The Millionaire's True Worth(13)

Yes, it was taking a big risk to be with Akis, but she was tired of the continual battle to protect her heart. Before her grandfather had died, he’d warned her not to stay closed up because of Byron. She was too young to go through life an old maid because of one wretched man who didn’t know the first thing about being a husband.

“Oh, Grandfather—I wish you were here. I’ve met a man who has stirred me like no other. Maybe he’ll hurt me in the end, but I’ll hurt more if I don’t go with my feelings for him and see what happens.”

If she let Byron win, then she was condemning herself to a life without love or children.

Raina had listened to her grandfather’s wise counsel, but it wasn’t until she’d been with Akis that his words had started to sink in.

Until the other night when he’d taken her back to the hotel, she’d felt old beyond her years, incapable of feeling the joy of falling in love or anything close to it. But being with Akis had made her forget the past and live in the moment for a little while. To date, no other man had been able to accomplish that miracle.

Akis thrilled her. He did. For once, why not go with those feelings? She wasn’t about to walk down the aisle with him, but she could have a wonderful time for as long as this vacation lasted.

Without wasting time, she sat on the side of the bed and phoned the Maywood jet propulsion lab in Salinas where she worked. She asked to be put through to Larry.

“Raina! Great to hear from you. Are you back?”

“No. That’s why I’m calling. I’ve decided to stay in Greece for a couple of weeks. Is that going to present any difficulties for you? I’ve got my laptop. If you need some problem solving done, I can do it from here.”

“No, no. It’s about time you took a long vacation. I take it you attended your friend’s wedding.”

“Yes. It was fabulous.” Akis was fabulous.

“You sound different. Happier. That’s excellent news.”

“It’s because I’m having a wonderful time. By the way, I was given a tour of the Ionian Islands in our latest X Jet Explorer. Take it from me, it’s a winner in every aspect.”

“Wait till I tell everyone! The Giannopoulos Company was our first buyer from Greece. They took delivery of two of them just a month ago.”

Raina sprang to her feet in surprise. She’d assumed Akis had chartered a flight through one of the helicopter companies. “Giannopoulos?”

“Yes. Two brothers—like Onassis—who came from nothing and have become billionaires. How did you happen to meet up with them?”

Chloe had never mentioned a word. She’d been too caught up in her wedding arrangements. “Very accidentally,” Raina’s voice shook as she answered him.

“I’ve heard they have several thousand stores all over Greece.”

Her hand tightened on the phone. You sprained your ankle in one of them, Raina.

Stunned by the news, Raina sank back down on the bed. The knowledge that Akis had his own money meant he was the antithesis of Byron, who couldn’t make it on his own without living off a woman’s money. Her grandfather’s shrewd brain was instrumental in making certain Byron’s extortion tactics for alimony didn’t work.

As for Akis, whether he knew about her background or not, it didn’t matter. Finances would never get in the way of her relationship with him. For the first time in her adult life she had no worry in that regard. Akis had his own money and was his own person.

“Thanks for letting me take more time off, Larry.” Once she hung up, Raina felt so light-hearted she wanted to whirl around the room, but that wouldn’t be a good idea yet. She couldn’t risk taking a chance in delaying her recovery.

After getting dressed in a clean pair of jeans and blouse, she took time with her hair and makeup, wanting to look her best for him. Once ready, she left the bedroom on her crutches and headed out to the patio where the family always gathered for meals.

Her senses came alive to see Akis at the table with Chloe’s parents while they ate breakfast. He wore a simple T-shirt and jeans. All she saw was the striking male who’d swept into her world, moving mountains to find out where she was hiding.

Well, maybe not mountains above the sea, she smiled to herself, remembering that he wasn’t Poseidon. Right then she discovered him staring at her. The longing in his jet-black eyes told her he wanted her for herself. No other reason. He got to his feet and came round to relieve her of the crutches.

“Good morning, thespinis.” His deep voice sent curls of warmth through her body.

“It’s a lovely morning,” she said as he helped her to sit. The soap tang from his body assailed her with its fresh scent.

