The Greek Rule (The Greek Series) Read online

  Alexandros pulled his tiny niece into his big arms, lavishing her face with kisses. He did it with such natural ease, once again surprising Athena with the warmth and love he gave to the people in his life.

  “Mommy taught me the steps for the wedding dance.” She placed a loud, smacking kiss on his mouth and hugged her uncle very tight. The little girls fingers wound into his hair as she looked sweetly into his face. “Is this pretty lady your bride, Theo?”

  Athena knew she’d blushed to the roots of her hair. Feeling her face ablaze, she blinked and tried to deflect the question. “The bride is Heather. Your Theo Costa is dancing with her. See?” She pointed to the dance floor.

  The little bundle of dark curls opened her twinkling eyes wide, and then scrunched her nose at her uncle in question.

  “This is my Athena,” he said, nudging his nose into the little girl’s neck. “Do you like her?”

  “Will you dance kalamatiano with me?” the little girl asked Athena. When Athena smiled and nodded in agreement, the girl gave a decisive nod of her own. “Yes, I like her.”

  Alexandros laughed loud and winked to Athena. “You’ve probably guessed Lexi is the shy, quiet girl of the family.” He placed the little girl on the floor, playfully swatting her behind. “Go practice, koukla, I can’t wait to see such a pretty girl dance.”

  He returned to Athena and gave her a quick, yet sensuous, kiss. His eyes began to undress her, and he ran his open palm wantonly over her back. She put her hands against his chest and pushed him a few inches away warning.

  “Semna….semna, Alexandros.”

  “Okay, I’ll be a little more discreet,” he said. His lips brushed hers again and his gaze locked on hers. “Only if, you agree to go home with me tonight.”

  “Like I have a choice. That’s where I’m staying.”

  “Yes, that is where you are staying, in my room, in my bed, in my arms,” he said, fueling the flame inside her before softly adding, “panta.”

  ****

  “Athena this is Thea Marianna, Thea Marianna, Athena.” Warm embraces and a duet of kisses followed each introduction.

  “Theo Manoli, cousin Costa, Thea Georgia, Maria, Anna, Gianni…”

  The faces and names ran together. They were so many and she was only one. The one on Alexandros’s arm who inspired the young girls to giggle, the women to smile, and the mature men to nod in approval.

  Exhausted from the past hour, Athena walked to the balustrade of the large terrace. She ran her fingers over the thick white plaster and thought to herself how funny life was. Yesterday, she was determined to be a little more than friends with Alexandros. Today, she was immersed in his family, proud to be the woman on his arm.

  He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. He was strong, powerful, tender and funny. He was loyal and in turn, commanded loyalty from others. He loved the people around him, protected the people he loved. Oh, what she would not give to be one of those people?

  She’d been wrong. She had to give this a chance. He could be her future. She wanted him to be her future.

  “Would you like a drink?” Alexandros placed a champagne flute in her hand. He stood behind her, wrapping her in his arms, and looking out over the vineyard. “What are you thinking, agape mou?”

  She laid her head back on his shoulder, marveling how well her body fit his. She had been so wrong about him, and she was so happy to have discovered her mistake. Exhaling deep, she closed her eyes, hoping this moment would go on forever.

  “Agape mou?” he repeated.

  “I was just thinking,” she said, turning to look up at his handsome face.

  His eyes sparked with desire. He brought his head down and parted her lips, gently trailing his tongue across her teeth. Spreading his fingers as if to feel as much of her as he possibly could, he pulled her tight against him, and crushed her breasts to his chest.

  “Semna,” she warned. Still conscious of the family surrounding them, her good sense had not abandoned her and cautioned against such sensuous exhibitions of their feelings.

  He grinned and licked his lips. “Are you having a good time?”

  “A very good time. Your family is amazing. They are such warm, passionate, and loving people.” She added silently, they are people I would gladly welcome into my life.

  An attractive young man approached holding out his hand. “Athena, would you like to dance?”

