“The wedding was beautiful. Now you can relax for a little while. Thank you for lunch.”
“You’re always welcome here. You know that. Raina’s ankle was hurting and she went to her room. She asked me to say goodbye to you.”
“I appreciate that. She did seem a little under the weather.”
He kissed her cheek and left the house for the limo where his driver was waiting. “Take me to the office.”
During the ride he sat back trying to figure out what was going on with her. She’d told his employee at the store her name was Ginger Moss, but the concierge denied any knowledge of it. Why in the hell had she done that?
Once back at the Giannopoulos business complex off Syntagma Square, he walked through the empty offices to his private suite. It was a good thing it was Sunday. In this mood he’d probably bite the heads off the staff.
Vasso would be back tomorrow, but Akis needed to talk to him. His brother was busy overseeing a new store opening in Heraklion. If not for the wedding, Akis would have gone with him.
He rang Vasso’s cell phone number. It was four o’clock in the afternoon. He should still be at the grand opening to make sure everything went smoothly. “Pick up, Vasso.” But it went through to his voice mail. Akis left the message for him to call ASAP. While he waited to hear from him, he caught up on some paperwork.
When his brother hadn’t phoned him by seven-thirty, Akis couldn’t take it anymore and decided to drive back to the Milonis estate. Before the night was out he would find out why she didn’t want to let him into her life. Was it because she thought he was beneath her socially? Wasn’t he good enough for her? If that was the case, then she needed to say that to his face.
Raina was different than any woman he’d ever met. He was deeply attracted not only to her looks but to her personality, as well. She could fight it all she wanted, but they had a connection. He just had to tear down that wall she’d put up. It was important to him.
Ione, the Milonises’ housekeeper, met him at the door and explained that Chloe’s parents had gone out for dinner, but they’d be back shortly.
“What about their houseguest?”
“Thespinis Maywood is in the den watching television.”
Maywood...
So she hadn’t run away quite yet. Pleased by the information he said, “I’ll just say hello to her, then. Thanks, Ione.” Without hesitation he walked past her and found his way to the room in question. Having been over here many times, he knew where to go.
The door was already open so he walked in to find her lying on the couch in front of the TV with a couple of throw pillows elevating her leg. She was dressed in the same jeans and T-shirt she’d worn earlier.
“That was quite a disappearing act you performed earlier,” he stated from the doorway.
Her eyes met his calmly, as if she’d known he would show up again and was amused by it. Challenged by her deliberate pretense of indifference to him he said, “What does one call you? Ginger when you’re with strangers, but just Raina with close friends?”
A sigh escaped her lips. After turning off the TV with the remote, she sat up and moved her legs to the floor. “I take it you went to the store where I fell.” She stared hard at him. “I must admit I’m shocked that the clerk would give you my name. That’s privileged information.”
“Agreed, but it was false information. In case you were worried, I happen to own that store.”
“What?” Those incredible lavender eyes of hers had suddenly turned a darker hue. At last something had shaken her out of her almost condescending attitude. Did she really not know how he earned his living? Because of her relationship with the Milonis family, he found it hard, if not impossible, to believe.
“I read the incident report written up in the back room. You gave my employee the name of Ginger Moss, age twenty-six. What name will I find if I ask you to show me your passport? It will be important when I pay your hospital bill. They’ll need more information to correct the discrepancy on the record.”
“My insurance will reimburse you.” She rested her hands on the top of her thighs. “I sometimes go by the nickname Ginger.”
“Because of your hair?”
Her eyes fell away. “Yes.”
“Even if I were to believe you, that’s neither here nor there. I want to know why you felt you had to maintain your lie with me when you’re a close friend of the woman who married my best friend.”
The silence deafened him.
“I’ll find out the truth before long. Why not be honest with me now and get it over with?” he pressed.
“Is that the only reason you came over here again?”
“What do you think?”
More color filled her cheeks. “I—I wish I hadn’t told you where I’d fallen.”
“Since I found you here at Chloe’s, it’s a moot point.”
She stirred restlessly. “You want me to apologize?”
Akis had her rattled, otherwise she wouldn’t have asked those questions. He rubbed his lower lip with his thumb. “You want the truth from me? Do you think that’s fair when you’ve exempted yourself from being forthcoming with me?”
She moistened her lips, drawing his attention to them. All night he’d wondered what she’d taste like. “I meant no harm.”
“If that’s the case, then why the deception?”
“Look—” She sounded exasperated. Her cheeks grew more flushed as she got to her feet and fitted the crutches beneath her arms. “I haven’t had a meaningful relationship with a man for a long time because it’s the way I’ve wanted it.”
He walked over to her. “But clearly there’ve been a lot of men who’ve wanted one with you. You think I’m just another man you can ignore without telling me why?” She looked away quickly, letting him know he’d guessed the truth. “A woman with your looks naturally attracts a lot of unwanted attention. It must be galling to realize that whatever you did to put me off, fate had a hand in my showing up at Chloe’s home. Prove to me my interest in you isn’t wanted and I’ll leave now.”
