Her Greek Romance aka Greek Encounter Page 2

  She tilted her head, arching a brow. “Teddy, we learned in Law School that most coincidences have logical causes.”

  “I see. So you are here to work on the Pink Villa case.”

  “Yes, with a Greek attorney. Tomorrow, we’ll meet in court.”

  “And we’ll tear each other apart.”

  “Probably.” Since she’d graduated from Harvard, Ashley had joined a well-known firm and built a solid reputation, fighting tooth and nail in court to defend her clients. In this case, her client was her own darling grandfather who had entrusted her with the villa so dear to his heart.

  “Ashley, I’ve never lost a case. It may be ugly tomorrow.”

  She shrugged. “It’s always ugly.”

  “Yeah, but you’re my former classmate, and it’s your first day in Mykonos.”

  “Having premature remorse?” she asked without smiling. “Tell your client to drop his request to level the house. It’s not his to destroy.”

  “It belongs to his grandmother as well as to Mr. Zanis. My client is ready to generously compensate Mr. Zanis for his part.”

  “For sentimental reasons you’ll never understand, Mr. Zanis refuses to see the Pink Villa demolished. And that is not negotiable.”

  “Damn it, Ashley, we’ll have a war tomorrow.”

  “So be it. See you later.”

  Ted fiddled with his sunglasses and threw a glance toward the café. Was he waiting for reinforcement? As she turned to leave, he touched her arm. “At least, can I invite you for a cup of coffee? For old-time’s sake?”

  Not knowing what to make of his invitation, she narrowed her eyes at him. “We’re lawyers, Teddy. I don’t need to remind you, it’s unethical to discuss a case, even though we’re not in the U.S.”

  He burst out laughing. “Deal. We won’t talk about the case. This way, please. I have a friend waiting for me at the café.”

  “A friend?”

  “Yes, he handed you your things a moment ago. Please, join us.”

  The man with strong legs and broad shoulders. The one who talked with enough authority to intimidate a lawyer of Pastroudis’ caliber. She’d like to meet this Greek. Hanging the straps of her bag on her shoulder, she nodded. “Only for a short while. I have work to do.”

  He led her to a sidewalk café where a sign greeted the tourists in Greek and English: Welcome to Kaffe Paradizio. Proper attire required. NO bikinis or half bikinis on premises.

  Ashley snorted inwardly. At least here, she wouldn’t feel out of place.

  To hell with local customs. For once she’d given in to well-intended advice about blending with the crowd, and ended up with a wasted day and a severe headache. She should have remained locked in her grandfather’s house to work on her case—the Pink Villa her grandpa had bought for the woman he loved half a century ago. How romantic… and frustrating. Envy and puzzlement filled Ashley’s heart, and she glanced in the direction of the Pink Villa.

  How had that Greek woman, Elena, managed to inflame Grandpa George with a love that endured a fifty-year separation?

  Irritation pinched Ashley’s insides. Her own romances had never lasted more than a year, earning Grandpa’s reproachful looks and his never-wavering advice. Look for a Greek man who can love you unconditionally.

  Did Greek men belong to a special brand of lovers whose passion could survive the test of time and distance?

  Well, the few locals who had stared—leered at her was more correct—didn’t strike her as the kind of heroes who’d love forever, or even long enough to walk to the altar. But maybe all Greeks were not that bad. A moment ago, Strong-Legs had acted like a gentleman.

  Ted navigated his way through the crowded area and waved his hand. “Here’s my friend.”

  A hunk sprang to his feet and waved back. Tall, lean, solid, his body matched the legs she’d admired a moment ago. Bulging muscles stretched the beige t-shirt that contrasted with the bronze of his skin. And she thought gods belonged only to mythology.

  “Ashley, this is Stefano, my lifelong friend and former roommate. He also spent eight years in Boston, but he studied Architecture and then went on for a Master in Business Administration. Stefano, Ashley Sheppard is another Harvard graduate.”

  Ted had forgotten to mention Stefano’s last name. By mistake or on purpose? She flicked a guarded glance from the lawyer to his friend.

  “Stefano Alexios,” the hunk specified.