  “I would be honored.” She smiled at Alexandros and took the other man’s hand as he led her to the dance floor.

  Alexandros joined the big circle two songs later. With hands linked to shoulders, they let the music guide them in the whirlwind of moving people.

  The band picked up the tempo, persuading the participants to kick fiercely as the ritual progressed. One by one, dancers conceded to the fast pace, leaving Alexandros, Costa, cousin Gianni, and cousin Spiro to prove they could outlast the musicians.

  It was exhilarating to watch the men move in perfect synchrony. Swift, sure feet pounding, arms locked in wartime severity, and bodies bending at the waist to claim the dance floor as theirs.

  The band challenged the dancers by quickening the beat, the dancers responded by moving faster, adding more intricate steps. The spectators held their breaths, clapping in unison, faster, stronger, quicker, louder… it kept building to the climactic end when the four men jumped through the air, landing on their knees at the edge of the dance floor.

  Heather ran into Costa’s arms giving him an exaggerated squeal. “Now that is what I call macho!” The group burst into laughter, and raising their glasses, toasted to the night.

  Lexi bounced over to Athena exclaiming, “The kalamatiano is now, are you coming?” Athena took the little girl’s hand and joined the group of new dancers.

  Alexandros was watching Athena and Lexi weave through the erected wooden floor when his cellular rang. She caught his gaze, he winked, stood, and on the next turn was gone.

  She continued to dance until it was time for Lexi to go home. “You’re a great dancer, koukla,” she said, giving Lexi a goodnight kiss.

  “You too,” said the little girl kissing Athena twice. “One for you, and one for Theo.” Waiving goodbye, she followed her parents up the stairs.

  Athena imagined Alexandros’s little girl would look just like Lexi. Loose dark curls, full little pink lips against a smooth olive complexion, and big chocolate almond eyes that would melt her Daddy’s heart as her little hands encircled his neck for more kisses.

  She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cool island air. Athena saw Yiayia Maria motioning her to come and sit beside her. She walked over to the older woman and sat.

  “Are you having a good time, kori mou?”

  “Wonderful.”

  “You’ve enticed our family. They think you’re wonderful.”

  “Thank you. The feeling is mutual.”

  The grandmother smiled and took Athena’s hand between her own. “I believe the feeling is mutual for my Alexandros too?”

  Athena was speechless.

  “Don’t be surprised. I’m old, not blind. I see the love his eyes hold when he looks at you. I also see your eyes when you look at him. I like what I see.”

  “But Yiayia, we’ve just met. We should not put the carriage ahead of the horse.” Athena suddenly felt exposed.

  “Kori mou, you’re in Santorini. We have donkeys, not horses. Stubborn, hard headed donkeys!” Athena laughed and Yiayia smiled. “You don’t have to say anything, just listen.”

  Yiayia’s fingers lovingly caressed Athena’s hands as she spoke. “The Strintzaris men have never kept to any conventional time table. They decide when and how; we have just been blessed to agree with them. Alexandros is a good man. Everything he does, he does with zeal. You may not realize it yet, but in these hands, you hold Alexandros’s heart. Cherish it, love it and he will be good to you, loving you forever.”

  “Yiayia, I know he is a good man. He’s strong, loyal, and tender with his family. It
shows how much he loves you all. As for us, we… we are getting to know each other.” Athena struggled to get the last words out.

  “No. Alexandros has no traditional timetable. He wants to make you his. Personally, I’m very happy. Look in your heart, child. You are not a girl that easily decides to simply ‘get to know’ a man, throw caution to the wind, and trust him for only now. But that is good, very good. You and Alexandros will complete each other.”

  She continued to hold Athena’s hands. “Humor an old lady. Please remember that no matter how strong a man is, he gets that strength from a woman’s love and support.”

  Deep in silent thought, they watched the lantern on the table flicker.

  “Kori mou, you will see what is right in front of us.” Yiayia exhaled loudly.

  This wise woman was correct and it scared Athena.

  She loved him.

