Читать книгу Wearing The Greek Millionaire's Ring - Jennifer Faye - Страница 11

“DID YOU MAKE IT to the ship in time?”

“Why would I be late?” Stasia stood on the busy deck. She pressed the phone to her ear, straining to hear her brother over the voices of dozens of excited travelers.

Xander sighed. “Must you answer a question with a question?”

A smile pulled at Stasia’s lips. “Why must you act like the overprotective brother?”

She knew the answer. Xander felt guilty because he was happily married with a baby girl, not to mention living on a private Greek island. And she, well, she was alone now.

Not so long ago, she’d been happy when her college sweetheart had become her husband. Back then, they’d had dreams—lots of dreams. However, it was all cut short when a stomachache turned out to be so much worse than the flu.

From that point, their dreams radically changed. Instead of wishing for exotic vacations, they started wishing for just one more Christmas, one more birthday, one more month, one more day. Stasia halted her thoughts. She pushed away the heart-wrenching memories before she drowned in them.

She’d been on her own for nearly two years now. There had been a lot of tears shed over that time—her first Christmas alone, her first anniversary alone. And when filling out forms, her hand would hover over the married box before ultimately checking single. It hadn’t been easy learning to be a widow—not at all.

Eventually she’d been able to donate Lukos’s clothes, including his tailored suits and silk ties. It took a long time until she could bear to slip off her wedding ring and place it with Lukos’s in the back of her jewelry box.

Her thumb nervously rubbed over her ring finger. It was something she’d started to do when she’d waited in the doctors’ offices and hospital waiting rooms. Feeling the smoothness of her wedding band and knowing the love behind it had somehow bolstered her strength to face the horrible diagnosis Lukos had been given.

She glanced down at her now bare finger.

She was on her own. Each step had taken time. Some steps were big and some were tiny. Each of them had pulled on her heartstrings.

“I... I worry about you.” Xander’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“I know you do.” And she knew it wasn’t easy for him to admit it. Xander had always held his feelings close to his chest. “And I appreciate it. But it’s okay. I’m okay.”

“So you’re on the ship?”

She nodded, and then, realizing he couldn’t see her, she said, “Yes, I am.”

“Good. Now watch out for any smooth-talking men. Don’t fall for their lines. Tell them to push off or else your big brother will take care of them—”

“Xander, I’m not in school anymore. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”

Her brother sighed. “I know.”

“But you worry.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No.” How could she reprimand him when she’d done something similar when he’d hooked up with Lea? Stasia had posed as a potential buyer of Infinity Island in order to find out if Lea was a gold digger. In the end, Stasia had learned that Lea had a heart of gold. “But you have to trust me. I can take care of myself.”

“If you need anything, I’m only a phone call away.”

And then a movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. It was a tall man with dark hair. Though she could only see the back of him, there was something familiar about the way he held himself and the way he moved with sure, steady strides.

She told herself she shouldn’t stare even if it was from across the deck, but she couldn’t turn away. Or maybe she was using this distraction to keep from thinking about what her brother was saying. Did Xander really think she was incapable of caring for herself?

She knew then and there that she had to prove to him—to herself—that she could stand firmly on her own two feet. She’d thought she’d been doing that ever since Lukos passed, but it seemed that wasn’t so clear to everyone. She promised herself that by the time the cruise ended, she would have a firm life plan for herself.

In the beginning of this horrible nightmare, she’d had her doubts about facing life alone. But one day faded into two, and with each passing day, she’d somehow mustered up the strength and determination to put one foot in front of the other. And now nearly two years later, she was feeling strong and determined. She just needed a direction.

As Xander spoke of the bungalow he could build her on Infinity Island, her gaze focused on that tall, dark man across the way. He was busy speaking with a striking young woman. No doubt it was his girlfriend or wife.

And then the man turned. She was curious to see if his face was as handsome as she’d imagined it to be. And it was, but the surprise didn’t end there. The breath caught in her throat.

It was Roberto.

Her heart stuttered. What was he doing here?

Xander had his hand in this. She was certain of it. Her brother couldn’t even send her off on a cruise for a birthday gift without feeling the need to send along someone to keep an eye on her.

“What’s Roberto doing here?”

“What?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She was angry. This was too much. “I’m looking right at him.”

“I bet he’s probably flirting with some beautiful young woman.”

“How did you know?”

“Because that’s Roberto. He’s a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. If any woman is foolish enough to think he’ll commit himself to her, she’ll just end up getting hurt. But as far as a friend, they don’t come any better than him.”

“Xander, I want to know what he’s doing on this cruise.”

