She got to her feet. “You’d better not say that around me. I might just take you up on it because this has been a day of enchantment and I’m borderline addicted already. Good night, Akis.”

He watched her fit the crutches under her arms and make her way to the guest room. The urge to carry her to his room brought him to his feet. Needing something constructive to do so he wouldn’t follow her, he cleaned up the kitchen, then went out on the terrace to call Vasso. There was no answer. He left the message that he planned to be away from Athens with Raina for a few days. If there was a problem, let him know.

No sooner had he locked up and headed for his bedroom than the phone rang. He picked up on the second ring. “Vasso?”

“You’re on vacation with her now?” Akis heard the incredulity in his voice.

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Anti Paxos.”

“You’re kidding! What has happened to you?”

Something that had already changed his life, but he couldn’t say the words out loud quite yet. “Do you need me back at the office?”

“That’s not the point. What’s going on? Bottom line.”

“I’m still trying to figure things out.”

“Has she been honest with you?”

He sucked in his breath. “We’re getting there.”

“Akis—I’m really worried about you.”

He didn’t want to listen. “Why?”

“You’ve never been hurt soul-deep by a woman. The way you feel about her, she could be the first to do damage I don’t even want to think about if it doesn’t work out.”

“You mean like Sofia did to you?”

“Yes, but I was younger then and got over it. I’m warning you to be careful.”

“I thought you gave me the green light.”

“So I did, but she’s not just any woman. Hundreds of people depend on her as CEO. Don’t forget she came for the wedding and has to go back.”

Akis had forgotten nothing. The fear that she’d be able to walk away from him after their vacation was over would keep him tossing and turning during the nights to come. Once in a while the big brother in Vasso took over.

“What are you really trying to warn me about?”

“You’ve let her into your life where no other woman has gone. I guess I just don’t want to see you get hurt. But don’t mind me. Papa told me to look after you before he died. I guess I’ve forgotten you’re a grown man now and can take care of yourself. Forgive me?”

“If you can forgive me for asking for a few more days off.”

“What do you think?”

“I know it’s asking a lot.”

“Akis? Take care.”

His brotherly warning had come too late. It had been too late by the time she’d flashed those violet eyes at him on the street.

* * *

After swimming for the better part of an idyllic day in aquamarine water so clear and clean you could see everything, Raina walked on white-gold silky sand to the little truck to go back to the villa. Akis had played gently with her, always careful so she wouldn’t injure her ankle. He’d honored his promise to maintain his distance to the point she wished he hadn’t carried it this far.

Once in the house, she washed her hair in the shower and blow-dried it. She’d picked up some sun and applied a frost lipstick, then donned a white sundress and sandals. All day she’d been waiting for evening. He was taking her to Paxos Island to show her where he’d grown up and worked. She brought her crutches, hopefully for the last time.

They drove to the only harbor on Anti Paxos, where he’d moored their cabin cruiser. In a lightning move he lifted her like a bride and placed her on one of the padded benches. While she put on a life jacket, he untied the ropes. She could hardly take her eyes off him, dressed in a collared navy knit shirt and cream-colored pants outlining his amazing physique.

He started the engine and they backed out of the slip at no-wake speed until they reached open water. Different kinds of boats dotted the marine-blue sea separating the two islands. Akis pointed out landmarks along the coastline till they reached Loggos. The small, quaint town with its horseshoe-shaped waterfront held particular significance for her. This was where Akis and his brother were born.

He found a slip along the harbor and berthed the cruiser. She removed the life jacket before he reached for her and set her down on the dock. Their bodies brushed, ramping up the temperature from a fire that had been burning steadily for days now.

“Here you go.” He handed her the crutches. Once she was ready, they began an exploration of the beachfront with its tavernas and shops. He pointed out an apartment above one of the bars. “That was our first place to live after we sold the hut.”

“I don’t know your language, but I recognize the Alpha/Omega 24 sign up ahead. You lived close to your store.”

“That’s how we were able to be on duty day and night.”

