Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume IX: The EqualizerGod's Gift to Women

by Rhonda Nelson;Karen Foley

  Nikos nodded. “I spoke with him earlier. He did increase the amount, and I’ve decided to accept.”

  Cora paused with her glass halfway to her mouth. “What? But it’s still early. You’ll get half a dozen offers before the night is over. Why would you take the first one?”

  Nikos shrugged. “I like the director, and I can actually picture him raising a family in this house.”

  Cora arched an eyebrow but didn’t argue further. “I saw your girlfriend earlier tonight,” she said, sipping her wine.

  Nikos stilled. “Where was she?”

  “There’s an open house at a gallery downtown. I know the owner, so I stopped by for just a few minutes on my way here. I didn’t actually speak with Lexi, but the owner said one of her sculptures is making its public debut tonight.” She gave Nikos a conspiratorial wink. “I have to say, it’s an amazing piece of work. She’s extremely talented, but she obviously had some great inspiration.”

  Nikos frowned. Was it the sculpture she had been working so hard on over the past few months? And if it was, why hadn’t she told him that she was showing it at a local gallery? Unless she didn’t want to pull him away from his own event, which was ridiculous. There was no reason why they couldn’t attend both together.

  “I’m sorry,” he said to Cora, “but I need to ask a favor of you.”

  Cora read his expression and her mouth opened on a protest. “Oh, no. You can’t leave. These people are here to see your house. They’ll be making offers, expecting you to talk to them about the restoration process!”

  “You can tell them the house is already under agreement, and my cousins can speak to them about the work we did. I really have to go.”

  “But—”

  He left her standing next to the swimming pool staring after him in dismay, but he didn’t care. He’d left his truck at home that morning and had driven his sports car. He cut through the yard to Lexi’s driveway where he had parked it. He knew exactly where the gallery was located, and with luck, he could be there in under twenty minutes.

  * * *

  LEXI STOOD INSIDE THE GALLERY, trying to be unobtrusive. She had dressed in a simple black cocktail dress for Nikos’s open house and had been preparing to walk next door when the security company for her studio contacted her. Their alert system indicated that someone had gained access to the studio, but had neglected to enter the security code into the keypad. The result was that the alarm had been silently activated. Lexi wasn’t worried and had declined the company’s offer to send a security guard down to the studio to check it out. She was certain it was either a glitch in the system, or Nelda had decided at the last minute to use the studio to store some large pieces, in preparation for the gallery’s black-tie event. She could reset the system and return to the open house before Nikos even missed her.

  But she had been unprepared to walk into her studio and find her sculpture of Apollo missing. On the rolling pedestal where he had once stood was a note that read, “Please don’t be upset. You’ll thank me later. Nelda.”

  Panicked, Lexi had raced to the gallery, appalled to find her sculpture the main attraction at Nelda’s black-tie open house. Without exception, every person there was interested in just one thing: Apollo. He dominated the long, elegant studio, standing nearly eight feet tall as he regally surveyed the dozens of guests. His body gleamed beneath the studio lights, but it was the expression on his face that seemed to distance him, godlike, from his admirers. Lexi had perfectly captured Nikos’s half smile, and just a hint of dimple showed in one lean cheek. On a small pedestal next to the sculpture, a placard read simply Apollo.

  “He’s amazing,” one woman murmured, and dared to reach toward the sculpture. But her fingers hesitated over his corrugated abdomen, and finally, she dropped her hand. Lexi knew exactly how the woman felt. When something was that perfect, you almost didn’t dare to touch it.

  “Your sculpture is the star attraction,” a voice murmured next to her, and Lexi turned to see a beaming Nelda. “I can’t remember the last time the gallery had such a successful event.”

  Lexi stared at the other woman in disbelief. “How could you do this to me?”

  “How could I not?” Glancing around them, she drew Lexi to one side. “Please don’t be upset. You’re such an amazing artist, and this sculpture deserves to be seen. To keep it locked up in your studio would be infinitely worse than what I did in bringing him here.”