  She nodded and extended her hand. He enfolded it in his warm palm and held it a moment too long. “Nice to meet you, Ashley.” His voice drifted velvet-smooth, tinged with a hint of accent. A faint scent of lemon and spice tickled her senses while his heart-stopping smile numbed her mind. He pulled a chair for her into the shade of the white and blue canopy. “You’ll be more comfortable here.” He sat next to her at the small table.

  Heavy and dark curls ruffled in the breeze and fluttered over his gold-rimmed, polarized sunglasses. She’d bet her bikini bra he’d have dark chocolate eyes to match that tanned skin. As if reading her thoughts, he took off his glasses.

  Lo and behold, his eyes were turquoise blue, similar in color to the sea surrounding his island. She’d eat her tongue before making another bet in her life. The noon temperature suddenly seemed unbearable. A rush of blood coursed to her face, creating a tiny sheen of perspiration. She wiped her forehead and removed her sunglasses to rub at her temples. And stilled as Stefano peered at her face. What was wrong now?

  “Forgive me for staring.” His eyebrows quirked. Yet he didn’t avert his gaze, his admiration almost palpable. “Green eyes and reddish blond hair. An unusual combination we’re not used to seeing around here.”

  “Oh.” Her cheeks aflame, she fiddled with her sunglasses, debating whether to put them back on and hide her embarrassment.

  “Coffee?” Ted asked, as he settled across from them.

  Grateful for his interruption, she glanced at him. Today, Ted would be as courteous as they come—for old-time’s sake as he said—before verbally shredding her in court tomorrow, on behalf of his client.

  “I’d rather have a cold Coke.” Her throat felt as dry as parchment.

  “And a baklava, of course,” Stefano suggested with a bone-melting smile that turned her insides to jelly.

  So much sex-appeal in one body should be forbidden. He looked at her, waiting. She inwardly groaned. What had he said? Oh, the baklava. With a nod, she mentally slapped herself back into consciousness and smiled. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss the chance to taste the local pastry.”

  “Ted told me you’re here on a business trip,” Stefano said as he reclined against the back of his chair. “For how long, if I may ask?”

  “As long as needed.”

  Ted laughed. “I promised Ashley we wouldn’t talk about work.”

  “Who’s talking about work in this dream place?” Stefano emphatically gestured toward the sea. “Actually, I was going to suggest a boat ride around the island.”

  “It would have been lovely, but I really can’t. As of tomorrow, I’ll be very busy.”

  The waiter deposited a tray with their orders on the table. Ashley reached for her glass of coke with ice cubes floating in it and sipped with delight.

  Stefano ate his pastry slowly. His gaze trailed over her face and flicked to the transparent beach wrap. Energy and potent masculinity zeroed in on her and clutched her inescapably. Heat whooshed to her throat creating an intolerable frustration. After toying with the knot of her wrap, she flattened her hand on her chest to create an extra layer of insulation. She was used to intimidating lawyers and criminals with her acerbic attacks, but now she suppressed a squirm as if she stood at the examination table herself.

  Counselor Sheppard. Please. Get a grip.

  A flicker of amusement danced over his striking features. “Well, how about this afternoon? Do you plan to go back to the beach?”

  And face another awkward experience of topless inhibition? No way. Imagining Stefano’s intense gaze skimming
over her naked flesh brought a burning flush to her cheeks. She fiddled with her sunglasses and set them on her nose as a protective barrier to her feelings.

  “Nothing beats the view of Mykonos from the sea.” Pride underlined Stefano’s casual assessment.

  “Stefano has a yacht anchored at the end of the island, beyond the Pink Villa,” Ted added nonchalantly.

  The Pink Villa? That got her attention. She could take a panoramic picture of Grandpa’s house, a nice one with the ocean in the forefront, and send it to him by e-mail. That would cheer her dear grandfather and help him cope with the stress of the coming days. She bit her lip, hesitating. “I wouldn’t want to keep you away from your usual business.”

  “No business on Sunday,” Ted immediately replied. “Stefano loves to brag about the island where he was born. No one knows it as well as he does. Believe me, you’ll enjoy the ride.”

  The fact that Ted would be part of the excursion reassured her enough. “In that case, I accept. But first I’d like to stop at the hotel to change.” And wear a more decent outfit. The transparent wrap presented no protection against Stefano’s scorching gaze.

