Momentarily distracted by the sight of him, Harry froze, her hand poised in midstroke as she tried to brush some semblance of order into her hair. How on earth had she ever managed to catch the fancy of such a gorgeous man? “Is this the equivalent to being taken home to meet your parents?”
“I suppose it is.” He gave her a little smile. “Nervous?”
“Of course I am. This is your baby sister we’re talking about. You adore her, don’t you?”
He gave a short laugh. “When she’s not driving me to distraction, yes. You have nothing to be worried about—you’ve already met my brother and cousin. Elena will love you.”
She might, Harry allowed. Then again, she might be offended by a woman who held her brother’s interest. Some girls were like that.
“Dmitri assures me that my business will collapse if I don’t take a few video conferences today. Elena has offered to see your friends off to the airport, but she would like to show you around Agios Nikos, the local town. Would you prefer to rest, or spend time with her?”
“Do I have a choice?” she asked, giving up on her hair.
“Of course you do.” She held his gaze until he smiled. “Elena really would like to get to know you.”
“I would be delighted to spend the day with your sister,” she said, putting her hands on his chest just because she couldn’t stop herself.
Instantly his eyes went all slumbering sensuality on her. “I will meet you in town. The taverna is run by the mayor and has quite good food.”
“Ooh, I get to see how real Greeks live?” she asked as he kissed her fingers.
“I’m a real Greek,” he said, biting the tip of her finger.
“You, Mr. Sexy Pants, may be real, but you are anything but typical. Until this evening, then?”
He released her fingers to pull her up to him, his mouth plundering hers with an intensity that left her feeling boneless again. “Until this evening.”
CHAPTER 11
Harry opted to go to the airport with Elena to see the band off, not because she felt she had to finally wave good-bye to her charges, but because she wanted to have a chance to assess Elena’s reaction to her with the security of others around.
“You must be Harry,” Elena said as she approached the dock where the band’s instruments and luggage were being loaded on one of the boats tied up there.
“I am. Hello, Elena. Happy day after your birthday.”
“Thank you.”
Harry was conscious of being examined by a pair of grave brown eyes, unusually astute eyes that gave her a momentary qualm.
That faded when Elena suddenly smiled and leaned forward to give Harry a big hug. “I’m so happy to meet you at last. Iakovos said you did not wish to sing last night, but did it just so I would not be disappointed. I couldn’t have had a more wonderful birthday.”
“I was happy to do it,” Harry lied, relieved that she had passed the Elena Test. “I’m just glad I could help out.”
Terry, Amy, and Derek all burst into laughter. She glared at them until they stopped, but was forced to endure the grossest slurs against her character as they zipped over to the mainland, then drove to the nearby airport.
“Lies, I tell you, all lies,” she said, pinching Derek after he described just how thoroughly she had flattened Terry until he had figured out how to catch her. “See if I ever step up to be your fill-in manager again.”
“Oh, we’ve already told Tim that we’ll take you anytime he wants to have another appendicitis,” Derek said with a grin.
“Dear god, what a horrible thought!”
She kissed Amy, hugged the boys, and told them all to behave on the way home.
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t have some fun, since it’s obvious you are,” Terry said with an exaggerated wink as the others headed toward the security gate. “You’ll have us back to play at your wedding, right? We’d totally be up for that.”
Horror filled Harry at his teasing words. She stammered something, watching with no little sense of relief as Terry, with one last wave, joined the queue to pass through security.
How could he say that in front of Elena? Harry was certain that Iakovos hadn’t mentioned any such intention as marriage to anyone, let alone his young sister. They’d known each other only a couple of days, after all, and although it was one thing for her to fall madly in love at the drop of a hat—not that she’d ever done it before, but Iakovos was definitely dropped-hat worthy—men of his position did not. They didn’t put you on a world’s most eligible bachelor list if you were prone to marrying women you’d just met.
