The Greek Rule (The Greek Series) Page 16

  Tears poured from her eyes in an endless stream. This had been the last night with the man she loved. He may be sorry, but she could never forgive his transgression.

  She couldn’t bear the thought of him seeking gratification with another woman. Even though she’d given herself to him completely, it had not satiated his physical passion. She didn’t know how to pleasure him, not the way he was accustomed.

  She’d taken what he had given her, had drowned in the tidal wave of pleasure he bestowed on her, but she was not enough for him. He had wanted more. He’d looked for and had found more.

  Her body filled with pain. Before today, she would never have entertained the thought of forgiving a man for betraying her. She had to remain strong. She had to listen to her head and not her heart. How could she ever trust him again?

  She heard the Ducati zoom away. Was Alexandros leaving the house in the middle of the night to find the green dress? Why had she not fought to keep him?

  Pain engulfed her. She walked out to the side veranda and watched the motorcycle’s headlight wind through the cliff side.

  Alexandros needed to clear his head. None of this made sense. He drove around the island, pushing the Ducati’s limits. Pulling up in front of a kafeneion, where only men gather, he walked up to the cousins who had finished the dance with him the night before, Spiro and Gianni.

  They ordered a round of beers and began to talk.

  “What happened to our smooth cousin? You’ve never introduced a woman to the family before.”

  “Spiro, I plan to make that woman my wife.” Alexandros answered, a big weight lifted off his chest with the admission.

  “It must be something in the air. Both of you, so fast.” Spiro hit his cousin’s back and laughed. “I hope it’s not contagious.”

  “We should be so lucky,” Gianni said, flipping his komboloi. “I spent some time with Athena, and she seems fantastic.”

  “She is. When did you see her?” Alexandros placed a hand over Gianni’s komboloi and stopped it from moving.

  “Your father asked me to keep an eye on her at the cabana. She wanted to stay alone, and he wasn’t comfortable with that. I stayed in the cabana next door to hers, and we ran into each other in the morning.”

  “How could you lose your future bride and give her so much room away from you?” Spiro continued to tease his cousin. “Any one of us could have stolen her out of your arms.”

  “Cut it out, I’m not in the mood for you right now.”

  “Hey, I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect, Alexandros. I was only joking.”

  Alexandros nodded and accepted his apology.

  “I’ll be right back.” Spiro stood. “I need to pick up some cigarettes.”

  Alexandros watched Spiro stroll to the kiosk on the corner, knowing he had not said anything out of malice. Spiro was ignorant of the events that had transpired since the family party and didn’t understand the current situation.

  “Gianni, tell me what happened in the morning and how she didn’t recognize you from the party.” He leaned back on his chair and pulled his own komboloi out of his pocket.

  “Well, she met a lot of us at the party, and I only said hello there. When your father asked me to keep an eye on her, I washed the gel out of my hair and the curls returned. I put on my sunglasses and followed her on the Vespa as she went for a run around eleven o’clock today.”

  “A run at that time?”

  “Yes, and let me tell you, I don’t know what happened between you, but she was giving the road a pounding. She was very upset. And from the look of it cousin, if you want to make her your wife, you would do best not to cross her in the future. She is incredibly determined.”

  “When did you talk with her?”

  “We went for a snack to Makis taverna.”

  Even though his father had arranged for Gianni to watch over her, Alexandros was growing jealous. She’d gone off with another man.

  “I saw her suddenly stop running, and she started to look sick. I walked up, offered her some water, and we got to talking.” Gianni quickly clarified the event. “When I invited her to the taverna she hesitated, so I assured her my fiancée was meeting me. I made up a story about how they would enjoy each other’s company and all.”

  “Thank you for looking after her.”

  “You’d do the same for me, for the woman I love. She’s special, and you are lucky. I saw you come over in the afternoon, and I called your father to tell him I was leaving. Why are you here? Is she still at the cabana?”

  “No, she’s at Kalithea.”

  “I have to ask again. Why are you here?”

  “I cannot be so close to her, and not be with her.” Alexandros snapped the worry beads into his palm and let out an agitated breath. “Something happened and she is very annoyed. But it makes no sense.”

  “You’ll figure it out. She’s worth it. Go back to her and maybe she’ll tell you. Some idiot probably told her something ridiculous. You know how jealous people can get.”

  “One more beer, and I’ll be on my way.”

  ****

  Alexandros arrived at Kalithea in a calmer frame of mind. He would deal with this in the morning and the explanation would be right in front of him. He undressed and could not resist walking to Athena’s room. Needing to check on her, and to know she was all right, he opened the door.

  She was lying with her back to him. Her hair spread on the pillow and her breath soft and steady. He bent to kiss her, running a tender hand over the curve of her waist. Her slender hand covered his and held it against her. Alexandros did not wait for a formal invite. He lifted the sheet and gently got in beside her. Spooning her warm body, he curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Athena awoke and felt Alexandros’s warm breath against the nape of her neck. She didn’t stir, not wanting to wake him. Closing her eyes, she lay still and drifted in and out of a sweet sleep. When Alexandros woke half an hour later, she remained motionless. Whispering something she didn’t hear, he kissed her shoulder and got out of bed.

