“No problem.”
Her gaze took in his wet, wrinkled suit. “I think your clothes are ruined.”
He glanced down as though he’d forgotten he was wearing dress clothes. “I’ve got more.”
“I didn’t see any luggage.”
“True. Everything is back in Athens. I was in a bit of a hurry.”
“Obviously.” She gave it a little thought. “Let’s drop off these wet linens and then we’ll get you something dry to wear.”
He gave her a strange look. “I don’t think you’ll have anything that will fit me.”
His words inspired an image of him in women’s clothes and a smile pulled at her lips. As they climbed in the golf cart, the image of Xander wearing her clothes wouldn’t leave her. She pressed on the accelerator.
“You’re picturing me in your clothes, aren’t you?”
“I...uh...no, I’m not.” But she couldn’t subdue her amusement.
“You are. I know it. But trust me, nothing you have would fit me.”
The frown on his face only added to her amusement. She knew that after the disaster at the bungalow she shouldn’t be smiling, much less laughing, but she couldn’t help herself. The laughter bubbled out of her.
Maybe it was some strange reaction to stress. Or perhaps it was her pregnancy hormones. Whatever it was, she couldn’t stop laughing. And looking in Xander’s direction only made it worse.
“What?” he asked as his frown deepened. “Do I have something on me?” He then started to wipe his face off. “Would you stop that?”
“I’m trying.” Lea did her best to subdue her unexpected amusement. “It’s not you.”
He arched a dark brow. “Then why are you laughing at me?”
She shook her head. “I’m not.”
“Sure seems like it to me.”
“I’ve just never seen someone in expensive clothes crawling around on a flooded floor.” She dabbed at her damp eyes. “You’re a mess.”
“And that’s funny?”
“No. Not really.” The grumpier he became the cuter he got. That acknowledgment sobered Lea. Being attracted to him was what had gotten them in this situation in the first place. “Anyway. What are you doing here?”
“You need to ask?”
“Apparently I do or I wouldn’t have asked you.”
She pulled the golf cart to a stop in front of her bungalow—the same place that their baby was conceived. It was as though they’d come full circle and were now back at the beginning. She got out and headed for the door.
She glanced over her shoulder, finding Xander still sitting in the cart. “Come on. You can’t go around looking like that all day.”
She let herself inside the small but airy bungalow, lit abundantly from the floor-to-ceiling windows. She wasn’t quite sure how to act around Xander. It wasn’t as though they were strangers, but there was definitely a thick layer of awkwardness between them.
“The shower is through there.” She pointed to the guest bathroom.
He looked at her. “Are you sure you don’t want to get one first?”
She glanced down at herself. She was as wet as him, with some black grease marks here and there.
Her hand moved to her hair. It was still damp on the ends and the rest of it was growing frizzy. She must look a sight. No one would desire her in this state. And that was for the best. She tried to tell herself that she was relieved but what she was really feeling was disappointment.
Not wanting to dwell on her disheveled appearance, she grabbed her purse from the side of the couch and headed for the front door. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get you something to wear.” Not waiting for his response, she strode outside, pulling the door shut behind her.
There was only a limited number of retail shops on the island. Most people who visited weren’t interested in shopping, except for the occasional necessity. But they did have a boutique and that was where Lea headed.
The only problem was that everything in the island boutique was geared to leisurely, fun-in-the-sun clothes. There were no suits, not even jeans because it was hot outside with only the sea breeze to cool you off. There was actually a pair of gray sweats lurking on the back shelf, but Lea dismissed them. Xander would melt in them.
She moved on to a pair of navy shorts with a white anchor pattern. This was more like it. Her mind filled with an image of Xander in them, showing off his well-defined calf muscles. The man was a walking advertisement for the benefit of working out daily.
She picked up a white T-shirt with Infinity Island emblazed across the front of it. Her gaze moved to the section of the shop with the more intimate items, but there was no way she was buying him underwear. Not a chance. She had to draw the line somewhere.
She started for the checkout but realized she was being silly. If she could have his baby, she could pick out some boxers. Still, it felt like something a girlfriend or, dare she say it, a wife would do. As she scanned over the various colors and styles, her mind conjured up images of Xander wearing them.
She resisted the urge to fan herself. Boy, was it getting warm in here. Eager to get this over with, she grabbed a few pairs of extra-large boxers. If he wanted something else, he could come here and shop for himself. With her face still warm, she started for the front of the store, passing by the rack of flip-flops. She grabbed a pair. He would be all set to go—to go home to Athens.
With her purchase made, Lea headed back to her place. Soon Xander would be gone and then she could relax. She glanced at the time. The once-a-day ferry would be arriving at lunchtime and he could hitch a ride back to the mainland. Whatever he’d hoped to accomplish by coming here wasn’t going to happen.
He had his life.
