The Greek Rule (The Greek Series) Read online

  “This is surreal. It feels like we are suspended in time,” she said.

  A groan came from low in Alexandros’ throat. “It means we can leave everything behind and begin again tomorrow. We can choose to start fresh, or we can build on what we have. I want to begin something new.” With his fingers, he lifted her face to his and grinned. “Do you really think I’m smart and handsome, as you said earlier?”

  “I said that?” Her ears rang in alarm.

  “Yes, you did. You said you had two really smart and handsome brothers, just like Costa and me.”

  She made a quick decision. “Yes, you are.”

  His strong-bronzed thumb lifted her chin to him. She could feel his breath on her lips.

  “In that case, you should finish kissing me.”

  “Finish? I never kissed you.” Her tongue flicked nervously on her upper lip as he dropped his gaze to her mouth.

  “You certainly did, right before you slept in my bed.” He was playing with words, she knew it, but a tingle traveled up her spine nonetheless.

  “You kissed me.”

  “So don’t you think it would be rude if you didn’t kiss me back?”

  When she didn’t respond, he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips parted in acceptance, taking him in. His tongue traced every corner of her mouth like a boy enjoying his ice cream, stirring heat deep within her core. Passionate lips traveled down her neck.

  For all it was worth, time stopped and she was suspended in this beautiful scene. Alexandros locked his arms tightly around her, lay back and pulled her onto him. He took her face in his hands, and placed a slow kiss on each eyelid. Kissing her nose, the dimple on her chin, he covered every inch of her face before his lips caressed the sensitive spot behind her ear.

  She heard a wave crash on the surf. Her mind cleared for a single moment, and she pulled away.

  “No, I will not be a notch in your belt.”

  He stopped and looked at her closely. His eyes narrowed, and she wanted to shrink into her skin. He would think she was a tease. Why did she even come here with him?

  “What do you mean?” he asked. A tear escaped her eyes and dropped on his cheek. “Don’t cry, agape mou, no tears. I will not hurt you. You can’t possibly think I would?”

  “I believe you don’t want to intentionally hurt me, but you could.”

  “I know good things are worth waiting for.” He held her close, stroking her hair in slow, gentle motions. “I don’t want you to be scared to be with me, I want you to be happy and proud of being with me. We will take this slow, but if we don’t risk, we will never know what we could have.”

  She was confused. He didn’t sound like the piranha she envisioned a moment ago. No longer able to look at him, she lowered her eyes. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “No, I wouldn’t say I understand. I just don’t want you upset. It is purely selfish. I want you happy. I want you to know you want me, the way that I want you.”

  “It’s not a matter of want,” she said, in a small voice.

  “I’m not going away,” he warned, smoothing her hair. “I’m just giving you a chance to get used to having me with you. I’m very hard to shake off you know.”

  They sat quietly watching the stars together. When hunger became an issue, they began the walk back to the family. This time they traveled a little further down the beach and took the stairs Spiro had built up the cliff.

  They reached the top, and Athena reminded him of their original conversation. “You still haven’t told me about your family and parents.”

  “Dad built his own shipping lines from a single boat he won in a card game while he was in the navy. He argued with his lieutenant that the game had gotten out of hand and there was no need for him to collect any winnings, but being a man of his word, the lieutenant had insisted that Dad must collect his winnings or he would insult his honor. He did, but he has never again placed a bet on a card game.”

  Alexandros placed a possessive arm over her shoulders, pulling her to him as the chilled darkness settled around them. Her skin was hot beneath his touch, despite the cool breeze. The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile. She was starting to accept him.

  His obvious need for this woman astonished him, and he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t control it as he did every other aspect of his life. Frankly, he didn’t care. He just wanted her with him, needed to feel her against him.

