His mother narrowed her gaze on him and Sam wondered about the strange look that passed between them.
“I couldn’t have explained the Tarot better myself,” Sam said.
He shrugged nonchalantly, but she could see a smile hovering about his mouth. “I actually found myself compelled to learn more about it. I admit I find it very interesting.”
Christina broke their locked gazes, asking abruptly, “Are you any good?”
“I…I think so. My clients always come back for repeat business and they’ve given me many referrals. That’s why I hired Toni to come work with me. I’ve been spending more time in the back of my shop than in the front.”
“Tell me, Miss Hope,” Leo’s mother continued, “is there anything else we should know about you?”
Sam took a deep breath and gave the woman a direct look. “Only that I’m honoured to have Toni as a sister-in-law and I am very happy you will finally meet John next month.”
“Let’s drink to that,” Harry announced, proudly raising his glass.
“Once again, father,” Leo said, “I find myself agreeing with you.”
* * * *
Leo had been in the library for over an hour, his mind going over every detail. It was almost midnight and he stretched out his long legs as he took another swig of whiskey, leaning back on the sofa.
There was no question someone had tampered with Sam’s file. The real, live woman sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs wasn’t anything like the woman in the file Matt sent him. Prostitution, shoplifting, fraud.
Every bone in Leo’s body was telling him Matt’s file was altered, and he had a strong suspicion who it was. The culprit could not be someone who had access to Matt’s email. Matt Walker was the best PI in New York, and he would never be careless with his security.
Remorse flowed through Leo’s veins as he recalled how ruthlessly he had treated Sam on the phone when he’d called a week before the wedding and again yesterday when he met her at the airport.
Yet, as much as he had to get to the bottom of this, he had a bigger problem to contend with. How was he going to tell Sam his family came from a long line of werewolves originating six hundred years ago?
* * * *
Sam stopped pacing her bedroom floor and sighed. She glanced at her clock. It was already three hours since the dinner party ended and sleep was not coming any closer. She pursed her lips and left her room.
A few minutes later she opened the library door and stifled a gasp. She hadn’t expected to see Leo at this hour when she walked into the room. “Oh. I’m sorry. I came down for a book. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Me either,” he said. “Please, help yourself. What type of book do you want to read? I can point you in the right direction.”
Sam walked over to the floor to ceiling shelves and smiled. She couldn’t believe how big his collection was. She ran her gaze over the titles.
“Oh, you have a selection on royalty. Mm. I haven’t read this one yet,” she said. She glanced at him and nearly jumped back when she saw how close her stood to her. She couldn’t believe how a man as big as he could move as quietly as a mouse. “I…I enjoy paranormal romances, but I love reading other genres as well, both fiction and non-fiction.”
“What kind of paranormal romances do you enjoy? I believe we have some books on magic.”
“I enjoy werewolf and vampire romances.”
A shutter fell over his face. Was he scoffing her reading choice? “They’re wildly popular and quite thrilling to read.”
“And you find the notion of a human loving a beast romantic?”
She shrugged. “It’s all make believe. Besides, the heroes in the books aren’t classified as beasts. They’re men with honour and grace, bravery and gallantry.”
“I see. So you’re not afraid of werewolves.”
She frowned. “Not afraid of them? They’re make believe.”
He shrugged casually. “How are we to know what does and does not exist? People believe in God, yet no one has seen Him.”
She laughed. “That’s different. You can’t compare the existence of God versus the existence of werewolves.”
“Why not?”
“Wait a minute. Are you debating the existence of werewolves with me? Do you believe there’s a possibility they’re real?”
“I believe if you cannot see something, that does not necessarily mean it does not exist.”
“Some people would call that blind faith. So you believe in God?”
“Of course.”
“And werewolves?” She laughed, realising how ridiculous her question sounded and she turned back to the bookshelf, not expecting an answer. A series of art books caught her attention and she looked up at him. “Do you have any books on Impressionists?”
He was silent for such a long time, staring deeply into her eyes, she wondered if he even heard her. “Yes, we do. I believe I have one on Monet.” He walked down a few feet to another shelf. “Here it is,” he said as he pulled it out of the shelf and handed it to her.
The book was heavy. Intrigued, she flipped through a few pages, admiring the beautiful paintings. Sam smiled at him. “Thanks.”
Leo’s gaze flickered to her mouth. “During dinner you mentioned you minored in Art. Do you paint?”
“I dabble, I’m afraid.”
His eyes softened and Sam’s breath caught at the warm look on his face. “You made quite an impression on my parents, Sam. Especially my mother, which is saying a lot because she has met some very interesting characters in her existence.”
What an odd word to use. Existence. “Your family seems very close.”
“We are. Like your family. It seems we have something in common.”
There was something different about him tonight. He seemed warmer, friendlier, she thought. Nervously, she cleared her throat. “Your parents speak English very well.”
“They have lived all over the world. My parents speak five languages.”
Astonishment made her brows rise. “That’s very impressive. Do you speak other languages apart for English and Greek.”
“Yes. I am fluent in seven languages.”