Socus smiled at her. “What are your plans for today?”

Her gaze switched to Akis who sat across from her. “I’m going to leave the decision up to my tour director.”

His eyes gleamed over the rim of his coffee cup. “In that case you’ll need to pack a bag because we’ll be gone for a while. For the first couple of days we’ll lounge by the water to give your ankle a good rest. After that we’ll do more ambitious things.”

“That’s good for you to be careful,” Nora commented.

“I’ll make sure of it.” Akis finished his meal. “When you’re ready, we’ll leave in the helicopter.”

Raina took a certain pride in knowing she’d helped on the project that had tested it before it was ready for the market. Who would have dreamed she’d end up with Akis taking her for a tour in one he’d recently purchased for his business?

After eating some yogurt and fruit, she stood up. “I’ll just go put some things in a bag.”

Akis came around and handed her the crutches. In a few minutes they made their way out of the house to the helicopter pad. It was like déjà vu, except that this time Raina knew she and Akis were functioning on a level playing field where all that mattered was their mutual enjoyment of each other.

He helped her on board and propped her leg. Soon the blades were rotating and they were off. Raina hadn’t asked where they were going. The thrill of being taken care of by a good man was enough for her to trust in his decision making.

After a minute he turned to her. “We’re headed back to Anti Paxos.”

“That island must have great significance for you.”

“It’s home to me when I’m not working. En route we’ll fly over Corinth and Patras, old Biblical sites.”

“I get gooseflesh just hearing those names. My grandparents took me to Jerusalem years ago. We didn’t have time in Greece to see the religious sites. They promised we’d come back, but because of my grandmother’s ill health, that promise wasn’t realized.”

“Then I’m glad you can see some of the ancient Biblical cities from the air.”

For the next hour, the sights she saw including the islands of Cephalonia and Lefkada filled her with wonder.

“Do you recognize your birthplace?” he spoke over the mic.

She chuckled. “I thought I was born in Carmel, California.”

“Then you’ve been misled. The goddess Aphrodite was reputed to be born on Lefkada.” With his sunglasses on, she couldn’t see his eyes, but she imagined they were smiling.

“That put her in easy reach of Poseidon.”

“Exactly.”

Before long they circled Paxos and still lower over Anti Paxos before the pilot set them down on a stone slab nestled on a hillside of olive trees and vineyards. Through the foliage she could make out a small quaint villa.

Enchanted by the surroundings, she accepted Akis’s help as he lifted her to the ground and handed her the crutches. The pilot gave him her suitcase and purse to carry. They both waved to him before Akis led her along a pathway of mosaic and stone lined by a profusion of flowers to the side of the villa.

“What’s that wonderful smell?”

“Thyme. It grows wild on the hillside.”

The rustic charm and simplicity in this heavenly setting delighted her.

Once inside, she saw that the living room had been carved out of rock. A fireplace dominated that side of the cottage. The vaulted ceiling and beams of the house with its stone walls and arches defied description. Here and there were small framed photos of his family and splashes of color from the odd cushion and ceramics. She felt like she’d arrived in a place where time had stood still.

He opened French doors to the terrace with a table and chairs that looked out over a small, kidney-shaped swimming pool. A cluster of flowers grew at one end. Beyond it shimmered the blue waters of the Ionian in the distance. You couldn’t see where the sky met the sea.

She walked to the edge of the grill-work railing. “If I lived here, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. What a perfect hideaway.”

He stood behind her, but he didn’t touch her. He’d promised he wouldn’t, but the heat from his body created yearnings within her. “I like living in a cottage. It suits my needs.”

Unlike the penthouse, this place reflected his personality.

“How old is the original house?”

“Two hundred years more or less. If you want to use the bathroom, I’ll take your bags to the guest room.”

“Thank you.”

In a few minutes she’d seen the layout of the house. The kitchen and bathroom had been modernized, but everything else remained intact like dwellings from the nineteenth century. She adored the little drop-leaf table and chairs meant for two, built into a wall in the kitchen. On the opposite wall was a door that opened onto steps leading down to the terrace.