  He pulled her a little closer and continued with his story. “Baba’s service in the navy ended three months later. He found himself with a boat, a shrewd mind for business, and a heart full of ambition. He was, and still is, a workaholic. It was said he never took a holiday until he was thirty years old and had thirty boats in his fleet. He christened the first transatlantic vessel in his fleet after the lieutenant who gave him his start: Argyris I.”

  “What about your mother?” she asked.

  “I’m getting to that.” He laughed. “The first holiday Dad took, he came back to Santorini. His family lived in a small farming village twenty kilometers from Fira, the islands capital. The village was celebrating his visit at the square when he saw her for the first time.

  “Baba swears he could not break the enchanting hold her eyes had on his and he asked permission to see her again. They were married a month later.”

  “And then along came you?”

  “Yes, two days after their first wedding anniversary. Costa was born two years after that.”

  They entered the veranda and greeted the family.

  The other two couples didn’t comment on Alexandros’s possessive hold, rather they poured everyone some wine and raised their glasses.

  “Gia Mas! Cheers!”

  Chapter Nine

  It was almost noon. Athena stretched her body across the bed and felt the energy flow to each of her limbs. There was a longing inside her that she had never experienced before. It grew stronger as she felt herself searching the sheets, looking across the room, and listening for Alexandros. She smiled and pictured him lying next to her, pictured giving herself to him.

  A grown woman who rarely indulged in fantasies, Athena was more traditional than she cared to admit. It wasn’t that she believed she needed to be a virgin on her wedding night, but she wanted her first time to be more than simply special.

  She’d seen men enjoy the chase, talk about their conquests, and forget them once they were out of sight. Too proud to have her name spoken in those conversations, Athena had never found anyone worthy of the risk.

  Trust was a decision that didn’t come easily to her. Instead, she had lived the last ten years by the ‘No Summer Romance’ rule. Yesterday, she had broken her rule. And in doing so, she’d had the most amazing day in recent memory.

  Emotions she didn’t know she was capable of feeling tightened around her heart. She enjoyed having Alexandros beside her on their walk, she dreamed of him all night, and she woke looking for him.

  A warm flame began to grow deep within, and as it spread out from her heart, she decided that it couldn’t hurt to enjoy the week with Alexandros. She’d be friendly, but she would control her physical desires. Minimize the attraction and therefore lessen the risk, but still indulge a bit.

  Besides, she was leaving on Monday, there was no time for her to fall in love and have her heart broken. No expectation, no strings attached.

  Happy with her decision, she dressed and went to find the others. It took her a few minutes to find the kitchen from the inside of the house.

  “Good morning,” a young woman called out in Greek when Athena arrived in the kitchen. “You must be Athena. You are as beautiful as Mr. Spiro said. My name is Stella, and I work for the Strintzarises. Mrs. Anna and Heather are on the balcony waiting for you.”

  “Thank you and good morning to you, too,” replied Athena, in perfect Greek.

  “I’m glad you speak Greek, it will make it easier for you to remember everybody at the party on Friday.”

  “The party?”

&nb
sp; “Oh, yes. The whole family is anxious to meet Costa’s bride. Mr. Spiro had to fight to keep them away yesterday so that you could rest. There is no way he could make them wait until the wedding. Besides there are so many of them and it will take some time to put the names to the faces. The party will help. Why don’t you go out to the balcony, and I’ll bring you coffee and some breakfast?”

  “I can help.”

  “No, please. Mrs. Anna and your friend are waiting for you. I will not be long,” Stella insisted.

  “Thank you. Coffee always tastes better when someone else makes it for you.” Athena smiled and walked out to the other women. They were sitting in a shaded area, but the sun’s heat reflected back at them from the rest of the patio.

  “Kalimera, kori mou,” said Anna.

  “Kalimera” replied Athena, as she bent to kiss both women. “What are we looking at?”

  Heather eagerly welcomed her friend and started to point out the family pictures in the album she held. The pictures included five-year-old Costa on a donkey led by Alexandros through the town’s cobble stoned streets, the whole family in front of a Christmas tree with the Acropolis in the background, and her absolute favorite of Costa wearing his chocolate cake on his third birthday.

