Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
It's All Greek to Me (10 page)
“Actually, she told me not to mess things up with you.”
Harry brightened up at that.
“She did?
What a nice woman.
Intelligent, too.
I hope you take her words to heart.”
“She did?
What a nice woman.
Intelligent, too.
I hope you take her words to heart.”
He popped the cork on the champagne bottle, telling himself that he would never be able to guess what would come out of her mouth next.
She was a delight, a wild, unexpected delight.
“Every other woman I’ve brought here has been concerned with keeping me happy and pandering to my every desire.
Not one has ever told me I had better not mess things up.”
She was a delight, a wild, unexpected delight.
“Every other woman I’ve brought here has been concerned with keeping me happy and pandering to my every desire.
Not one has ever told me I had better not mess things up.”
“Seriously?”
She took the glass he handed her, her eyes wide as she examined his face.
“That had to get old fast.”
She took the glass he handed her, her eyes wide as she examined his face.
“That had to get old fast.”
“It did.
Harry?”
Harry?”
“Yes, Iakovos?”
“Eat your dinner.”
One side of his mouth went up as he let her see the desire in his eyes.
“As I mentioned this morning, you’re going to need your strength.”
One side of his mouth went up as he let her see the desire in his eyes.
“As I mentioned this morning, you’re going to need your strength.”
Chapter 7
I
t wasn’t easy, but Harry managed to tear herself away from Iakovos’ bed the next morning.
She was actually rather proud of the feat, since he had made noises about staying in bed until the concert that night, but she finally convinced him that she really had to honor her duties and make sure that Cyndi had recovered from her trauma, as well as ensuring that all was going smoothly for the evening’s event.
t wasn’t easy, but Harry managed to tear herself away from Iakovos’ bed the next morning.
She was actually rather proud of the feat, since he had made noises about staying in bed until the concert that night, but she finally convinced him that she really had to honor her duties and make sure that Cyndi had recovered from her trauma, as well as ensuring that all was going smoothly for the evening’s event.
She wore the same taupe linen tunic and pants that she had worn the first day, the buttons having magically been sewn back on and the clothing laundered, a circumstance that had sent her to locate Rosalia to thank her for the attention.
“It is no problem,” the older woman said, standing in the middle of a busy kitchen.
Despite being somewhat nervous about approaching Rosalia, Harry liked the woman.
She had thick black hair streaked with white and pulled back in a bun, a face that showed her life hadn’t always been one of ease, and a no-nonsense air that made Harry relax despite the circumstances.
Despite being somewhat nervous about approaching Rosalia, Harry liked the woman.
She had thick black hair streaked with white and pulled back in a bun, a face that showed her life hadn’t always been one of ease, and a no-nonsense air that made Harry relax despite the circumstances.
“I appreciate you cleaning my things.
I didn’t bring much with me because I figured we’d be here just for a couple of days.”
Harry spoke carefully, not wanting to give the impression that she was taking it for granted that Iakovos would ask her to stay on when the band went home.
She was pretty sure he would, but she’d never been one to assume.
I didn’t bring much with me because I figured we’d be here just for a couple of days.”
Harry spoke carefully, not wanting to give the impression that she was taking it for granted that Iakovos would ask her to stay on when the band went home.
She was pretty sure he would, but she’d never been one to assume.
“Kyrie Papaioannou, he will buy you more.
You do not worry,” the woman said.
You do not worry,” the woman said.
“I’m sure he would if I asked him to, but there’s no need to do that.
If I want something, I’m sure I can get it in town.
I just wanted to say thank you for the buttons and for doing my laundry.”
If I want something, I’m sure I can get it in town.
I just wanted to say thank you for the buttons and for doing my laundry.”
The woman inclined her head in acknowledgment of the thanks, saying, as Harry was leaving the kitchen, “You like it here, yes?
Greece pleases you?”
Greece pleases you?”
There was a question in Rosalia’s eyes that had nothing to do with the country, and everything to do with one man.
“Yes,” Harry said slowly, meeting her gaze.
“I love everything about Greece.”
“Yes,” Harry said slowly, meeting her gaze.
“I love everything about Greece.”
“Good,” the woman said, nodding abruptly.
“You go, now.
We are busy for the party.”
“You go, now.
We are busy for the party.”