Xander’s voice was muffled as though he had his hand over the phone. “Okay. I’m coming.” He spoke back into the phone. “Sorry, sis. I’ve got to go. Lea needs me.”

“Xander?”

And with that, the phone went dead.

Stasia inwardly groaned in frustration. What had her brother done? Enough was enough. And she wasn’t going to play his game, whatever it was.

This ship was big—big enough for her to avoid Roberto. Which was a shame because she’d always liked Roberto. Even when they were growing up, he’d been kind and thoughtful. And now as an adult, he was the most amazing eye candy. She hadn’t known it was possible for a man to look that good in a suit.

But if he was here to babysit her, then she didn’t have time for him. Stasia turned her back to him and walked in the opposite direction. Wherever he was, she would not be.

* * *

This was the absolute last place in the world he wanted to be.

Why couldn’t a work emergency have come up?

Ding.

Roberto Carrass checked his phone for the ninth time in less than five minutes. The emails were stacking up, each one more important than the last. He didn’t have time for a vacation. There was work to be done.

His fingers moved fluidly over the face of his phone. He composed a response to his assistant about a pending acquisition.

Ding. Ding.

Now that he was a full partner with Xander, their business was taking off. There were no more delays, waiting on approvals. When he spotted a good deal, he could move on it—if he wasn’t stuck on a two-week cruise with his big Greek family.

Roberto sighed, louder than he’d intended. His phone was not the best way to deal with emails. He really needed to go to his cabin and work on his laptop.

His grandmother elbowed him. “Would you put that contraption away?”

“Yaya, it’s a cell phone.” With great reluctance, he slipped it in his pocket. “And if you would quit being so stubborn, I would get you one. They aren’t that hard to use.”

She lifted her chin. “I already have a perfectly good phone at home. I don’t need one when I’m out and about. Whatever people want can wait until I get home. Now stop frowning. We’re here to have fun.” His grandmother smiled brightly. It was so hard to believe she was about to have her eightieth birthday. Most of the time, she acted half her age or younger.

“I’m going to get myself a drink.”

Yaya arched a penciled brow. “Don’t hide in some corner. Or worse, go to your cabin to work. This is a vacation. Look at all these lovely ladies. I’m sure you’ll find someone to spend your time with.”

While wearing a forced smile, he inwardly groaned. He was in so much trouble. They’d just pulled out of the dock and they were to be at sea for two weeks—two weeks of matchmaking torture.

“Yaya, I’m fine. I don’t need to find someone to spend time with.”

His grandmother’s gaze narrowed. “Roberto, is there something you haven’t told me?”

“Yaya, I—” And then out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a young woman he recognized. “I need to go say hello to someone.”

The worry lines on his grandmother’s face eased. “Don’t let me hold you up. I need to go check on your grandfather.”

There was something in the tone of his grandmother’s voice that caught his attention. “Is he feeling all right?”

His grandmother didn’t say anything at first. “I shouldn’t say anything.”

“It’s me. No matter how much he and I argue, I still care. Surely you know that.”

“I wish things were different between you two.” She sighed. “I don’t know what is going on. He won’t talk about it. Every time I bring it up, he tells me not to worry.”

“But you’re still worried?”

She nodded. “Maybe it’s nothing.”

“Don’t worry.” He gave her a brief hug. “I’m sure if it’s serious, he’ll talk to you about it.”

“Maybe you could speak to him.” Her hopeful gaze implored him.

Roberto gave a quick shake of his head. “I don’t think so. It’ll just lead to another argument—”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. It doesn’t matter the subject—eventually it leads back to me abandoning both the company and him. Then an argument ensues.”

“Don’t you think it’s time you two make peace?”

“Tell him. Not me.”

She sighed. “I just wish... Oh, never mind. Go mingle.”

She didn’t have to finish her thought. He knew what she wished—that he was still working with his grandfather. That there was peace in their family.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on his grandmother’s cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

Yaya patted his arm and smiled before she headed off in the opposite direction.

As Roberto walked away, he couldn’t stop thinking about his grandparents. They were getting on in years. Was his grandfather doing too much?

This was his grandfather. Obviously he was doing too much. And the look on his grandmother’s face said she was more concerned than she let on. With his complicated relationship with his grandfather, he wasn’t sure what he could do to help, but for his grandmother’s sake, he’d give it some thought.

