and kept reading.
Reputed to be a lookalike for the famous French actress and beauty Catherine Deneuve in her youth, she has divorced husband Byron Wallace, the writer and biographer involved in a sensational, messy affair with Hollywood would-be starlet Isabel Granger who was also involved with her director boyfriend.
Akis groaned.
Only now could he understand Raina’s brittle laughter during an earlier conversation. What are you saying? That the stress of having a mistress and keeping his wife happy at the same time was too much, even for a god? He could feel his gut twisting.
Vasso had left a postscript on his note.
You’ve got a green light, bro. No more worry. She’s interested in you, not your money.
He scanned the other sheets, astonished over the two charities she’d started in California in honor of her grandparents, including all she’d accomplished as CEO of the Maywood megacorporation.
These revelations had turned him inside out. It shamed him that he’d been so hard on her in his own mind when she’d suffered such pain in her life. The loss of her parents and grandparents...the betrayal by a man who had never deserved her...
“I hoped I’d find you here. How come you don’t seem happier?”
Akis had been so absorbed and troubled, he hadn’t heard his brother enter the den. He turned in his direction. “I didn’t think you’d be back this soon.”
“There was a power-grid failure, but it was soon repaired. I’m going to ask you again. What’s wrong?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I feel like I’ve trespassed over her soul.”
Vasso shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“This information changes everything.” It had been a humbling lesson that had left him shaken.
“Of course it does, but your reaction doesn’t make sense.”
“I can’t explain right now.” He squeezed Vasso’s shoulder. “You’re the best. I’ll get back to you.”
He left the printouts on the desk and hurried out of the penthouse, calling for his limo. Before he left for Chloe’s house, he phoned Raina. She picked up on the third ring.
“Akis? I’m glad you phoned. We were all worried. Is everything okay?”
How strange what a piece of news could do to change everything. She was no longer a mystery in his eyes and the tone in her voice reflected genuine anxiety. The fact that he’d doubted her and had assumed she had an agenda, shamed him. It caused him to wonder how many women he’d falsely labeled when they were as innocent as Raina.
“That all depends on you.” He gripped the phone tighter.
“So...there was no emergency with your business, or—or your brother?” Her voice sounded shaky.
Touched by her concern he said, “No. The problem was a power-grid failure that was soon put to right.” This emergency was one closer to home. One so serious, he could hardly breathe. “I’m on my way over to talk to you.”
“No, Akis. I’ve gone to bed.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll do whatever we feel like. I promise not to touch you unless you want me to. I’ve never met a woman remotely like you. I want to get to know you better, Raina. It would be worth everything to me.”
Silence met his question.
“I’m not a god. As you found out in the pool, I’m a mortal with flaws trying to make it through this life. By a stroke of fate you were at the reception when I needed a woman who would dance with me. I haven’t been the same since you lifted those violet eyes to me and told me you didn’t speak Greek.”
“I lied,” she murmured. “I know about ten words.”
His eyes closed tightly. “If you want nothing more to do with me, then say no in Greek and I’ll leave you alone.” It would serve him right. He didn’t deserve her attention. He held the phone so tightly while he waited, it was amazing it didn’t break.
“Neh,” he heard her say.
“That means yes, not no.”
“I know. I’ll be here in the morning when you come over. I admit I’d like to get to know you better, even if it goes against my better judgment. Good night.”
An honest woman.
Akis released the breath he was holding. “Kalineekta, thespinis.”
* * *
Raina spent a restless night waiting for morning to come. After hearing from Akis last night, she’d had trouble getting to sleep. She turned on television just as the news came on. All of a sudden she saw herself and Akis leaving the Grand Bretagne to get into the limo. It was already old news, but still playing because he was so gorgeous.
She shut off the TV, but couldn’t shut out the memory of their kiss in the pool. When Akis had called her, she’d sensed a change in him. That edge in his voice had gone. There was a new earnestness in the way he spoke that compelled her to give in. Not only for his reasons, but for her own.
Besides his exceptional male beauty and the desire he’d aroused in her, she’d never met such a dynamic man. He’d gone to great lengths to entertain her while she had to stay off her leg. Only a resourceful person would give her a tour of Athens through a telescope and a sightseeing tour by helicopter, making sure she was comfortable.
He’d been generous with his time and was obviously successful in business with his brother. If she didn’t know anything else about him, she knew that much. Chloe’s parents seemed very fond of him. When it came right down to it, the big problem was the fact that he was Greek and lived here. Before long she had to go home.
But until that day came, she had to admit to a growing excitement at spending time with him. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken a true vacation. Not since before her marriage to Byron.
Yes, it was taking a big risk to be with Akis, but she was tired of the continual battle to protect her heart. Before her grandfather had died, he’d warned her not to stay closed up because of Byron. She was too young to go through life an old maid because of one wretched man who didn’t know the first thing about being a husband.
“Oh, Grandfather—I wish you were here. I’ve met a man who has stirred me like no other. Maybe he’ll hurt me in the end, but I’ll hurt more if I don’t go with my feelings for him and see what happens.”
If she let Byron win, then she was condemning herself to a life without love or children.
Raina had listened to her grandfather’s wise counsel, but it wasn’t until she’d been with Akis that his words had started to sink in.
Until the other night when he’d taken her back to the hotel, she’d felt old beyond her years, incapable of feeling the joy of falling in love or anything close to it. But being with Akis had made her
