Dreaming Of... Greece. Rebecca Winters
and stayed in touch with each other over the years. I knew she was crazy about Theo months ago, but I only heard she was getting married a month ago. She was so full of excitement over the wedding plans, I didn’t even know the last name of her fiancé’s best man, let alone any details about you. If that offends your male pride, I’m sorry.”
He shifted his weight. “I’m afraid it’s you I’ve offended without realizing it. Shall we call a truce and start over? Nora wants us to come back and eat dinner with them by the pool. Afterward they’re going to show us the wedding video.”
“You can tell they’re missing Chloe,” she said.
“That’s what happens when there’s an only child.”
Raina knew all about that and agreed with him. “Their family is very close. Just being with them this little bit makes me surprised they allowed her to leave home for the school year.”
“If she hadn’t been happy with you, I’m sure she wouldn’t have stayed.” While she felt his deep voice resonate, his gaze traveled over her. “Surely you can understand how much they want to pay you back for the way your family made her feel so welcome. If you want my opinion, I think you’ll hurt their feelings if you fly to the States too soon, but it’s your call.”
Privately Raina feared the same thing. “I’m sure you’re right. If I stay until Chloe and Theo get back, it’ll give me a chance to rest my leg a little more.” More days to spend with Akis.
Wasn’t that the underlying factor in her decision just now, even though her heart was warning her to run from him as fast as she could? To love this man meant opening herself up to pain from which she might never recover.
“They’ll be happy to hear it. Are you ready to go back?”
No, her heart cried, but her lips said “Yes.”
After she finished her drink, he helped her with the crutches. Their hands brushed, sending darts of sensation running up her arms. He didn’t try to take advantage, but it didn’t matter. Every look or touch from him sensitized her body. As they left the penthouse for the drive back to the Milonis estate, she fought to ignore her awareness of him.
Later, after a delicious dinner, Akis took the crutches from Raina while she settled on the couch in the den. Nora sat next to her while Socus started the video. Akis turned off the light and sat in one of the upholstered chairs to watch. Cries of excitement, happiness and laughter from Chloe’s parents punctuated the scene of the wedding day unfolding before their eyes.
The videographer had captured everything from the moment Chloe left the house for the church. Parts of the ceremony in the church left Raina in happy tears for her dear friend. She just knew they’d have a wonderful life together.
Other parts of the film covered the reception, including the dancing. The camera panned from the wedding couple to the best man dancing with the maid of honor. “You and Althea make a beautiful couple,” Socus exclaimed.
Raina concurred. He was so handsome it hurt, but the inscrutable expression on his face was distinctly different from the adoring look on Althea’s. Suddenly the camera focused on the guests. Raina saw herself at the table. Shock!
But there were more shocks when it caught Akis accompanying her from the ballroom. She’d had no idea they were being filmed.
Nora laughed. “Oh, Akis... Now I understand why you didn’t spend the rest of the evening with poor Althea. You remind me of the prince at the ball who avoided the stepsisters because he wanted to know the name of the mystery woman on crutches and ended up running after her.” Socus’s laughter followed.
In that instant Raina’s gaze fused with a pair of jet black eyes glinting in satisfaction over Nora’s observation. Her body broke out in guilty heat.
“Wasn’t I lucky that I found Cinderella at your house.”
“We’re very happy you did.” Nora beamed.
“It saved me from prowling the countryside for the maiden with the crutches.”
Chloe’s mother chuckled. “Wait till Chloe and Theo watch this. They’re going to love it.”
“They will,” Raina agreed with her before lowering her blond head. Chloe would appreciate the irony of the camera finding her friend from California in the crowd despite every effort Raina had made to stay away from the camcorders of the paparazzi.
While she sat there wishing she could escape to her bedroom, Akis got to his feet and turned on the light. “Thank you for dinner and an entertaining evening. Now I know Raina needs to rest her leg, so I’m going to leave.”
“So soon?” Nora questioned.
“I’m afraid so. But I’ll be by in the morning at nine. Earlier I told Raina I’d like to show her another part of Greece I know she’ll enjoy while she’s still recovering.” His dark eyes probed hers. “But maybe you’ve decided you’d rather stay here.”
He’d deliberately put her on the spot. Everyone was waiting for her answer. Not wanting to seem ungracious she said, “No. I’ll be ready. Thank you.”
“Good.”
* * *
The pilot landed the helicopter on the pad of the Milonis estate. Akis could see Raina’s gleaming blond hair as she stood on her crutches. It wasn’t until you got closer that you noticed that hint of red in the strands. His gaze fell over her curvaceous figure that did wonders for the summery denims and short-sleeved small-print blouse she was wearing.
He opened the doors of the Giannopoulos company’s recently purchased five-seater copter. “Let me take your crutches and handbag.” Once she’d handed them to him, he put them aside, then picked up her gorgeous body by the waist. The instant there was contact, her warmth and fragrance enveloped him.
Without letting go of her, he helped her into the seat next to the window behind the pilot. That way he could keep an eye on her from the copilot’s seat. “Are you all right?” Their mouths were only inches apart.
“Y-yes,” came her unsteady voice before she looked away. A nerve jumped madly at the base of her creamy throat. The touch of skin against skin had affected her, too.
“Have you ever flown in a helicopter before?”
She nodded.
After laying the crutches on the floor, he put her purse in the storage unit, and then looked down at her.
“Are you all strapped in?”
“Yes. I’m fine. I just want to know where we’re going.”
“Are you afraid I’m planning to carry you off, never to be seen again?”
A secret smile appeared. “After the fierce look on your face as you headed toward my table at the hotel, the thought did occur to me.”
Charmed despite his questions about what she was still hiding from him he said, “I’ll give you a clue. We’re headed for the Ionian Sea. Once we reach the water, I’ll give you a blow-by-blow account using the microphone. But there’s one more thing I have to do before takeoff.”
Akis pulled out several pillows from a locker and hunkered down to elevate her leg. She wore sandals. His hands slid beneath her calf and heel to adjust the fit. He ran a finger over her ankle, pleased to notice she trembled. “There’s no trace of swelling I can see,” he said, eyeing her. “We’ll make sure things stay that way today.”
The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but he restrained himself. Her thank-you followed him to his seat. He gave the pilot a nod, put on his sunglasses and strapped himself in. Before long Athens receded and they were arcing their way in a northwesterly direction. Over the mic he gave her a geography lesson and responded to her questions.
When they reached the island of Corfu surrounded by brilliant blue water, he had the pilot swing lower so she could