Elena would think her the worst sort of gold digger. She had to—if Harry was in her shoes, she certainly would. She took a deep breath and turned to face the younger woman, but there was nothing in Elena’s expression to show she’d heard the comment. Maybe she hadn’t?
“Iakovos said you had never seen dolphins before. Would you like to meet some?”
“Dolphins? You mean, like a marine show?”
Elena shook her head, slipping on a pair of sunglasses as they left the coolness of the airport. The heat of the morning hit Harry with the impact of a sledgehammer. She wondered if she’d ever get used to it.
“A friend of mine is a—what is the word . . . marine biologist? He has a company that takes tourists out to see dolphins and whales, you know. Seeing them, and sailing next to them. It is very beautiful. He uses a microphone underwater to find them, and then tourists can get into the water. If the dolphins like the people, they come and play. If not, Vasilis tells you that you must stay away from them.”
“Sounds wonderful. Is he taking some tourists out today?”
“No, he only does that on certain days, because he does other work, too, serious work. The tourists are just to pay for that. But if you would like to see dolphins and sperm whales up close, I will ask him if he would take us out on his boat.” Elena got behind the wheel of the sporty yellow convertible that she had casually mentioned was Iakovos’ graduation gift to her. “You have your swimsuit on?”
Harry looked down at the green sundress. “No, I don’t. I didn’t think to put it on underneath.”
“You should always have your suit on,” Elena said, her dark eyes dancing. “Unless you prefer swimming without it. It is very sensual, swimming in the sea without it. The water touches you all over your legs and bottom and breasts. It is very wicked, but so much fun.”
Harry’s jaw went slack at the thought of frolicking in the water with Iakovos. “I bet it is,” she finally said, moving that particular fantasy to the top of her Things I Want to Do with Iakovos list.
“I will call Vasilis, and then we will stop in town to buy you a suit, and you can see the dolphins up close,” she said, pulling out her cell phone.
Just as Harry relaxed against the leather seat, enjoying the breathtaking views from the road they were taking along the coastline, Elena said casually, “Iakovos did not tell me you were going to marry him.”
Harry’s blood ran cold as she glanced at Elena, noting her expressionless face. “No, I don’t imagine he did.”
“Has he asked you?”
Harry sighed and wished she could put duct tape over Terry’s mouth. “As a matter of fact, he hasn’t. I asked him.”
“Oh? And what did he say?”
Really, Harry thought to herself, this is what you get for speaking without thinking. “He said he’d have to ask me the question.” She’d be damned if she would admit to this young girl that she had pressed him to know if he was going to ask her.
Elena’s expression might have been neutral, but there was real shock in her voice when she said, “You asked him. I don’t think—no, I’m sure no one has ever asked Iakovos if he would marry her.”
Harry stared out at the passing scenery, all pleasure in it now gone. “Yes, well, trust me to do things backward.”
“I don’t think it’s backward, I just think it’s . . . unusual.”
Harry was silent, suddenly f
eeling like a fool.
“I think he should marry you,” Elena said about ten minutes later.
Harry looked at her in surprise.
“Yes,” Elena said with a nod, her attention on the road. “I think he should. It’s time he has someone. I want him to be happy, and Dmitri says he really likes you, and that you make him laugh, so I think that you were right to ask him.”
“I’m glad you approve,” Harry said, relaxing again. Maybe Elena was right, and Iakovos wouldn’t be so put off by her proposal that he wouldn’t bother to ask her. Maybe he liked it.
Maybe she should just stop worrying and let what was going to happen, happen.
Three hours later, Harry gathered her nerve and jumped into the water next to the catamaran owned by Elena’s friend, a pleasant young man in his early twenties who was more than happy to run them out to see the sea life.
Vasilis and Elena were already in the water, while his partner on board manned a hydrophone, yelling instructions. At first, Harry didn’t see anything, but suddenly a dark shape flitting beneath her had her sticking her face in the water to see a small pod of dolphins circling them, obviously curious about the boat and the people.