Harry smiled and left the kitchen, feeling as if she’d just passed a test.
The smile faded when, as she strolled across the grassy lawn outside the staff bungalows, she was greeted with, “Houston, we have a problem.”
“A problem?”
she asked Derek, who was facing her with a grim expression.
“What problem?
Iakovos said you guys had gone over to the mainland with his sister and her friends last night.
Did something happen there?”
she asked Derek, who was facing her with a grim expression.
“What problem?
Iakovos said you guys had gone over to the mainland with his sister and her friends last night.
Did something happen there?”
“Iakovos?”
Derek asked, looking at her with much speculation.
Like Terry and Amy, he was in a swimsuit, the three of them lounging on a couple of chairs, the damp towels at their feet indicating they’d had a dip in the lovely blue-green water.
Derek asked, looking at her with much speculation.
Like Terry and Amy, he was in a swimsuit, the three of them lounging on a couple of chairs, the damp towels at their feet indicating they’d had a dip in the lovely blue-green water.
“Mr.
Papamono .
.
.
oh, don’t ask me to say his last name, it has way too many vowels.
And stop giving me that knowing look.
What I do with billionaire Greek playboys who own their own islands and have incredibly wonderful butts is no one’s business but my own.”
Papamono .
.
.
oh, don’t ask me to say his last name, it has way too many vowels.
And stop giving me that knowing look.
What I do with billionaire Greek playboys who own their own islands and have incredibly wonderful butts is no one’s business but my own.”
“But he’s, like, old,” Terry said with the naïveté of a nineteen-year-old.
“That secretary dude of his said that he’s a lot older than his sister.”
“That secretary dude of his said that he’s a lot older than his sister.”
“He’s not old at all!
He’s in perfect shape.”
Heat rolled up from her chest as she remembered just exactly how perfect his shape was.
He’s in perfect shape.”
Heat rolled up from her chest as she remembered just exactly how perfect his shape was.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter since you’re—” Terry shut his mouth quickly.
“Old, as well?”
she asked, giving him a glare.
she asked, giving him a glare.
“Not old.
Just .
.
.
seasoned?”
he asked with what she was sure he felt was a charming smile.
Just .
.
.
seasoned?”
he asked with what she was sure he felt was a charming smile.
“It’s not like I’m ancient, for heaven’s sake.
I could be your sister, after all.”
I could be your sister, after all.”
The three of them looked at her in silence.
“OK, a really, really older sister, but a sister nonetheless.
What problem do we have?
And where’s Cyndi?”
What problem do we have?
And where’s Cyndi?”
“Cyndi
is
the problem,” Amy said, taking Derek’s hand.
is
the problem,” Amy said, taking Derek’s hand.
“She’s not all right?”
Harry glanced around.
“Where is she?”
Harry glanced around.
“Where is she?”
“She’s not here, Harry.
She walked out last night.”
She walked out last night.”
“She
what
?”
what
?”
Amy nodded.
“We tried to get you on your phone, but it just went through to your voice mail.”
“We tried to get you on your phone, but it just went through to your voice mail.”
“Oh my god.”
Harry put both hands to her head, rubbing, as a sudden headache had blossomed there.
“I left my cell behind yesterday because Iakovos said I could use his if I needed to.”
Harry put both hands to her head, rubbing, as a sudden headache had blossomed there.
“I left my cell behind yesterday because Iakovos said I could use his if I needed to.”
“You weren’t in your room, either,” Terry pointed out, his eyes twinkling.
“No, I .
.
.
er .
.
.
I’m staying with Iakovos.
Oh my god.
She left?
Why?”
.
.
er .
.
.
I’m staying with Iakovos.
Oh my god.
She left?
Why?”
“She said she’s not going to stay here, that she can’t face that guy who didn’t want her, and she’s a bundle of nerves, and oh, all sorts of things about needing a break from the stress.”
Amy looked almost scared.
Amy looked almost scared.
Harry stared at the girl in horror, goose bumps making her back twitch.
“She can’t do that, can she?
Don’t you guys have some sort of a contract?”
“She can’t do that, can she?
Don’t you guys have some sort of a contract?”
“We do, and she can.
She did.”
Terry looked at his watch.
“She’s booked a flight out of Athens today.”
She did.”
Terry looked at his watch.
“She’s booked a flight out of Athens today.”
