“My parents spoke English and I was lucky to be taught at school from day one. If I’d had to learn it from a book the way you did and teach myself, it wouldn’t have happened, believe me.”
“You would if it meant your living.”
Her life had been so easy compared to Vasso’s, she didn’t want to think about it. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“What kind of books did you read?”
“For pleasure?”
He nodded.
“English was my major, but I have to admit I loved all kinds of literature. In my mind you can’t beat the French for turning out some of the great classics. My favorite was Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables about Jean Valjean, who listened to the priest and did good. One of my classmates preferred Dumas’s Count of Monte Cristo whose desire for revenge caused him not to listen to the priest.”
Vasso slowed the boat because they’d come to the harbor where she could fill her eyes with its beauty. “I’ve seen the films on both stories. We’ll fly to Athens and take in a film one day soon, or we could go dancing if you’d like.”
Zoe smiled. “That sounds fun, but finding the time might be difficult.” Don’t torture me with future plans, Vasso. “I have my work cut out here.”
In that quiet moment Vasso reached out and caressed her cheek with his free hand. His touch sent trickles of delight through her nervous system. “Yiannis has been thanking me for dropping you on his doorstep. I do believe everyone is happy.” In the moonlight his heart-melting features and beautiful olive skin stood out in relief. “Shall we go back to the house?”
More than anything in the world Zoe wanted to see his home, but there were reasons why she had to turn him down. He was her employer, but there was much more to it than that. She’d found herself thinking about him all week, wishing he’d come by the hospital. For her to be looking for him all the hours of the day and evening meant he’d become too important to her already.
She could feel her attraction to him growing to the point she found him irresistible. This shouldn’t be happening. If she fell in with his wishes, she could be making the worst mistake of her life. And it would be a big one, because there was no future in it.
“I’d better not, but thank you anyway. This has been a thrill to come out in your cruiser. I’ve loved every second of it, but I’ve got a big day planned tomorrow and need to get to bed.”
The oncologist had told her that because of her type of lymphoma, the odds according to the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index indicated she’d live five years, maybe more. No one could guess when there’d be a recurrence.
With that in mind, she needed to keep her relationship with Vasso professional. She was already having trouble separating the line between friendship and something else. By touching her cheek just now he’d stoked her desire for him. He’d mattered too much to her from the beginning and her longing for him was getting stronger.
Whatever the statistics said, Zoe was a ticking time bomb. The breakup with Chad had been hard enough to deal with. But knowing the disease would come back had made her fear another romantic involvement. The only thing to do was stay away from any sign of emotional attachment that could hurt her or anyone else. Zoe had her work at the center and would give it her all.
On their way back to the car she hoped she hadn’t offended him. He’d been so kind to find her at the taverna and help her celebrate her birthday. Yet once again she felt tension emanating from him, stronger than before.
When he helped her in the car he said, “Tomorrow I’m planning to look at a new property. I’d like you to fly there with me. It’ll be a chance for you to see another part of Greece. We’ll only be gone part of the day. Once we’re back, you can get on with your other plans.”
The blood pounded in her ears. “That wouldn’t be a good id—”
“Humor me in this, thespinis,” he cut her off. “Since I came empty-handed this evening, let it be my birthday present to you.”
She averted her eyes. “Did Yianni put you up to this?”
“No. I actually thought it up all by myself.” On that note she laughed and he joined in. “I like it when you laugh.”
Zoe didn’t dare tell him how his laugh affected her...the way his black eyes smiled, the way he threw his head back, the way his voice rumbled clear through to her insides making them quiver. Oh no. She couldn’t tell this beautiful Greek god things like that.
Her resistance to him was pitiful. “How soon did you want to leave?”
“I’ll come by your apartment at eight-thirty.”
If he was going on business, then she needed to dress for the occasion. When he went out in public he was targeted by the paparazzi. She wanted to look her best for him.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked when he pulled up in back of the apartment.
“Things that would bore a man.”
“Try me,” he challenged with fire in his eyes.
“What lipstick should I put on, what shoes to match my dress, what handbag will be better. Decisions, decisions. See what I mean?”
He scrutinized her for a moment. “I see a lovely woman. What she wears doesn’t matter.”
“I’m a fake. If you saw me without my hair you’d have a heart attack.” She’d said it intentionally to remind him who she was, and got out of the car. “Someday I’ll lose it all again when I have to undergo another session of chemo, so I’ll enjoy this momentary reprieve while I can. Thank you for this unexpected evening. I’ll be waiting for you in the morning. Good night, Vasso.”
She let herself in the back door, but was so out of breath it took a minute before she could climb the stairs. Even if her fairy godfather hadn’t needed the reminder, she did.
Tomorrow has to be your last time with him, Zoe. Absolutely your last.
* * *
After a shower and shave, Vasso put on tan trousers and a silky, claret-colored sport shirt. While he fixed himself his morning cup of coffee, his phone rang. It was his brother.