She looked the slightest bit anxious. “Akis—I just don’t think it wise to get to know you better.”
“Why? Because you haven’t been honest with me and there is a man back home you’re involved with?”
“No,” she volunteered so fast and emphatically, he believed her. “There’s no one. This conversation is ridiculous.”
“It would be if I didn’t know that you’re interested in me, too. But for some reason, you’re afraid and are using the excuse of having to fly to California to put me off. I want to know why.”
“I’m not afraid of you. That’s absurd.”
“Last night you cheated me out of a dance. I don’t know about you, but I need to feel your mouth moving beneath mine or I might go a little mad with wanting.”
“Please don’t say things like that,” she whispered.
“Because you know you want it, too?”
Her breathing sounded shallow. “Maybe I do, but I’m afraid.”
“Of me?” He brushed his lips against hers.
“No. Not you. I’m afraid of my own feelings.”
“Shall we find out if they’re as strong as mine?” He wrapped her in his arms, crutches and all. His lips caught the small cry that escaped hers, giving him the opportunity to coax a deeper kiss from her. First one, then another, until she allowed him full access and the spark between them ignited into fire.
“Akis—” she cried softly before kissing him back with a hunger that thrilled him. He’d kissed other women, but nothing prepared him for the surge of desire driving both of them as they swayed together.
“I want you, Raina,” he whispered against her creamy throat, “more than any woman I’ve ever wanted in my life.” He came close to forgetting her sprained
ankle until a moan sounded in her throat, prompting him to release her with reluctance and step away.
She steadied herself with the crutches for control. Those enticing lips looked swollen and thoroughly kissed. “That shouldn’t have happened.” The tremor in her voice was achingly real.
“But it did because we both wanted it.” He took a quick breath. “I want to spend time with you, and from the way you kissed me, I know you want the same thing.” His comment coincided with the arrival of Chloe’s parents, who walked in on the two of them.
“Weren’t you over here earlier?” Socus teased him in his native tongue. “No wonder our guest didn’t mind that we had an important business dinner to attend.”
Akis shook his head. “She didn’t know I was coming over again.”
“We’re glad you’re here, Akis,” Nora said in English. “We don’t want her to leave. Please do what you can to persuade her to stay until Chloe and Theo get back.”
Socus chimed in. “If we had our way, we’d insist on your living with us for a long time, young woman.”
Raina’s eyes misted over. “You’re such dear people and have been wonderful to me. But I’m afraid I have too many responsibilities at home to remain here for any length of time.”
“Your ankle needs at least a week to heal before we let you get on a plane,” Chloe’s father declared. “But we can talk more about this in the morning. Good night, you two.”
After they left the room Akis said, “Your ankle could use more rest. There’s nothing I’d like better than to help you pass the time.”
He sensed she knew she was defeated, but that didn’t stop her from darting him a piercing glance. “What about your work?”
“My brother will fill in for me. We do it for each other when necessary.” He stood there with his hands on his hips. “You look tired, so I’m going to leave. If I come over in the morning, will I still find you here?”
Her eyes flashed. “Perhaps the question should be, will you show up since you have a disparaging opinion of me?”
“You mean after you told me I should stick with my own kind and background?”
She stirred restlessly. “I can see you still haven’t forgiven me for an innocent remark.”
“There was nothing innocent about it. But the way you kissed me back a few minutes ago confirms my original gut instinct that you know something significant has happened to both of us. Good night, thespinis.”
He left the house for the limo. On the way to his penthouse his cell phone rang. One look at the caller ID and he clicked on. “Vasso? How come it’s taken you so long to get back to me?”
“Nice talking to you, too, bro.”
His head reared. “Sorry.”
“The phone died on me and I just got back to my hotel to recharge it. What’s wrong? You don’t sound like yourself.”
“That’s because I’m not.”
“The opening went fine.”
Akis was in such a state he’d forgotten to ask. “Sorry. My mind is on something else.”
“Was there a problem at the wedding? I saw you on the evening news helping a beautiful woman on crutches into the limo.”
So Vasso saw it. “She’s the reason I called. When will you be back?”
His brother laughed. “I’ll fly in around 7:00 a.m. and should be at the office by nine.”
“If you’re that late, I’m afraid I won’t be there.”
“That sounded cryptic. Why?”
“Something happened at the reception.”
“You sound odd. What is it?”
“I’ve...met someone.”
“I’m not even going to try to figure that one out. Just tell me what has you so damned upset.”
“Believe it or not, a woman has come into my life.”
“There’ve been several women in your life over the years. Tell me something I don’t know. Are we talking about the woman on crutches?”
“Yes. This one is different.” Both brothers had led a bachelor life for so long, not even Akis believed what had happened to him since he’d seen Raina on the street.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yes.”