  Lexi felt close to tears. “I want him returned to the studio first thing tomorrow morning. And I want my key back.” She passed a hand over her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this.”

  “Are you kidding?” Nelda said beneath her breath, smiling at a passing customer. “He’s the main attraction! At least I didn’t put your name on the card, although everyone wants to know who the artist is. Honestly, Lexi, I’m not sure how long I can keep you under wraps.”

  “Well, you need to, at least until I tell Nikos.”

  “Tell Nikos what?” asked a deep voice in her ear, and Lexi turned to see him standing beside her. As it always did, her heart leaped at the sight of him and a wave of heat washed through her, making her legs go a little weak. He looked good enough to eat in a white shirt that emphasized his tawny skin. He had rolled the sleeves back over his strong wrists, and pushed his hands casually into the pockets of his black dress pants.

  “Nikos,” she exclaimed, aware that Nelda’s jaw had fallen open. She didn’t blame her friend. Nikos in the flesh could be a little overwhelming. “How did you know I was here? Why aren’t you at the house?”

  “Cora Parish told me you were here. She said that one of your sculptures was on exhibit. You really think I would miss this debut?” His eyes gleamed warmly. “I know how hard you’ve worked over the past couple of months. I would never miss this.”

  Lexi’s gaze flew guiltily toward the far end of the gallery where Apollo stood. Before she could say anything, Nikos turned to look in the same direction. As if someone had choreographed this moment, the spectators standing in front of the sculpture moved away, leaving both Nikos and Lexi with an unobstructed view of her work. Although he gave no outward indication, Lexi knew the precise instant that Nikos recognized the statue as himself.

  “Is this your sculpture?” His voice was low.

  “I can explain,” Lexi began, but Nelda cut in.

  “Bringing it here was my idea,” she said quickly. “Just look at the wonderful reception the piece is getting. I’m sure you can appreciate just how talented Lexi is. She was uncertain how you might feel about her having used you as her inspiration.”

  “Used me is an apt way of putting it,” Nikos replied, shifting his attention to Lexi. “Do you mind if I take a closer look?”

  Without waiting for her response, he made his way through the crowd to the pedestal where Apollo stood. He circled the statue as Lexi watched and she knew he missed nothing. But when he finally shifted his attention back to her, she was unprepared for his bleak expression. Without a word, he made his way out the door.

  “Nikos, wait,” Lexi said urgently, following him. “Please, try to understand. I’d almost finished the sculpture before you told me about your past. I didn’t know. Nikos—”

  He stopped on the sidewalk and spun toward her. “The day you came over to get your camera, you asked me to model for you. I refused. So don’t tell me that you didn’t know. You knew. You simply chose to disregard my feelings.”

  “Nikos, please—”

  “Do you deny it? Can you stand there and tell me to my face that you honestly believed I would have no problem with you sculpting me nude?” He gave a disbelieving laugh. “If you’d done it solely for your own personal pleasure, that would be one thing, but to put me on display like this—” He bit the words off as two women walked past, eyeing them curiously, and entered the studio.

  “I had no idea that sculpture would be here tonight. I was even having second thoughts about giving it to the botanic gardens. Please believe me,” she sai
d miserably. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” he replied. “Sorry that I was so completely wrong about you. Enjoy the sculpture, because that’s all you’re getting of me. I hope it was worth whatever you’re being paid for it.”

  Before Lexi could say another word, Nikos turned and walked away. She watched him leave, knowing it was futile to go after him. She’d seen his eyes. Like that first morning when he had retrieved her camera from the bushes, they were filled with both regret and disappointment. He wanted nothing to do with her.

  Nelda came to stand beside her, and they watched as Nikos’s sports car pulled away from the curb and roared off. “Give him a couple of days,” her friend suggested. “He’s upset now, but he’ll come around.”