He picked up. “Yassou, Akis.”
“Where are you?”
“At the house.”
“Good. Raina and I were hoping you’d come over this morning and have breakfast with us. We haven’t seen you in two weeks.”
“Thanks, but I’ll have to take a rain check on that.”
After a pause, “What’s going on?”
“I’m off on business in a few minutes.”
“We already closed the deal on the store in Halkidiki.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “This is something different.”
“Then it has to involve Zoe Zachos. Talk to me.”
Vasso let out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve been helping her settle in.”
“And that includes taking her on a business trip?” His incredulity rang out loud and clear.
Vasso checked his watch. “I’m going to be late picking her up. I’ll explain everything later. Give Raina my love.”
The question Akis was really asking went to the core of him. But he couldn’t talk about it. Once they got into a conversation, his brother would dig and dig. Zoe had said the same thing about him. They weren’t brothers for nothing, and Akis wouldn’t stop until he’d gotten to the bare bones. Vasso wasn’t ready to go through that. Not yet...
Pieces of last night’s conversation with Zoe had shaken him.
I’m a fake. If you saw me without my hair you’d have a heart attack. Someday I’ll lose it all again, so I’ll enjoy this momentary reprieve while I can.
Chilled by the possibility of the lymphoma recurring, Vasso started the car and drove to her apartment, unaware of the passing scenery.
When Chad heard I’d been told my disease would probably be terminal, he couldn’t handle it. I told him I didn’t want him to have to handle
it and begged him to take the job offer in Boston and not look back. He took my advice.
Chad’s pain would have been excruciating to realize he might lose her. But Zoe had to have been in anguish over so many losses.
Vasso’s thoughts flew to his father when he’d been on the verge of death. The sorrow in his eyes that he wouldn’t be able to see his sons grow to maturity—the pain that they’d never known their mother—the hope that they would never forget what a wonderful woman and mother she’d been—
Tears smarted his eyes. Not so much for the pain in his past, but for Zoe who didn’t know what the future would bring. Their light conversations only skimmed the surface of what went on underneath. Her declaration that she never planned to marry was part of the babble to cover up what was going on deep inside of her.
All of a sudden he heard a tap on the window and turned his head. It was Zoe! He hadn’t realized he’d pulled to a stop outside the apartment door. She looked gorgeous in a simple black linen dress with cap sleeves and a crew neck. The sun brought out the gold highlights in her hair.
He leaned across the seat to let her in. She climbed in on those well-shaped legs and brought the smell of strawberries inside. Her lips wore the same color and cried out to be kissed. Her eyes met his. “Kalimera, Vasso.”
“It’s a beautiful morning now, thespinis. Forgive me for staring. You look fabulous.”
Color rose into her cheeks. “Thank you. After getting caught off guard by the paparazzi in Athens, I thought I’d better be prepared to be seen in the company of one of Greece’s major financial tycoons.”
Vasso took a deep breath. “I hope that’s not the case today. Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Oh yes. Have you?”
“Just coffee.”
Her brows met in a delicate frown. “That’s all you had last night.”
Zoe managed to notice everything. He liked it. He liked her. So much in fact he couldn’t think about anything else. “I’m saving up for lunch,” he said and drove the car back along the tree-lined road to his house where the helicopter was waiting.
“Where are we going?”
“I’ve decided to let it be a surprise. You’ll know when we land at the heliport.”
Before long they’d climbed aboard the helicopter and lifted off. Vasso put on his sunglasses and turned on the mic. When he looked over his shoulder he saw that Zoe had put on sunglasses too. She was beautiful and could easily be a famous celebrity. But he was glad no one knew about her. He liked the idea of keeping his find to himself.
He gave her a geography lesson as they flew northward to Macedonia. She knew more Greek history than most people of his acquaintance. Once they neared the desired destination, the land became more mountainous. He could tell her eyes were riveted on the dark green landscape that opened up to half a dozen magnificent lakes. Further on a sprawling city appeared. The pilot took them down and landed in a special area of the airport. When the rotors stopped whirling Vasso said, “Welcome to Florina, Zoe.”
She looked at him in wonder. “Are you serious?”
“When you told me your parents had wanted to bring you here for your graduation, it gave me the idea.”
“So you don’t really have business here?” she asked in a softer voice.
“I didn’t say that.”
Zoe shook her head and took off her sunglasses. “You do too much for me, Vasso.”
“I’d hoped for a better reaction than a lecture.”
“I didn’t mean to sound like that. Forgive me.”
“Come on. I have a limo waiting to take us sightseeing.” He got out first then helped her down. The urge to crush her warm body in his arms was overwhelming, but he held back.
The limo was parked nearby. He helped her inside, but this time he sat next to her. “I’ve asked the driver to take us on a small tour. When I told him your great-grandparents lived here until the outbreak of the Greek Civil War, he promised to show us some of the historical parts of Florina and narrate for us over the mic.”