Roberto didn’t waste any time making his way across the deck toward the open-air bar where he’d caught sight of someone who looked quite familiar. Still, the day was quite beautiful with a clear blue sky, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. Even if he didn’t catch up with someone he knew, he might grab a cool drink and find a quiet spot to return a phone call or two before they got too far out to sea and the connection became spotty. He’d been so busy helping Xander spin off a new arm of his real-estate empire, as well as relocating the headquarters to Infinity Island, that he’d forgotten what it was like to have free time. He could once again have a social life.

Roberto intended to stick with his bachelor status—even if some incorrectly labeled him a playboy. But he couldn’t deny his preference for no-strings-attached flings. He didn’t have a lot of them, but he wasn’t exactly a hermit either.

His bachelor status didn’t please his grandparents, who thought he was the age to settle down with a family. All his life there had been expectations set for him. It started back when he was barely out of diapers. He’d been enrolled in the most prestigious preschool. He had to excel at everything so he could attend the top boarding school. And then he was expected to graduate at the top of his class. As the only grandson, his grandparents had high expectations for him.

It was a lot of pressure to put on a kid. By high school, he resented his family’s expectations. By college, he was interning at the family construction business. When nothing he did lived up to his grandfather’s high standards, Roberto knew he needed to forge a different path—one of his own choosing. And that was what led him to join forces with a childhood friend in the real-estate business, much to his family’s disappointment.

Having lost sight of the elusive woman, he moved to the bar and ordered a drink. While he waited, he glanced around once more. Maybe it was just wishful thinking that he’d recognized someone. Still, it had been a good excuse to get away from his grandmother.

He was on his way to an open table off to the side when he spotted her again. This time he was certain he knew her. It was Stasia Marinakos. No other woman carried herself quite like she did, with her slender shoulders pulled back, her head held high and a warm smile on her face. How she could smile after all that she’d been through was beyond him. But she hadn’t lost her zest for life. And he applauded her.

“Stasia?” he called out. When she paused and looked around, he called out to her again.

At last, their gazes met. Her big brown eyes widened. He waved her over to join him at the empty table. It took her a moment or two to work her way through the crowd of people all eager to enjoy the morning sun.

“It’s so good to see you.” He gave her a brief hug.

Was it wrong that he wanted the hug to last a little longer? Of course it was. Stasia was his best friend’s younger sister. And if that wasn’t enough to discourage any interest, she was a grieving widow. Enough said.

He moved to pull out a chair for her. Once again, her eyes widened with surprise. Was getting her chair for her that unexpected? He mused over this as he returned to his own chair. He supposed that in all of the occasions that they’d spent time together over the years, he hadn’t actually spent one-on-one time with her before. There had always been a group of people with them.

She frowned at him. “You don’t have to act surprised to see me.”

“But I am surprised.”

She studied him for a moment. “My brother didn’t set this up?” She motioned between them. “Being on the same cruise so you can babysit me?”

“If he did, he didn’t mention it to me.”

“Oh.” She still looked perplexed. “He surprised me with the ticket. He said it was my birthday gift.”

“It’s your birthday?”

“Not yet. It’s next week.”

“We’ll have to do something special.”

“You mean more special than taking an extended cruise?” Her eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Maybe not. But we’ll have to mark the occasion.” And then he realized she might not be on the ship alone. After all, she’d been a widow for...what was it? Two years. Maybe she was moving on. “Are you sailing alone?”

“I am. How about you? Are you here with someone?”

He wondered if she’d noticed that the passenger list had an overwhelming number of young, beautiful women who appeared to be alone. “I’m not here with anyone. Not exactly.”

Stasia arched a brow. “You came on this cruise alone?”

Roberto nodded and surprise flickered in her eyes.

Xander had warned him that he was getting a reputation of always having a beautiful woman on his arm. He’d thought Xander was just having some fun at his expense. Maybe Xander had been serious after all.

“You wouldn’t believe that I just wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the office?”

She shook her head. “You’re just like my brother. You both thrive on the chaotic energy of business. Without it, I think you’d both be bored. In fact, I know it.” Her beautiful eyes studied him as though if she stared long enough, layers would peel back, and she’d be able to see what truly made him tick.

Roberto glanced away. Under her gaze, he felt exposed and vulnerable. That was a first for him. He’d sat through a lot of tense meetings with some of the toughest businessmen. They’d all sized each other up for the other’s weakness, but none had made him feel like an open book.

He cleared his throat. “Actually, I’m here at my grandmother’s request.”

The twinkle of surprise showed in Stasia’s eyes. “Your grandmother is on the ship?”

He nodded. “So are a number of my family members.”

“That must be so nice.”

He remained quiet. He knew Stasia only had her brother these days. She didn’t know what it was like to have a bunch of well-meaning but intrusive family members delving into her personal life.

