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His mother nodded. “I’m afraid she might not be able to deal with his babies, not when she wants one so badly herself.” Her eyes filled with fresh tears. “But the boys are so adorable. It’s uncanny how much they resemble you and Leon at that age.”
“They have the look of their mother, too. I saw pictures when I was at the consulate.”
“The Turner family must be devastated over their loss. Your father and I would like to meet them.”
“I’ll arrange it.” Just as soon as I catch up to Gabi.
The splotchy face and swollen eyes that looked back from the hotel-room mirror made Gabi wince. She could only hope that by the time she went aboard the ferry taking her to Heraklion later in the day, all traces of the terrible night she’d just lived through would be gone.
She finished dressing in jeans and a white sleeveless blouse. Her hair, still damp from its shampoo, was already curling. The heat would dry her out in no time. With a coat of coral lipstick, she felt a little more presentable to face the day.
After having given Leon all the babies’ things yesterday, she had only her overnight bag to carry down to the pier surrounded with its assembly of fishing boats and other craft. Small groups of tourists were slowly making their way to the same embarkation point where they could see the ferry entering the port.
She hadn’t been anywhere without the chil-dren for so long, she felt empty. Were they missing her? Her eyelids burned. The only way her parents were handling the loss was because they had each other. They were the great loves in each other’s lives.
When she’d thought she’d be raising the twins, she hadn’t met Andreas yet and had been glad she was single. Now she had nothing left except her dreams of a god who’d turned out to be too human after all. More than ever she was eager to get back to her career.
“Gabi?”
She thought she was hearing things and kept walking. When her name was called out a second time, she slowed down and turned around. By then it was too late to stifle the cry that sprang from her throat. Her overnight bag dropped to the ground.
Andreas studied her tear-ravaged face. “I thought so,” his voice rasped.
Her mouth had gone dry at the sight of him. He looked impossibly handsome wearing white cargo pants and a blue crewneck shirt with the sleeves pushed up to the elbows.
“If something’s wrong with the children, why didn’t Leon call me? He has my number.”
He scrutinized her for a moment. “Whatever happened to hello? How are you? Isn’t this a beautiful day!”
Heat spilled into her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “A man with your kind of responsibilities doesn’t show up at an obscure port off the beaten track unless there’s a dire emergency.”
“That’s not always true or fair.” He stood there with stunning nonchalance. “You’re suddenly making judgments about me. What’s changed since we last saw each other?”
For him, nothing. Though he had a serious girlfriend right now, he enjoyed being the quintessential playboy up to the very end. Why not? Little did he know the experience with Rand had taught her two could dance to that tune.
“Absolutely nothing. Last week I told you that if Leon decided to claim the children, I had to get back to my job.”
He rubbed the side of his hard jaw absently. “I’m the one who brought you to Milos. Why didn’t you at least wait until I could make arrangements to get you back to Crete?”
She pasted on a phony smile. “Andreas—I’m a businesswoman, remember? I’m capable of looking out for myself.”
His expression tautened even more. “Didn’t it occur to you I wanted to do that for you?”
The fact that he’d shown up here proved he was hoping to pick up where they’d left off at the beach. If his girlfriend knew about the other women he played around with, then she had a high tolerance level. Gabi wasn’t made the same way.
“It’s not a case of occurring to me. You’re probably the most generous person I’ve ever known. But you’re also the head of your family’s company. Now that Leon’s been united with his children, you and I have other fish to fry, as we Americans say. I’m due for a promotion as soon as I return to Alexandria, so it’s imperative I leave Greece on the next flight out.”
His silvery eyes bored into hers. “Will one more day matter in the scheme of things?”
Yes, considering the convulsion he’d set off by his unexpected presence here. “Since my boss is expecting me, I’m afraid so. Now if you’ll excuse me, people are starting to board the ferry.”
“Let them,” he declared. “My boat will take you wherever you want to go.”
She sustained his gaze without flinching. Andreas had an agenda and insisted on taking her to her parents, so there was no point in fighting him. If she kept her wits about her, she ought to be able to handle a few more hours alone with him. Play along for a little while longer. That was the key.
“Okay. I give up. Hello, Andreas. It’s lovely to see you again. What brings you to this island on such a beautiful summer morning?”
Laughter rumbled out of him. “That’s better.”
“I’m glad you think so.” The charisma of the man had the power to raise her temperature. “My plan is to go back to Heraklion. I need to pack the rest of my things before I fly home.”