She turned to him. “I’ve got gooseflesh just being with you where the whole business began. Your number-one store. When you look back at the beginning, can you believe what you’ve accomplished this far?”

His smile quickened her heartbeat. “Watching your reaction makes it all worth it.”

“I want to go inside.”

“The interiors are the same, but we’ve kept the facades of our various stores in keeping with the surroundings.”

He was right. Once they stepped over the threshold, it was like entering the shop in Athens. There were several people in summer gear doing some shopping. A middle-aged man and woman beamed when they saw Akis and hurried over to him, giving him a hug, obviously holding him in great esteem.

Akis introduced Raina to the married couple who ran the store. Their gaze fastened on her with unchecked curiosity. They held a long conversation with Akis in Greek. At the very end he shook his head and ushered her back outside.

“What was that all about?”

He stared at her through veiled eyes. “Aside from giving me a rundown about how business was going, they said you were very beautiful like a film star and that we looked beautiful together. They saw the news the other night where I was helping you out of the hotel into the limo. They wanted to know if you were my fiancée.”

To be Akis’s fiancée would be the ultimate gift after fearing it was all an unattainable dream. Heat filled her cheeks. “It’s evident they’re fond of you. So am I,” her voice throbbed, “and I’m having a wonderful time with you. Where are we going to have dinner? I’m in the mood for fish.”

“We’ll go to the taverna ahead where you can eat beneath the olive trees. Their appetizers serve as an entire meal.”

His choice didn’t disappoint her. The waiter brought mezes made of octopus, salad, sardines, calamari, shrimp and clams. They feasted until they couldn’t eat another bite. He taught her how to say the names of the fish in Greek. It was hilarious because her pronunciation needed help with gareedes, the name for shrimp, causing them both to laugh.

“I’m humbled when I realize you picked up English and are fluent in it. You’re brilliant, Akis.”

“We had to learn it out of necessity, no other reason.”

“Those who know your story would call it genius. I lived with Chloe for nine months, but I didn’t pick up her language. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t really try. Your genius is that you knew what you had to do and you did it against all odds.”

“But my pronunciation needs help.”

“No, it doesn’t.” She put a hand on his arm without realizing it. “I love the way you speak English. It’s so sweet.”

His black brows met together. “Sweet?”

“It’s part of your unique charisma. There’s nothing artificial about you. Never change.”

He reached for her hand and kissed the palm. Full of food and so happy, she felt delicious sensations run through her body at the touch of his lips against her skin. She wanted, needed to be close to him.

“Vasso?” a female voice called out, causing Raina to lift her head in the direction of the lovely woman who’d come over to their table. She was probably Raina’s age.

Still grasping her hand, Akis turned around to the person who’d interrupted them.

“Akis!” She looked shocked before her gaze strayed to Raina.

At that point he had to let go of her hand and stood up. “Sofia Peri,” he said in English, “meet Raina Maywood.”

The other woman nodded to Raina.

“Sofia grew up here at the same time with Vasso and me,” he explained.

From the other woman’s troubled expression, Raina suspected there’d been an uneasy history. “Akis and his brother must look a great deal alike for you to mistake him.”

“Yes and no. How is he?”

“Busy running the office while I’m on vacation. How are you and Drako?” His gaze flicked to Raina. “Her husband owns the best fishing business on Paxos.”

Sofia averted her eyes. “This has been a good year for us.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Nice to see you, Sofia. Give my best to Drako.”

“It was nice to meet you, Sofia,” Raina chimed in.

Clearly Sofia wanted to prolong the conversation, but Akis had sat down, effectively bringing their meeting to a close. When they were alone once more Raina said, “She’s a very pretty woman.”

“A very unhappy one,” Akis responded. “When Vasso got out of the military he asked her to marry him, but she turned him down because she was looking for a man who could give her all the things she wanted.”

Raina read between the lines. “Now that you and your brother have prospered, she’s wishing she hadn’t turned him down?”

He sat back in the chair and nodded. “From his early teens, Vasso was crazy about her and she him, but she wanted more from life. There was a period when I feared he’d never get over the rejection. But he did.”

