He glanced away, not sure what to say.
“You’re not that big of a mystery,” she went on to say. “You don’t want to be here and you regret inviting me.”
His head quickly turned. “You would be wrong.”
“About what? Being here? Or bringing me?”
“Bringing you. You’re the highlight of my evening.”
A smile pulled at her glossy lips. “It’s about time you admit it.”
Wait. Had he just fallen into a cleverly planned trap? If the twinkle of amusement in her eyes was any indication, he most certainly had. Who knew that sweet, innocent Stasia had a much more devious side to her? He was most certainly intrigued.
He held out his hand. “Would you care to dance?”
She placed her hand in his. “I’d love to dance.”
This time no words were necessary. He guided her to the dance floor, where he took her into his arms. In fact, the lack of conversation made the dance less stressed and a lot more enjoyable. Except for the fact that Stasia was standing awkwardly away from him.
He told himself that his arms were growing tired with the distance and that was why he tightened his hold on her. But he’d miscalculated, and the next thing he knew, Stasia was snug against his chest. Not that he was complaining or anything.
She tilted up her chin to look at him. Questions reflected in her eyes, but no words were spoken. He’d been mucking up this whole evening and he’d really wanted to give her a good time.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
And then because she kept staring up at him with a look in her eyes that said she could feel the desire that ignited every time they were together, he lowered his head and claimed her lips in what started as a quick kiss, but quickly grew into something more.
Roberto was learning that he would never get enough of Stasia or her sweet kisses. They were utterly and totally addictive.
There was a pat on his shoulder. “Way to go.”
Roberto jerked back to find some distant cousin, who was in college, smiling at him.
And then his grandmother passed by him. “Really, Roberto.”
His gaze moved from his grandmother to Stasia. He needed to apologize again for losing his head in front of his family. So much for thinking before he acted.
Stasia lifted a finger to his lips. “Don’t say it.”
He pulled her hand away and wrapped it up in his hand. “How do you know what I was going to say?”
“You were going to apologize for kissing me but I don’t want you to ruin the moment. Please.”
She enjoyed the kiss? She wasn’t upset that he’d overstepped his bounds as a friend—as her brother’s friend? What did she think it meant? Was she expecting more from him?
The last question cooled his heated blood. He didn’t want her to assume anything. He didn’t want to get her hopes up that something more was to follow that kiss.
“Listen, Stasia,” he said. When she went to say something, he rushed on. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to apologize for the kiss. I enjoyed it too. I... I just want you to know that it was spontaneous—”
“And part of our cover story.” She came to his rescue, making this confession so much easier than he deserved. “After all, we want your grandmother to believe we’re engaged, so why wouldn’t we kiss? It’d be a little strange if we didn’t, don’t you think?”
How did she do that? Make him go from being totally uncomfortable to immediately putting him at ease. The woman was very good with people. It was definitely one of her greatest strengths.
And so they continued to dance, this song and the next song and even the one after that, which was a fast song. By the end of it, they were both a little winded and returned to their table.
“When’s the wedding date?” the bride asked.
He restrained his inclination to frown at Gaia and get her to quiet down. Why in the world would she bring up this subject in front of their grandmother? The woman needed no encouragement when it came to her efforts to marry him off.
“Oh, yes.” Yaya’s expression filled with eagerness. “Tell us when the big day is.”
Everyone pulled out their phones and ran their fingers over them as though preparing to input the wedding date on their calendars.
“We haven’t set a date,” he said as Stasia’s grip on his hand tightened. Apparently, she was feeling as cornered as he did at the moment.
His grandmother looked crestfallen. “I should have known.”
“Known what?” His grandfather looked confused.
“Our grandson isn’t getting married. In fact, they probably aren’t even in a real relationship. This is just an attempt to keep from meeting the young women on the cruise.”
His grandmother had read him so well. Was he that obvious? He was between a rock and a hard place. If he disagreed with her, she would expect them to set a wedding date. And if he admitted she was right, then she would have him on a blind date before the night was over.
Stasia let go of his hand and sat up straighter. “It’s true. We are serious about each other.”
His grandmother’s gaze narrowed on them. “How serious?”
Stasia met his grandmother’s gaze without flinching. “Well, you know how your grandson doesn’t like to do big public displays of affection? He likes to keep things low-key. And so we’ve been keeping everything quiet—until now.”
His grandmother’s mouth opened in an O as her eyes twinkled with hope and she clasped her hands together. “So, you are getting married?”
“Yes.”
Roberto looked at Stasia. What had she said? He replayed the conversation in his head. Had Stasia really just told his grandmother they were getting married? He opened his mouth but no words would come out. There was a disconnect somewhere between his racing thoughts and his mouth.
Stasia turned to him. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted to keep it quiet for a while, with the transition at your office and all.”