  She wanted to be his, and she wanted him to be hers. Hers to love and to cherish. She craved his touch, his arms around her to assure her. Searching the crowd, she asked, “Yiayia, do you see him?”

  The older woman waggled her eyebrows and chuckled. “Go to him, kori mou. He is inside the house.”

  Athena stood and gratefully squeezed Yiayia’s hand, before ascending the stairs to the main floor. She stepped into a room with a mirror to adjust her dress and check her hair. Her reflection verified what she was feeling. The flame inside her burned hot. Color filled her face and her eyes twinkled. She was in love. Elated by the truth, she was not going to deny it.

  Her heart raced when she glimpsed Alexandros at the end of the hall. Then she heard him speak to someone and stopped short, holding her breath.

  “I’m so glad you made it,” he said. “It’s been so hard waiting all night for the ring of the phone.”

  “Alexandros, don’t you know, I would do anything for you?” A sultry female voice stung Athena’s ears.

  “You’re truly one of a kind.” He passed in front of the door, and Athena saw the green skirt sway beside him. “Come, privacy is assured in here.”

  Athena looked into the hallway; saw his hand in the small of the other woman’s back guiding her into a bedroom. The door closed and locked behind them.

  Her heart shattered, splintered into jagged little pieces cutting her apart. She was bleeding profusely and could not breathe. She ran out the room, out the main entrance, away from him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Athena’s feet skimmed over the stone steps as she ran away from the house and into the garden. She wanted to go anywhere, anyplace far away from Alexandros, but she had no place to go. She felt trapped, with no car, no taxi, not even a donkey. She was in the middle of a rock and had no place to hide.

  Her stomach curdled and emptied its contents, the taste of hell filling her mouth.

  “I hate you, Alexandros Strintzaris,” she cried. “I hate you for making me believe you were more than the others.”

  Liar! He was worse than the others! At least they did not pretend. Women came seeking a summer fling, a sexual encounter on a majestic island, and the Greek men obliged. She had seen it many times. Once the interlude was over, they parted contently, beginning the next dance with another partner.

  Alexandros Strintzaris had misled her. He had used her. He could have had any other willing woman on the island. Why had he insisted on humiliating her?

  She’d told him she was not looking for a week’s sensual release. Now it would cost her dearly. How could she ever sit with her friends knowing what he could say?

  Clamping her hands on the sides of her whirling head, she screamed into the empty garden.

  Why should she hide? He was the one who had hurt her. He had not even waited twenty-four hours to make love to another woman. They had been together less than five hours ago. She had not left the island yet. He was supposed to wait until she left the island to replace her.

  Athena’s chin trembled as she struggled to contain her tears. She could play the game as well as anyone. Heather’s dream wedding would not be ruined. They’d never know how she felt. She’d turn the tables on him and show him that she did not care. He too could be replaced.

  “Get control of yourself. You knew this was going to happen. You let it happen because you broke your rule.”

  The words shattered the night, stark and raw with her pain. Only she did not want to believe them. She’d trusted him, she loved him.

  Her legs could not carry her any further, and they dropped her in the garden. Tears stung her eyes as she brought her knees to her chest and began to cry.

  Within moments, Spiro Strintzaris yelled to her, “Kori mou, what is wrong? Are you hurt?”

  Freezing like a deer in headlights, Athena could barely see through her tears. She could not speak.

  “Athena!” He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Kori mou, speak to me.” The alarm in his voice dimmed those headlights.

  “I’m okay.” She looked into his eyes, the eyes he had given Alexandros, and started to cry. “Please, I need to be alone,” her voice faded into the tears.

  The big man sat on the ground beside her and opened his arms. “Come here. Let me help you, please.”

  She let his arms close around her shoulders as she lowered her head into his chest and wept. He stroked her hair, kissed the top of her head, and spoke to her in a calming voice. “Kori mou, how can I take away your hurt? Tell me why you’re upset. What can I do to make it better?”

  Athena just stared. She couldn’t tell him.

