“Almost as beautiful as you.”
She averted her eyes. “You shouldn’t say things like that to me.”
“Not even if I want to?”
“I’ll just run to my desk and put them on the counter, then I’ll join you.”
* * *
He could have no idea how much the flowers meant to her. She loved him... Too many more moments like this and all her efforts to keep distance between them would go up in smoke.
After receiving his newsy emails all week, to be given these flowers had her heart brimming over with love for him. It was clear he wasn’t about to go away, and now he was whisking her off to his brother’s villa.
She was filled with wonder as the helicopter flew over the tiny island next to Paxos. Vasso pointed out the vineyards on Anti Paxos. “If you notice the surrounding water, it’s Caribbean green. Your eyes are that color, Zoe.”
Every comment from him was so personal it made it harder for her to keep pushing him away. That’s because you don’t want to, Zoe. You’re in love and you know it.
As they descended to a landing pad, she could see that the water was green, not blue, putting her in mind of emerald isles she’d never seen except in film. Vasso helped her down and kept a hand on the back of her waist as they made their way toward the small stone villa.
“Look at these flowers!” Zoe exclaimed. “It’s breathtaking.” They lined the mosaic stone pathway.
“Vasso?” she heard a female voice call out.
“Nobody else!” he called back.
In the next instant Zoe caught sight of the lovely American woman who’d married the other Giannopoulos son. She was a blonde, too. Zoe’s first impression was that she glowed with health. Vasso had told her they were expecting a baby.
“Zoe? This is my favorite sister-in-law Raina.”
“Your only one,” she broke into English, rolling her violet eyes. “I’m so glad you could make it.” Raina shook her hand before hugging Vasso. “Akis just got back from Athens and will join us after he gets dressed. Please come in. We’ve been excited to meet you.”
Zoe followed her into the most amazing living room. A fireplace had been built in a wall carved out of rock. Between the vaulted ceiling and arches, the stone villa reminded her of pictures from the old family photos that had gone up in flames. The curtains and pillows added marvelous colors of blue and yellow to the décor. Zoe loved it.
“While Vasso goes to find Akis, come out on the terrace, Zoe, and have some lemonade with me.”
They walked past the open French doors where the terrace overlooked a kidney-shaped swimming pool. Glorious shades of red, purple and yellow flowers grew in a cluster at one end. Beyond it the sea shimmered. “You live in paradise, Raina.”
Her eyes sparkled with glints of blue and lavender. “Every day I wake up and can’t believe any place could be so beautiful.”
“I know. When Vasso took me on a helicopter ride, I thought I had to be dreaming.”
“May we never wake up.” Raina Giannopoulos had a charming manner Zoe found refreshing. “Come and sit. I’ve wanted to meet you ever since we heard you were coming to Greece to work.” She smiled. “Don’t get me wrong. I love it here, but I miss talking to another American once in a while. Do you know what I mean?”
Zoe liked her very much already. “I know exactly. It’s nice to speak English with you.”
“I’m working on my Greek, but it’s slow in coming.”
“I may be Greek in my DNA,” Zoe confided, “but I’m American in my heart.”
“I thought I was, too, before I married Akis. Now the Greek part has climbed in and sits next to it.”
Zoe laughed while Raina poured them both a glass of lemonade. “Before the guys come out, may I tell you how much I admire you for handling everything you’ve been through? My grandfather died of stomach cancer and my grandmother from heart failure. I watched them suffer and can only imagine your agony.”
“It’s over now.”
Raina nodded. “You don’t know it, but both brothers have been very touched by your story and are astounded by your desire to pay them back. Their father meant the world to them. Until you came along, I don’t think either of them realized what good they’ve really done.”
“I know,” Zoe whispered, moved by her admission about her grandparents. Raina had known a lot of pain too. “It’s hard for Vasso to accept a compliment. I’m afraid all I do is thank him. I’m sure he’s sick of hearing about my gratitude.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be here now.”
“That’s the thing. He got me this job so fast he couldn’t know how important that is to me. One day my lymphoma will come back, so I want to do all I can for as long as I can.”
She saw a shadow pass over Raina’s face, but before anything else was said, two black-haired men with striking features came out on the terrace, dressed in casual trousers and sport shirts.
Zoe stared at Vasso’s brother, then turned to his wife. “I didn’t realize how closely they resemble each other,” she whispered. “I thought Vasso was the only Greek god flying around Greece in a helicopter.”
“Do you want to know a secret?” Raina whispered back. “When I first saw Akis on the street in Athens, he seemed to be the incarnation of the god Poseidon come to life from the sea.”
“I thought you met at a wedding reception.”
“That’s true, but we almost bumped into each other first on the street.”
Zoe smiled. “And you never recovered.”
“Never.”
“Would you believe my first thought was that Vasso was the sun god Apollo? The statue in the fountain at the center looks just like him. With a husband like yours, it makes you wonder if you’re going to give birth to a gorgeous god or a goddess, doesn’t it?” After that comment they both laughed long and hard, cementing their friendship.
