need another hotel. The last thing I want is for anyone to know I’m co-owner. Yet for another half year that’s the way it has to be and I plan to live out the rest of my life here. So unless your heart is set on going to New York, I’d prefer it if you would call the staff together and tell them you’re the new owner of the hotel.”
She got to her feet. “But that isn’t the truth.”
How strange that a few weeks ago he hadn’t wanted this gift. Yet in just a short period of time everything had changed. Takis knew himself well and wondered if he could fallen in love with her in such a short space of time. He was overjoyed that for the next six months they’d be forced to remain joined at the hip so to speak.
“No one else needs to know that. I’ll explain to Kyrie Pappas why I don’t want any mention of me as the co-owner.”
Her arched brows knit together. “I don’t understand. You’re being so mysterious.”
“My family must never know my name is tied to the hotel.”
She moved closer. “Why?”
“Because I’m a Manolis and there’s only room for one Manolis hotel owner on Crete.”
A long silence ensued. “You mean your father.” She’d read his mind.
“If he knew the kind of gift Nassos had deeded to me—the kind only a father would give to his son—it would hurt him in a way you couldn’t comprehend.”
“Are you so sure about that?”
“Not entirely, but I love my father.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I loved mine too. It’s the only reason I went to Crete with Nassos at the age of seventeen when I didn’t want to.”
“That had to have been very hard.”
“It was in the beginning. I had to leave my friends and school, everything I knew. What I didn’t know at the time was that in honoring Baba’s wishes, I would learn to love Nassos. He gave me a new life and protected me because he understood a father’s love and wanted to honor his best friend’s wishes. I get the honor aspect, Takis.”
Lys Theron was amazing. “Do you have any idea how grateful I am that you told no one about the will and came all the way to Italy to talk to me in person? Because of you, the secret is still safe.”
She studied him for a long time. “I’ll keep it. You’re worried that if your father knew the truth, he would believe you had a much greater friendship with Nassos than he’d been led to believe. I can see why you think it could ruin your relationship for life.”
How did someone so young get to be so wise? “I’m afraid it could,” Takis whispered.
“I think you’re wrong about it, but no one will ever know from me. I’ll talk to Danae so she understands how serious this is to keep absolutely quiet.”
No matter his feelings for her, he felt he could trust Lys with his life. “Thank you. But this brings us to our immediate problem. We’ll have to conduct business without anyone suspecting the real reason we’re together at all.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought. When I leave you in a minute, I’m headed straight to the airport. I need to fly back to Milan and talk to my partners. Among other things I’ll have to make preparations to sell my hotel chain in New York and will probably be gone at least a week. When I come back, I’ll have a proposition for you.”
“Proposition?” she questioned.
“What goes around, comes around,” he teased, reminding her of their conversation yesterday when she’d made one to him.
“Aren’t you going to give me a hint?” The corner of her sensual mouth lifted, sending a burst of desire through him.
“Not yet. Certain things have to fit into place first.”
“You’re talking about the hotel in Milan. Do you plan to remain part owner?”
“Possibly.” But that wasn’t what he had on his mind while she filled his vision to the exclusion of all else. He had plans for them and knew in his gut that she wasn’t involved with another man. Otherwise he would have to come up with another idea, but nothing had the appeal of the one he had his heart set on.
“Would you like a ride to the airport? I have an errand to run anyway.”
Nothing she’d said could have made him happier. He still wanted to talk to her. “I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll just ring Giorgos to let him know my agenda.”
“That name isn’t familiar to me. What happened to the other manager Nassos relied on in the past?”
“Yannis? He had to retire because his knee operations didn’t work out well. He was hard to replace.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is Giorgos a good manager?”
“Six months ago Nassos hired him as a favor for a close friend, but he had one reservation.”
“What was that?”
“He was recently divorced, but he decided to give him a chance.”
“Why would that matter?”
“I asked Nassos the same thing. He said it was just a feeling he had that Giorgos might not be able to concentrate on the job, but only time would tell. After the letter Nassos left for me revealing his torment over divorcing Danae, I suppose his concerns about Giorgos made sense. The man moved here from Athens, where he’d been a hotel manager with an excellent reference.”
Interesting. “How do you like him so far?”
“I think he’s very good at what he does.”
“But?”
“I can tell he’s lonely.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Whenever I start to leave the office, he wants to talk for a while.”
Takis struggled not to smile. “Is he attractive?”
“So-so.”
“Does he have children?”
“No.”
“How old is he?”
“Thirtyish I believe.”
A dangerous age. Giorgos must have thought he’d died and arrived in the elysian fields when he discovered Lys on the premises.
While she made the phone call, the proposition he intended to put to her had grown legs.
