He clicked off and left her pacing the floor for what was left of the night. It would mean telling Chloe’s parents that she would going to Anti Paxos before she flew back to the States.
For the next two hours she went back and forth deciding what to do. At five o’clock she called to cancel her flight and the limo. When she left the bedroom with her bag, she went straight out to the patio to tell Chloe’s parents her plans had changed. Only Nora was up, pouring coffee.
“There you are. I’m still having a hard time letting you go.”
“Nora—my plans have changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve cancelled everything and am going to fly to Anti Paxos to talk to Akis. We had a problem yesterday. In good conscience I can’t fly home until we’ve talked again. Forgive me for making you get up early.”
“I was awake.” She smiled and gave her a hug. “The path to love is filled with obstacles.”
Raina eyed her hesitantly. “Am I that transparent?”
She laughed. “Come on and sit down. As my husband remarked the day Akis came barging out here looking for the woman with the sprained ankle, the second you saw each other, no one else existed but the two of you. It was fascinating really because we’d noticed Akis running from Althea at the reception.”
“I know. I felt so sorry for her.”
“To our knowledge, Akis has never chased after a woman in his life. Yet the minute he saw you at the table, everything changed in an instant. I wondered when it was going to happen to him. Those two devilishly handsome brothers have been free agents for so long, it’s had us worried.
“Their distaste for publicity has caused them to retreat from all the lovely women who’d love to have a relationship with them. But you’ve been surrounded by publicity, too, so you understand how stifling it can be.”
Raina nodded. “I was afraid some member of the press would recognize me at Chloe’s wedding and ruin her wedding day. That’s why I chose to wait until the reception to make an appearance.”
Nora patted her hand. “Chloe told us everything. She’s always said you’re the sweetest, kindest person she’s ever known. Socus and I found that out years ago.”
If Nora didn’t stop, Raina would be in tears again. “So are all of you.”
While she forced herself to eat breakfast for Nora’s sake, she heard rotors in the distance. Her heart turned over. Vasso was as good as his word. Maybe he knew something she didn’t. At this point she was running on faith and nothing else. He knew Akis better than anyone in the world and he was urging her to go to him.
Socus joined them for breakfast. Nora filled him in before the three of them walked out to the pad with her suitcase. After several hugs, she climbed on board and waved to them before the helicopter whisked her away.
Athens passed beneath her, the Athens she’d seen through the telescope from his penthouse. Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked. She loved him so terribly. What if Vasso was wrong and Akis wanted nothing more to do with her? But Raina couldn’t think about it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
AKIS DIDN’T KNOW where to go with his pain. Vasso hadn’t been able to help him. For once in their lives the brother he relied on had no answer for him. This was a crisis he had to figure out on his own. Vasso had helped him get to the helicopter at the complex and told the pilot to fly him to Anti Paxos.
When he reached his house, he headed straight for the truck. He didn’t care it was dark out. He needed work. It had been his salvation for years. He’d clean the cabin cruiser until he dropped.
Midmorning he grew so tired he staggered down the steps to the cabin. One of Raina’s crutches resting against the wall had fallen across the floor, causing him to trip. He collapsed onto the bed so exhausted and emotionally drained he stayed right where he’d fallen. The next thing he knew it was late afternoon. He could tell by the position of the sun through the window slat.
Groaning, he turned on his back. Not since the serious case of mumps that almost killed him had he felt this ill. But it was a different kind of sickness that started in the very core of his being. By now Raina would be flying somewhere over the US to her home of three hundred and sixty-five rooms. He’d gotten rid of her all right. He’d done everything to make certain she’d never come near again.
His stomach growled because it was empty, but he wasn’t hungry. He hadn’t eaten since their meal at the café yesterday when Raina had told Elpis she wanted to be his fiancée. To be that open and honest in front of the older woman had knocked him sideways. He still hadn’t recovered.
When she’d told him she’d be his lover if that’s what he wanted, he’d felt shame that he’d been so cruel to her. He’d seen her heart in those fabulous violet eyes. They haunted him now. He looked around the cabin. All he saw was emptiness.
Life without Raina wasn’t life.
He couldn’t comprehend how he’d gotten through it this far without her. Life would have no meaning if he didn’t go after her and beg her forgiveness. Grovel if necessary. It terrified him that she might refuse to see him. She would have every right.
The first thing to do was make arrangements for their company jet to fly to Corfu. He’d leave for the States from there. He pulled out his cell phone and made the call, then he headed to the bathroom for a shower and shave, but he only made it as far as the hallway when he smelled coffee and ham of all things.
Akis had been in a traumatic state last night. His brother must have come to check up on him. Calling out his name he went to the kitchen and came close to having a cardiac arrest.
“Raina—”
She stood at the counter whipping up eggs. Her blond head swerved in his direction. “You look terrible. By the time you’ve taken a shower, dinner will be ready. I’m fixing you an American breakfast. Did you know breakfast is my favorite meal? I could eat it morning, noon and night.”
He rubbed the back of his neck in disbelief that she was really here. “You’re supposed to be on your way home.”
“Well as you can see, I haven’t left Greece yet. Vasso phoned and asked me to peek in on you before I go. He seemed to think you needed help.”
Akis couldn’t believe it. “Vasso actually phoned you?”
She nodded. “From the look of you, I can see why. Hurry. We’re having omelets and they only taste good right out of the skillet. Cooking is another one of my accomplishments.”
Raina had so many accomplishments, it staggered him. Still in shock that she was here on the cruiser instead of a jet liner, he showered and shaved in record time. He kept casual clothes on board in the drawer. After dressing in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he hurried back to the kitchen, afraid he’d been dreaming and she wouldn’t be there.
“You look a little better. Sit down and I’ll feed you.” She slid the omelets onto two plates with ham and placed them on the table.
“How did you get here?”
“When I saw that the truck was gone, I walked to the harbor and there it was. I climbed on board and found you passed out on the bed. I thought maybe you’d had too much to drink.”
“I rarely drink.”
“So I went back on deck and walked around the village to buy a few groceries and a pan. You were still asleep when I returned. To pass the time I got busy and made some brownies.”
“What are they?”
“A chocolate dessert.”
“Now that I think about it, I can smell it. This omelet with the ham is divine, by the way.”
“That’s because you’re hungry. I’ll report back to Vasso that your appetite has returned.” He watched her get up and put some chocolate squares on a plate before she brought it to the table. “If you’re still starving, you can fill up on these.”
One bite and he was hooked on them. In no time at all he’d eaten all five.
“They’re good, aren’t they? The convenience stores carry them. They sell like hotcakes.”
“Like hotcakes?”
“Or pancakes. Same thing. Americans love them, but you can never stop with just one. If you sold them in one of your Alpha/Omega 24 stores, you’d be shocked how fast they’d disappear.”
“Raina—” He couldn’t take anymore. “We need to talk.”
“I think we’ve said it all. Now that some food has brought you back to life, I can leave in good conscience.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” He got to his feet to bar the way.
“Now that I’ve made my pit stop for your brother, I’m walking back to the house. Vasso’s helicopter is waiting to fly me to Corfu. I’ll let him know his worry over you is unfounded and I’ll take the plane home from there.”
“First you’re going to come to the bedroom with me where we’ll be more comfortable.”
“Oh. Now you’ve decided I can be your lover? Sorry. I’m taking that offer back.”
A grimace broke out on his face. “There’s only one reason why I haven’t asked you to marry me.”
“Because you can’t give me a baby. I know.”
“That’s not it.” He picked her up around the hips and set her on the counter. “This is better. Now you’re on eye level with me.” Akis could feel her trembling. “Look at me, Raina.”