She let out a sigh. “Thank goodness time has a healing effect.”

His eyes searched hers. “You say that like someone who has been hurt.”

The subject had come up. Better to get it out of the way now. “I married at twenty when I was young and naive. A writer ten years older than I came to the house to get details about a book he was writing on my grandmother’s father, Edwin Moss. My great-grandfather was a seascape artist who’s been gaining in popularity.

“Because Byron was older and brilliant, I was too blinded by his attention to realize he only wanted me for what my money could do to support his research and career. He told me he wanted to put off having children for a while.”

“You wanted children?”

“More than anything. I didn’t understand why he wanted to postpone it until he was trapped in a scandal with a grade-B film starlet from Hollywood and the director with whom she was having an affair. As you can imagine I thanked providence there was no child born to us who would be torn apart.”

Akis’s striking Greek features hardened.

“In court I learned Byron had been having relations with her before and during my marriage to him. It got ugly before it was over. My grandparents helped me through the ordeal. Without them I don’t think I would have made it. Your brother was fortunate enough to be passed over. In the long run he’s the winner.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Akis put some bills on the table. “Let’s get out of here. Back along the shoreline near the dock is an outdoor club for dancing. We’ll see how your ankle holds up without the crutches, but the second it starts to hurt, we’ll leave.”

Twilight had turned the island into a thing of incredible beauty. Between the water and the lights, Raina was caught in its spell. But for the crutches, she would have hung on to him, unable to help herself.

Many of the shops had closed for the night. “Look—your store is full of people. I’m so proud of what you’ve done I could burst.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to burst if I don’t get you in my arms soon.”

He didn’t know the half of it. Soon she could hear live music coming from the club. They played everything from bouzouki to modern, jazz and rock. Some of the people sat around watching the lights of the harbor and the incoming ferry while they enjoyed a cocktail. Other couples had taken to the dance floor.

Akis put her crutches next to her chair and ordered them a local drink. “Come on.” He reached for her hand and pulled her onto the floor. “I’ve waited as long as I can.”

So had she. Today she’d been transported to another world and melted in his arms, dying for the legitimate excuse to get as close to him as possible. Her heart thudded so hard, she was certain he could feel it. Their bodies fit and moved as one flesh.

When he wrapped both arms around her to bring her even closer, she linked her arms around his neck and clung to him. The male scent of him combined with the soap he’d used in the shower acted as an aphrodisiac. Raina had no idea how long they’d been fused together when his lips brushed against her hot cheek. “How’s your ankle?”

“What ankle?” she murmured back.

She felt his deep sigh. “When I was a young boy, we’d walk past this club on our way home from work every night. For years and years I used to watch the people sitting around drinking and dancing, unable to relate to their lives.

“It took money and leisure time, neither of which I had. A man needed decent clothes and shoes. But more than anything else it took courage I didn’t have to walk in here with a woman and feel I was as good as anyone else.”

Her eyes closed tightly. She was haunted by what he’d told her. “How long did it take you to realize your own value and bring a woman in here to dance the night away?”

“I never did.”

Raina’s hands had a mind of their own and slid to his cheeks where she could feel the slight rasp of his hard male jaw. She forced him to look at her, trying to understand. “I’m the first?”

“I’ve been waiting for the right woman, but the way I’m feeling about you at this moment, I need to get us away from here now. Let’s go.” She knew how he felt and would have suggested it if he hadn’t.

They walked back to the table. He handed her the crutches. After leaving money on the table, they left the club without having tasted their drinks.

The water felt like glass during the ride to Anti Paxos in the cabin cruiser. A sliver of a moon lit up the dark sky. Raina wanted this romantic night to last forever. When he pulled into the slip at the harbor, he turned to her. “How would you like to sleep out on the cruiser tonight?”

“Can we? I’d love it!”

“Tell you what. We’ll drive to the house and pack a bag. I’ll grab some food and we’ll come back. Tomorrow we’ll begin a tour of the different islands.”

She removed her life jacket. “You’re sure you want to do this for me when you’ve lived here all your life? Won’t it be boring for you?”

