“Popi, I’d like you to meet Anna. She is the housekeeper, but in truth she’s the one that keeps this house functioning. Without her, the place would fall apart.”
Anna’s cheeks took on a pink hue, but she didn’t say anything.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Popi smiled.
“If you need anything at all,” Anna said, “just let me know.” And then she stepped closer. “May I see him?”
Popi pulled the blanket away from the baby’s face to give Anna a good look at him. “Would you like to hold him?”
Anna’s eyes widened and her face filled with excitement. “I would.”
Apollo watched as the two women interacted with ease. He breathed a little easier. This would definitely help with his ultimate plan—getting Popi to agree to stay here with him and the baby.
* * *
One day passed into the next in what felt like a five-star hotel.
Every need was met but this place lacked that relaxing, comforting feel of home.
The Drakos estate certainly wasn’t where Popi had planned to end up after leaving the hospital, but with the island undergoing renovations and her parents stricken by the flu, Apollo’s offer had seemed like the only logical offer.
They’d agreed to use the name their siblings had chosen for the baby, Sebastian. As it was quite a mouthful, they’d nicknamed the baby Seb. It suited him.
The mansion, on the other hand, took a lot to get used to it. The place was enormous. It was possible for them to both be home and not even run into each other. The home was older but it had been updated over the years with all the modern amenities without losing its classic charms.
Popi felt like she was living in a museum. Everything in this enormous foyer was some priceless work of art. This place was definitely more museum than home. No wonder her sister and brother-in-law had never considered living here, preferring a smaller house near the sea. And it in some way explained why Apollo never came home. This place, though stunning with its marble floors and soaring columns, was cold. It was the complete opposite of her own cozy, colorful and warm childhood home. And nothing like her bungalow on Infinity Island. In fact, her entire place could fit within the walls of the foyer alone.
Was the lack of hominess within the mansion the reason Apollo had made himself scarce since they’d brought the baby home a week ago? Or was he avoiding her? Did he regret extending an invitation to her while her parents were dealing with a string of illnesses?
Well, she was done being ignored. If Apollo wouldn’t come to her, she would go to him. And that meant a trip to the gardens. It appeared to be his passion and, in all fairness, the gardens were more weeds than flowers or foliage. If someone didn’t tend to them immediately, the weeds would win.
With the baby fed, changed and down for a nap, Popi left the nanny Apollo had insisted on hiring in charge and went to seek out her host. She made her way down the sweeping steps off the grand patio at the back of the home. She could see how this area had been stunning at one time, but time and the elements had done a number on just about everything.
Popi followed the stone path until she heard the sounds of work being done. To her surprise, Apollo wasn’t out here alone. At least he’d had sense to call in a work crew, because an enormous garden like this would take him years to restore on his own.
After being pointed in the right direction, Popi came across Apollo adding dirt around the base of what she surmised to be a small fruit tree. And then as her gaze took in his shirtless appearance, her mouth grew dry. He looked good—too good.
His skin was deeply tanned. His corded muscles flexed as he moved a shovel of dirt from the wheelbarrow. No man had a right to look that good. She should just tiptoe backward and slip away. Because without his shirt on, she had a hard time stringing two thoughts together, much less trying to speak.
Apollo glanced up as though he sensed her presence. “Is something wrong? Is it the baby?”
“Uh...” Come on, Popi. You can do better than that. She swallowed hard. “The baby is fine.” She forced a smile to her face as her insides shivered with nervous energy. “I promise.”
It was sad that upon seeing her that he would jump to the conclusion that something was amiss. Was it such a leap for him to consider another reason for her being out here to see him?
She was right to have come here. If they were going to do this co-parenting thing, with the child splitting time between her on the island and Apollo here at the estate, they needed to be friends—not just two people who coexisted during a brutal storm. Even though he’d opened up to her that special night, he’d since shut down again. She hoped to bridge the gap once more.
Apollo’s brows drew together. “Then why are you out here?”
Again, it was sad that he had to ask that question instead of just enjoying her company. She worried her bottom lip and glanced away. And then she wondered if coming here to the garden—to his private area—his sanctuary—had been a mistake.
“I came out here because... Well, I thought we, um...” Being near him was making her unusually nervous.
“How are you at gardening?” He turned back to the tree and finished packing the dirt.
“I, uh, don’t have any experience. We always lived in the city, so the only plants we had were in pots in the windows. I must admit I never bothered with them. That was my mother’s territory.”
“It’s never too late to learn.” He gave her outfit a quick once-over. “But I’m sure you don’t want to get your nice outfit all dirty.”
She glanced down at her blue capris and white knit top. She did like this outfit. It fit her well and yet it was also comfortable. But she had a choice to make: stain her favorite outfit while making inroads with Apollo or walk away, leaving the awkward distance between them.