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Vasso exhaled sharply. “She feels the same way?”
His teeth snapped together. “After the way she kissed me back tonight, I’d stake my life on it.”
“But you only met her last evening.”
“I know. She looks like Aphrodite with lavender eyes.”
“I’ll admit she was a stunner.” Laughter burst out of Vasso. “But you sound like you still need to sleep off the champagne.”
“I swear I only had a sip.”
“Come on, Akis. Quit the teasing.”
“I’m not.” For the first time in his life Akis was swimming in uncharted waters where a woman was concerned.
A long silence ensued. “How old is she?”
“Twenty-six.”
“From Athens?”
“No. California.”
“She’s an American?”
“Yes. On the day of the wedding rehearsal, we almost bumped into each other on the sidewalk after I left Theo at the bank. I couldn’t get her out of my head. On the night of the reception, to my surprise she was sitting at a table in the back of the ballroom.
“When I asked her to dance, she didn’t understand because she said she didn’t speak Greek. But she couldn’t dance anyway because she was on crutches. I helped her out to the limo and took her to her hotel.”
“Just like that you spent the night with her? You’ve never done anything like that before. Wasn’t that awfully fast?”
“I didn’t stay with her and you don’t know all that happened. When I couldn’t find her at the hotel today and learned she’d checked out, I checked with Theo’s family. They hadn’t heard of her so I decided to go over to Chloe’s for help. When I went walked in, to my shock I found her relaxing at the side of the pool.”
“She was at Chloe’s?”
“Yes. It seems Chloe spent a school year with her back in high school on one of those exchange programs to learn English.”
“How come you’ve never heard of her?”
“I once remember Theo telling me that Chloe had an American friend she lived with in high school, but I never made the connection.”
“What’s her name?”
“Raina Maywood. But when she fell and sprained her ankle in our number four store, she gave Galen a different name before going to the ER. I had a devil of a time tracking her down.”
“Wait, wait—start over again. You’re not making sense.”
“Nothing has made sense since we first saw each other.”
“Akis? Are you still with me?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your gut telling you?”
“I don’t know,” he confessed.
“Maybe she wanted to meet you. It wouldn’t be hard to connect the dots. After all, she knows the circles Chloe’s family runs in. Maybe when Chloe invited her to come to the wedding, she told her about Theo’s best man and promised to introduce you.”
“There’s a flaw in that thinking, Vasso, because it didn’t happen that way. By sheer chance I asked her to dance. Otherwise we would never have met. After I took her to her hotel, she made it close to impossible for me to find her.”
“But she did end up at Chloe’s, so it’s my guess she hoped you’d show up there at some point. Even if that part of the evening wasn’t planned, what if all along her agenda has been to come to the wedding and use Chloe’s parents to meet you? Is that what you’re afraid of? That she’s after your money?”
“Hell if I know.”
�
��It stands to reason Chloe would have told her all about Theo’s best man. There’s no sin in it, but the way things are moving so fast, don’t you think you need to take a step back until more time passes? Then you can see what’s real and what isn’t. Think about it.”
Akis was thinking. His big brother had touched on one of Akis’s deepest fears. The possibility that somehow she’d engineered their meeting like other women in the past had done tore him up inside. He wanted to believe that everything about their meeting and the unfolding of events had been entirely spontaneous.
But if Chloe had discussed him with Raina, then her comment about his background made a lot of sense. He and Vasso were the brothers who’d climbed out of poverty to make their way in the world. They lacked the essentials that other well-bred people took for granted—like monetary help from family, school scholarships, exposure to the world.
They’d been marked from birth as the brothers who’d come out of that class of poor people who would be lucky to survive. Whatever he and Vasso had achieved had come through sheer hard work.
Akis could hold his own, but he was aware of certain inadequacies that would never change.
If in the past the situation had warranted it, he and Vasso had always given each other good advice. But this one time he didn’t want to hear it even though he was the one who’d called his brother.
Akis didn’t want to think Raina might be like Althea who was looking for a husband who could keep her in the style of Chloe’s parents.
“Isn’t that why you phoned me, because you’re worried?” his brother prodded. “She’s seen the kind of wealth Chloe comes from. You remember how crazy Sofia and I were over each other when we lived on the island without a drachma to our name?”
“How could I forget?”
“But she turned down my wedding proposal because she said she could do better. It wasn’t until our business started to flourish that she started chasing me again and wouldn’t leave me alone. At that point I wasn’t interested in her anymore.”
“I remember everything,” Akis’s voice grated. Both he and Vasso had been through the painful experience of being used. It had made them wary of stronger attachments. A few years ago when they’d set up two charities to honor their parents, one of the women they’d hired as a secretary to deal with the paperwork had made a play for Vasso. But it turned out she wanted marriage rather than the job.
The Millionaire's True Worth Page 4