“Being with you is like seeing everything for the first time because your excitement is contagious.”

“This part of Greece is so glorious, I’m speechless, Akis.”

“I’m in the same state around you. Come on.” He picked her up and carried her to the dock. They reached the truck and drove to the house in record time. At the house she changed out of her sundress and put on her lightweight white sweats. After packing bags and food, they returned to the cruiser. She really was doing fine without the crutches and had never known this kind of happiness before.

Being with Akis made her realize what a pitiful marriage she’d had with Byron, whose selfishness should have warned her she was making a terrible mistake. Theo’s best man was the best man she’d ever known, and the most generous.

“We’ll cruise over to my private beach and lay anchor until morning. The seats go back and make comfortable beds if you want to sleep on deck. Or you can use the bedroom below.”

“I want to stay on top and look at the stars.” That way they didn’t have to be separated.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Euphoria enveloped Raina as they followed the shoreline to his area of the island. After cutting the motor, he dropped anchor. Theirs was the only boat around. He turned on the lights. It felt like they were on their own floating island. When she looked over the side, she could see beneath water so clear it didn’t seem real.

She turned around with her elbows on the railing and smiled at him. “I feel enchanted. It’s this place. The air’s so warm and sweet, and the sky is like velvet.”

His gaze swept over her. He’d turned on music and strolled toward her still dressed in the same clothes he’d worn earlier. Akis was so handsome, her mouth went dry. “I want to dance with you again. This time we don’t have an audience.”

Raina propelled herself into his arms and he swung her around. He murmured words into her hair she didn’t understand. “What did you say?”

“That you smell and feel divine.” He crushed her against him, running his hands over her back and molding her to him. They slow-danced until she lost track of time. His mouth roved her cheek until she couldn’t bear it any longer. Needing his kiss like she needed air, she met his lips with her own. They became lost in a sea of want and desire.

“I could do this with you forever,” he whispered against her warm throat. “My father told me it could be like this with the right woman.”

She rose up on tiptoe and kissed his face one dashing feature at a time. “In my darkest moment, my grandfather told me the same thing and warned me not to lose hope. He and my grandmother were happily married for sixty-nine years.”

Akis smiled down at her. “Imagine that.” Twining his fingers with hers, he walked her to the banquette across the rear of the cruiser and pulled her onto his lap. He smoothed some strands of her hair tousled by the breeze. “If I were your great-grandfather, I’d paint you like this and name it Aphrodite by moonlight.”

Raina buried her face in his neck. “If Rodin were alive, I’d commission him to sculpt you cavorting in the swells of your Hellenic world. Have you been to Paris?”

“No. But I’ve seen pictures of The Kiss. All the boys on the island liked looking at those kinds of pictures.”

“I think everyone does. Do you think Rodin got it right?” she teased.

“As much as he could working with cold marble.”

His comment sent a wave of heat through her body as she imagined them the models for the sculptor’s famous work.

“You’re all warmth.” He lowered his head and kissed her until she was lost in rapture. A low moan passed through him. “Raina—I want to eat you up, every last centimeter of you. But if I do that, there won’t be anything left for me tomorrow, so I’m giving you a chance to escape me. There’s a comfortable bed waiting for you below where I won’t be joining you. At least, not tonight.”

He helped her off his lap. The last thing she remembered was the black fire of his eyes as he said good-night.

Her legs almost gave way from the blaze of desire she saw burning there and practically stumbled her way to the steps leading down to the galley. She was still out of breath when she finally climbed under the covers. Akis was the one who had the incredible self-control she lacked. Hers had deserted her the first time he’d taken her in his arms.

The frightening realization had come to her that to know his possession would change her life forever.

Forever...

Akis was a male force no woman could resist. There was no one else like him.

* * *

As Akis had done many times before, he slept on the top deck of the cruiser. But he couldn’t sleep yet. When his father had talked about meeting the right woman he’d said, “Akis? You’re only in your teens and you’ll meet a lot of women before you’re grown up. When you find the one, you must treat her like a queen.