She wondered how in the world he and his parents found the time to learn so many languages and was about to ask him when he cleared his throat abruptly and walked to a coffee table. He grabbed his glass and took a deep swig of the amber liquid. He looked over his shoulder.
“My apologies. I did not ask you if you would like a drink.”
She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, no. That’s fine. I’m not much of a drinker.” She smiled. “So you own a string of hotels?”
He nodded, taking another deep swig of his drink, and rested his glass down with a slight thud. Something was bothering him. He seemed unsettled, she thought, noticing the slight tightening of his mouth.
Suddenly, a familiar sensation grew in the pit of her stomach. Sam went still. Could it be? Yes! She was finally able to pick up on his aura. She stared up at him, entranced by the myriad of colours she saw around him. Sam tried to pay attention to what he was saying, but she was too distracted by the yellows and reds and purples around him. It was like a veil had been lifted from her eyes and she could finally see him for the first time. Did this mean she could draw her cards and read him?
“My great grandfather started the business with one hotel and, as my mother mentioned, the business was passed down to each generation.” He paused and took in her interested look. “I actually think we’ve gotten too big.”
His aura disappeared and she focused on his words. “Too big? Has service suffered?
“No, but I do feel we have gotten to a scale where we have lost my great grandfather’s values. Our hotels used to have a personal touch. They were catered to our clientele’s individual and personal needs. Now we have become just another hotel chain.”
“Do you blame yourself?
Leo shrugged. “Partly, but it is of no consequence, I suppose, as I am in the process of doing something ab
out it.”
“So you want to downsize your business to focus on quality control.”
Leo nodded, smiling. “In a manner of speaking, yes.”
Sam frowned delicately. “Won’t you feel responsible when your employees lose their jobs with the sale? Don’t new owners usually replace most of the existing staff with employees of their own?”
His smile glimmered with admiration. “You are right. They do. That is why I am making sure that does not happen. I have set up a contract that will forbid it for the first year after the sale. After the first year, the property can be converted into another business. At least that will give everyone time to plan for themselves.”
She heard words in her head and murmured them out loud. “A home away from home.”
Surprise darkened his face. “That was my great grandfather’s vision. He used to say his hotel was a home away from home. How do you know this?”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know. I…I felt it,” she said quietly.
How did she know anything that just popped up into her mind? Sometimes she sensed things—specific things—and other times, she saw things—scenes and images with dialogue, like the one she just saw of an elderly man who spoke of his hotel in a gruff voice.
She braced herself as she waited for his cynical reply. Instead, Leo offered quietly, “I see.”
Wanting to change the subject, she veered toward another subject. “I had a lovely day at the beach. I met a young boy who spent a couple of hours with me. He lives in an orphanage. His name is Alek. He seems lonely and afraid, but he has courage and strength, and I can see there’s a part of him that will survive all this. He loves to draw and he has a strong passion to learn.”
“Why did you not invite him to come for dinner tonight?”
His concern was genuine and it touched a cord deep within Sam. She smiled at his immediate show of compassion. “I did, but he refused.” She stopped abruptly, worried and apologetic all at once as her hand flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even ask you if that would be okay.”
He was already brushing her worry away with his hand. “Of course it would have been fine.”
Relief flowed through her veins, warming her. “Thank you, Leo. That’s very kind of you.” She looked at him shyly. “I think you’ll like him. He’s very sweet.”
“Anything I can do to help, Sam.”
“After dinner tonight, I sat in my room and drew him. I can go get the picture. I left it on my nightstand. It’ll only take me a few minutes.”
“I’ll come up with you. I was going to retire anyway, and your room is just down the hall from mine.”
Sam hugged the two books on royalty and Impressionists closer to her chest. “Okay,” she said quietly, hoping her face didn’t betray her attack of nerves.
His eyes didn’t miss a thing, and his face hardened. “Let’s go.”
She followed him up to her room and he politely opened her door. She placed her books on the bed and handed him the picture of Alek. “Here.”
He regarded it in silence. Sam knew she had captured the young boy’s fear and vulnerability, pride and strength. Leo gave her an admiring glance.
“You’re a remarkable artist, Sam,” he said gruffly.
“Thank you. It was easy to draw him. Alek has a very expressive face.”
“It is done, then,” he said abruptly. “We will have him here for dinner tomorrow night.”
Dinner. Sam felt a tinge of remorse. “Leo, I forgot to thank you for bringing dinner to my room last night. That was very thoughtful of you.”
“Was it only yesterday I met you?” He murmured.
A warm pool of tension settled in her belly as his dark gaze bore down on hers. He was standing so close to her, she sensed his male energy all around her. It was strong, solid, secure. The colours, light, and energy around him intensified and she was dazed.
This time his aura was all red and purple with blinding streaks of white and she took an anxious step back as his passion hit her like a ton of bricks. It frightened her. Sam wasn’t ready to explore this new rush of emotion and she backed away from him.
“Why are you frightened of me?” He asked, his tone laced with frustration.