Harry sat down suddenly on a nearby chair, her legs wobbly.
“Holy moly.
Well, we just have to get her back.
Athens is only a couple of hours away—there’s still time for her to get back here before the party.
I’ll call her.
I’ll reason with her.”
“Holy moly.
Well, we just have to get her back.
Athens is only a couple of hours away—there’s still time for her to get back here before the party.
I’ll call her.
I’ll reason with her.”
“It won’t do any good,” Amy said.
“We’ve all tried.”
“We’ve all tried.”
Harry thought of Iakovos’ delectable lips.
She didn’t want to see them tight with anger, and he was sure to be angry when he found out that the lead singer of the group he’d flown out at no little expense had done a runner.
He wouldn’t be angry with her, personally, but he wouldn’t be happy.
She liked him when he was happy.
He teased her with outrageous statements, and touched her, and let her lick his upper lip.
She loved his lips.
She especially loved them when they were doing things to her body that just thinking about made her skin feel tight.
“Yes, well, you might not be as motivated as me.”
She didn’t want to see them tight with anger, and he was sure to be angry when he found out that the lead singer of the group he’d flown out at no little expense had done a runner.
He wouldn’t be angry with her, personally, but he wouldn’t be happy.
She liked him when he was happy.
He teased her with outrageous statements, and touched her, and let her lick his upper lip.
She loved his lips.
She especially loved them when they were doing things to her body that just thinking about made her skin feel tight.
“Yes, well, you might not be as motivated as me.”
Forty minutes later, Harry conceded defeat and clicked off her cell phone.
She looked at the three anxious faces watching her.
“She won’t listen.”
She looked at the three anxious faces watching her.
“She won’t listen.”
“I told you she wouldn’t.
She’s really rattled by this, Harry.”
She’s really rattled by this, Harry.”
“I could call Tim .
.
.
but he was due to be in the hospital for another couple of days, and besides, Jill’s about to give birth .
.
.
Dammit.
Why did Cyndi have to be such a twit and try to sleep with Theo?”
Harry stood up and began to pace.
“Well, we’re just going to have to cope with the three of you.
Let’s see .
.
.
Amy, you know Cyndi’s songs as well as your own, don’t you?”
.
.
but he was due to be in the hospital for another couple of days, and besides, Jill’s about to give birth .
.
.
Dammit.
Why did Cyndi have to be such a twit and try to sleep with Theo?”
Harry stood up and began to pace.
“Well, we’re just going to have to cope with the three of you.
Let’s see .
.
.
Amy, you know Cyndi’s songs as well as your own, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“Yes, but—”
“Yes, but—”
“OK, so you just take over her role, and we’ll get someone to play the keyboard in your place.”
“Who?”
Derek asked, waving a hand around to indicate the surroundings.
“This place is great and all, but I kind of think musicians are scarce here.
At least the ones who know our music.”
Derek asked, waving a hand around to indicate the surroundings.
“This place is great and all, but I kind of think musicians are scarce here.
At least the ones who know our music.”
“Well .
.
.
we could find someone in Athens.
.
.
.”
Harry bit her lower lip, wondering how she’d find a musician to take Amy’s place on such short notice, and in a foreign country to boot.
.
.
we could find someone in Athens.
.
.
.”
Harry bit her lower lip, wondering how she’d find a musician to take Amy’s place on such short notice, and in a foreign country to boot.
“You could do it,” Amy suggested.
“Don’t be ridiculous.
I’m no musician,” Harry said, wondering if there was such a thing as an Athens craigs-list.
I’m no musician,” Harry said, wondering if there was such a thing as an Athens craigs-list.
“Tim said you used to be in his band.”
She glanced over at the three of them.
“Twenty years ago, yes.
Maybe one of the guests .
.
.
No, that wouldn’t be right.”
“Twenty years ago, yes.
Maybe one of the guests .
.
.
No, that wouldn’t be right.”
“Harry.”
“No!”
she told their expectant faces.
“Honestly, guys, it’s been forever and a day since I was in Tim’s band.”
she told their expectant faces.
“Honestly, guys, it’s been forever and a day since I was in Tim’s band.”
“You were a singer, weren’t you?”
“If you could call it that.
I did some vocals, but mostly I just played—” She clamped her lips shut.
