Читать книгу Ultimate Romance Collection - Rebecca Winters, Amalie Berlin - Страница 99
ОглавлениеTAKIS DROVE TO a specialty shop called Basil. It was located next to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion that sold Minoan replicas the tourists could afford. He parked the car and walked her inside.
“I love this place! When I first came to Crete, Danae brought me in here every time we took visiting friends of theirs through the museum. We’d always buy a few trinkets.”
He guided her past clusters of people to the counter where he asked one of the clerks to get the owner. “Basil is holding a ring for me.” Takis couldn’t wait to slide it on her finger. He wanted her in his arms and his life forever.
“A moment, please.”
“Look at this, Takis!” Lys walked over to a fresco hanging on the wall representing a Minoan prince. He stood in his horse-drawn chariot holding the reins. A warrior on the road handed him a drink from a golden cup. “I’ve seen this in the museum. It’s a splendid replica. Can’t you see it hanging over your fireplace?”
“Don’t you mean ours?”
“Yes. This is all still new to me.”
He hugged her around the waist. Her interest intrigued him. “Why do you like it so much?”
“The plain with those trees where he’s riding reminds me of the view from your terrace. Danae once took me out to the Tylissos archaeological site not far from your village. You have Cretan blood in your veins and live in a Cretan historical spot that’s over seven thousand years old.”
He smiled. “You were born in New York, which dates back ten thousand years.”
“Except that I’m half-Cretan and I don’t have part Native American blood. My mother was American through and through. Somehow it doesn’t seem the same.”
A chuckle escaped his lips, enjoying their conversation more than she would ever know. “Touché.” He gave her a brief kiss on the mouth, unable to resist tasting her whenever he could.
“Kyrie Manolis!” He turned around to see the owner come up to him.
“Kalispera, Basil.”
The older man stared in wonder at Lys like most men did, unable to help it. “You’ve brought your beautiful fiancée. Now I understand your choice of stone. Come with me.”
Takis guided her over to another counter. Basil went around behind. On the glass he set a small gold box with a B on it and took off the lid. Takis heard her sharp intake of breath when the owner handed the ring to Lys.
“This is incredible.” Her voice shook.
Takis had hoped for that reaction.
“It’s a replica of old Minoan jewelry,” Basil explained.
“I know. I’ve seen one like it in the museum.”
“Look closely. The three-quarter-inch band is intricately linked by twelve layers of tiny gold ropes, some braided, some mesh. The middle one represents the snake of the snake goddess, known for being gracious, sophisticated and intelligent.
“This ring would be identical to the one you saw in the museum, but your fiancé wanted a cut glass purple stone instead of the red garnet in the center. Put it on and we’ll see if it fits.”
After she slid it on to her ring finger, her eyes flew to Takis. He’d never seen them glow before. “This is too much. Thank you.” She kissed him on the side of his jaw.
Basil laughed. “If the ring was authentic, he would be paying over five million euros at auction. But the beauty of shopping with Basil is that it didn’t cost that much.”
“It looks like the real thing.”
“My artisans are highly qualified. Does it mean you are pleased?”
“How could I not be?” she told him.
Takis kissed her, uncaring that they had an audience. Color suffused her cheeks.
“Wear it in joy, despinis.”
Takis pocketed the box. “Before we leave, I’ll buy the fresco on the wall over there.” He pulled out some bills and left them on the counter.
“Put your money away. I have more of those in the back room. This will be my early wedding present for you. You two are so much in love, I think you must get married soon. One of my clerks will wrap it.”
After Basil walked away, Lys looked up at Takis. “Will your family believe you didn’t spend a lot of money on this?”
“They’ll know I didn’t when I tell Kori it came from Basil’s. She shops here every so often because it isn’t expensive. If anything, she’ll tell me a snake ring isn’t at all romantic. She’ll pity you for getting engaged to a man whose mind is steeped in Cretan history.”
“Then she’ll be surprised when I tell her my Cretan father immersed me in the culture too.”
As Takis marveled over his feelings for her, Basil hurried over to them with the wrapped fresco. “Here you are.”