Without hesitation, Popi moved next to him and dropped down to her knees. “Where do we start?”
For the first time since Seb was born, Apollo smiled at her. “This sapling is done.”
“Oh.” A frown pulled at her lips. She must have misunderstood him.
“Don’t worry. I have plenty more waiting to be planted.” He got to his feet, pulled off his gloves and then held his hand out to her.
She placed her hand in his, and immediately a jolt of awareness raced up her arm and set her heart aflutter. Her gaze met his. The cool indifference that he’d shown her since they’d returned home with baby Seb was gone. In its place was warmth and, dare she say it, a twinkle of interest.
He led her to another secluded spot, where he’d already removed a patch of weeds and was ready to plant a lemon tree. Out here in the garden, he was chatty. So long as she supplied questions about anything pertaining to the garden, he gave her lengthy, informative answers.
Was it possible it was the house that put him in a sullen mood and not her? He did say he and his father had a turbulent past. Perhaps there were too many bad memories tied up in the house.
As they worked together, adding the water around the roots, followed by the loose dirt, Popi asked, “Why did you return here?” When he sent her a puzzled look, she added, “You know—instead of selling the estate and getting a place, um...” She knew she had to be careful how she phrased this, as she didn’t want to undo the progress they’d made so far. “Someplace smaller for just you...and Seb.”
Relief filtered over his face as though he were expecting some other question. He shrugged and returned to adding the dirt back around the tree. “It’s the Drakos estate. And I’m a Drakos. And this is Seb’s home.”
Where he had been giving her lengthy answers, she noticed that he’d reverted back to his short answers. She also noticed how he said this was the baby’s home—not his. There was more he wasn’t saying, but he didn’t need to. He was drawn to this place because it was part of his heritage, but it was also mired in bad memories. She wondered if there was any w
ay to untangle the two.
“Stop.” Apollo’s voice drew her from her musings.
“Stop what?” She glanced down at her hands, but she hadn’t been doing anything.
“Not the gardening.” He shook his head. “Stop trying to figure out ways to fix me. Some things and some people can’t be fixed.”
She didn’t believe that. But she knew arguing with him would be pointless—
“Miss Costas?”
Popi glanced over her shoulder to find one of the young maids heading toward her. Popi got to her feet and brushed off the gloves that Apollo had loaned her. Apollo moved beside Popi with a concerned look on his face.
The young woman stopped in front of her. “You wanted to know when the baby woke up. He’s up now and in a fine mood.” The young girl looked at Apollo and blushed. “I should get back to the house.”
Popi held back a laugh until the young woman was out of sight.
Apollo studied her. “What’s so amusing?”
“Someone has a crush on you.”
His gaze moved from her to the young maid and then back to Popi. He shook his head. “No.”
“Yes. Didn’t you see her blush?”
He noticeably swallowed. “I should probably replace her.”
Popi shook her head. “Don’t do that. I’m sure she needs the job. Besides, if you replace all of the females that have a crush on you, then you’d have a very small staff.”
Apollo’s mouth opened but nothing came out. He pressed his lips together. Was that a tinge of color in his cheeks?
“As long as you don’t encourage her, you shouldn’t have a problem with her.”
Apollo’s brow arched. “Who else should I be cautious around?”
Popi shrugged. She didn’t want him to become even more withdrawn. This was the only maid to make her infatuation blatantly obvious.
“What about you?” he asked.
“What about me?” Suddenly she felt quite uncomfortable. Surely he wasn’t asking what she thought.
His blue eyes studied her. “Do you have a secret crush on me too?”
“Uh...” The breath got caught in the back of her throat. And suddenly the sun was quite uncomfortably hot. “I should go check on the baby.”
She turned and walked as fast as she could without breaking into a run. She should have answered him, but she hated lying. And there was no way she was admitting to him that she too had a crush on him, because it was nothing more than a rush of hormones.
After giving birth, her body was all over the place. Plus Apollo had helped her through the scariest, yet most profound moment of her life—giving birth to Seb. For that she would always be grateful to him.
Right now Apollo was just having some fun at her expense. Nothing more. His deep laughter followed her up the path. It wasn’t like he was truly interested in her answer. Right?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THINGS WERE CHANGING...
For the better, she liked to think.
Popi refilled her coffee cup and moved to the terrace. Now that she knew about Apollo’s passion for gardening and his willingness to teach her, she regularly joined him when Seb didn’t need her.
But she found that their conversation centered on agriculture. And she simply didn’t have the same passion for flowers and trees that Apollo did. She’d been hoping they would connect on a deeper level. Because if he couldn’t connect with her, would he be able to do it with Seb?
She leaned back in the cushioned chair and sipped her morning coffee. The baby had already been up, eaten and played before going back down for a morning nap. That had been Popi’s cue to grab some coffee before heading to the garden.