The men came closer. “What’s so funny, darling?”
While Zoe sat there blushing, Raina smiled up at her husband. “We were discussing the baby’s gender.”
“What’s funny about that?” Vasso wanted to know. His intense gaze had settled on Zoe. She knew he wouldn’t let it go without an answer.
“Maybe Raina will give birth to a little Poseidon carrying a trident. That’s why we laughed.”
A knowing look entered Akis’s eyes before he kissed his wife on the cheek. “My choice would be an adorable Aphrodite like her mother.”
The two of them were madly in love. Zoe could feel it. She was terribly happy for them and about the baby on the way. Zoe would never know that kind of joy. To get married, let alone have a baby, when she knew her cancer could come back wasn’t to be considered.
She could see the hunger in Vasso’s eyes when he looked at his brother’s family. It was killing Zoe, too, because marriage and babies weren’t in the cards for her. They couldn’t be.
“Akis, let me introduce you officially to Zoe Zachos. Yiannis tells me he doesn’t know how they ever got along without her.”
“So I’ve heard.” Akis came around and shook her hand. “Apparently your round-robin card game was a huge hit today. We’ll have to lay in some chips to make things more interesting for your future poker games.”
“That would be fantastic! Thank you. Before another moment goes by, I have to thank you for allowing me to work at the center. I’ve been given a second chance at life and will always be indebted to you and Vasso.” Zoe fought to hide the tears quivering on the ends of her lashes.
She put up her hands. “I’ll only say one more thing. I know you’re God-fearing men because of your father’s example. Christ said that when you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me. Well, I’m one of the least. It’s my joy to give back what I can.”
Vasso star
ed at her for the longest time before Raina told the men to sit while she put on an American dinner California-style in Zoe’s honor. Fried chicken, potato salad and deviled eggs along with Raina’s Parker House rolls recipe.
Zoe had never enjoyed an evening more. Vasso told them about their trip to Florina and discussed the wisdom of putting in a store there. The time passed so fast she protested inwardly when she looked at her watch and saw that she needed to get back to the center.
Raina walked her out to the helicopter. Zoe smelled a haunting fragrance coming from the flowers. “I’ve never seen Vasso this animated since I met him. He never used to laugh the way he does now. It must be your effect on him. We’ll do this again soon,” Raina promised.
No. There couldn’t be another time. Zoe wouldn’t be able to stand being around these wonderful people again when it hurt so much. “Thank you for making me feel welcome, Raina. I’ve loved it. Vasso told me how you two met. Apparently Akis was running from the maid of honor at the reception and asked you to dance.”
“Did he tell you I’d just sprained my ankle and was on crutches?”
“No.”
“I was glad I couldn’t dance with him because I didn’t want anyone to know I was there. The paparazzi were outside waiting. Chloe’s wedding was the event of the summer for the media.”
Zoe nodded. “They mobbed Vasso the day we went shopping at the department store in Athens. With them always being in the news, it doesn’t surprise me that women are after those two brothers. It’s really a funny story about you two. Akis is a lucky man. For your information, you could open up your own restaurant serving the food we ate tonight.”
The other woman hugged her. “After I heard from Vasso what a great cook you are, that’s a real compliment.”
Vasso came from behind and opened the door so she could climb in.
“Thanks again, you two. It was wonderful meeting you.”
He followed her in. Once they’d fastened their seat belts, the rotors whined and they climbed into the twilight sky.
Zoe could see Vasso’s profile in the semidark. He was a beautiful man who’d taken over her heart without trying. She was prepared to do anything for him. That meant weaning herself away from him. He deserved to meet a woman who had a lifetime ahead to give him love and bear his children.
Because of the foundation, she’d been granted five years, maybe a little more, to live life until her time ran out. But it would be a selfish thing to do if she reached out for love. It would be asking too much to deliberately marry a man and have his baby, knowing she would have to go through another period of illness before leaving them. Zoe refused to do that to any man.
“Zoe? We’re back at the hospital.” Vasso’s low voice brought her back to the present.
She thanked the pilot and got out of the helicopter. When Vasso started toward the elevator with her, she turned to him. “I had a marvelous evening and loved meeting your brother and his wife.”
“You and Raina really seemed to hit it off.”
“She’s terrific. Between you and me, your brother doesn’t have anything to worry about. She’s crazy about him. No talk of his pecking at her.”
Vasso grinned.
“It’s obvious they have a wonderful marriage. Now I need to go inside and set things up. You don’t need to come all the way to make sure I’m safe.”
His dark brows furrowed. “Why are you pushing me away, Zoe?”
After taking a deep breath, she folded her arms to her waist. “Let’s be honest about something. Our relationship has been unique from the beginning. The normal rules don’t apply. You’ve done everything humanly possible to help me relocate to a new life, but I’m acclimatized now. For you to do any more for me will make me more beholden to you than ever. I don’t want that.”
“What if I want to be with you, and it has nothing to do with anything else?”