He picked up her overnight bag. “Come with me and we’ll reach Crete long before the ferry gets there.”
Andreas walked her in another direction toward a sleek-looking jet boat tied up in one of the slips. The Simonides family had a different vessel for every occasion. For this trip it was going to be just the two of them. Though she forbade it, she couldn’t stop the thrill of excitement that spread through her body to be with him again. She had to be some kind of masochist.
After helping her on board, he handed her a life jacket and told her to put it on. While she buckled up, he undid the ropes and jumped in, taking his place at the wheel. Before he could turn on the engine, she handed him a life jacket. “What’s sauce for the goose…” she teased. “Do you know the expression?”
“I know a better one.” He smiled back. “Never argue with a woman holding a weapon.” He slanted her an amused glance before taking it from her and putting it on his hard-muscled frame. She felt relief knowing that if, heaven help them, something happened on the way to Crete, he was wearing a floating device, too.
The cold, implacable head of the Simonides corporation she’d first confronted at his office was so far removed from the relaxed man driving the boat, she had trouble connecting the two. Before she knew it, they were idling out to sea at a wakeless speed.
“How long are you going to keep me in suspense about what really brought you here this morning?”
Andreas didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Not long.” He engaged the gears and the boat burst across the water like a surfaced torpedo.
Gabi had to be happy with that explanation. She was happy. Too happy to be with him when he didn’t know what it meant to be faithful to one woman. Gabi wished she didn’t care and could give in to her desire without counting the cost.
Deline was a much better woman than Gabi. She’d forgiven Leon his one-night stand with Thea. Until she’d found out about the twins…
Resigned to her fate—at least until they reached Heraklion—Gabi put her head back to feel the sun on her face. Every so often the boat kicked up spray, dappling her skin with fine droplets of water. She kept her eyes closed in an attempt to rein in her exhilaration.
The problem was, she’d fallen irrevocably in love with Andreas, the deep, painful kind that would never go away. But she’d made up her mind he would never know he was the great love of her life. Nor would she ever dare to say it out loud. An ordinary mortal reaching for the unattainable might bring on the mockery of the gods.
“Tell me something honestly, Gabi. How wedded are you to returning to your old job?”
His question jolted her back to the real world. She sat up, eyeing him through shuttered lids to keep out the blinding sun. “I’m very wedded. Besides being stimulating, it provides me a comfortable living with the promise of great things in the future. Why do you ask?”
He cut the motor, immediately creating silence except for the lapping of water against the hull. In a deft motion he left his seat long enough to produce a couple of sodas from the cooler. After handing her one, he sat down again with his well-honed body turned toward her.
“Thank you. I didn’t realize I was thirsty until now.”
His eyes, a solid metal-gray at the moment, met hers over the rim of his drink. “I know what you mean.” An odd nuance in his low voice caused her to believe he was referring to something else. Memories of the two of them communicating in the most elemental of ways on that beach never left her mind. Trembling, she looked away.
“What do you recall about my receptionist?”
The question was so strange, she thought she hadn’t heard him right, but Andreas never said or did anything without a reason. “I suppose I thought she was firm, but fair…even kind in her own way.”
“An excellent description,” he murmured. “Anna’s going to be seventy on her next birthday. She worked for my father forty-five years and never married.”
“They must have been a perfect match for her to stay in his employ that long.” Gabi imagined the woman had been madly in love with the senior Simonides. If he had a tenth of his son’s brilliance and vitality, it all made perfect sense.
“When he stepped down, I kept her on with the intention of asking her to train a new receptionist before I let her go. However, after one day of working with her, I realized what a treasure she was and I refused to consider breaking in anyone else.”
Gabi swallowed the rest of her drink. “If it hadn’t been for her, the twins would still be without their father. For that alone, I like her without really knowing her.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Being a receptionist is only one of Anna’s jobs. In a word, she’s the keeper of the flame. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I think so,” Gabi said with conviction. “She’s a paragon of the virtues you admire most.”
He nodded gravely. “But she needs to retire and get the knee replacement she’s been putting off.”
“I noticed her limping.”
“It’s getting worse every day. The trouble is, I’ve despaired of finding anyone else like her. Then I met you.” His piercing glance rested on her, reminding her of something he’d said to her a week ago.
If you were looking for a job, I’d hire you as my personal assistant on your integrity and discretion alone.
The worst nightmare she could conceive of was upon her. She knew exactly where this conversation was going and shook her head.