I did some vocals, but mostly I just played—” She clamped her lips shut.
“Keyboard?”
Terry asked with a grin.
Terry asked with a grin.
“Shut up.
I’m not doing this.”
I’m not doing this.”
“Well, if you want us to get sued for breach of contract, OK,” he said with a negligent shrug of his shoulders.
“Now you’re exaggerating.
Iakovos wouldn’t sue you.”
Iakovos wouldn’t sue you.”
They all looked at her, making a blush rise on her cheeks.
She knew what they were thinking—that she could smooth the path with Iakovos so that he wouldn’t punish them for breaking their contract.
She’d be damned if she would use him like that.
She knew what they were thinking—that she could smooth the path with Iakovos so that he wouldn’t punish them for breaking their contract.
She’d be damned if she would use him like that.
“If you explain what’s happened, I’m sure you can work something out with him.
Pay back the advance, that sort of thing.”
Pay back the advance, that sort of thing.”
“And the money for coming to Greece for four of us?
And for staying here?”
Derek shook his head.
“We’re broke, Harry.
We all pitched in to buy the recording equipment for the studio.
We can’t pay him back.”
And for staying here?”
Derek shook his head.
“We’re broke, Harry.
We all pitched in to buy the recording equipment for the studio.
We can’t pay him back.”
“Well .
.
.
maybe I could .
.
.”
.
.
maybe I could .
.
.”
“We don’t mind breaking the contract for you,” Terry assured her.
“It’ll ruin our careers, and probably scar us for life, but if that doesn’t bother you, then we’ll try not to hold it against you.”
“It’ll ruin our careers, and probably scar us for life, but if that doesn’t bother you, then we’ll try not to hold it against you.”
Harry knew the inevitable when she faced it, but it didn’t make the bitter pill any easier to swallow.
Her shoulders slumped with defeat.
“I don’t even know your music.”
Her shoulders slumped with defeat.
“I don’t even know your music.”
“You’ve got ten hours to learn it,” Derek said cheerfully, holding out his wrist so she could see the time.
“I suppose if Amy sings the songs, I could play simplified versions of the music, but really—”
“I can’t sing Cyndi’s songs!”
Amy wailed.
Amy wailed.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t have her range!
Besides, there’s the dance-with-the-moon song.
I can’t dance at all.
You know that.”
Besides, there’s the dance-with-the-moon song.
I can’t dance at all.
You know that.”
“I can’t, either, but that didn’t stop me from taking a belly-dancing class,” Harry said with a smile at the memory of her attempt to please her then-boyfriend.
“Man, was that a disaster.”
“Man, was that a disaster.”
“You dance?”
Amy’s eyes widened as she glanced at the two men.
Amy’s eyes widened as she glanced at the two men.
“NO!”
Harry yelled at them.
“Don’t even think what I know you’re thinking!”
Harry yelled at them.
“Don’t even think what I know you’re thinking!”
“You can sing; you just said you sang for Tim.
And you can belly-dance, and that’s what Cyndi does on the moon song,” Amy said, her hand on Harry’s arm.
“If you could do that song, and maybe a couple of others, then I could do mine, and .
.
.
and .
.
.
it would be OK.”
And you can belly-dance, and that’s what Cyndi does on the moon song,” Amy said, her hand on Harry’s arm.
“If you could do that song, and maybe a couple of others, then I could do mine, and .
.
.
and .
.
.
it would be OK.”
“If you expect me to put on a belly-dancing costume and prance around—”
“Please, Harry.”
“I said I’d do keyboards for you, but as for singing and dancing, absolutely not.
It’s completely out of the question.
There is no way on God’s green earth I am going to perform again.
You guys got that?
Good.”
It’s completely out of the question.
There is no way on God’s green earth I am going to perform again.
You guys got that?
Good.”
An hour later she was back in the kitchen, apologizing to Rosalia.
“I do not know this dress.
It is what?”
It is what?”
“A belly dancer’s outfit.
Or anything like it, really.
A long, flowing skirt, and a short little top that covers just the boobs.
Do you think I could buy something like that in town?”
Or anything like it, really.
A long, flowing skirt, and a short little top that covers just the boobs.
Do you think I could buy something like that in town?”
The older woman raked her with a disbelieving look.
“You need this for the party?”
“You need this for the party?”
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