Zoe lowered her head. “If that’s true, then I’m flattered.”
“Flattered,” he mouthed the word woodenly. “That’s all? So if you never saw me again, it wouldn’t matter to you?”
“I didn’t say that,” she defended in a throbbing voice.
“Then what did you say?”
“You’re trying to twist my words.” She pressed the button that opened the elevator door. When she stepped in, he joined her.
“Why are you running away from me?
“I’m not! I’m supposed to be back at work.”
“Work can wait five minutes. I want an answer.”
“Vasso—”
“Yes? I’m right here. Why won’t you look at me? I lived for your emails, but you didn’t open up in them.”
Her cheeks felt so hot she thought she must be running a temperature. “Because... I’m afraid.”
“Of me?” he bit out, sounding angry.
“No—” She shook her head. “Of course not. It— It’s the situation,” she stammered.
“If you’re afraid I’m going to desert you the way Chad did, then you don’t know me at all.”
“I never said that.”
“But it’s what you were thinking. Admit it.”
“You’ve got all this wrong, Vasso.”
“Then what are you worrying about?”
“Us!” she cried.
“At least you admit there is an us,” he said in a silky tone. In the next breath he reached for her and slid his hands to her shoulders, drawing her close to his rock-hard body. “You’re trembling. If it’s not from fear, then it means you know what’s happening to us. I’m dying to kiss you again. But this time we’re not standing in the middle of Florina for all to see.”
She hid her face in his shoulder. “I’d rather you didn’t. We’ll both be sorry if you do.”
“I’ll be sorry if we don’t. Would you deny me the one thing I’ve been wanting since we met?”
All this time?
“Help me, Zoe,” he begged. “I need you.”
His mouth searched for hers until she could no longer hold out. When it closed over hers she moaned. Thrill after thrill charged her body as they began kissing each other. One led to another, each one growing deeper and longer. She was so lost in her desire for him she had no awareness of her surroundings.
Vasso’s hands roved over her back and hips, crushing her against him while they strained to get closer. She was so on fire for him it wouldn’t surprise her if they went up in flames. This wasn’t anything like her response to other men, to Chad. All Vasso had to do was touch her and she was swept away by feelings she’d never thought possible.
“Do you have any idea how much I want you?” His voice sounded ragged. “Tell me now how sorry you are.” His mouth sought hers again, filling her with sensation after sensation of rapture. But his question made it through the euphoric haze she was in and brought her back to some semblance of reality.
“Vasso—we can’t do this any longer,” she half gasped, struggling for breath.
“Of course we can.”
“No.” She shook her head and backed away from him. “I don’t want a complication like this in my life.”
“You see me as a complication?” he ground out.
“Yes. A big one. You’re my ultimate boss. I’m here because of you. We crossed a line this evening, but if we stop right now, then there’s been no harm done. I look upon you as a blessed friend and benefactor. I don’t want to think of you in any other light.”
His face looked like thunder. “Don’t make me out to be something I’m not.”
“You know what I mean. I need to be here on my own and work out my life without any more help from you. I don’t have to explain to you how much I already love it here. But when Father Debakis asked you to interview me, he had no idea what a kind and generous man you really are or how far yo
u would go for the welfare of another human being.”
“You’re confusing my human interest in you with the attraction we feel for each other, which is something else altogether. Admit the chemistry has been there from the beginning.”
“How can I deny it after the way we kissed each other? But it doesn’t change the dynamic that I’m an employee of the Giannopoulos Foundation. It would be better if we remain friends and nothing more. You admit you’ve had other girlfriends. I’m positive there will be more. When another woman comes into your life who sets off sparks, you’ll be able to do something about it without looking back.”
His black eyes glittered dangerously. “What about you?”
She threw her head back. “I told you the other day. I’m not interested in romance. I want to make a difference in other people’s lives. In ways, Ms. Kallistos had the right idea about me after all.”
“What rubbish. You know damn well you don’t believe what you’re saying. I know you don’t, but for some reason I have yet to figure out, you’ve decided to be cruel.”
“Cruel?” Her face heated up. “I’m trying to save both of us a lot of pain.”
She heard a sharp intake of breath. “You’re so sure we’ll end up in pain?”
“I know we will.”
He shook his dark head. “What do you know that I don’t?”
Zoe didn’t want to say the words. “Think about it and you’ll see that I’m right. There’s another Raina out there waiting for you to come along. She won’t be an employee and she’ll be able to give you all the things you’ve been longing for in your life. Trust me in this. Your turn is coming, Vasso. You’re a dear man and deserve everything life has to offer.”
Frown lines darkened his handsome features. “Why do I feel like you’re writing my epitaph?”
No, my darling. Not yours. Zoe swallowed hard. “I’m not the woman for you.”
A haunted expression entered his eyes. “You’re not making sense.”
“In time, it will be clear to you. Good night, Kyrie Giannopoulos. From now on that’s how I’ll address you coming and going from the center.”
A Wedding For The Greek Tycoon (Greek Billionaires Book 2) Page 10