  “Paidi mou, did someone bother you?” Spiro’s voice was strained. “Please talk to me. I want to help, and you’re tying my hands. Did anyone touch you?”

  She had to tell him. This poor man thought someone had physically abused her. “No, nothing like that. I made a bad decision and abandoned my beliefs. It’ll cost me dearly now.”

  “Kori mou, don’t let a bad decision upset you so. We can fix it if you tell me what went wrong.”

  “I don’t know how it could be fixed.” She was controlling her sobs. “I have to leave. I want to be alone to think.”

  “Okay, paidi mou. Do not cry. We can easily arrange for you to leave the party. I will call Alexandros to take you home if you wish.”

  “No!” The harshness in her voice shocked even her.

  He held her at arm’s length and studied her away face with the patience of a father soothing his young child.

  She regained control and pleaded, “Not Alexandros. I do not want to go with him. I don’t want to go to Villa Kalithea.”

  “Kori mou, please tell me what has happened.” Spiro’s eyebrows drew together and formed an angle over his nose. He took a long time to speak again. “I cannot understand this. You were so happy a few minutes ago.”

  She sat silently, but refused to talk. She let him place his arms around her trembling shoulders again, her body shaking with sobs she was burying in his chest.

  “Please, kori mou,” he urged for her to look at him. Locking his palms around her face, he wiped her tears, his sincerity touching her soul. “You have my word, I will stand by you, and I will not betray your confidence. I just want to help. You must let me help.”

  “He is inside making love to a woman…the green gown,” she began shaking all over again.

  “Who? I don’t understand.”

  “Alexandros” she cried. “He is with this woman in the bedroom—he—he said he was so happy to see her.”

  “Paidi mou, are you sure? Maybe you misheard. Perhaps you are mistaken.”

  She shook her head.

  “I know my son, as I know my own hand, he loves you. He has never shown any affection, no matter big or small, for any other woman but you in front of the family. He doesn’t hide his feelings for you. He wears them proudly on his sleeve.”

  “No, Mr. Strintzaris, I’m not mistaken. I saw him. Heard him. He told her they would have privacy in the room, and then he locked the door.”

  “Dropi!” Spiro replied, his voice a mixture of shame and anger.
“How could my son do this to you? And here in my home! I will find out the truth. There must be an explanation.”

  His words made her sob more. Now his father was angry.

  “Athena, do you want to stay here tonight?”

  “No, I want to be alone. I need to get my things from Kalithea, and I will leave. I really want to go away.”

  “You cannot do that, kori mou. You are in my care until the day of the wedding. You cannot leave until you go to Crete for work. We have some rental property on the eastern part of the island. I will arrange for you to stay in the holiday cabanas until I find what has happened.”

  He kissed her forehead and helped her to her feet. Walking toward the house, he told her the driver would drop her off tonight, she would find the necessities in the bungalow and he would take care of this. He stopped in front of the entrance and asked her to wait for him to return.

  Athena paced the drive. Her shoulders drawn against her torso to shield the pain. The sound of Alexandros’s voice froze the blood in her veins.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. What is wrong, agape mou?”

  Agape mou! He had no right. She turned to stare up into Alexandros’s face.

  “Do not dare agape mou me!” The venom in her eyes stung. “It was fun, now leave me alone.”

  She turned to hide her tears, feeling him come up behind her and grasp her shoulders. She jerked at his touch. “You know my rule. Now leave me alone!” she shouted. “Just go back to what you were doing.”

  Alexandros dropped his hands and balled his fists at his side. He was not sure he could control himself. He would never hit a woman, but he wanted to shake her until she took back those despicable words.

  Clenching his teeth, he grabbed a hold of her arm and swung her around.

  “Your rule. Eh? The rule that a Greek is not good enough for you! Is it regrets that plague you? Well look in the mirror and see what you are!”

  “I know what I am. A fool.” She twisted out of his hold and walked away from him. “Look, it’s nothing personal, we had fun, but now I have things to do. I must go. Please go back the party.”