She looked out the window. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“I’m excited about it, too. I’ve never spent time in this area and am looking forward to it.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” came her whisper. When he least expected it, Zoe put a hand over his and squeezed it for second. But as she tried to remove it, he threaded his fingers through hers and held on to it.
“I think I’m almost as excited as you are. The cycle of the Zachos family has come full circle today. Seventy years ago your ancestors left this town to get away from communism. Now their great-granddaughter is back to put down her roots in a free society. That’s no small thing.”
“Oh, Vasso.”
In the next instant she pressed her head against his arm. While the driver began his narration—unaware of what was going on in the rear—Vasso felt her sobs though she didn’t make a sound. Without conscious thought he put his arms around her and hugged her to him, absorbing the heaves of her body. He could only imagine the myriad of emotions welling up inside her.
After a few minutes she lifted her head and faced straight ahead. “I hope the driver can’t see us. Here he’s going out of his way to tell us about the city, and I’m convulsed.”
“He knows this tour has more meaning for you than most tourists so he’ll understand.”
“You always know the right thing to say.”
For the next half hour the driver took them past buildings and landmarks made famous by the prominent filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos.
“Since the last war I don’t imagine the homes my great-grandparents left are even standing,” she confided.
“Probably not.” Vasso asked the driver to drop them off at a point along the Sakoulevas River. “Let’s get out and walk to Ioannou Arti Street so you can get a better view of the twentieth-century buildings along here. There’s an archaeological museum we can visit.”
She climbed out and put her arm through his as they played tourist. It felt so natural with her holding on to him like this. He could wish this day would go on forever.
“This is fabulous, Vasso. I had no idea the city was so beautiful. To think maybe my great-grandparents walked along this very river.”
“Maybe it was along here they fell in love.”
Zoe looked up at him in surprise. “I had no idea you’re such a romantic at heart.”
“Maybe that’s because you bring it out in me.” Obeying an impulse, he lowered his mouth and kissed those lips he’d been dying to taste. It only lasted a moment, but the contact sent a bolt of desire through him. She broke the kiss and looked away before they walked on.
The limo met them at the next street and they got back in. “If you’ve had enough, I’ll tell the driver to run us by a market the Realtor told me was for sale. He tells me there’s a taverna nearby where we can try out burek. We’ll see if it compares to your mother’s recipe.”
“I’d love that.”
Vasso alerted the driver and soon they pulled up in front of a store selling produce. He got out and helped Zoe down. Together they walked inside the busy market. The city was certainly big enough to support one of their stores. But he was curious to know the figures and approached the owner.
“While I talk to him, take a look around and see if there’s something you want to buy to take back to the apartment.”
She smiled. “Take as long as you need.”
Zoe strolled around, eyeing the fruits and vegetables brought in by local farmers. Vasso noticed the customers eyeing her, even the owner who could hardly concentrate when asked a simple question.
When Vasso had learned what he wanted to know, he went in search of Zoe and found her at the back of the market buying a bag of vegetables.
“Don’t they sell peppers in
Loggos?”
Her face lit up. “No. These are sweet Florina red peppers. My mother remembered her mother and grandmother cooking these. They aren’t like any other peppers in the world. I have the recipe. When we get back to Loggos, I’ll cook some for you with feta cheese and we’ll see if they live up to their reputation. The eggplant looks good, too.”
His pulse raced at the thought of going back to Zoe’s apartment. “Then let’s grab a slice of burek at the taverna two doors down now, and eat a big meal this evening.”
“That sounds perfect.”
She hadn’t said no. Their day out wasn’t going to end the second they flew back to Loggos. That was all he cared about.
After telling the owner he’d be in touch with the Realtor, Vasso carried her bag of precious peppers and eggplant as they walked along the pavement to the outdoor café. He ordered burek and Skopsko beer for both of them.
When she’d eaten a bite, he asked for her opinion.
“I’m more curious to know what you think, but you have to tell the truth. If you like it better than mine, it won’t hurt my feelings very much.”
He burst into laughter and ate a mouthful of the pie. Then he ate a few more bites to keep her in suspense. She was waiting for an answer. Those green eyes concentrated solely on him, melting him to the chair. “It’s good. Very good. Yours is better, but I can’t define why it’s different.”
She leaned forward. “You mean it?”
Good heavens, she was beautiful. “I don’t lie, thespinis. Let’s drink to it.” They touched glasses, but she only drank a little bit of hers while Vasso drained the whole thing. Food had never tasted so good, but that was because he was with her and was filled with the taste of her. He wanted more and suspected she did too otherwise she wouldn’t be talking about their spending the rest of the day together back on Loggos.
“Excuse me while I freshen up before we leave.”
Two hours later they arrived back at Zoe’s apartment. While she got busy preparing the peppers, Vasso followed her directions for moussaka. “I’m glad you’re staying for dinner, Vasso. There’s something important I want to talk to you about.”
A Wedding For The Greek Tycoon (Greek Billionaires Book 2) Page 8