  “You’re wrong,” she said, her voice tight with suppressed emotion. “I don’t think he will. I betrayed his trust. I knew he wouldn’t approve of the sculpture, and yet I did it anyway. Worse, you brought it here and made it—made him—a spectacle.”

  “A sensation,” Nelda corrected gently. “Tonight’s exhibit made him a sensation.”

  “He won’t forgive me for this,” she said quietly. Nikos had refused to see his father for sixteen years. Lexi had no illusions that she was more important to him than his own parent.

  Nelda laid a hand on her arm. “Then it’s up to you to make him understand. I’m sorry, Lexi. I never meant for this to happen. I can see how you feel about him. Now you need to tell him.”

  * * *

  LEXI SAT ON A LOW STOOL IN HER studio and stared moodily at her sculpture of Apollo.

  Of Nikos.

  He stood in the center of the cavernous space, his expression one of mild interest. His muscular body gleamed softly in the sunlight, and almost against her will, Lexi found herself approaching him. Reaching out, she laid her hand against his sculpted chest. The stone was cool and hard beneath her fingers. There was no heartbeat, no warmth, no sign of life. Glancing at his face, she saw that his expression hadn’t changed. He continued to stare out across the studio, giving no indication that he knew—or even cared—that she was there.

  Four days had passed since that horrible night at Studio Gallery, and she hadn’t seen Nikos once. She knew the house next door had been sold because the staging company had come to remove the furniture and accessories and a sign had appeared on the front lawn that read Under Agreement.

  But Nikos hadn’t returned to the house.

  Lexi had tried to contact him, but her calls went directly to his voice mail. Finally, she’d called his cousin, who had told her that Nikos had left for Syros the day after the open house, to visit his parents.

  Drawing in a deep breath, Lexi let her hand fall away from the sculpture. As perfect as it was, she found the figure gave her no satisfaction. Instead, it taunted her, a beautifully cruel reminder of what she could have had. Had she really thought that all she wanted was a stone-cold statue? Had there actually been a time when she’d believed that a marble man was better than the flesh-and-blood deal? She knew now that the sculpture was nothing more than a poor imitation of what she really wanted.

  Nikos.

  He’d argued that he was far from perfect, but Lexi realized he was perfect for her. No other man could compare to him, not even her perfect marble creation.

  It was then that she knew what she had to do.

  * * *

  “NIKOS, I NEED YOU.”

  Nikos straightened and turned from where he had been leaning on the railing of his parents’ balcony, contemplating the waters of the Aegean. His mother stood just inside the double French doors, her green eyes unfathomable.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Come, I will show you.”

  He followed her through the house and into the living room. His father stood on the far side of the room speaking with a young woman, and for a heart-stopping instant Nikos thought he was hallucinating.

  Lexi.

  How many times during the past week had he fantasized about her being on Syros with him? As much as he enjoyed reconnecting with his family, he thought he’d go a little crazy with missing her. After the initial shock of seeing the sculpture had worn off, his anger and disappointment had dissipated quickly. In fact, from the moment he’d arrived on Syros, he’d regretted not staying to try to work things out. Instead, he’d convinced himself that a little bit of time and distance would give him some perspective. How many times would he let his own stubbornness and pride get in the way of being with those he loved?

  Looking at Lexi now, he acknowledged that he did love her. He was crazy about her. Even reconciling with his father hadn’t fully eased the ache of not being with her. She was looking at him now with a mixture of joy and apprehension that tugged at his heart.

  “Lexi,” he said, walking toward her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  Up close, he could see the signs of stress and fatigue on her face that had nothing to do with the long flight from California. She looked weary, as if she hadn’t slept in days. More than anything, he wanted to haul her into his arms and reassure her that everything would be okay.

  “I had to come,” she said simply, but Nikos heard the catch in her voice and knew she was close to losing it.

  He turned to his parents to ask for some privacy, but they had slipped silently from the room, leaving him alone with Lexi.