“Before you refuse me outright,” he said, “I’m only suggesting that I could use your help while I look around the company for the right person to replace her. It could take me several months. You’ll be given your own furnished apartment on the floor below my office. There’s a restaurant on the next floor down for the staff.”
“Andreas—” she blurted almost angrily. “What’s this really about?”
“I don’t want you to leave Greece until we know Kris’s heart operation is successful. If there are complications, you’ll want to be here.”
She didn’t want to be reminded of that possibility. “I’m praying everything will go well, but if it doesn’t, I’ll fly over on the spot.”
“That’s not good enough.”
What was going on inside him? She knew his request couldn’t be for personal reasons. Besides his girlfriend, there were legions of women who’d love a fling with him. “Why?”
He seemed fascinated by the pulse throbbing in her throat. “I just came from being with the family. The babies were out of control. We both know they were looking for you.” They were? “Let’s be honest. With the operation coming up, Leon’s going to need you. I know it in my gut.”
Gabi bowed her head. “They’ll get over the separation in a few days and cling to him.”
“I don’t believe that, and neither do you.” Andreas leaned closer to her. “These things take time. I know how much you love the boys. Admit you’re dying inside after having to give them up.”
“Of course I am.” The tears started spurting. Too late she covered her face with her hands.
“Gabi…” Andreas whispered in a compassionate voice.
“When Thea asked me to find a couple who would adopt the boys, it killed me because I wanted to be the one to take over. She didn’t know that by then I was prepared to give up my career for them. But the law forced me to come to you.”
“Thank God it did!” In a sinuous movement Andreas pulled her into his arms. At first she remained stiff, but his gentle rocking broke down every defense and she ended up sobbing against his broad shoulder.
“I know how much you love them,” he murmured into her silky curls. “That’s why I don’t want you to leave. Stay and work for me until Kris has recovered fully from his operation. You and I can visit the twins after work every few days. That way everyone will be happy and it won’t interfere with the bonding going on between them and their father.”
When she realized she’d be content to stay like this forever, she eased away from him and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.
Eventually she glanced at him, never having realized gray eyes could be so warm. His love of the twins produced that translucent glow. “When you put it that way, you manage to exorcize all the demons. Only Andreas Simonides can make everything sound so simple and reasonable, even if it isn’t.”
“That’s all I needed to hear. The matter’s settled.”
No. It’s not. “Nothing’s settled. First I have to talk to my boss and determine if that promotion will still be waiting for me if I get back at a later date.”
“After knowing you a week, I can guarantee he’ll move mountains to accommodate you in order to get you in the end.”
Andreas said whatever needed to be said in order to accomplish his objective. That was why he was the head of the family business. There was just one problem. She couldn’t figure out his objective. She knew he loved the twins, but he was after something more.
“Tell me the real reason you’re asking me to temp for you. By your answer, I’ll know if you’re telling me the truth or not.”
“You’re not just anyone. You’re the twins’ aunt. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to peek in on them from time to time. That’s hard to do from across the ocean.” A compelling smile broke out on his striking face. “I want to peek with you.”
Andreas…
She averted her eyes. “That’s the wrong answer.”
“It’s the only one I have,” he answered with enviable calm.
“You mean the only one you’re willing to offer me. Without knowing the truth, I can’t stay in Greece even if my boss were willing to give me more time away.”
His smile faded. “I didn’t know there was more truth to tell unless it’s my guilt.”
She blinked. “About what?”
He eyed her intently. “About everything. It’s my fault my brother’s marriage is in trouble again. If I’d left everything alone after you walked out of my office, they wouldn’t be headed for divorce and the twins would be in Virginia leading perfectly contented lives with you.”
“Except that I couldn’t have adopted them.”
“They’d have still been yours, Gabi.”
“And after they grew up and demanded to know about their father, what then? If I admitted that I’d known his name all along, they might never forgive me.”
A strange sound came out of his throat. “You’ve just put your finger on my greatest nightmare. If I’d kept the secret of the twins over the years knowing Leon and his wife could never have children, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself for playing god with my brother’s life.”
It was Gabi’s turn to moan.
He reached out and grasped her hands. “The truth is, you and I are up to our necks in this mess together. Leon needs our help for a little while longer.”
She sucked in her breath. “But you don’t really need an assistant.”
“Actually I do. Anna’s got to get that knee operated on right away.”
“You could hire any number of secretaries in your company to replace her.”
“I could, but I thought one of the reasons you were leaving Crete was so your parents could get back to the lives they were leading before Thea became ill.”
“You’re right,” she confessed quietly.
