey.”

  He grinned. “So are you…now.”

  “I should have brought you cake.”

  “You’re here. That’s all that matters. Now maybe I’ll be able to make it through the rest of the day.”

  “Oh, Andreas—” She hugged him tighter around the waist. “I love you so much I can hardly breathe when you hold me. When I think of the year we’ve spent apart…”

  “I do believe you’re beginning to understand how I feel. Do you have any idea how many times I stood at these windows, looking out over the city, wishing you’d sweep into my office and tell me you were back to stay?”

  “I wanted to, darling. Every minute I was away from you was agony.”

  He rocked her harder. “When I sent Paul to Greece with the papers, I wanted to hear that you’d thrown them back in his face. But you did something much more wonderful. You came home with him.”

  She kissed the cleft in his chin. “Yes, and then you promptly told me to sign them because you never wanted to see me again. But I knew why, and it was my turn to be terrified that you really meant it and might not follow me to Zakynthos. Thank heaven you did!”

  His mouth closed over hers with smothering force. Dominique almost forgot where they were. If anyone were to walk in on them…

  She finally tore her lips from his. “I wish we could go home right now, but I know you’ve got a meeting so I’d better leave.”

  “Not so fast. What’s your Greek teacher like?”

  “He’s young and handsome and single,” she said with a straight face.

  “You little witch,” he growled into her neck. “I want to know how your first formal lesson went.”

  “Well, I can say Ohi, ya, yasou, kalimera, kalispera, kalinihta, ti kanis, poly kala—and I know what they mean. Want to try me?”

  As rich laughter burst out of him, his private secretary buzzed him. “Kyrie Stamatakis?”

  “Is everyone assembled in the conference room?”

  “Except for Mr. Kazarian, who just phoned to let me know he’s on his way from the bank.”

  “Let me know when he arrives.”

  “Of course. And you have a phone call on line two. It’s Olympia Panos. She says it’s urgent.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  AS IF a shadow had passed across the face of the sun, Andreas’s smile faded. On cue, Dominique’s happiness evaporated.

  “You’d better take it, darling.”

  She moved out of his arms and sat down in front of his desk, wondering what was so pressing that Olympia should interrupt Dominique’s husband on a busy work day.

  How come she hadn’t called on his cellphone? Had she been afraid Andreas wouldn’t answer it right away? Or had she purposely planned to go through his secretary so he’d be forced to deal with her immediately?

  On the heels of her chat with Paul, Dominique was all ears.

  Andreas picked up the receiver to talk to her. Whatever Olympia had to say didn’t last long. After telling her he’d work something out, he hung up, looking concerned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Olympia’s aunt has developed a pain that won’t go away. The doctor wants her to go into the clinic. If Olympia drives her, she’s going to need help with Ari. I’ll send Paul.”

  “Don’t you need him for the meeting?”

  “I’ll ask my secretary to take notes.”

  “Andreas—do you mean to tell me Olympia doesn’t have a sitter she can call in an emergency?”

  What a convenient bind to be in, so that Andreas would have to drop whatever he was doing and run to her assistance.

  “It’s my understanding that Olympia’s aunt usually tends him if she needs help.”

  “Well, I’m free for the rest of the day. Call your driver and he can take me over to her apartment right now. You can join me after work. How does that sound?”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Heavens, no. I’ve been dying to get my hands on him, and scrunch that cute little body of his.”

  He smiled. “You’d be saving my life.”

  “Then it’s settled. What’s her address?”

  He wrote it on a piece of paper, then came around and handed it to her with a hard, swift kiss. “I’ll be by later.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  She grabbed her things off the desk. He walked her out to the elevator and gave her one more kiss before the doors closed.

  When she stepped outside the building a limo was waiting for her. She showed the driver the paper, then got in the back and they took off.

  Downtown traffic in Athens was pure chaos at the lunch hour. She lay back against the seat, thankful someone else was at the wheel. It took a native-born son to know how to dodge cars and navigate through this huge city which was still relatively new to her.

  Besides all the monuments and museums, it would take years to explore all the little side streets and historical districts.

  In less than ten minutes they came to a newer residential area with more modern-looking buildings. The chauffeur let her out in front of a five-story apartment. Apparently Olympia and her aunt lived on the third floor.

  She thanked the driver and hurried inside. After finding the right button on the wall, she buzzed it and waited for the elevator.

  Half a minute later she emerged and walked down the hall. Andreas had indicated it was the second door on the left. Dominique pressed the bell.

  Within seconds Olympia opened the door. A surprised cry escaped her to see Dominique standing there.

  “Where’s Andreas?”

  Paul had asked her if she was going to confront Olympia. This was as good a time as any.

  “He has a big meeting this afternoon, Olympia. You had no business calling him. Now that you have a baby, you need to find some sitters you can phone at a moment’s notice. Since I happened to be at his office when your call came through, I offered to come and tend Ari.”

  “It’s difficult to find someone you can trust,” Olympia said, without revealing the least bit of embarrassment. Dominique’s father would call Olympia a cool customer.

  “I’m afraid you’re going to have to.”

  “Ari doesn’t do well with strangers.”

  “No baby does,” Dominique rejoindered. “But there are hundreds of thousands of single moms out there who manage to get help and do just fine. I’m sure you will too once you try. However, I’m here now, and I can drive all of you to the clinic. Or, if you’d prefer, I’ll stay here with Ari while you go with your aunt.”

  Clearly this wasn’t the way Olympia had envisioned things turning out.

  “Ari cries with you.”

  “Give me a little time with him and he’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t know…” She looked fit to be tied.

  “Please don’t worry. I promise I’ll do everything I can for him until you get back.”

  “Come in, then.”

  At last.

  Dominique followed her into the living room, where her aunt was seated on the edge of a chair, her breathing strained. The older red-haired woman only knew a little English. After meeting her at the wedding, this was only the second time Dominique had seen her.

  “Hello, Mrs. Costas. Do you remember me?”

  “Yes.”

  “I�
��m sorry you’re not feeling well. I’ve come to watch Ari.”

  “He is sleeping.”

  “I’ll take good care of him while you go see the doctor.”

  “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Olympia hurried back in the living room. “His bottles are in the fridge. He’s due to wake up for one in a half-hour. Then he’ll play for a while. Unless this is something serious with my aunt, I hope to back for his next bottle, which will be around five.”

  “You go, and don’t worry about anything. If you need me to stay over tonight, I can.”

  “Thank you,” her aunt murmured again.

  Nothing from Olympia.

  Dominique saw them out the door, then tiptoed through the apartment to the tiny third bedroom where Ari lay sleeping. He looked like a little dark-haired angel.

  She went back to the living room, deciding this would be a good time to do her homework for the next day. There was a small table in the kitchen where she could study.

  Along with her textbook was a tape to help with her pronunciation. She put it in the little mini pocket recorder she’d purchased and began imitating the words of the first lesson.

  After about forty-five minutes Ari started to cry. She jumped up from the table to warm his bottle in a pan of hot water. When she’d gotten that started, she hurried down the hall, calling out his name so he would be alerted that a stranger was in the house.

  At first he cried his heart out when he saw her. But after she’d walked around the apartment with him, patting his back while she sang some songs to him, he settled down. Several times his lower lip quivered, but when she started to feed him his bottle, he took to it and drank noisily.

  She put a diaper over her shoulder to burp him. He was a good boy and did everything he was supposed to do. Once he’d digested, she found his little floor gym and took it in the living room so he could play.

  He focused for a long time on the toys. Even after a diaper change he kept kicking everything, and got so excited his little fists wound around like a boxer’s.

  Oh, he was cute.