  Moments later, he returned to speak through the window.

  “You have about an hour before we leave. I assume you’ll be helping Heather dress for the wedding.”

  “Yes, thank you. I’ll be ready fast.”

  “Take your time. Costa will wait for her. I left you some coffee on the table… if you want it. I can’t join you, but I’ll be back by the time you’re ready.”

  Only when she was sure he was gone, did she turn to face the window. She wanted to go to him, to ask him to hold her, and make the hurt go away. Her heart ached, and she craved his soothing touch. She had loved him. She still loved him, even after he’d betrayed her love.

  Athena now understood the term fool in love. She was the fool. How could she still love him? Why did her heart ache, and why was he the only one who could fix it?

  Showering, she let the tears run down her face and vanish into the clear water. The droplets urged her on, giving her the strength to face the day. She had a duty to fulfill, and she would bury her own needs to do it.

  Slowly, she readied herself to face the family and friends she’d laughed with only days ago. Athena made a mental note to smile more as she applied makeup under her eyes to hide the puffy darkness. She pinned her hair high and allowed a few tendrils to fall. Stepping into her simple, but very elegant blue linen dress, she was satisfied with her appearance.

  She gathered the makeup case and the hair styling tools into a bag and went to tell Alexandros she was ready. He was sitting at the table outside the kitchen. His eyes lit up as she approached.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you. You’re not dressed yet?”

  “No, I’ll dress after I return from the airport.” He paused. “I saw Gianni at the kafeneion last night. He told me he spent a bit time with you yesterday on the beach.”

  “Yes, we had a light lunch. You know him?”


  Relief spread through her. He had seen Gianni last night… at the kafeneion, a traditionally all male hangout. It explained why he smelled of alcohol and cigarettes when he came home. She had not talked to him, she hadn’t told him she had lain awake waiting for him to return. She’d held his hand, inviting him into her bed, and thankfully, he’d stayed. Finally, she’d been able to sleep.

  “Gianni is my cousin.” Alexandros did not elaborate why Gianni was there or how he had come to talk to her.

  “Oh, he is very nice.” She waited quietly for him to get up, but instead he pulled out the chair beside him and asked her to sit. She sat.

  “Athena, I spent the night trying to think what else might be bothering you. I cannot figure it out, agape mou. You need to help me with this, you must tell me.”

  “I don’t want to discuss it.” She stood to walk away, and he swiftly shackled her wrist.

  “I want to discuss it. You’re being totally unreasonable, and frankly, I don’t enjoy drama like this.”

  “The problem is the things you do enjoy. That is the problem. And I will not have any of that in my life.” She snapped her hand away. “Now you’re even going back on your word. You agreed to a truce. You agreed that we’d enjoy the wedding in a dignified and mature manner.”

  “You mean a cold manner. Fine. If that is what you want, that is what we’ll have. I won’t beg you to explain. You want to be stubborn and act like the world has crashed about you, go right ahead. I will not tolerate it anymore. This is ridiculous!”

  The small vein at his temple pulsed. He was angry, and she watched him speechless.

  “No one can solve anything without knowing what it is, and I’m no exception.”

  “You have no right to speak to me like that. I’m not the one who plays games with relationships. I value the people around me, and I value the man in my bed.”

  “And I don’t? I do not value you? What do I have to say to convince you of it? I told you I love you. I told you I wanted to marry you. I told you I would go to the other side of the earth for you. I can’t think of anything else to say. I have nothing else to say. I’m done talking. You win. A cold civilized interaction at the wedding it is then.” He grabbed the car keys and started for the drive. “Come on. There is much to do.”

  In silence, they drove to Villa Cardia Mou. She closed her eyes and tried to control her feelings, not wanting Heather to guess she was upset. When they reached the villa, she hastily opened the door and climbed out. Before closing it, she leaned in and met his gaze.

  “It’s not what you said, it’s what you did. Something that would drive me crazy each time you were not with me. That is no way to live. You and I, both, deserve better.” She turned and walked up the stairs into Cardia Mou.

  “Woman, you’re driving me mad! Perhaps you’re right and this is wrong after all,” he called. “Never in my life have I experienced something like this.”

  Never in his life had Alexandros loved a woman as he loved her.

  Shifting the car into first gear, he spun the tires out of the drive. He drove fast and sharp, inviting danger with each turn. The small airport came into view, and Alexandros parked to wait for the plane. It landed, and Demo walked toward the terminal. The men greeted each other and headed to the car.

  “I guess my sister has bridesmaid duties to do and couldn’t come. Is she still at your house?”

  “Sorry, I dropped her off earlier. She wanted to help Heather get ready.” Alexandros tried to sound light, he was honoring Athena’s request.

  “You look horrible, my friend. Please don’t tell me you guys had a stag party last night and Costa is going to look as bad as you do. You should never have a stag party the night before the wedding.”

  “No, no party. Costa surely looks better than I do. And by the way, thanks for the compliments.” He drummed his fingers on the stick shift.