“Don’t be upset with her,” Gaia said to him. “You couldn’t expect her to keep that kind of news to herself.”
The next thing he knew, people were throwing around dates. Dates that weren’t that far off. And then his arm was around Stasia’s shoulders as his whole family debated what date would work best for each of them. He moved and spoke in a dazed robotic motion. Since when was his wedding date up for debate by his family members? Not that he was getting married for real or anything.
When all was said and done, his wedding was set for the beginning of August. His grandmother was over the moon, and Stasia, well, she looked happy. And his family loved her. By the time he found his voice, he didn’t have the heart to embarrass Stasia by telling his family that the wedding would never take place.
He knew Stasia had only said those things to keep him from disappointing his grandmother once again. He knew she was even less interested in getting married than him. After all, she’d had her heart ripped out when her husband had passed away. No one would want to risk that sort of pain again. But she’d stepped up, putting herself out there, just for him. No one had gone out of their way for him like she had done. He was truly touched.
“Would you like some fresh air?” he asked, anxious for someplace a little quieter.
“I’d love some.”
He once again held his arm out to her, enjoying when she was touching him. And they strolled outside beneath the big, brilliant moon that reflected off the calm water. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones with this idea, as there were many couples strolling along the canal.
They walked a bit until they found a stretch of rail where they could be alone. Roberto wasn’t in the mood to share Stasia any longer. He couldn’t explain it to himself nor anyone else what it was about her that had him rethinking the whole bachelor thing. What had he found so great about it wh
en he could spend amazing evenings like this with a woman who was as beautiful as she was generous of heart?
“Are you thinking about the project for your grandfather?” Her soft voice broke through his thoughts.
How could she think he was pondering work on such an amazing evening? Perhaps he’d had his emotions suppressed for so long now that even she couldn’t see he was profoundly moved by this evening, by this trip—by her.
He turned to her, finding her standing closer to him than he’d expected. It was all he could do not to reach out and take her in his arms. But he couldn’t overstep again. She’d gracefully forgiven him once this evening. He knew he wouldn’t be so lucky a second time.
That thought dampened his mood.
“I was thinking that tomorrow we have one last day in Venice and I was wondering if you would want to see some more of it.”
A smile lifted her lips. “I would love it.”
“Then it’s a date?”
Before he could correct his slip of the tongue, she said, “It’s a date.”
He smiled. Stasia really did make things easy. He could get used to having her around.
“So I’ll meet you on the deck first thing in the morning?” she asked, while staring into his eyes.
“Yes.” Resisting the urge to wrap his arms around her and pull her soft curves in for a very long, very deep kiss, he said, “Would you like to return to the wedding? I’m sure it’ll keep going until very late.”
She shook her head. “If you don’t mind, I think I’d like to stay here just a bit longer before heading back to the ship.”
The problem with lingering here beneath the star-studded sky was that he wasn’t sure how long his determination to keep his hands to himself would hold out. And he didn’t want to mess this up—whatever this was.
He forced his thoughts to the work that awaited him. However, the last thing he wanted to do that night was to work. The thought startled him. He was always up for work. It was his driving force in life—until now.
This trip had opened his eyes. He knew that was a lie. It was Stasia who had shown him what he was missing in life. He wasn’t sure his work would ever be enough to fill his life again.
What he really wanted to do was pull Stasia into his arms. He wanted to kiss her without limitations, without his family watching them and without any restraint. He wanted to drink in her sweetness and show her that there was still so much in life for her to experience.
And then he recalled his prior conversation with Xander, promising to watch out for Stasia. Roberto stifled a frustrated groan. Why did Stasia have to be his friend’s sister? Because she was the first woman to thoroughly intrigue him. She was the only one to make him question if his permanent bachelor status was really the right choice for him.
DAY NINE
Venice, Italy
WHERE WAS HE?
Stasia had walked the entire length of the deck twice now, but there was no sign of Roberto. She was beginning to wonder if she’d gotten their plans mixed up in her head. But the more she thought about it, the more she was certain they’d agreed to meet up here.
So where was he?
She tried his cell phone, again. And once again, it went directly to voice mail. That was strange. That man lived on his cell phone. He never turned it off.
The touring party had already departed the boat about fifteen minutes ago. It was too late to catch up with them. And honestly, she didn’t want to. She’d been looking forward to her private, guided tour with the sexiest man on the boat.
In fact, she’d had the hardest time getting to sleep last night and it was all his fault. Every time she’d closed her eyes, she saw his face. And then she would relive the moment when his lips pressed to hers. Even though it was only a memory, her heart would race.
Maybe she was so anxious for today because she hoped he would follow up that all-too-short kiss with a much longer one. Was that wrong? After all, she was supposed to be on this ship figuring out her next step in life.