Harry was thrilled, and although the dolphins didn’t come close enough to touch, she enjoyed their playful grace as they swam around the catamaran.
“Dolphins are sacred to Greeks,” Elena told her an hour later, as they sat on the deck of the boat, sunning themselves while they sailed back to shore. “To see one at the beginning of a trip is good luck.”
“I’ve heard that,” Harry said, remembering her trip to Krokos with Iakovos. She sat with her chin on her knees, arms around her legs, as the beauty of the water and coast sank into her soul. She could easily see herself staying here forever . . . but that really depended on a dark-eyed man whom she suddenly wondered about. Had she been projecting too much of her emotion onto him? Was he merely being polite when he said that yes, he was going to ask her to marry him? Was he happy with the incredibly wonderful sexual chemistry that blazed between them, but not thinking of having her around permanently?
Was she setting herself up for the biggest fall of her life?
“Did you enjoy the dolphins?” Elena asked in a quiet voice.
Harry shook her dark thoughts away. She was brooding, that’s all. “I loved it. Thank you so much for arranging this treat.”
“It is my pleasure,” Elena said, giving her a curious look. “Something is wrong?”
“No,” Harry said with a sigh. “The truth is, I have this horrible imagination. It runs amok with me sometimes. That’s normally a very good thing when you’re a writer, because you just unleash your muse and let her run with the wind when it comes time to actually sit down and write a book, but the rest of the time, when you’re not writing, it can make your life hellish.”
“What’s it running amok with you about now?” Elena asked, obviously genuinely curious.
Harry hesitated, not wishing to bare either her heart or her thoughts to someone so young.
“Iakovos?” Elena asked, tipping her head to the side to consider Harry.
“I was thinking,” Harry said slowly, “that he would have enjoyed seeing the dolphins as well.” And that although she found the whole experience thrilling, part of her regretted the fact that he wasn’t here to share her joy.
It really was too much, she told herself as Elena murmured something noncommittal, to think that she, a grown woman who was more than comfortable with being by herself, suddenly couldn’t go even a few hours without missing a man.
And how she missed him. She wanted to tell him her thoughts, to share the fun of seeing the dolphins, to ask him a thousand questions about the area, the ships, the people . . . everything. She just wanted him.
“Oh, no,” Elena said an hour later as they arrived back in the town of Agios Nikos. Harry had gotten out of the car while Elena took a call she had said was from her best girlfriend. “Harry, it’s Christina. You remember her from last night, right?”
Harry did no such thing, but she nodded.
“She’s broken up with her boyfriend, and is crying. I promised Iakovos I would show you around town—”
“Don’t worry about me,” Harry reassured her, closing the car door. “I’ll just putter around on my own for a bit. You take care of your friend.”
“She’s in Athens, so I can’t go to her, but she wants to talk,” Elena said, her hand over the mouthpiece. “Don’t worry about your things—I’ll take them back to the house with me. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
Harry let the bag containing her newly purchased, and now wet, swimsuit drop back into the car, taking a little money from her purse in case she saw a souvenir to purchase. “I don’t mind at all. Go be a shoulder to cry on.”
“You’re so sweet. Thank you!” Elena hugged her, then pointed to the south end of town. “The taverna is down there, on the water. Iakovos said he would meet us at six. I’m going to run home to change, but I’ll be back in an hour or so. You won’t forget to meet us for dinner?”
As if she could. “I won’t forget.”
Elena hugged her again, gathered their things, and then was off, leaving her car at the garage as she ran to the marina, her phone at her ear.
Harry surveyed the town from her position at a garage located high up on the hillside. Like most Greek towns along this section of the coast, Agios Nikos was perched on land that dropped sharply to the sea. Much of it had been terraced, but the streets were still very steep, although the buildings clung to the slope of the land with apparent ease. It was hard on the calves walking up and down the streets, regardless, but Harry enjoyed the sights and sounds of a midsized Greek town. After a few hours of people watching and visiting what sights she could find, the heat started to get to her, and she decided that she’d better head down toward the waterfront, where it must be cooler.