  “First, let me apologize for the sculpture,” she said hurriedly, as if she was afraid he might toss her out before she’d had her say. “When I first saw you, I couldn’t believe how beautiful you were. That day we had lunch on your patio, I knew I wanted to create Apollo in your image. I never meant to offend you, and by the time I guessed how you might feel, it was too late.”

  “Stop.” He interrupted her frantic flow of words to drag her into his arms. “I’m the one who should apologize, not you.”

  She stared at him, clearly bemused. “What?”

  He smiled into her eyes, but his voice was serious. “I overreacted that night at the gallery. Instead of being insulted, I should have felt honored. And I do. I’m humbled, really, both by your talent and your portrayal of Apollo.”

  Lexi smoothed her fingers over the front of his shirt. “I’m half-afraid that you’re just being nice. But I am sorry,” she said softly. “When I first met you, all I could think about was sculpting you. Then I got so caught up in capturing your image that I forgot about what mattered. You. Us.”

  “Is that why you’re here?”

  She raised her eyes to his. “Yes. The sculpture is perfect, Nikos, but it isn’t you.”

  He gave her a half smile and smoothed her hair back with one finger. “You’re right. I’m not perfect. Not even close.”

  “I’m not giving the sculpture to the botanic gardens. It will stay in my studio.”

  “Are you sure? Because I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since I’ve been here, and I think it should be placed in the gardens.”

  “You do?”

  “Absolutely. You put so much of yourself into that statue, it would be a shame to keep it locked away somewhere.” Nikos gave a soft laugh. “I think I was actually a little jealous of Apollo, and how much time you spent working on him.”

  Lexi winced. “When I first met you, I was a little down on relationships. I thought that I could get involved with you without falling in love with you. I really believed that all I wanted was to create a sculpture of the perfect man.” She gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “And now that I have it, I find he’s not what I want at all.”

  Nikos used his knuckles to smooth her hair away from her face. “What do you want?”

  “You, Nikos. Only you. With all your imperfections, if they really exist.”

  Slowly, Nikos raised her hand to his mouth. “Oh, they exist,” he assured her softly. “It only took me eighteen years to return to Syros and make peace with my father. I’m proud and stubborn, and that’s just the beginning.”

  Lexi wound her arms tighter around him. “I d
on’t care. If you lost your looks tomorrow and all that remained was your pride and stubbornness, I would still want you. You see, to me you’re perfect.”

  Nikos groaned and buried his face in her hair. “I was angry that night because I’d fallen for you, and I couldn’t stand to think you might have only been interested in me as a model.”

  “Maybe that’s how it began,” she said, “but that’s not how I feel now. I don’t care about the sculpture, Nikos. Not anymore.”

  “I have to warn you that I’m not perfect. And you shouldn’t want me to be.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because being perfect means never losing control, and I’ve found that where you’re concerned, I have very little control.”

  “I’m glad,” Lexi murmured, and leaned toward him, her gaze fixed on his mouth.

  Nikos gave a soft groan, and cupping the back of her head in his hand, covered her lips with his. There was nothing tentative or apologetic about the kiss; it was deep and possessive, and when Lexi moved closer, he reveled in the feel of her beneath his hands.

  “Christ, I’ve missed you,” he muttered against her mouth. Pulling slightly back, he studied her face. “I’ll make you a deal. In the future, I’ll model for you anytime you want, so long as the finished product is for your eyes only.”

  Lexi nodded, her eyes shining. “It’s a deal.”

  A discreet cough came from the kitchen, and Nikos gave her a grin. “Would you like to meet the rest of my family? Because unless I’m mistaken, my mother will have spread the word that you’re here. I have no doubt that my brothers and sisters are all congregated in the next room, dying to meet you.”

  Lexi swallowed, looking a little panicky. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

  “Oh, I am. And then tomorrow, we’ll leave here and spend a week on the island of Santorini.”

  Her eyes widened. “Nikos! How—”

  “I made the reservations weeks ago, before the open house.”

  “But how did you know that I would follow you here? Is that why you didn’t cancel them?”