It was at Apollo’s insistence a nanny had been hired. She was an older woman with years of experience and stellar references that were all verified. In the end, Popi realized that having another person devoted to the care and nurturing of Seb could only ever be a good thing. And it in no way detracted from her interactions with the baby.
“I thought I might find you here.” Apollo’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned to find him approaching the empty chair next to hers. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d slept in.”
“Not a chance. I’ve been getting up with the sun for so many years that I don’t know if I could sleep late even if I needed to.” He sat down. “I take it the baby had you up early.”
She nodded. “I suppose he takes after his uncle.”
A smile pulled at Apollo’s lips. “Do you really think he’s like me?”
“I think he looks a lot like you.”
His smile broadened. “But I think you’ve totally won him over. Every time I pick him up, he cries. When you hold him, he’s all smiles.”
So, he’d noticed that too. She hadn’t said anything about it, as she didn’t want to make him feel bad. Seb was just as much Apollo’s nephew as he was hers. They’d been dancing around the subject of a split-custody arrangement since they’d been discharged from the hospital.
She couldn’t stay here forever. The repairs to Infinity Island were almost complete. They had to get the legal issues taken care of so that they could both move on. Because even though they’d become friends, there was nothing more to this arrangement than mutual respect for each other and their devotion to the baby.
“Apollo, we need to talk—”
“I agree. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. And I think I’ve come to a solution.”
“A solution?” Was he talking about the same thing as her?
He nodded. “We both love Seb. And he is the Drakos heir. That little boy will one day come into great wealth and wield unimaginable power.”
She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. When he started talking about the baby being the heir, she knew she was in trouble. Apollo was seeing Seb not as a sweet baby in need of love and nurturing but rather of the power that the baby will hold one day and the guardian that must handle the business affairs for the baby until its of age.
Apollo continued, even though she’d missed part of what he’d said. “It’s for this reason that the baby should remain here—at the Drakos estate.”
“I thought we’d agreed on split custody.”
“I said I’d think about it. And I did. It’ll will be less confusing for him to stay here at the estate. He’ll have an entire staff to watch after him.”
Popi set aside her coffee, no longer having the stomach for it. She sat up straight. “I didn’t know that you still looked at Seb that way.”
“What way? You mean as the heir?”
She nodded. “He’s just a little baby.” She waved her hand around. “None of this means anything to him.”
Apollo’s eyes became shuttered, blocking her out. “This place means everything. I may have walked away from here because I didn’t feel as though I belonged here, but I never doubted the importance of the estate. My brother was always the chosen one. He was the one my father appointed to step into his shoes. And that role will now fall to my nephew.”
That was a lot to put on a small, helpless baby. “But what about you?”
“I will help the army of trustees selected to run the business until Seb is old enough to take over.”
“And then what? You’re just going to turn your back on your family’s business again?”
“Sure. Why not? It was not my calling like it was my brother’s. Nile was the one obsessed with all things Drakos. He would want his son to be raised here.”
“And what about you and your future children? Won’t they want a place in the family business?”
He gave a firm shake of his head. “I’m not having children. I’m not going through that again.”
“Through what?”
He glanced away. “Nothing.”
“It was definitely something.”
She didn’t understand why he would resolutely write off the possibility of children. He surely didn’t think he would be climbing mountains and hiking the Amazon the rest of his life, did he? “Apollo, talk to me.”
He looked at her with emotions reflected in his eyes. But she couldn’t discern if it was anger at her for pushing the subject.
He cleared his throat. “I won’t be responsible for another person dying.”
“What?” Was he referring to his brother? If so, she didn’t see how he could feel responsible. He wasn’t even in the country at the time. Or was it someone else? “Who?”
A few seconds passed before he said, “My mother.”
He killed his mother? No. That couldn’t be right.
She was most definitely missing something.
Her gaze searched his face for answers but found none. “I don’t understand.”
He stared out at the vast landscaped yard with its elaborate water fountain and gorgeous flower garden. “My mother died after giving birth to me. And my father blamed me for her death until his own dying breath.”
Suddenly she understood him so much better. This was why he was always on a new adventure. Who would want to stick around to be blamed for something that was in no way his fault?
Popi reached out, placing her hand on his arm. “Surely you understand that it wasn’t your fault.”
“I understand that I was an accident. Once my father got my brother, he wasn’t interested in having more children, but he was willing to indulge my mother. But when it all went so horribly wrong, I was blamed. I was just a child but I knew my father hated me.”
“He didn’t hate you.” She just couldn’t believe that was true. Could a parent really hate their child? She couldn’t accept such a horrible reality for him. “Your father was grieving his wife.”
Apollo turned a haunted look at her. “For years?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sorry you lived through that.”
Claiming the Drakos Heir Page 11