  Stella appeared with a tray of fresh bread, cheeses, olives and coffee for each woman to enjoy. They sat and chatted like lifelong friends losing track of time.

  “I wish my mother was here with us,” Athena said to the older woman. “I’ve been working so much lately and I don’t see her as much as I should. I’d like to take time just chatting together over some coffee. She would enjoy your company.”

  “I hope to meet her soon. Perhaps in Crete later this summer?” Anna suggested. “What are your parents’ names?”

  “Maria and Nikos. Dad is from Chania, and Mom from a little village outside Rethymno.”

  How did Anna know her parents were from Crete? Athena had not told her. Alexandros must have discussed her with his family. He was the only one that knew. She had never even mentioned it to Costa or Heather.

  Athena felt like a heel. She wanted to tell the other women her news about the resort. Such developments were supposed to be celebrated, not hidden. She wanted to share her joy. But at what expense? She had won the bidding against Alexandros. Was she being two-faced by enjoying his family’s company?

  “We have the equivalent of the Greek Bridal Shower today,” Heather said, her words laced with happiness. “At seven, all the single women will come to the house and make the wedding bed. They will ‘shower’ it with gold coins for prosperity, sugar for a sweet life, and wheat for fertility. Isn’t it a great custom? Make sure you fluff my pillows well. Friday we have a pre-wedding party to meet the rest of the family, the male part. Tonight it is only women.”

  Anna nodded. “Now let us talk about the family. I warn you ladies, our family is quite large. Do not worry if you cannot remember their names, simply address them as ‘cousin’ and you are sure to delight them.”

  The sound of a helicopter landing behind the villa startled Athena.

  “They’re back,” exclaimed Heather. “They had some dealings in Athens this morning and left at daybreak. I’m glad they were able to finish early. Costa and I want to show you Cardia Mou today.”

  Father and sons strode into sight, looking very handsome as they smiled at the women at the table.

  “Hey, look at these three beauties sitting on our balcony.” Costa strolled over with a large grin on his face.

  “I think we’ll be the talk of the town if we take them out for a drink,” Alexandros added.

  “We will definitely grow two inches taller in everyone’s eyes if we are seen with these mermaids,” Spiro continued.

  The women laughed. Anna puckered her lips. “Come here and greet me properly, andra mou,” she called out to her husband.

  Spiro obliged, and gave his wife a tender kiss. It was such a pleasure to watch a couple so affectionate, and clearly in love, after so many years together. It warmed Athena’s heart and inspired similar aspirations for her life. She wanted a love like theirs, like her parents’. She didn’t believe in the convenience of marriage, but in the love for it.

  Athena feared it would be impossible to find, because she also wanted a man that would consider her a true partner. She needed to be self-sufficient, wanted to work, and knew these kind of men didn’t appreciate a working woman.

  Yet, she was surrounded by strong, passionate, and most of all, enigmatic men. They were so much more than she’d expected, and frankly, she did not understand them.

  Amidst her thoughts, she smiled as Costa walked over to Heather, pulled her off her seat, lavished her with a big hug, and kissed her passionately.

  “I hope you got enough rest last night because I have plans for us this afternoon.” Alexandros looked at Athena and winked. “I need to meet some friends in town. I would really like it if you join me.”

  “It sounds great.” She felt happy to spend time with him and away from Giardetti business. “Heather wants to show me Cardia Mou, and we are making the Bridal Bed tonight. Will we have the time for both your plans and the bride’s bed?”

  “Leave it to me. We’ll be back.”

  “As for tonight, everything is arranged,” Anna interjected. “All you have to do is be there. Spiro and I are meeting with the caterers and staff at one to finalize everything for tomorrow. Costa and Heather want to discuss the wedding menu with the caterers. So you have plenty of time.”