And she had hers.
Could they stay in contact for their child? If he wanted. She didn’t have any qualms about updating him on the progress of the pregnancy.
And that was exactly what she planned to tell him when she entered the bungalow. She dropped her purse on the living room couch and moved to the guest room. She knocked on the open door but got no response. It was then that she noticed the sound of running water. She moved to the bed, hoping to leave the clothes there and get out before he came out of the shower. She’d just placed the bag from the boutique on the bed when Xander emerged from the bathroom.
A billow of steam surrounded him like he was some Greek god. His hair was still wet and spiky. His face and shoulders were damp. And beads of water trailed down over his muscled chest before being absorbed by the fluffy pink towel slung low over his trim hips.
Lea swallowed hard. It was like having her very own hot-guys calendar come to life—not that she had such a calendar. But after seeing Xander, the idea was tempting. So long as he was in it. But then she knew she’d never switch the month. It’d always be Xander’s month.
He cleared his throat, drawing her gaze upward. “Is that for me?”
Heat rushed from her chest to her face, scorching her cheeks. With great reluctance, she glanced away. “Yes, there are some, uh, clothes. They should fit.” And then realizing she shouldn’t be here at this particularly awkward moment, she said, “I’ll, um, wait for you in the living room.”
“There’s no need for you to run off.” A knowing smile lit up his face.
But Lea didn’t look back and didn’t pause until she’d reached the kitchen sink. Noticing that her mouth was parched, she grabbed a drinking glass from the cabinet and filled it with some ice-cold water from the fridge. She downed the entire thing in one long gulp, but it did nothing to cool her down. Thankfully he would soon be on that boat and out of her space. Not much longer now.
“Thanks for the clothes.” Xander’s voice came from behind her. “But you didn’t have to.”
“It’s the least I could do�
��” The words died in her throat as she turned to him. On second thought, she should have gone with the sweat suit. Then he’d be just as uncomfortably warm as her.
The T-shirt barely fit him as it was pulled tight over his broad shoulders and chest. The man could probably lift one of her in each hand without breaking a sweat. His waist was narrow. And the shorts didn’t hang as low as she’d have thought. She definitely had a view of his legs—legs that weren’t tanned. Her gaze moved to his arms. They weren’t tanned, either. The man definitely spent too much time in a suit.
She could ask him to stay. He obviously needed some downtime in the sun. But that was not a good idea. She did not need any more complications.
He moved to the couch and sat down. “No more distractions. We need to talk.”
He was right. It was time to get it all out there in the open. “I don’t expect anything from you if that’s what you’re worried about. I can take care of the baby.”
He patted the couch cushion next to him. “Come over here.”
She didn’t trust herself being so close to that sexy hunk of a man, but she refused to let on that he still got under her skin. She forced her feet one in front of the other. She perched on the edge of the couch, leaving as much space between them as possible.
She could still remember how good his kisses were and how his hands created the most arousing sensations wherever he touched. The mere memories sent her heart racing. When her gaze met his, there was a challenge reflected in his eyes.
She glanced at the clock on the stove. “If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss the ferry. It’s the only one today.”
“Is this the way it’s going to be?”
She turned her full attention to him. “How what is going to be?”
“You and me. How do I even know the baby is mine?”
“I’d like to think that no one would lie about such an important thing. But you obviously don’t trust me. So after the baby is born, a test can be done. But there’s no way I’m having one of those great big foot-long needles stabbed into my stomach.” She visibly flinched at the memory of what she’d seen on the internet. She didn’t like needles. They all looked huge to her.
“I want to trust you, but I’ve had people lie to me in the past about much smaller matters.” Pain reflected in his eyes.
“It’s understandable that you would want confirmation. It isn’t like we’ve been in a loving, committed relationship.”
His eyes widened. “Is that what you want? For us to marry for the sake of the child?”
“No.” It was a short, straight-to-the-point answer.
His gaze narrowed. “Are you sure?”
Why was he pushing this so much? Surely he didn’t think marriage was a good idea, did he? It was not even like they were in love. They were, well, they were friends at best. And not very good friends at that.
“I’m sure.” Her tone was firm. “Besides, you don’t have time for a family. You’re always working.”
“I can make time for everything—” Just then his phone buzzed and he retrieved it from his pocket.
“Point proven.”
After nothing more than a glance, he returned the phone to his pocket. “So you’re planning to do this all on your own?”
“If you mean raising the baby, then yes, I plan to be a single parent. It’s not like there are a lot of single guys on the island. Most are bridegrooms or a guest of a wedding party. They generally bring a date and don’t flirt with the island staff.”
“You’re going to stay here on the island and raise the baby?”
“This is where my ancestors were born and raised. It’s where my mother grew up. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me and the baby.”
“And what about what happened today with the honeymoon bungalow?” he asked.
