Pretending with the Greek Billionaire(73)

“Oh, think of all the children and families we can help now.”

“Yes,” she said faintly. “It’s wonderful.”

She couldn’t sit there anymore. She had to get up, had to go…somewhere. He was in New York. She couldn’t go to him but she could wait for him. He was coming for her. He’d left the studio. Wait…

Up in the corner of the television screen was a little notation saying Previously Recorded. The show hadn’t been live, which meant he could already be back in Greece, on Mykonos.

“Mrs. Ballas, I…”

The old woman patted her cheek. “I know, dear. I’ll hold down the fort here. You go get him.”

Constance laughed and swept her into a hug. “Thank you.”

She sprinted out the door. She grabbed her moped and was off before she could really process in her mind what her plan was. Sit on his front porch until he came home? If Joseph even let her in the gates. If Joseph was even there. She almost had a slight panic attack before she remembered that Luca had given her the gate and house codes as long as he hadn’t changed them. She’d walked out on him months ago. If he’d been smart, he would have changed them. She blew out a breath and gave her scooter more gas. Only one way to find out.

She pulled to a stop in front of his estate. There were no paparazzi around. No female fans hanging out in their cars hoping for a glimpse. She entered the gate code, her heart pounding.

The gate swung open. She drove up to the house and jumped off her moped to run up the front steps, not hesitating this time. Her key still fit the lock; the code still shut off the alarm. Had he left everything as it was, hoping all this time that she’d come back?

She wandered from room to room. Everything was exactly as she’d left it, from the clothing she’d left still hanging in the closet, to her toothbrush in the bathroom, to the basket of the girls’ toys in the front room and their bedrooms still set up waiting for them to come home. He’d left it all. Her heart soared. Yes, maybe it was a bit arrogant of him to assume she’d return. Or maybe he just hadn’t given up hope.

Would he be hoping that she was there now? Would he come home looking for her?

Or…would he go someplace else? Their place. His secret place. The place that had been the beginning of the end. What better place for a new beginning?

She went back out and got on her scooter. Hopefully she could remember the way. She’d only been the one time and she’d been a bit distracted by the rock-hard Greek god she’d had her thighs wrapped around.

Only one wrong turn later and she found the long dirt path that lead to the bungalow. She realized too late that she didn’t have a key. Disappointed, she walked around to the back. The swing bed swayed gently in the breeze and Constance’s body tingled with the memories of the night they’d spent there.

The sound of the waves washing ashore called to her. She’d always loved that sound. Especially at dusk, when the sky above the sea turned its brilliant orange and faded slowly into the gentle dark hues of night.

She wandered down the rocky path to the shore, kicking off her sandals once she reached the sand. The salt-tinged air filled her lungs and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing mind. What would she say when she saw him again? Could they really make this work? She wasn’t sure she cared anymore what their differences were, what obstacles stood in their way. She just wanted to see him again.

She hadn’t heard his footsteps in the sand, but the clean, fresh scent of him announced his presence behind her just before his arms slipped around her waist. He filled her senses, totally and completely, and she leaned back against his chest with a sigh. All the tension she’d carried around for the last few months melted from her. She sighed, at peace at last.

He held her for a few moments as they watched the sun dip lower into the horizon, then he turned her around in his arms. His hands reached up to cup her face, his thumbs brushing across her cheeks.

“You’re here,” he said.

“Yes.” She smiled up at him. “I saw you on the show.”

“I hoped you would.” He smiled down at her and brushed her hair from her face.

“How did you get here so quickly?”

“The show was taped a few days ago. I arrived this morning and came straight here. It’s been a very long day, wondering if you’d let me in again, if you’d let me see you. And here you are.” He kissed her forehead, held her close.

“I think I would have come anyway. Living without you these last few months…” She shook her head, tears tightening her throat. “I don’t think I could have done it much longer, but I did want to tell you—and I don’t know how to say this without sounding like a mother hen—but I wanted to tell you that I’m so proud of you.”