Takis thanked him and they all shook hands. Then he walked her out to the parking lot and put it in the backseat.
“I think we need to celebrate our engagement. Where would you like to go before we drive back to the house?”
“I need to phone Danae before we do anything else. Do you mind?”
“Why would I? We’re not in any hurry.”
He listened while she made the call. After a short conversation, she hung up. “She’d like us to fly to the villa for dinner. How do you feel about that?”
“It’s perfect. We can go over the final draft of our announcement with her.”
“She’ll alert the pilot that we’re on our way.”
“Good.” Full of adrenaline, he drove them to the hotel.
“You can park in my spot. I’ll show you.”
Leon had seen them together enough to wave him on through. Takis helped her out of the car and locked it. After putting his arm around her shoulders, they walked to the bank of elevators. The feel of her body brushing against his side lit him on fire.
When they passed Giorgos in the main hallway, the other man said, “Lys—you’ve a dozen messages on your desk.”
“Any emergencies?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll get to them later. Thanks.”
Before long they climbed in the helicopter and headed for the island. Lys kept examining the ring. All of a sudden she flashed him a glance. “You were right when you said this would have unique significance.”
His brows lifted. “You think Danae will approve?”
“She’ll probably tell you she can see why Nassos found you such an amazing young man.”
Within a half hour they’d arrived at the fabulous villa, a place that reflected the personality of the famous hotelier. Danae had a feast prepared with some of Lys’s favorite fish dishes. As they walked through to the dining room the housekeeper was pouring them snifters of Metaxa, a smooth Greek brandy Takis loved.
Danae stood at the head of the table. “Before we eat, I’d like to make a toast to the two of you. May this engagement smooth the path with your family and take away some of the sadness in Lys’s heart.”
Amen.
“Wait! I have a surprise.” She went over to the sideboard and brought Lys a gift wrapped in plain paper.
“What’s this?”
“I found it in the bottom drawer of Nassos’s dresser while I was cleaning out the penthouse. When I opened it, I remembered. After Kristos’s funeral, Nassos brought this back to give you one day for a special occasion. It was a small painting of Kasos Island that he once gave your mom.” Danae smiled at Lys. “I think this is the perfect occasion now that you’re wearing Takis’s ring.”
Takis could tell Lys’s hands were trembling as she undid the paper. “Oh, Danae.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “This is so wonderful. I’ll always cherish it.”
Danae had just given Takis another reason to like the woman Nassos had married.
Lys quickly wrapped it up and put it on the empty chair next to her. “Thank you, Danae.”
“Consider that it came from Nassos, who was born here too.”
“I’m so touched he kept it all this time.”
“He loved you.” Her gaze flicked to Takis, after glancing at Lys’s hand. “In my opinion you couldn’t have chosen a more perfect ring for Lys, who was fascinated with Minoan culture from the time she first came to live with us.”
“I could tell that,” Takis said after taking another drink of brandy. “She was so taken with one of the frescoes at Basil’s, I bought it for her.”
Danae’s glance fell on Lys. “I bet it was the prince in the chariot.”
“Danae—”
The older woman kept right on talking. “Lys wasn’t so different from little girls everywhere, but she was never one to buy posters of the latest rock stars to hang on her bedroom wall. A Cretan warrior was her idea of perfection.”
* * *
Two hours later they flew back to the hotel. To her relief, Danae hadn’t expounded anymore on the fresco. She could have told Takis that Lys had taken one look at the prince years ago when they’d seen the real fresco in the museum, and had fallen in love on sight. The fact that he bore a strong resemblance to Takis was something she knew Danae would tease her about quite mercilessly the next time they were alone.
Only now did Lys remember Takis saying he’d tell his parents it was love at first sight after meeting her. But there was one difference.
Lys had fallen in love with him. For real.
She knew it to the very core of her being. From here on out she had to be careful he didn’t find out how she really felt about him.
This engagement was on slippery ground because he was acting like a man in love who wanted to marry her. During dinner he’d shown excitement over the June 4 wedding date Danae had suggested. Lys would be the greatest fool alive if she started to believe that she might be able to have what she desired most in the secret recess of her heart.