“What about it? Things break.” She tried to brush off the incident as nothing out of the ordinary, but she knew it was a very big deal indeed.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Don’t act so blasé. I saw you earlier. You were practically in a panic. This island needs a lot of work—work that you don’t have the money to do.”
Her mouth gaped. How dare he? “Since when do you know about my finances?”
“Since I did some digging when I wanted to buy the island. I needed to know just what I was getting myself into.”
She wanted to ask what he’d learned, but she didn’t. Nothing good would come of it. Where finances were concerned Infinity Island was in disastrous straits.
Xander gazed into her eyes, making her heart race. “You need to rethink this—”
“Rethink what? Giving up my home? My past? My future?” She shook her head. “If you think you’re going to talk me into selling you the island, it isn’t going to happen. Remember? We already had this conversation.”
“You don’t have to stay here. I can set you up in Athens. Anywhere in the city. You name it.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m not leaving the island.”
“Stop being so stubborn and see what’s right in front of you.”
Her voice started to rise. “I do see it. And just because this place isn’t perfect doesn’t mean I should turn my back and walk away.”
He sighed and got to his feet. Without another word, he started for the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Out.” And with that he stepped onto the covered deck.
She should be relieved, but she wasn’t. She felt like they’d talked about everything except what he really had on his mind. And then there was the whistle of the approaching ferry.
She rushed to the doorway. “You’re going to miss your ride back to the mainland.”
“I’m not leaving.” He kept walking.
Not leaving? He made it sound like it would be indefinitely, but she knew that couldn’t be the case. He had a business empire to run.
She assured herself that he’d just be here for a day or two. Just long enough to figure out how this pregnancy would affect their lives. Then he’d go back to his life in Athens. And she would remain here on the island.
CHAPTER FOUR
WHAT EXACTLY WAS he supposed to do now?
Xander raked his fingers through his hair, not caring what it looked like. For once, his appearance would make no difference in the negotiation. Usually he made a point of looking on top of his game, with the finest suit, the best haircut and a clean shave. He liked to let his competitors know that he was used to winning—that he didn’t accept being second best.
But dealing with Lea was totally different. Money didn’t impress her. She understood its necessity to survive, but it wasn’t her driving force. And that was something foreign to him. Since he’d been a teenager, he’d been focused on amassing a fortune. And now at the age of thirty-one, he had more money than he could possibly spend in this lifetime, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He was still looking to make the next deal—something to fill the emptiness inside.
His gaze moved over the island. This time he wasn’t taking in his surroundings the same way as he had during his prior visit. Before, his interest was in the landscape and the eventual demolition followed by its rebirth. This time he was looking to see what it would take to make this island viable as a wedding destination for the foreseeable future.
He’d noticed the determined glint in Lea’s eyes when he’d mentioned selling the island. It was the same look he imagined he had when he bought his first piece of property that had been uneven and heavily vegetated. His father had told him that he’d thrown away his money. Xander had secretly been having his own doubts, but his father’s words had been like a challenge. Xander had done everything to clear and level that plot of land. In the end, he’d tripled his money. With the proceeds he’d bought more property.
Lea would stay here on Inf
inity Island and do whatever it took to keep the family business going—even if it took the last bit of money she possessed. And it would. Most of the structures needed new roofs. The landscaping needed to be reworked in places. The bungalows needed new windows and paint, and that was just scratching the surface.
He didn’t know how long he’d walked—wearing off his frustration. In the process, he’d been trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he was going to be a father. He’d always thought fatherhood was something he didn’t want, but now it was no longer a choice. He refused to turn his back on his baby like his biological parents had done to him when they’d left him on the steps in front of the hospital.
And though his adoptive parents had loved him, it just hadn’t been the same as what they felt for his sister—their flesh and blood. Growing up, he’d blamed himself—telling himself that he wasn’t good enough. If he’d have just tried harder, they’d have loved him the same as they loved his sister. He’d never allowed any of them that chance.
Now he had a baby of his own. He would do whatever it took to see that Lea and the baby were taken care of. Money wouldn’t be an issue.
If Lea insisted on remaining on the island, he could have the island all fixed up. And he would contact his financial planner to set up a trust fund for his son...or daughter. He liked the idea. At last, he had the beginnings of a plan.
As for being an involved father, he was less certain about it. With his past, he doubted he could be a loving parent. They’d all be better off if he remained in the shadows.
Xander pulled his phone out of his pocket and pressed the speed dial. The phone was answered on the first ring as though Roberto, his second-in-charge, was sitting there waiting for him to call. But of course, he wouldn’t be because he had too many other things he should be doing.
Xander dispensed with the pleasantries and went straight for the important stuff. “Roberto, I need you to drop everything and pull what you have on the resort deal.”
Carrying the Greek Tycoon's Baby Page 4
