about him.
“I’d love to see the square. I’ll need to be back around five to have dinner ready by eight. But until then I’m game.”
If the crew on the yacht thought it odd the owner was escorting the new chef when he had guests visiting from Italy, no one said a word. Ari had drawn guard duty, and he was at the gangway to make sure no unauthorized person came aboard. He gave a two-finger salute to Nikos and grinned at Sara.
In only moments they were in the midst of the crowd that clogged the streets where the market was set up. Old women all in black carried string sacks in which they put the produce they bought. A small boy walked beside his mother carefully carrying a fresh loaf of bread wrapped in paper. Children’s laughter rang out, mingled with the rise and fall of bargaining debates and the spiel of those with less popular items trying to entice buyers.
It was more fun than she’d had in a while, Sara thought. Her mother would have loved it. She felt a pang when she remembered how her mother had spoken so fondly of her childhood memories. Sara nodded to the vendors, sampled one of the sweets—walnuts and honey—and danced out of the way of several children running through the marketplace.
Nikos caught her arm to steady her. She felt the touch all the way to her toes. Catching her breath, she looked at him. “Thanks.”
Oh, goodness, those dark eyes looked fathomless. His face was angular and masculine. His hair was tousled just a bit from the breeze. She wished they could have met under other circumstances.
But what other circumstances? If not for her needing access to his family island, they would never have met in a thousand years. Their lifestyles were too distant.
“Why, Nikos, you took care of the emergency already?” A tall dark-haired woman seem to spring up from the ground beside Sara. As she looked at the woman, Nikos released his hold.
“Gina.” For a moment he said nothing. Sara wondered if that was resignation in his eyes, but it couldn’t be. Wasn’t this the next Mrs. Nikos Konstantinos? Or was she a friend from Thessalonika?
The woman slipped her arm between his and his chest and leaned against him slightly. “I lost Mama and Papa. I knew the yacht was the best place to go if I got lost. But now I have you to show me the sights. I saw the cutest church on the town square. I would love to see inside.”
Sara watched her for a moment, wishing Stacy could be here. She’d make some snide comment, which would have both of them laughing at the obvious ploys of this Gina. Yet the woman had to know she was special to Nikos. Sara mentally sighed. She had known spending the afternoon with a fabulously wealthy man was beyond her reality.
“Sara, may I introduce Gina Fregulia, one of my guests for the cruise. Sara is responsible for the wonderful meals we are enjoying.”
“Oh, the quiche this morning was just delicious. I couldn’t eat it all, of course, I do have to watch my figure. But what I sampled was simply divine. You’re so clever. I can’t cook.” She glanced up at Nikos with a simpering smile. “But I don’t need to. We have a cook for that. I do have other talents.”
“I’m sure you do,” Sara said softly in English, just imagining what talents the voluptuous Italian woman had.
Nikos caught her eye, amusement evident in his. She must have misread the earlier emotion.
“Well, I’m looking for fresh produce to enhance tonight’s meal. Enjoy visiting the church,” she said briskly and turned.
“Sara,” Nikos called.
She turned.
He hesitated a moment as Gina clung. “Tell them to charge it to the yacht, they will know how to collect.”
For a split second she had hoped he was calling to reissue his invitation to see the town square together. To dump his guest and spend the afternoon with his chef. Ha. Gina was much more his type. He had been kind to offer to show her around. She relieved him of his impetuous offer.
Waving gaily, she turned and plunged into the crowd, hoping to lose herself quickly before the false smile plastered on her face dissolved and her disappointment showed. She would have liked to explore the island with someone who knew it. That was all.
Sara ended her afternoon at a small taverna near the docks. Fishing boats arrived every few minutes and she watched as the catch of the day was handed from the smaller crafts to a large ship that had tied up only moments before the fishermen returned. Most of the fish went into cold storage in the ship that probably took it straight to the mainland. Some fishermen carried their catch straight to a series of tables with running water to clean the fish and pass it along to one of the booths at the market.
Giving in to impulse, she went to buy some fresh catch to serve for dinner. She could rearrange her menu and knew the fresh fish would be excellent.
When she returned to the ship, she saw Nikos standing near the rails, talking with his guests. They were seated on the cushioned chairs dotting the upper forward deck.
Just before she looked away, he glanced around, his gaze catching hers. For a long moment he merely stared at her. Then slowly he raised his glass in silent toast.
Someone—probably Gina—said something and he looked back. Sara hurried on board, her nerves tingling. Would he seek her out again before the trip was over?
Why would he? she silently asked.
CHAPTER THREE
ONCE the yacht stopped for its nightly anchorage, Sara felt an unexpected rise in anticipation. She and several of the other crew members were lounging on the aft deck, enjoying the evening. It was much cooler tonight. She’d brought a sweatshirt. The breeze that blew constantly was refreshing but chilly. She listened to the conversation more than contributed. Now that the ship had dropped anchor, she wondered if Nikos would come again to thank her for the meal. She’d taken extra pains with tonight’s dish, broiling the succulent fish to perfection.
Probably not. He’d merely been kind to a new employee last night. He expected good work; she delivered. And he’d also been hospitable when he’d offered to show her around the upper deck of the yacht. She didn’t think he was the type to mingle with his employees on a routine basis. With the rest of the crew lingering on the aft deck, even if he wanted to speak to her again, she doubted he’d do so in such a public place.
And why would he want to? She wasn’t a regular member of the crew. Once the chef with the ruptured appendix recovered, he’d be back in his galley and she’d be back at the resort looking for another way to contact her grandmother.
Unless she could somehow get to the family island before that.
One by one the crew members rose to depart to their quarters. When only Sara and the captain remained, she changed seats to be closer so she could ask him some questions. She wanted to be able to turn the conversation to access to the island.
“Have you been in charge of this ship long?” she began.
“Since it was commissioned. Before that, I was captain of a ship for Mr. Andrus Konstantinos, Mr. Nikos’s father. I have served the family for almost twenty years.”
“An ideal job, I’d say, sailing around the Aegean all the time.”
“Ah,