“I’m…I’m not.” How could she tell him she was frightened because for the first time in her life she had no way of knowing anything about her future? That she was lost? That her cards weren’t guiding her with her developing emotions for him?
Slowly, he withdrew. “I should let you get some sleep. Good night, Sam.”
* * * *
Leo recalled her quivering lips, her faltering gaze, her small yet imperceptible retreat, and his gut clenched, his mouth tightened. It was as though she could see beneath him and see his wolf. His inner beast trying to escape.
Making her his was going to take longer than he thought, so he’d bade her goodnight and had retired to his room, his thoughts remaining on the lovely, red-haired woman who seemed to be fighting his wolf within every step of the way.
His destined one be damned! It was Sam he wanted.
Sam he wanted to claim as his own.
Chapter 6
For the first time since she arrived in Greece, Sam woke up in good spirits. She knew yesterday had marked progress with Leo and she was confident everything was going to be all right.
Toni and John’s visit here next month was going to be a success. Sam could feel it in her bones. She felt a few more things, too. Things about Leo she didn’t know before. He wasn’t the hard, cold, insensitive man she had thought he was. He was kind, compassionate, understanding, and he had a nice family, she decided, thinking about his parents. Yes, his mother had seemed a tad standoffish at first, but wasn’t that understandable? She was being over protective with her son and daughter because she loved them.
Whatever reasons Leo had for disliking Sam, she was certain he didn’t have them anymore. He had gotten to know her and she was positive he liked her, and that meant he would like John, too.
Now if only Sam could control her raging hormones every time he was near, the rest of her vacation would be perfect.
She thought about last night when they were in her room and her stomach flipped. Leo had wanted to kiss her again and she was slowly but surely losing the battle. She couldn’t deny her feelings any longer. She was falling for him.
Her heart sunk as she realised she was going home in a week and a half. She thought about what she’d seen in her Tarot last night after Leo had left her room.
If she chose to embrace their developing relationship, heartbreak and pain would fall upon her. She’d even caught a glimpse of herself collapsing on the stairs in despair and grief.
Sam frowned. She wished she had been able to see more. What would cause her knees to buckle with such overwhelming grief that she would collapse on the stairs and sob uncontrollably?
She pushed her unsettling thoughts from her mind and showered. Afterward, she changed into her black bikini and a yellow cotton sundress. Quickly she went downstairs.
She ate breakfast by herself in the kitchen, and thought of Maria who was with Nitsa at the hospital. Leo was nowhere to be found and she welcomed the solitude.
After Sam rinsed her plate, she borrowed the Volvo and drove into town to buy Alek a bathing suit, but one thing led to another and she ended up buying a whole slew of things she imagined a young boy might like and need. She couldn’t wait to see his reaction when he opened his bag. An hour later, she was sitting on the beach.
It was another beautiful day, and she stretched out on her colourful beach blanket and closed her eyes. What a glorious day. The birds were in full form with their singing and the sound of the waves hitting the beach soothed her.
A shadow fell over her face. She opened her eyes and gasped in surprise as she stared up at Leo dressed in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. He carried big, shiny department store bag.
Sam sat up abruptly. “What…what are you doing here?” Wearing her bikini wasn’t exactly
being naked, but she couldn’t help feeling exposed.
His dark gaze roamed lazily over her body. “Maria has been calling the house all morning to see if you returned. I knew you would be here.”
Concern drew her brows together. “Is Nitsa all right?”
“She is fine. She will give birth tonight and she has been asking for you.”
“Oh.” Sam glanced at her watch and chewed her lower lip.
“Alek hasn’t turned up, has he?”
Sam shook her head. “He was supposed to meet me here a couple of hours ago.” She glanced at her tote bag. “His…his lunch will go bad and I…I bought him a bathing trunk,” she added quietly, looking at her shopping bag by her feet.
Leo flicked an amused glance at her bag brimming with items. “There seems to be more than trunks in there,” he said, his mouth quirking as though he was trying to hide a smile.
Sam shrugged self-consciously. “I bought him a few more things, too. Some T-shirts, a few pairs of shorts, a couple of books on the drawing.”
Leo handed her the bag he carried. “Here. You can give this to him as well,” he said, his tone suddenly gruff. “It’s a paint set.”
Surprised, Sam peered into the bag and gasped. “This is more than a paint set, Leo. This is what real artists use. My goodness, you bought oil, water, acrylic paints, and amazing brushes here. And all that lovely, soft canvas! Alek’s going to love it,” she added, smiling up at him.
He stared at her mouth as her smile grew and he blinked before he cleared his throat abruptly. “You can call the orphanage later. There’s only one on the island. In the meantime,” he added as he sat down beside her, “I’ll wait with you in case he turns up.”
“Sure. I’d…I’d love that,” she said, surprised by his offer.
He gave her a wry look. “Contrary to what you may think, I am not an ogre, Sam.”
“No, of course not,” she exclaimed, “I never thought… I didn’t… Never mind,” she ended lamely, giving him a sheepish grin. She reached over to him and touched his arm. “The paint set was a very thoughtful gift, Leo.”
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