  “Change? Why? You are wearing a bathing suit. We can swim to the Athena or if you are too tired we can ride the dinghy.” He pointed to a yellow inflatable raft parked on the sand.

  “I don’t mind swimming.” The refreshing exercise would cool her overheated body.

  While Stefano paid for their orders, she gathered her bag and checked she had a pair of shorts, a top and another bikini to use after her swim. Framed by two handsome Greeks, she left the café and strolled to the beach. Except for a superb yacht moored about five-hundred yards in the sea, she didn’t see any boat.

  “Where is your Athena?”

  “Just in front of you. It’s the only boat close to the shore right now.”

  This was his private boat? Ashley’s cheeks flushed with pleasure. She’d often dreamed of sailing her grandfather’s forty-footer from Miami to the Bahamas, but Grandpa had refused, claiming it was too dangerous, what with an unexpected storm hitting. Her secret wish of cruising in a dream yacht might come true, if she gathered enough guts to ask Stefano to let her handle the steering wheel.

  “It’s a beauty,” she whispered, still in awe.

  “Are you familiar with boats?” Stefano eyed her with interest.

  “I’ve sailed my grandfather’s on the Florida Intracoastal Canal. A small boat. Nothing like yours.” A sideways glance at her companion convinced her that this cruise promised to be very different from the rides in her grandpa’s sailboat. Stefano turned toward his prized possession as he harbored a satisfied grin.

  Ted pulled the inflatable dinghy to the water and jumped into it. Stefano took off his shirt, cap, glasses and slippers, and shoved them into a large bag in the rear of the dinghy. Ashley followed suit, removing the clothes covering her bikini and stuffing her things in her own bag that she handed to Ted.

  “I am ready to—” The rest of her sentence remained clogged in her throat as she caught Stefano’s gaze roaming over her chest, belly, and all the way down her legs.

  “Me too,” he answered with a smile that made her think of the Big Bad Wolf about to eat Little Red Riding Hood.

  No Little Red Riding Hood here waiting to be gulped. In one swift motion she dove into the sea, grateful for the water's coolness, and swam away from the dinghy.

  A burst of laughter reached her, and a second later, Stefano joined her and then slowed down his strokes to maintain an equal speed. “Don’t swim too hard or you’ll exhaust yourself quickly.”

  “Good advice. Thank you.” She wasn’t in a rush to reach the yacht now and enjoyed the feel of the water on her skin.

  After what seemed an interminable stretch of time, she raised her head assessing the distance to the yacht and sighed. They had covered only half the distance.

  “See that buoy.” His chin tilted, indicating a barrel-like float. “We’ll hold on to it and rest for a moment.”

  Out of breath, she nodded, and used her last burst of energy to reach the buoy.

  Not too far from them, Ted called from the dinghy, “Do you want to climb aboard?”

  “No thank you, I’m good.” In a moment she would recover her strength and continue to the yacht, but there was no way on earth she’d just sit in front of those two men in a clinging bikini.

  “We’re doing great, Ted. We just need a moment to rest,” Stefano said with so much understanding that she regretted judging him badly a moment ago.

  After a few minutes, she released the buoy she’d been holding on for dear life and took a deep breath. “I can continue now.”

  Gently bobbing upon the waves, the dinghy was waiting for them when they reached the yacht. Ted extended a hand, helped her up and offered her a green towel to wrap herself in.

  “Thank you, Teddy.”

  Nice guys. Why had she been so worried about sharing their company? She and Ted sitting on opposite benches at court tomorrow didn’t mean that Ted and Stefano couldn’t behave as gentlemen the day before. Besides, Stefano had nothing to do with her mission and the lawsuit.

  Stefano hoisted himself on the swim platform of the yacht. “Not too tired?” he asked softly.

  “Not at all.” She smiled to reassure him.

  Ted maneuvered the dinghy close to the deck, and they both helped her to board the yacht. “Here’s your bag, Ashley.” Ted handed her the beach bag and tossed Stefano’s oversized bundle onto the deck. “See you later. Have a fun tour.”