  Alexandros smiled at his mother before turning back to Athena. “Great, grab a swimsuit, and I have the rest. We’ll go by Cardia Mou before we set out.”

  Athena went to her room, bypassed her bikini, thinking of what he had said yesterday, and grabbed her blue Speedo one piece. She liked being with him, she liked the way the family was together, but she was not ready to admit that she liked the idea of being on his arm.

  Ten minutes later, each couple mounted a motorcycle and set off toward Cardia Mou. Alexandros took a sharp turn and Athena spread her fingers in a tight hold over his muscular chest.

  He groaned. “All I want is you in my arms and to taste the sweetness of your lips.”

  “You’ll have to wait on that, but right now I’ve got you in my arms.” Athena was shocked by her own voice.

  “That you do, koukla mou,” Alexandros replied, taking another turn.

  How things changed in a mere span of a few days. Now, she loved it when he called her his doll. Resting her chin on his shoulder, they arrived at Cardia Mou two minutes later. The villa was all it had promised to be.

  When the friends gathered outside to part ways, Heather spoke privately to Athena. “It seems I have spent my pre-wedding days finding you the most eligible bachelor in Greece.”

  Athena felt the instantaneous blush and asked her best friend to stop teasing her.

  “Alexandros is perfect for you!” Heather laughed and continued. “Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

  She kissed her friend good-bye. As she followed the subject of their discussion to the bike, indecision danced in Athena’s head. She’d decided to have fun and forget about everything but the here and now. No work, no rules, nothing. She’d chosen to vacation on a Greek island like so many other tourists did annually. Of course, she hadn’t planned to fall for Alexandros. Now the question was: was she falling too fast? Could she control it?

  “The first thing we do is coffee. Okay?” Alexandros asked, as he moved forward to allow her room on the bike.

  “No problem. I’m all yours for the next few hours,” she said, wiggling onto the seat and feeling him inhale sharply.

  They rode over the rugged beauty of the island and arrived at a little café on a black sandy beach. The owner came out to greet Alexandros, shaking his hand enthusiastically and kissing him on both cheeks.

  “Athena, this is Dimitri. He and Baba grew up together and have been the best of friends since they were five.”

  “Pleased to m
eet you, young lady,” said the older man, inviting them to sit at a quaint table in the shade.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see Alexandros till the wedding. He doesn’t come by often enough, and especially not with such good looking company.”

  “Dimitri, if anyone can appreciate good company it’s you,” said Alexandros. “Please join us. I would like to talk to you, and I have brought the papers.”

  Alexandros ordered while they walked to the table, and their frappes arrived quickly. The two men caught up on town news and small talk.

  Finishing their iced coffees, there was a change in the casual mood, and Alexandros suggested Athena put on her bathing suit so they could enjoy a swim before lunch. She understood his masked request and went into the café’s restroom to change. She’d closed business meetings in restaurants, sporting events and even a bowling alley when the need had called for it.

  She recognized this to be such a time and marveled how Alexandros was able to accomplish so many things in so little time. He multitasked like no other man she had met. First yesterday on the veranda, today business with pleasure, and he never missed a beat on what was happening around him.

  It was clear that the older man loved him as a son and trusted and respected him as a businessman.

  She lingered a bit longer than needed inside the restroom, giving the men a chance to finish their discussion. When she came out of the café, his eyes told her the coast was clear.

  “I’m sure the papers are fine,” said Dimitri.

  “Have your lawyer take a look at them. Good business makes good friends,” Alexandros said.

  The other man nodded in agreement.

  “Now, I believe my beautiful mermaid needs to go for a swim. Will you excuse us, Dimitri?”

  “Of course, I don’t want it to be said that I stand in the way of young love. Be sure to say goodbye before you go.”

  Athena tried to respond, but Alexandros silenced her with a primal possessive kiss before thanking his old friend. His hand on the small of her back, he picked up the pack and led her to the beach. Athena bit her tongue as annoyance rose within her. They continued towards the water.