“It must be something special to get you out of the office. I hope you have a great time.”

And then he realized there wasn’t any reason to be secretive. “We’re here for my grandmother’s eightieth birthday celebration and my cousin’s wedding in Venice.”

“Wow. That’s a lot to celebrate.”

He nodded and then glanced around to make sure none of his family were within listening distance. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he leaned closer to Stasia and lowered his voice. “I should probably tell you that my cousin and her fiancé applied to Infinity Island but were turned down.”

Stasia’s brows rose but she didn’t say anything.

“I just wanted to forewarn you because this ship isn’t that big, so you’re likely to run into them.”

“No problem. Thanks for the warning.”

He nodded. “I just wonder if it’s a good idea for them to get married.”

“Why? Don’t you like who your cousin is marrying?”

“It’s not that.” If anything, he really liked Anthony. “He’s a great guy. But Xander told me a little of how the system works on Infinity Island. Do you know how the process works?” When she shook her head, he continued. “It seems pretty involved. The legend or folklore or whatever you call it says if you don’t pass the test, it means you’re ill suited for each other.”

“Really? Do you think it’s true?”

He shrugged. Weddings were never of interest to him. “I just don’t want my cousin to be hurt. She’s a great person. Loving and caring.”

“I’m sure it’ll all work out for her.”

This was his turn to study Stasia. It definitely wasn’t a hardship. He could stare at her all day. She was beautiful in a very classic and stylish way. Her dark hair was straight and cut in a sleek bob that brushed over the tops of her shoulders. Her makeup only emphasized her vibrant eyes and her high cheekbones. She went for more color when it came to her lips. They were a deep rose shade. Her lips were pouty and inviting.

“Roberto?”

He jerked his gaze back to her eyes. He’d been busted staring. He cleared his throat and glanced away. What had they been discussing?

It took him a second to recall the conversation. “I’m not normally one to give in to such superstitious kind of stuff, but this is my cousin. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.”

Stasia reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “I wouldn’t worry. There’s also this saying that love can overcome everything.”

“I sure hope you’re right.” And then he had a question for her. “If it were you, would you take the test? Would you want to get married on Infinity Island?”

Her eyes didn’t give away anything. “That’s not a fair question. After all, I’m related to the owners of the island. And as such, I’ve spent quite a bit of time there. It’s a gorgeous place.”

“And you still haven’t answered my question.” It was only then that he realized he was asking a widow about getting married again. He inwardly groaned at his thoughtlessness. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have probed. I guess it’s just a side effect of my job, always digging for information.”

He was about to take a drink when he noticed she didn’t have anything in front of her. “Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”

“Actually, yes. I’d love an espresso. I need the caffeine.”

It was only then that he noticed the shadows beneath her eyes. They were faint, as though they were covered up, and you wouldn’t even notice them unless you were looking for them. Something was keeping her up at night. And then he realized what it might be. She was still grieving for her husband. Sympathy welled up in him.

“I’ll be right back with caffeine.” He got to his feet and walked away.

He couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. It was just one more reason that remaining a bachelor was a good idea. Families were messy with entanglements, emotions and responsibilities. It was easier to just deal with himself.

He ordered two coffees. Though he didn’t rely on caffeine to get him up and going in the morning—that was what running was for—that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate the flavor and warmth of a cup of coffee.

He’d picked up the coffees and started back to the table when he noticed a young guy headed straight for Stasia. He couldn’t blame the guy. She was a beautiful woman. And if she weren’t his friend’s sister as well as being a widow, he definitely would have pursued her. Nothing serious, but they’d have made some great memories together.

Roberto slowed down, unsure what to do. Maybe Stasia knew the man. Maybe she’d welcome the company. As Stasia smiled at the man, Roberto’s body tensed. He knew it shouldn’t bother him. It wasn’t like the guy was horning in on a date. They’d merely bumped into each other.

Maybe he should head over there and take his seat. After all, this was his time with Stasia. Was that a thing? Could friends claim time with each other?

Or perhaps he should head to his cabin. He could get some work done before meeting up with his family for dinner. Just then his phone vibrated, letting him know a new email had landed in his inbox.

But instead of withdrawing his phone to find out what required his attention, he continued gazing in Stasia’s direction. He wanted to be sure everything was all right before he moved on.

Stasia’s smile faded. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but the shake of her head let him know she was no longer interested in the man’s company. And yet the man didn’t move on. Instead the man reached out to touch her. Stasia quickly withdrew her arm.

That was it. The decision had been made for him.