  “What happened? No joke, you don’t look very good.”

  “Athena happened, that is what. She is angry for reasons I do not know, and I can’t get her to talk to me. I feel like shaking some sense into that warped brain of hers.”

  “Hey, you’re speaking about someone I love.”

  “Someone I love, too.” He slowed for the turn. “I swear, Demo, let the earth open and take me if I’m lying, I love her. She is making me crazy and is pushing all my limits. She refuses to talk, or to tell me what bothered her.”

  “I don’t know what to say. She looked happy a few days ago. Very happy. Athena looked like she was in love for the first time in her life.”

  “She will be angry when she finds out we talked, but she said you could see right through her. So I am asking you—what could make her like this? She admits to loving me, but she doesn’t want me near her.” He spoke in rapid-fire Greek drawing lines of concentration on Demo’s brow.

  “Did you ask her straight on? She’s forward about things.”

  “I asked her to marry me yesterday, and she said no. Then she admitted she loves me, and that the problem wasn’t what I said. It was what I did.”

  “Alexandros, I can tell you that honesty and dignity mean a lot to her.” Demo’s thought lines grew deeper. “I don’t know you well, but I don’t think you’d be dishonest or disgraceful.”

  “She must have guessed I would ask her to marry me. I thought she didn’t want to move to Greece and change her whole life. I offered to work out of New York and move with her—”

  “No, that doesn’t sound right. That’s just a smoke screen to keep from getting to love. To keep from exposing her heart to hurt. If she said she loves you, she has no problem with Greece and that silly No Greek Romance rule of hers.”

  “Did anyone hurt her in the past to cause this?”

  “Talk to her, and you’ll work things out.” Demo slapped the other man on the back. “Now trust me, and go get cleaned up. Use some eye drops or something like that, and then go stand beside your brother. I’d choke Tony if he showed up at my wedding looking like you do.”

  Demo refused the use of the car and reminded Alexandros he needed a shave before meeting up with the family.

  How Alexandros arrived at his father’s house to meet with Costa, he didn’t know. He, like Athena, put on his boardroom face and entered the house. The difference was his family saw right through it. They were not co-workers or casual acquaintances.

  ****

  Athena made her way upstairs and opened the door to the master bedroom. The gown lay magnificently on the bed, and Heather sat in front of her vanity beginning a light application of makeup. She smiled in the mirror at her best friend.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good wedding morning to you.” Athena hugged her friend’s shoulders. “You are the most beautiful bride. I can’t wait to see you in the dress.”

  “Well you won’t have to wait long. Did you bring the large curling iron?”

  Athena made a grand gesture of removing it from her bag.

  “Good, plug it in and start curling the bun. Chop, chop,” Heather said, smiling and snapping her fingers. “Do you think you came with me to spend your time making sweetie eyes at my groom’s brother all day? Nope, you’re here to do my hair.”

  The women laughed, but the pain in Athena’s eyes reflected in the mirror. Heather turned.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I’m very excited to do your hair, my lady.” Athena tried to sound funny while avoiding her friend’s gaze.

  “Then why are your eyes puffy and dark?”

  “That’s an easy one. I spent too much time in the sun and under the water yesterday. I read two books, and I didn’t sleep much because I had to finish the second story to see if the prince got the princess.”

  “And did he?”

  “In your case, he did.” Athena squeezed Heather’s hand.

  “How’s your prince today?”

  “He is a toad.”

  “So you’re upset. You had an argument with Alexandros. Do you want to tell me about i
t?”

  “No, not an argument. We’ll deal with it later. I promise to tell you how it goes as soon as I know. Now let me get to work. Curling iron please.” Athena held out her hand like a surgeon requesting a scalpel.

  “Costa says he really loves you. I agree with him, and I think you love him too. He’s a great guy, and he isn’t bad to look at either.”

  “Mmm.” Athena hesitated as she wrapped the first strand around the curling iron.

  “I must say this, and then I’ll stop. Don’t, do not, cut off your nose to spite your face. Do not close down. Doing so is the only thing that’ll hurt you.”

  “Okay, okay. But now we must give our attention to your hair.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Tradition dictated the bride would walk through the town so that everyone could witness her journey to the church. Athena carried the bride’s train as they strolled along the curvy streets and accepted the town’s good wishes for a fertile, prosperous, and happy life. She pasted a smile on her face and nodded to the crowd.

  The bright, cheerful interior of the church was full of family and friends. The traditional ceremony was an hour long, and Athena found it hard not to look at Alexandros. Placing the ornate wreaths on the couple’s heads, Athena and Alexandros together crowned them King and Queen to each other in God’s kingdom. They joined the newlyweds in their first steps as husband and wife, and stood beside each other as they sponsored brother and friend.

  Athena exited the church on Alexandros’s arm. She forced a smile on her face, while her heart ached from his touch. He was doing what she had asked, no one knew anything, and no one seemed to realize they were hurting.

  The limousine pulled away and the guests began to walk towards the reception. Athena dropped Alexandros’s arm and walked toward her brother. Demo hugged her, and she held him a second longer that usual.