“Less of the charm.”
“There isn’t a chance that I could see Olivia sooner, like right now?”
“Don’t push it. And I can’t guarantee that Olivia won’t send you packing. I wouldn’t blame her one bit if she does.” Maria gave him a stern penetrating stare she must have learned from Sloan, and turned away from him. “Now earn your keep and make up for your absence in the past few weeks. Tyler’s missed you. And for goodness’ sake eat something, you look haunted and hungry.”
“It’s a new diet called ‘eating crow’.” For the first time in ages Alexander felt a little more alive and hopeful.
Chapter 10
The soothing soft music washed over Olivia as she lay on her tummy on the massage table and slowly breathed in and out through the opening of its head rest. The healing scent of lavender, eucalyptus and something delicious wrapped her with surprising inner calm. Within the quiet music, the gentle swelling and ebbing of the ocean lapping the imaginary shore was so evocative she had to stop herself reverting to the melancholy of the past. She wouldn’t think about Alexander’s fresh scent, his touch or his charm. Or reminisce about her many talks about Greece with him over their shared weeks together. She ached with need for him, yearning to be there—with him.
But it was a futile waste of energy and tears.
She hadn’t been able stay at Aunt Jenny’s finished beach house, which was not yet on the market, after the coward had flown out of her hotel room like the proverbial bat out of hell over five long weeks ago.
She heard a shuffle and didn’t open her eyes. The power of her thoughts and her relaxed state actually evoked that wonderful masculine scent that was uniquely Alexander’s.
When warm hands gently touched her hair, she determined to make the most of Maria’s and her mother-in-law’s timely and welcome gift. Her two friends were lucky to have Sandra as their no-nonsense but loving mother-in-law.
The massage therapist’s large hands were firm, but so soothing and wreaking such pleasure that she was glad she had capitulated to Maria’s demands to join her today. She fell deeper into the Zen mood. When she sighed a small deep groan above her roused her from her reverie.
Had she just felt a slight overlap of knowing fingers near the outer sides of her breasts?
Heart beating too fast she raised her heavy head slightly to her left to get a glimpse of her therapist.
At the instant recognition she nearly fell off the high table and Alexander caught her as if expecting her reaction.
“What the hell!” She squealed. Pushing herself out of his arms she wriggled off the massage table. “How did you get in here? How d-dare you t-touch me?”
Staring up at him while dragging and fastening the sheet across her torso, covering as much of herself as possible, she didn’t care about the heat over her face and neck. And she told her betraying heart to just stop thumping like that as she tried to collect herself.
“I needed to see you, Olivia. Please listen just for one moment.” Alexander appeared so different, much taller and leaner, and—
What did she care about what he looked like? He broke her heart again!
“I will not listen to you. Not now, not ever.” Every word threatened her breathing and tears shed over her cheeks.
Alexander weaved his way around the massage table and stood too close to her. “Please, Olivia, I was such damn fool, I was taken by surprise. I’m so sorry to have hurt—”
“Get away from me, you coward. You insensitive pig.” She snivelled and as he tried to touch her the anger surging within her over the past five weeks exploded.
She slapped him across the face, once, twice as he stood where he was, with a stoic expression.
She screamed. His immobility fanned her fury: As if giving her the opportunity to get her anger and frustration out of her system. As if telling her that he deserved her inflicting so much more pain than she was trying to cause him.
Suddenly spent, unable to catch her breath she lowered her head, about to sink onto the ground. She felt Alexander’s strong arms swooping her up, bringing her against his chest. He held her so protectively, so tightly that she could hear the heavy thud of his pounding heart against her ear.
He smelled so damn good that she cried even more. “I fell for you… How could you leave me like that?” She hiccupped, not caring about her tears wetting the front of his shirt.
He repeated softly, “I’m so sorry, Olivia, agápi mou,” until she pulled away from him. Although he wouldn’t release her out of his grasp at least she saw his face. The tears in his eyes stopped her for a moment. “It’s a pathetic explanation now that I’ve had time to think about it all, but my biological mother died of breast cancer when I was two. When I saw your scar, I thought of how devastated my father and my family were at losing her… But it’s inexcusable, unforgivable, how much I hurt you, agápi mou.”
She felt her lower lip tremble, needing to touch that beloved gorgeous face and those silky black curls now once again overgrown and falling over his forehead and temples, but she stopped herself. She would no longer get sucked into his orbit of charm and need and even love.
“Did you think I had any choice in getting the cancer? No, you didn’t think of me.”
“I’m so sorry, Olivia. I truly love and adore you. Please let me make it all up to you. I need—”
His words escalated her tension and she pushed at him. He freed her immediately and scanned her face as if gauging her ability to stand on her own two feet.
Bloody right she could and she would.
“There are no more chances, Alexander. I’ve had enough of being manipulated and then rejected so cruelly. I’m sorry you lost your mother so young. But you can never make up for this. I may have been brought up to be more forgiving and being more like Aunt Jenny, but—”
“Aunt Jenny brought us together—”
She interrupted his earnest words, “Don’t you dare talk about her. Just stop. It’s too late.”