At ten thirty they got out of the helicopter and headed for the elevator. Takis held the door so it wouldn’t close. “Why don’t I come by for you in the morning? We’ll stop to eat somewhere on the way to my house. Your car will be safe parked outside tonight.”
“I’m not worried about that.” He noticed her clutching the gift in her arm. “What time were you thinking?”
“Since you’re running the hotel, you need to take care of those phone calls Giorgos told you about. So why don’t you call me when you’re ready and I’ll come for you.”
“All right.”
He allowed the doors to close and they rode to the third floor, where he walked her to her room. Lys was so afraid that he might want to come in and she would let him, she was totally thrown when he told her he needed to get going. After giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, he turned away and strode down the hall to the elevator.
She felt totally bereft. You idiot, Lys!
After entering her suite, she put the gift on the coffee table and left to go downstairs. Lys was too wound up to go to bed yet. When she entered the office she found Giorgos still at the front desk talking with Chloe, who helped run the counter. The second he saw Lys, he followed to her office. That habit of his was getting on her nerves.
She sat down in her swivel chair. “I’m surprised you’re still here. Where’s Magda?” She and another staff member served as assistant managers on alternating nights.
“I got a phone call that she’s sick, so I stayed.”
Lys was afraid she knew why. “That was good of you, but I’m here now so you can leave.”
“Sometimes I don’t feel like going back to an empty flat.”
How well she knew that. “Tell me the truth. Do you wish you were home in Athens?”
“No,” he answered almost angrily and moved closer to her desk.
“I hope you’re telling me the truth. Now that I’ve taken ownership of the hotel, it’s important to me that everyone is happy.”
His eyes widened. “This hotel is your inheritance?”
“That’s right.”
She could see her revelation had completely thrown him.
“But you’re so young—” Whoa. “I thought—”
“You thought Kyrie Rodino would have willed it to his ex-wife,” she interjected. “That would have been a natural assumption. What else is troubling you?”
He hunched his shoulders. “Who’s the mystery man?”
Lys decided it was time to set him straight and douse his hopes there could be anything between the two of them. She held out her left hand. He eyed it as if in disbelief.
“You can be the first on the staff to learn Takis Manolis asked me to marry him.” What she would give if she could believe he truly did love her...
Giorgos’s head jerked up. “How soon?”
“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
“Of course,” he muttered, then darted her a speculative glance. “I take it he knows you’re the owner.”
What was Giorgos thinking? Instead of answering him she said, “Thank you for going the extra mile to cover tonight, but you look tired. After putting in a full day’s work already, you need to go home. I’ve let work pile up here and need to dig in. Good night, Giorgos.”
Instead of indulging him further, Lys started scrolling through her messages until he left her office. After a half hour, she had cleared most of her work and after telling Chloe to call her if there was a problem, she went back to her suite to get some sleep. Not that it was possible with this incredible ring on her finger.
* * *
Takis phoned her Wednesday morning while she was drinking coffee in her room. “Kalimera, Lys.”
Her heart thumped just to hear his deep voice. “How are you?”
“I’ll be better when I see you later. At breakfast I told my parents I’d like them to meet you. They want us to come over to the hotel at two when business is slow.”
Startled, she slid off the bed. “You mean today?”
“It surprised me too. My brother must have said favorable things about you. More than ever I’m convinced Danae was right about the engagement. My parents truly are anxious to see me settled.” But they didn’t know why Takis had asked her to marry him. “I’m leaving it up to you when you want me to come for you.”
She glanced at her watch. “Where are you right now?”
“In my car on the way to the house. The water and electricity are supposed to have been turned on. I want to get over there and check things out.”
“Then you have enough on your mind. I’m going to get ready and I’ll take a taxi to your house.”
“Lys—”
“No argument. I’ll bring sandwiches and salad from the hotel kitchen.” She rang off before he could try to reason with her.