“Your mother was my queen. I cherished and respected her from the beginning. She deserved that because not only was she going to be my wife, she was going to be the mother of our children.”

There was no question in Akis’s mind that at the age of twenty-nine he’d found the one. What tormented him was the fear she wouldn’t think he was the one. How could he possibly measure up to the educated men she worked with and knew? Maybe that was why Vasso had cautioned him to be careful. Because he knew there was a vast chasm of knowledge separating Akis from Raina.

But when he awakened that morning, he felt the sun’s warm rays on his face chasing away the disturbing fears that had come during the night. A burst of excitement radiated through him knowing Raina was only as far away as the bedroom below.

After he’d made breakfast in the galley, he called to her. He’d taken a swim first and was still dressed in his trunks. And needing a shave. She appeared minutes later looking a knockout in leaf-green shorts and a sleeveless white top. Those amazing lavender eyes smiled at him.

“I’m glad you’re up, Raina. How are you feeling?”

“Fantastic. Something smells marvelous.”

“It’s the coffee.” But she’d just come from the shower and brought her own intoxicating scent with her. “How’s the ankle?”

“I’ve forgotten about it.”

“Good. Come and sit down.” He’d made eggs and put out fruit and pastries. “After we eat, I’ll take us to Lefkada Island, your birthplace.”

She chuckled and sat down in one of the pullout seats beneath the table. “Didn’t we pass over it?”

He nodded. “Katsiki Beach will be a sight you won’t forget. We’ll swim to our heart’s content.”

She munched on a pastry and sipped her coffee. “I know I’m still dreaming and pray I never wake up.”

“I’ll do my best to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Raina’s expression turned serious. “You’ve been so good to me and have done all the work. I don’t begin to know how to repay you. I’ve never been waited on like this in my life, but have done nothing to deserve it. Before our vacation is over I intend to wait on you.”

“We’ll take turns.”

“While you pull up the anchor and get us underway, I’ll start now by cleaning up the kitchen.”

He walked around and kissed her luscious mouth. “See you on top in a few minutes.” This was happiness in a new dimension. To make it last presented the challenge. If he wanted the prize, it meant not making mistakes along the way. Vasso’s words still rang in his ears. Slow down.

Once he’d pulled on a clean T-shirt from his bag in the bathroom, he bounded up the steps to the deck and got everything ready. Raina appeared a few minutes later with a couple of beach towels and sunscreen. Beneath her beach robe he glimpsed the mold of her lovely body wearing her orange bikini and had to keep himself from staring.

“You’ll need to put this on.” He handed her the life jacket.

“Even if you swim like a fish, you have to wear one, too.”

He flashed her a smile. “Tell you what. For you, I’ll wear a belt.” He opened a locker and pulled one out.

“Put it on, please.”

“Nag, nag.”

“Your command of English is remarkable.”

“I heard the word enough times when an American husband and wife came in the store. His wife would tell him what she wanted and he’d walk around muttering the word under his breath.”

Raina laughed so hard, her whole body shook. “Welcome to the US.”

His black brows lifted. “I’m afraid it’s the same here.”

She nodded her head, drawing his attention to the gleaming red and gold strands of her hair in the sunlight. “Certain things between men and women will never change no matter the nationality.”

“Like getting into each other’s space until there’s no air between them.”

Raina had a tendency to blush. To avoid commenting, she poured the sunscreen on her hands to apply to her face and arms. “Would you like some?”

“Thanks, but my skin doesn’t look like fine porcelain.”

Her eyes traveled over his face. “You’re right. You have an olive complexion that highlights your black hair and makes you...drop-dead gorgeous.” She put the sunscreen on the seat.

His brows furrowed. “Drop-dead?”

“It’s an American expression for a man who’s so attractive, a woman could drop dead from a heart attack just looking at him. And there’s another expression women use. They say ‘he’s jaw-dropping gorgeous.’” She touched his unshaven jaw with her left hand. “You know. Sometimes when you see something incredible and your mouth opens in shock?”

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