loved this woman with every atom of his body. “Yes.”
She got to her feet. “The headline in the paper has probably ruined everything you’ve tried to do where your father is concerned. For all I know it already has.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong.”
Lys paced the floor, then turned to him. “Why didn’t you answer your phone this morning?”
“I was out shopping for our bedroom furniture with my father and turned it off.”
Lys blinked. “You went with your father to do that?”
“Yes. It’s tradition for the parents. He insisted and we had a lot of fun.”
“Then it means he didn’t see the paper this morning.”
“True, but I did, and I told my parents about it at breakfast.”
He heard her take a quick breath. “Did your mother tell you I’ve broken our engagement?”
“Yes.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring. “Here’s the proof. It would have been nice if you’d told me first.”
“I did try, but you weren’t anywhere around.”
“We’ve got all the time in the world now.”
“You don’t need an explanation. We both know we can’t go on with this lie any longer. It’s not fair to your parents who love you.”
“What lie is that?”
“The only reason two people should get married is because they love each other. Your parents have to know the real reason we got engaged. But since you don’t want them to know about the will, I can’t go on with this deception.”
“You don’t have to. They know about it.”
He could see her swallowing hard. “When did they find out?”
“I told them this afternoon.”
She sank down on the end of the bed. “I don’t understand.”
Takis got to his feet. “I finally had the talk with them you urged me to have. You were right about everything and I was wrong. When I explained about the will, they told me they were thrilled Nassos thought enough of me to give me such a gift.”
“Oh, Takis—” she cried, sounding overjoyed. “Then there are no more shadows? You’re happy at last?”
“No. I’m still waiting for you to tell me if you love me. The other night you wanted me to stay with you. An admission of love would have brought me running to you.”
She looked away from him. “You’re being very unkind, Takis. After talking to your mother, you know I do.”
“You do what?”
“Love you.”
“When did you know?”
“In your office in Italy. But none of it matters because a love like mine needs to be reciprocated, which it isn’t, so I wish you’d leave now.”
“I can’t do that because I love you more than life.”
A gasp escaped her lips. She turned to him. “I don’t believe you,” she whispered.
“Do you honestly think I would have asked you to marry me if you hadn’t turned my world inside out? I knew at the funeral you were the woman for me. The moment was surreal to watch my destiny walk past me. The feeling I had for you transcended the physical. How can you doubt it?”
“Because I’m afraid to believe it.”
He reached for her left hand and slid the ring back on her finger. Then he cupped her beautiful face in his hands. “I can understand that fear. You lost your parents and Nassos. But you’re never going to lose me. We’re going to get married and raise a family.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. The love-light in her eyes blinded him. “I love you so much I don’t think I can contain it.”
“I don’t want you to try.” Driven by desire, he picked up his bride-to-be and carried her over to the bed, following her down on the mattress. “If you had any idea how long I’ve been waiting to love you like this. Give me your mouth, my love.”
Her passionate response was a revelation to Takis, but they’d no sooner started kissing each other than her cell rang, followed by a loud knock on the hotel room door.
He was slow to relinquish her luscious mouth. “I’ll get the door while you answer the phone.”
When he hurried down the hall and opened it, he discovered Danae standing in the hallway, the phone in her hand.
A smile broke out on her face. “I’m relieved you’re the reason Lys hasn’t answered her phone.”
He reciprocated with a smile of his own. “I’m relieved it’s you instead of the manager. Come in. She’ll be thrilled to see you.”
Danae kissed him on the cheek. “Liar,” she whispered.
Lys came hurrying into the living room and gave Danae a hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer the phone earlier.”
“That’s all right. I’m thinking you two need to move up the wedding date. How about three weeks from now? Check with your parents. We’ll have the reception on Kasos.”
Takis had never known this kind of happiness. “You’re a woman after my own heart, Danae. Since you’re here, I’m going to leave.”
Lys darted him a beseeching glance. “Do you have to go?”
This was like déjà vu. Luckily Danae had interrupted them, preventing him from breaking his vow not to make love to her before the wedding.
“Yes.” She knew the reason why. “I’ll be back later to take you and Danae to our engagement party.” He gave her a brief kiss on the mouth before letting himself out.
Three weeks later
THE DAY BEFORE the wedding, Takis’s close friends flew in from Milan. While the men met together, Gemma, Vincenzo’s wife, and Filippa, Dimi’s fiancée, came to Lys’s hotel room to talk. Lys was delighted to get acquainted with the two women, who were best friends and so important in Takis’s life.
It was clear to her they were all going to become close, especially when Gemma announced that she was pregnant.
“Does Vincenzo know?”
She smiled at Lys. “Oh, yes, and now he’s so excited and worried over my morning sickness, he never leaves me alone. The doctor gave me an antiemetic and now it’s