Without giving himself time to reconsider what he was about to do, Roberto headed across the busy deck, weaving and bobbing around the vacationers. He did his best to keep an eye on the situation—it was what Xander would want him to do.

He wondered if Xander had picked this cruise specifically for his sister because he knew Roberto would be on it. If so, it was strange that Xander hadn’t mentioned anything to him.

The young man made himself comfortable in his chair and that wouldn’t do. Roberto walked up to Stasia. The easiest and fastest way to get rid of her newfound admirer was simple.

“Sorry it took so long, darling.” Roberto placed the coffee on the table and then kissed Stasia’s cheek.

He noticed the softness of her skin and wondered if her lips would be just as soft. The thought of sneaking in another kiss crossed his mind, but just as quickly he dismissed it.

As Roberto straightened, he noticed the gentle floral scent of her perfume. It was pleasant and fresh like spring. It so suited her because anytime he’d been around Stasia, she’d been sunny and energetic.

The man across the table sat there with his mouth slightly agape as his gaze moved between the two of them. Was it so hard to believe they were together? Sure, he was a few years older than Stasia, but he wasn’t an old man by any stretch of imagination.

“I...uh...” The man practically tripped getting to his feet. “Gotta go.”

And that was it. The guy turned and made a quick retreat to the bar. Roberto could only wonder if he was seeking a drink to calm his nerves or if he was about to try his luck with one of the young women sitting at the bar.

“What did you do that for?” Stasia’s eyes reflected her confusion.

The lack of a smile on her face led him to wonder if he was in trouble. “I saw the guy bothering you.” The guy had been bothering her, hadn’t he? He hadn’t misread her agitation with the young guy, had he? “You weren’t interested in him, were you?”

For a moment, Stasia didn’t respond. Roberto started to worry he was going to have to track that guy down and apologize. That was about the last thing he wanted to do on this trip.

At last, she shook her head. “I think he was hitting on any available woman on the cruise. I tried to tell him I wasn’t interested, but he was the type that didn’t take no for an answer.” And then her gaze narrowed in on him. “And you couldn’t think of any other way to get rid of him other than to act like we’re a couple?”

Roberto smiled. “It worked, didn’t it?”

She sent him a funny look as though she wasn’t sure what to say. Luckily, she didn’t know how that innocent kiss had affected him. He’d make sure not to do that again. Getting sucked into Stasia’s orbit did strange things to his mind.

* * *

Had that just happened?

Stasia resisted the urge to touch her cheek where just moments ago Roberto’s lips had been. They’d known each other for years, but they’d never shared a hug, much less a kiss. Usually, it was a passing hello or a nod of recognition.

And it wasn’t like he was the first man to kiss her cheek. Why was she letting it get to her like this? When he’d kissed her, her heart had pounded, her mouth had gone dry and her palms had dampened. Sheesh! She really needed to get out more.

She assured herself that it was just the shock of Roberto acting like her significant other. It had caught her completely off guard. Everything would be fine now.

Stasia’s mouth suddenly felt dry. She took a large gulp of the strong coffee. That might not have been her brightest idea. She coughed.

Roberto sent her a concerned look. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, then coughed again. “Swallowed the wrong way.”

She took a more conservative sip and it calmed her throat. “I should be going. There’s so much on the ship to explore. I’m not even sure where to begin.”

“They have an app. Did you load it to your phone?” When she looked at him with a blank look, he said, “Could I have your phone?”

She pulled it from a pocket in her black purse and handed it over. He quickly downloaded the app and handed it back to her. “There you go. It’ll give you a schedule so you know what’s available. Oh, I almost forgot. You should switch your phone to airplane mode to avoid premium roaming charges.”

She swiped her finger over the phone until she had the right screen. “Got it.”

“And one more thing. You’ll want to hook up to the ship’s Wi-Fi.”

He talked her through the process, and in no time, she was set to go. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have thought of that. You must go on a lot of cruises.”

“Actually, this is my second. But I do a lot of research. It’s one of my hobbies. I research locations, periods in history, all sorts of things. I guess you could say my mind is filled with all sorts of trivia.”

“That will come in handy for you.”

Lukos had always known how to do those types of things for her. It was just one more thing that she needed to learn to do for herself. The more she did for herself, the more confident she felt.

She smiled at Roberto. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

“I’d like that.”

She reluctantly walked away. If given the opportunity, she would have liked to sit and talk the rest of the morning. Roberto had always been easy to be around.

But she had a life plan to brainstorm. Socializing would have to wait for another time. Besides, she couldn’t impose on Roberto’s time with his family.