“No, it’s never too—”
“Go.” Unable to bear the sight of him, yet another part of her breaking heart died all over again.
His desperation, his helplessness only proved how overwhelmed he still was. Was his ego still pushing him even now to work this out? Had his determination to succeed at romance pushed him to return here?
“I don’t blame you for anything, Alexander. I should have known from our past that you’re not the committing type. You’re not ready to grow up yet or for real love. It’s not your fault. But I deserve better. Thank you for apologizing. You’ve said what you need to say, now it’s finished.” She could no longer look into those beautiful, hurting eyes.
“I wish you only love and happiness, Olivia.” He said as she opened the door about to leave him.
***
Olivia was one hundred percent right. Alex was nothing like his brothers. Even Grey had regarded him with such disappointment last night when saying goodbye again. For what seemed a life-long habit, all Alex kept doing was running. Only this time it had cost him everything. He had lost Olivia for good. Despite knowing he did his very best there was literally nothing else he could do apart from kidnapping her and dragging her to Greece. He had hurt her too deeply and too often.
Touvlo, you made your bed, now die in it.
Despite all his business successes and his large loving family, right now he didn’t care if the plane taking him back to Greece ever landed there. Why bother to live if it meant living without his true love?
He was lost and homeless without Olivia.
Chapter 11
The nightmare was the same almost every night. She was with Alexander, and when she wasn’t with him he seemed to be drowning in misery without her. The other dreams in which she was with him, running, laughing, making love, awoke her to even deeper depression. No matter how exhausted Olivia was by the end of her long, busy days on her latest project she felt even more tired with every day. This redesign assignment was nowhere near as much f
un or as creative as Aunt Jenny’s beach house had been, but it was many miles away from all the memories of her summer fling.
Don’t kid yourself, she grumbled as her heart refused to settle to its lethargic, irregular beat. The dreams always dragged her back into that gorgeous, bright and airy beach house that some other family would soon enjoy. Those last few days which should have been her happiest times with her best friend while they added the beautiful finishing touches had been too painful. Everywhere, in every corner she had looked she saw a little of Alexander’s suggestions and decisions they had taken together, playing house. She had left as soon as she could, and Maria had understood her need to escape Wrightsville Beach.
She had to learn to be pragmatic and realistic about the difference between dreams and wishful thinking. Since seeing Alexander last week she still couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about him. The closure should have helped them both.
Now she was driving to visit Maria, needing to talk to her trusted friend about him and what to do about her life in limbo. Whenever Maria called her over the past few weeks it hurt Olivia to hear Tyler in the background, imagining Alexander giving someone else gorgeous dark-haired children. The memory of how nurturing he had been with Gemma and Grey’s baby Jordan blurred her vision even now.
She shook her head and forced herself to stop this self-pity. She had gone through worse when losing her loved ones. Anyway, Alexander may have already replaced Olivia with someone else. The fear incited such jealousy she had to stop thinking about it and concentrate on the road ahead.
As she enjoyed her Saturday with Maria and two-year-old Tyler, she was grateful that Sloan was out for most of the day with Wyatt and Logan, who were also visiting the family.
Olivia’s conversation with Maria was enlightening, taking a surprising turn, when her friend told her, “Now that you’ve had some time after seeing each other last week I’ve got something for you. It’s Grandma Jenny’s letter which she had stipulated I give you when you were ready. I’m sure it’ll help you understand Alexander a bit better. I should have told you about his past when you met again this summer, but I didn’t know he’d react like that . . . . I should have predicted that even though he was only two when he lost his mom, he was still dealing with it all. After reading this maybe you’ll even consider calling him or…”
“Why would you think I should forgive him…” Olivia asked despite the fluttering excitement and hope blossoming within her.
“Because that’s who you are, and you know who Alexander is inside. And…you love him. It’s obvious to us all that he’s your one and only. Liv, the time has come for you to take a leap of faith one more time and give the poor guy a chance. He’s bereft without you.”
Maria gave her the small envelope and then smiled at Tyler who had insisted on holding his own spoon to eat his favorite chocolate pudding, focussing on the task as if it was an important exam.
Maria’s eyes shone as she looked back at Olivia, “Read it and I hope it helps. I waited until you’d recovered enough and were ready to undertake the renovation project. And once you got here, I thought it was a perfect opportunity for you to finally revisit your first love. I’ve waited a long time for you and Alexander to have your own happy-ever-after. And the moment I saw you both together I knew that all along Grandma had been right about you two belonging together.”
Olivia’s goose-bumps covered her whole body, in delicious reawakening waves. “So Aunt Jenny had sent Alexander for us to work together on the gala fundraiser?”
“Yup, she sure did.” Maria’s smile brightened further as she cleaned up Tyler’s face and took his messy bib off. “Now while I put this big boy down for his nap, you read the letter and then do what you know you’ve got to do. Alexander can’t help being a guy.” She chuckled, manoeuvring little Tyler towards Olivia as if knowing her friend couldn’t resist kissing her god son. Olivia sniffed at the adorable boy’s talcum-scented head, kissed him and then hugged him.
