Wedding The Greek Billionaire. Rebecca Winters
she’d made a mistake to let him drive her here. Of course there was no question of their getting involved romantically. They were simply acquaintances who’d met under unusual circumstances, but she’d be crazy to spend any more time with him.
He’d barely separated from his wife and clearly longed for his son. It was already June. She’d be going back to California soon. The old adage about ships passing in the night couldn’t have been more apropos.
All these months she’d been in Greece doing her job, not needing anyone, least of all a man. The taxi accident had brought them together, but for this to go on was ridiculous.
Already he was coloring her world in ways she didn’t want. She needed to stop this foolishness before she got too used to his being with her. Thank goodness he couldn’t afford to stay away from his work any longer.
“Andreas? That tasted good, but now I need to go in and write up some notes before I get too tired. I hope you don’t mind if I turn in.”
She heard him take a deep breath. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I brought you here and want you to be safe.” Zoe was surprised by the firm tone of his voice. But he was a caring, thoughtful man and would be like this in any situation.
They headed to her room in the east wing of the hotel. She knew his was in the other wing. He waited while she opened the door.
Zoe went inside and peeked around at him. “Maybe we can get breakfast en route back to Patras.”
One black brow lifted. “You’re through with your research here?”
“I’m sure.”
“What’s your next destination?”
“I don’t know yet. Ever since I came to Greece, I’ve constantly sent out emails to various places for information. The answers come back if there’s something I need to research. I’ll know tomorrow when I receive more responses. Good night, Andreas.”
“Good night,” he whispered.
As he turned away, she shut the door. Her explanation had been the right thing to say. If she’d told him what her destination would be tomorrow, she knew in her heart he’d tell her he’d drive her there.
While he was dealing with this huge change in his life—something Zoe knew all about after divorcing her husband for his infidelity—she realized this time with Andreas was a distraction that was helping him to cope with what he was going through. But she couldn’t afford to keep it up. It was far too risky to her own peace of mind.
They reached Patras at 11:30 a.m., when he pulled the car up in front of her apartment. He’d taken Zoe to see the monastery in Varlaam on the way back. Afterward they’d enjoyed breakfast at the quaint Taverna Gardenia in one of the narrow passageways.
“What a treat to have gone there! I suppose you’ve climbed those one hundred and ninety-five steps to the top before?” she teased.
“Guilty.”
“It would take someone a lot more courageous than me to do it.”
He smiled at the inexhaustible, breathtaking woman standing on the sidewalk while he retrieved her small suitcase from the car. Zoe didn’t fool him. She’d been in Greece on her own since January, digging up material in out-of-the-way places, talking to strangers, taking risks. She embraced adventure.
“I’ll call you later.”
Her eyes flashed blue fire. “From work, I hope. I’ve kept you from it too long.”
“It’s been the best medicine I could have asked for.”
“I’m glad. And just think? After today you only have to wait one more day before you sweep your little boy into your arms again.”
She understood him like no one else. “Speaking of Ari, I never did show you a picture of him.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled to his photo gallery. “I bought him a little pair of sunglasses.”
Zoe took the phone from him and broke into an infectious smile after studying it. “He’s absolutely adorable. I don’t know how you stand the separation.” She handed it back to him.
He put his cell in his shirt pocket. “We do what we have to do.”
“Isn’t that the truth. I won’t tell you to have a wonderful day, but hope it will be all right if I wish you a productive one? Then my guilt won’t be so bad.”
Andreas burst into laughter. He never knew what she was going to say next. But she was right. He’d played hooky from work for long enough. “I’ve enjoyed our time together.”
“So have I,” she came right back. “Now I need to get going.” She picked up her case and started toward her flat. Before she rounded the tree, she waved at him.
He got back in his car and headed for work. His personal assistant probably couldn’t wait to show him the mountain of decisions to make and contracts to look over, but he didn’t care. Being with Zoe Perkins had given him a new lease on life.
The next time he lifted his head was around five thirty when he reached for his phone to call Zoe. He was getting hungry and wanted to take her to dinner. To his satisfaction she answered on the second ring.
“Andreas—” She sounded vibrant. “How did you survive your first day back?”
“More to the point, what about you? Where are you? How soon can I pick you up? I’m starving.”
“So am I, but I’m actually on my way to dinner with a group of professors here in Prevesa.”
The news came as a blow. His black brows knit together. “That’s three hours away by car. How come you didn’t say anything this morning?”
“I didn’t know until I looked at my emails.”
Andreas needed to calm down. “How did you get there?”
“I rented a car because I knew I’d need to drive around a lot once I got here. I’m really lucky because these people have fresh information for me about Lord Byron. This is like finding gold at the end of the rainbow. I’ll probably be here three or four days.”
The wind went right out of his sails. “That means I won’t be able to see you until I get back again from Athens.”
“I should be in Patras by then—or shortly after. Thanks for calling me. Have fun with Ari.”
That was a given, but as for anything else, he felt like his lifeline had been cut during his space walk and he was cast into the void. “I hope this trip brings big results for you. Talk to you soon.”
He hung up and left the office for his grandparents’ villa. They’d been devastated by the news about his filing for a separation, but understood how Lia’s painful betrayal had brought about the end of their marriage.
Not only that, it had upset his grandfather that he hadn’t been at the board meeting the day of the taxi accident. Andreas needed to reassure them on all counts that everything was all right. But the truth was, he couldn’t bear to go home until he was ready to collapse in bed.
When the time came to fly to Athens, he was more than ready to enjoy his son. Ari was the joy of his life and they had a marvelous two days and nights together. The only way he could stand to leave him this time was hoping that Zoe would be there when he got back to Patras.
After his jet landed and he headed for his villa, he phoned Zoe. It would be the first time they’d spoken since he’d talked to her the day she’d gone to Prevesa. Andreas wasn’t known for his patience, but in her case he didn’t want to crowd her while she was doing her work.
This time she didn’t answer until the fourth ring. “Good morning, Kyrie Gavras.” She’d never called him that before. “Are you