  Before she recovered from her surprise, he’d swiveled the dinghy around and raced away over the waves. “But—” she swallowed wrong and spun toward Stefano. A tête-à-tête with him was not exactly the way she’d anticipated the cruise.

  He shot her his mind-boggling smile. “Welcome aboard the Athena.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “What happened to Ted? Why did he leave?” A scowl furrowed Ashley’s lovely forehead and a storm gathered in her eyes.

  Stefano placidly opened his arms. “He probably has work to do. Does it bother you that he couldn’t stay?”

  Her lips tightened into a thin line as she glanced at the dinghy bouncing over the waves. “Is this part of your Greek hospitality? To invite someone for a coffee and a cruise, and then dump her?”

  Typical of a lawyer to manifest her annoyance in a sharp repartee. Anger flushed her cheeks, matching her brazen hair. Her breasts heaved up over the towel like two alabaster globes. Two very tempting globes. The urge to pull her into his arms tightened his muscles. How would she react if he kissed her?

  That thought alone ignited a fire in his groin. Annoyed at his slip of control, he averted his gaze from the alluring motion of her chest. Forcing himself to relax, he spun toward the disappearing dinghy and chuckled. “For the sake of accuracy, Ted invited you for a coffee, but I am the one who suggested a cruise.”

  Her scowl didn’t soften as she pinned him with an icy look. He instantly sobered. “Ashley, I didn’t realize that Ted’s absence would create a problem. To be honest I didn’t invite him along. He knows the island inside out and I didn’t see the necessity to have a chaperone.” His arms crossed, he returned her look. “If you want to go back to the shore because Ted is not here, I will take you right away. We have another dinghy on the yacht.”

  Her lips parted, as if she was about to say something.

  “But I wish you would stay,” he hastened to add with a soothing voice, while staring into her eyes.

  “Oh.”

  “Is that a yes?” He chuckled. “Good.” Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips, hoping she wouldn’t embarrass him by pulling away.

  Her scowl finally faded and she shrugged. “I was just surprised to see him leaving without even saying good-bye. Not that I care about the company of a boorish lawyer.”

  Careful to wipe any expression from his face, Stefano gazed at her innocently. “As you say, lawyers can be quite annoying.”

  God, she
had such beautiful green eyes, luminous and expressive. If he kept studying them he’d be able to read her thoughts. This woman wouldn’t be able to lie, even if her life depended on it.

  Tough lawyer or not, she was no match for the hardened playboy he had become at thirty-two—a far cry from the green student leaving for America years ago. Before signing a big check to Harvard, his father had drilled into his head a stern advice. Study hard and enjoy your free time, but guard your heart until you marry a Greek woman.

  “Not all lawyers are rude.” Her instant frown brought a grin to his lips that he immediately suppressed.

  “Of course, not.” Ready to agree with anything she said to see her relax, he vigorously nodded. “Let’s go inside and change.” He carried his bag and hers. “Careful on the aft deck stairs. They lead to the first floor deck and the main salon,” he added as he opened a sliding door.

  “Oh, you have quite a place here.” She entered the spacious parlor and paused, scanning the wide room furnished with two white leather couches, two matching recliners, glass and chrome cocktail tables and a huge television screen. “I like its style.”

  “Efkharisto. Thank you,” he said, genuinely pleased with her admiration of his cherished yacht. They crossed the living room, passing the dining area at one end, and entered a side stairwell. “Down there, we have the bedrooms.” He pointed to three doors and opened the one in the middle. “You can use the master stateroom and the en-suite head. It’s the largest and most comfortable.”

  “I can’t deprive you of your own room,” she protested when he deposited her bag on the queen-sized bed.

  “You’re my guest. We, Greek, always offer the best we have to our guests. It’s part of our hospitality. I’ll use one of the other rooms.” Walking to the bathroom, he extracted a set of towels from a wall-cabinet, turned on the faucets to fill the tub, and poured aromatic salts in the warm water.

  A slow smile developed on her lips as she stared at the bubbles with longing. “Soaking in this bath is going to be heaven.”

  Soaking with her in his arms would be his heaven. Stefano lowered his eyes and turned to leave, lest she read his lascivious thoughts and noticed the improper flutter of his shorts.