“We’ve got to give them some time to grow up, Liv. Now say bye-bye to your aunt Olivia, Tyler.”
“Olee-veeaa.” Tyler repeated it again. Hearing his name uttered by the adored little master the big dog Ollie picked up his head from his sleeping quarters and was instantly on duty. The mutt’s large brown eyes focused on the toddler in his mother’s arms, Ollie’s nails clicked a fast rhythmic tap as he crossed the living room. As mother and toddler exited the room the large mutt followed, his large tail knocking over Tyler’s wooden block set structure.
With the letter in her hands Olivia wished she could delay the inevitable and her hands trembled and her heart did all sorts of summersaults within her chest.
***
Olivia didn’t bother knocking, but grasped the large brass door knob with her slightly clammy palm. Through the glass of the big doors, with his back to his desk and to her, she saw the imposing Alexander standing by the huge windows, watching the sprawling smog-ridden skyline of hot Athens.
Opening the door she took in a fortifying breath, held it and then slowly exhaled. “I’m searching for the guide who’d offered to show me around the city and the islands.”
At her first words, Alexander spun around to face her. The pleasure on his beaming face made her ache inside. She had missed this damned fool for too long, until she couldn’t bear to live one more day without seeing him.
How right it had felt after spending last weekend with Maria, to make arrangements to book the soonest flight to Athens.
As if realizing too late that he had shown his true feelings Alexander strode the few steps to his desk, his face devoid of any emotion and asked, “What makes you think the guide’s still available and interested?”
“I remember someone telling me once that it’s never too late. Is it too late, Alexander?” Olivia arched her brows, “Of course I can get another guide to show me . . . around.”
The smirk he was obviously trying to repress surfaced as he strode towards her. “Like hell you will, you vixen.” Alexander put his arms around her and swept her up off the ground. As he scanned her face he grinned, “So you came to your senses and have forgiven this idiot.”
“Well,” Olivia stretched the word, but as he studied her face, her eyes and then finally stopped at her mouth she forgot everything else.
They kissed long and hard, and all the tiredness of the many long hours spent in transit disintegrated.
Slowly he let her feet touch the floor, but didn’t release her. “I can’t believe you’re here, in my arms.” He kissed her temple and sighed deeply as if finally able to breathe properly.
Just then a knock at the door was followed by an older version of Alexander entering the room.
“Oh, I’m sorry…” As the man registered the situation, his smile broadened as he came in.
Keeping one arm around her Alexander introduced her. “Olivia, this is my father, Costa Kyriakou. Papa, this is Olivia.”
She shook the older man’s proffered hand feeling her whole body move with the heartfelt handshake. Then she was swallowed up in a big hug by the stocky man with grey hair and darker mustache.
“I am very happy to make your acquaintance, and welcome to Greece! Now I’ll leave you two, as I’m sure you have some catching up to do.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Kyriakou.”
“Please, call me Costa.” He smiled as he retreated towards the door after the unmistakeable, meaningful glance between father and son.
As soon as they were alone, Alexander swept her up into his arms. “Yes, we have a lot of catching up to do. I love you, Olivia and I’ll prove that every day for the rest of my life, if you can just forgive me.”
Olivia shook her head and finally reached out to hold his beloved face within her palms. How she had missed him. “No more self reprimanding, Alexander. I’m sorry it took me some time to recognize the truth, that I love you just the way you are.” For the first time she felt the pure joy without any shadow of the past or fear for the future which wa
s mirrored in his eyes.
“Say that again.”
“What?”
“That you love me.”
Through her happy tears she watched the boyish excitement in those green eyes as he waited.
“I love you, always have, Alexander.” She welcomed another bear hug from her love. “And I know now what you meant about Aunt Jenny. I should have known she’d tried to set us up all those years ago. Wasn’t she something?” She marvelled.
“She knew we were meant to be together, but I wasn’t mature or strong enough back then.”
She stared up at his face, “You look so good, Alexander, I’ve missed you so, so much.” She weaved her hungry fingers through his hair, bringing his head closer so she could kiss him again. “Looks like you need another trim, unless you don’t want me to boss you around.”
“I welcome any of your bossing at any time, forever. Just be patient with me and help me along the way, so I don’t screw up again.” As she nodded he added, “To make up for the lost time, what would you say about us taking a long boat trip around the islands together? Then we can spend an uninterrupted week at the beach house?”
“That sounds perfect, but we’ll have to make sure with Maria about staying there.”
“Why? Didn’t she tell you that it’s ours?”
“What did you say?” Had she misheard?
“Maria has gifted the house to us both. She said that that’s what her grandmother would have wanted.”
“Oh my God!” She shook her head, feeling dizzy and breathless at the news.
As he nodded in confirmation Olivia squealed and hugged him tighter. No words could describe her elation. So much made sense now. “So that’s why both you and Maria had encouraged me to put my own personal tastes into the place. Why she’d waited for me to renovate it with her.” If she weren’t so elated and full of joy to be in Alexander’s arms she would have cried.
Billionaires On the Beach: The Anderson Brothers Page 38