She knew Xander wouldn’t approve of her hitting it off with Roberto. But what her brother didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She knew her brother’s heart was in the right place, but she was all grown up and it was up to her to figure out what came next. And who she did it with. Well, if he showed up.
She sighed. Where was Roberto? She sent him a text. And she waited and waited. There was no response to it either.
Roberto wouldn’t ignore her, not unless something was wrong. Could that be it? Was he sick?
She took off toward his cabin. With most of the passengers having departed the ship in order to go on a tour, she didn’t have to wait for the elevator or have to wade her way through a throng of people in the passageway.
Once she got to Roberto’s cabin, she rapped on the door.
“Roberto? It’s Stasia.”
She waited. When he didn’t immediately open the door, she pressed her ear to it. She didn’t hear any movement inside.
She knocked again. “Roberto, are you okay?”
Thunk. Crash.
“Roberto? What’s going on?”
“Coming.”
She breathed easier, hearing his voice. Thank goodness he was safe and sound. Though she had absolutely no idea what had kept him and what caused him to forget that they had a date today.
At last the door swung open and Roberto stood there. His hair was mussed up. His normally clean-shaven jaw now had a shadow of stubble. He was still wearing the same clothes as last night, but they were a bit disheveled just like the rest of him.
“Are you sick?” She’d never seen Roberto unprepared. She’d have sworn he was born ready to take on the world.
He ran a hand over his face and then his hair, scattering the dark strands every which way. “Uh, no, I’m not sick.” It took him a second as though she’d literally just roused him from a deep sleep. He glanced at the time on his wristwatch. “Eight twenty. Oh, no. I was supposed to meet up with you at eight o’clock.”
“Yes, you were.” She crossed her arms and looked at him. Part of her wanted to be angry with him for standing her up and making her worry. The other part of her was relieved to see that nothing was the matter. Which led her to her next question. “Why are you still in your dress clothes?”
An older couple passed them in the passageway. The woman’s eyes widened as she took in Roberto’s appearance. And then she turned her attention to Stasia and gave her an approving nod. “Good for you.”
Stasia stifled a laugh.
He cleared his throat and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
She wasn’t sure what to expect as she entered the luxury cabin. Everything about Roberto struck her as him being neat and orderly. But the room didn’t appear to be as she would have expected.
Though the bed was perfectly made, there was a black suitcase tossed on top of it. The case was open. Clothes and accessories were strewn across the bed as though he had been in a hurry to get out the door and didn’t have time to put things where they belonged.
And then there was the table. It was covered with a laptop, portable printer and tons of printouts. Some of the pages were lying flat on the tabletop and others were crumpled and tossed toward the garbage can but had missed their target.
“I don’t understand.” She turned a puzzled stare his way. “What’s going on? It looks like you worked all night.”
“As a matter of fact, I did. Not all of it. But a lot of it.” He rubbed his neck and then rolled his shoulders.
“I’m guessing you didn’t make it to bed.”
He shook his head.
“You work too hard. And too often.”
“I’m fine.”
Her gaze narrowed in on him. She saw the tired lines etched around his eyes. And the way his broad shoulders sagged ever so slightly as though he were carrying a heavy burden.
Someone had to be honest with him. Someone had to tell him to slow down—that there was more to life than work. And she knew all too well how fleeting life could be.
She lifted her chin ever so slightly. “You’re not fine.”
Roberto crossed his arms over his chest as his steady gaze met hers. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’m sorry my life isn’t to your liking, but it’s the way I like it. My work is important to me.”
“Even though you’re all alone?” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. But she never understood why such a good-looking, successful man would choose to be alone.
His gaze darkened. “Did you ever consider that I like it that way?”
Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She hadn’t meant to say that. What was wrong with her?
“I’m good this way. Love and marriage, that may be the way for other people, but it doesn’t work for me.”
That was one of the saddest things she’d ever heard in her life. “I’m sorry you feel that way because you don’t know what you’re missing.”
His gaze searched hers. “How can you say that after all you’ve been through?”
“And what? By not falling in love, by not marrying, that I would be better off?”
He hesitated as though realizing he too had said more than he’d meant to. And then he gave a nod.
Was this what everyone thought? That she’d have been better off by never loving Lukos? Well, it was time to set the record straight.
“I am better off for having known and loved Lukos. He showed me how great love can be through the good times and the really rotten, horrible bad times.” Tears pricked the backs of her eyes as moments from their life together flickered through her memory. “But I wouldn’t trade one single moment I had with him. Not any of it. He helped me to become a better person—at least, I’d like to think I am.”
Remorse reflected in Roberto’s eyes. “Of course you are. I shouldn’t have said that—I shouldn’t have dredged up the past. I know how hard this is for you.”
Wearing the Greek Millionaire's Ring Page 11