Without wasting time, she called the front desk to let them know she was leaving the hotel. After hanging up, she showered, then washed and blow-dried her hair.
She didn’t have to worry over what to wear and reached for her simple black gown she could dress up or down. It had sleeves to the elbow and a round neck. She wore tiny gold earrings and sensible black high heels.
When she was ready, she called the kitchen and gave them instructions. One of the waiters was to meet her at the hotel utility van in the garage with the food. Next she phoned the hotel florist. After telling them what she wanted, she asked that one of the employees bring the vase of flowers to the van and set it on the floor. After retrieving the flowers, she drove out to Tylissos.
It wasn’t until she pulled up behind the two cars parked at the side of Takis’s house that she realized there’d been a car behind her. She’d noticed it on the highway after leaving Heraklion, but it passed her by as she turned off the engine.
But seeing a hard-muscled Takis walk toward her drove every thought out of her mind and she trembled with excitement. Dressed in a casual cream-colored polo shirt and tan trousers, he was so striking, her breath caught.
“I’ve brought flowers,” she said after he came around to open the door. “I hope your mother will like them.”
“It’s a perfect gift.”
“A woman can’t resist flowers.”
“I’ll remember that.” The way he eyed her made her pulse leap.
“They’re on the floor in back.”
He retrieved them while she brought the food and followed him into the house. But halfway through the living room she stopped because her eyes had caught sight of the fresco he’d rested on the mantel of the fireplace. The colors stood out, emphasizing the drabness of the room that needed a complete makeover.
He could see where she was looking. “I’ve been studying the fresco and think we need to pick one of the background colors that would look good on the walls.”
She darted him a glance. “Do you have a favorite?”
“Yes, but I’d be interested to hear what you like.”
“Well, I’ve loved this fresco for a long time and already know the one I’d use.”
“In that case let’s take it to the store and match the paint we want. I’ll put these things in the kitchen and we’ll eat later.”
As she watched him disappear, Lys imagined that deep down he was anxious about introducing her to his parents and needed to keep busy. That was fine with her because her angst about being favorably received was shooting through the roof.
They went out to his car with the fresco and drove into the village. The thirtyish female clerk inside the store had them sit at a table. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Takis even though she could see Lys wore an engagement ring.
After admiring the artwork, the woman set it on a chair before bringing in a dozen color strips for them to look through, but she addressed her remarks to Takis.
Though Lys knew Takis wouldn’t be marrying her if Nassos hadn’t given him half the hotel, she planned to help him redo his house. She adored him and wanted to help make it as beautiful as possible. This was where he planned to live until he died, so it had to be right.
His gaze fused with hers. “Let’s pick our favorite color and see how close we come.”
Being with Takis like this made every moment an exhilarating one. Among the various colors, her eye went to the pastel green shades until she found the perfect match in the fresco.
She would have reached for it, but Takis’s hand was quicker. He lifted a certain strip off the table and glanced at her. “I knew exactly what I was looking for. Now it’s your turn. Choose the one you prefer.”
Lys couldn’t believe it. “You’re holding it. Soft sage is my choice too.”
“You’re teasing me.”
“No.”
The smile left his eyes. “I’m beginning to think we’re dealing with something here beyond our control.”
A little shiver raced through her. “I admit this is amazing.”
“That was so easy, I’m afraid to ask what other colors you’re thinking of for the rest of the house.”
“How about these for the walls in the kitchen?” She picked up the Minoan red and canary yellow strips.
He looked astonished. “You’ve been reading my mind.”
“The borders on the fresco influenced me.”
Takis kissed her neck before getting up to talk to the clerk. He couldn’t have done anything to please Lys more just then. She made a silent choice of pale blue for one of the bedrooms upstairs, but didn’t say anything. Perhaps they’d make that decision later.
“I’ll be happy to help you with anything else you need.” The woman smiled into Takis’s eyes and couldn’t have been more obvious. Lys was glad to leave.
Again she thought she saw the same car she’d noticed earlier, but it disappeared around the next corner. After what she’d been through while the police were investigating the reason for Nassos’s death, she was probably being paranoid.