All that walking in the blistering heat of the afternoon had really made her sweat, and she knew she should get something to drink lest she risk getting dehydrated. Stubbornly, she wanted to wait for Iakovos to enjoy a meal, but after wandering around trying to find a seat in the shade, or somewhere to buy a bottle of water, she gave up and headed down the hill. She’d just get something at the taverna and wait for Iakovos there.
CHAPTER 12
She woke up to find a circle of faces peering down at her. She felt woozy, sick to her stomach, and despite the heat of the afternoon, oddly chilled.
“Oh god,” she said, pushing herself up to a sitting position. “What happened?”
The bodies attached to the faces moved back to give her room, which was a good thing considering that they spun around in a whirl that threatened to make her vomit.
She gritted her teeth and bit back the urge, her eyes squeezed shut until the feeling passed. When she opened them again, some kind old lady was offering her a bottle of tepid water. She took it gratefully, sipping at it as she looked around. She was on a sidewalk in front of a shop that featured sewing machines.
She thanked the woman in Greek, one of the few phrases she’d had time to learn, and allowed two middle-aged men to help her to her feet. The little old lady and a younger woman with a small child attached to her hip helped to brush her off.
“I’m sorry; it must have been the heat. Thank you—I’ll be fine. Can I pay you for the water?”
The little old lady waved away the couple of euros Harry pulled out of her pocket.
“You are a tourist?” one of the men said to her. “American?”
“Yes, I’m American, although I’m not really a tourist. Well, I am, but I’m not. Kind of. My . . . er . . . boyfriend lives here, on an island over there.” She pointed toward the water. “I’m supposed to meet him, as a matter of fact. Oh, dear god, is that the time? I should have been at the taverna half an hour ago.”
“Your boyfriend?” The man had a big barrel chest, a shock of white in his dark hair, and bushy black eyebrows that he beetled at her as he looked
her up and down. “Who is this boyfriend?”
“His name is Iakovos . . .” She stopped, her mind going blank on his last name. Damn him and his vowels. “Er . . . Iakovos Papa . . . er . . . he owns the island over there, the one with the big house.”
“You do not know his name, this boyfriend?” the man asked, now looking at her with suspicion.
“Well, I have this problem with his name . . .” She stopped again, aware that there was no way she could admit to these people that she couldn’t pronounce a Greek name without it coming across as an insult.
The water lady tugged on his arm, clearly asking for a translation. Harry just wanted to collapse in a cool, dark room, but to her dismay, the circle around her grew as a few passersby stopped to see what was going on.
“Look, I think I’ll just be going on my way to find Iakovos. Thank you again for the water, and I’m sorry if I caused any trouble.”
The man grabbed her arm as she started passed him. “You do not go to bother Kyrie Papaioannou, American.”
“Papaioannou,” she cried with relief. “That’s his name. Good on you for remembering it.”
The man frowned, his bushy black brows pulling together. “He is a good man; he gives much to our town. You do not bother him.”
“No, you see, I know him. We’re . . . for lack of a better word, dating.”
His eyes narrowed further as he rattled off something in Greek. The entire crowd of around ten people now considered her with outright hostility and suspicion.
“Honest, we are,” she said, then decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. “Believe what you want, but I need to go to the taverna to meet him. I’m already late.”
“You call him,” the man suggested. “You call and tell him you fall over from the sun, and he will come and get you.”
“An excellent idea,” Harry said, pulling her cell phone out of her skirt pocket. She flipped it on, and realized, to her horror, that she didn’t know his cell number. “Umm . . . yeah. Why don’t I just go down to the taverna.”
“You do not know the number of Kyrie Papaioannou?” the man asked, triumph in his eyes.