Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
It's All Greek to Me (17 page)
“Not at all.”
“Then why would he fit me in?”
“Because Iakovos is Iakovos.
Everyone in Athens knows who he is.
If his girlfriend wants an appointment, people are going to give you one even if it means rearranging their schedule.”
Everyone in Athens knows who he is.
If his girlfriend wants an appointment, people are going to give you one even if it means rearranging their schedule.”
“Number five,” Harry muttered under her breath.
“Great, now I’m going to have the bad karma that comes along with taking someone’s else’s appointment.
Thanks for your help, Elena.
I knew I could count on you to steer me to suitable stores.”
“Great, now I’m going to have the bad karma that comes along with taking someone’s else’s appointment.
Thanks for your help, Elena.
I knew I could count on you to steer me to suitable stores.”
“My pleasure.”
She hesitated a minute, then put a hand on Harry’s arm.
“You
are
still going to marry Iakovos, aren’t you?”
She hesitated a minute, then put a hand on Harry’s arm.
“You
are
still going to marry Iakovos, aren’t you?”
“I hope so.
I
am
crazy wild about him.”
I
am
crazy wild about him.”
“I know you are.
And he is about you, too.
I’m so happy for both of you.”
Elena gave her a swift hug, then, with a giggle and a wave, dashed off to meet some of her friends.
And he is about you, too.
I’m so happy for both of you.”
Elena gave her a swift hug, then, with a giggle and a wave, dashed off to meet some of her friends.
“I was never that young,” she told the doorman who opened the door to the chic salon, bracing herself for a couple of hours of beautification.
She just hoped it would be worth it.
She just hoped it would be worth it.
Three hours later as she stood looking at herself from every possible angle in the mirror of Iakovos’ bathroom, she decided that the salon owner was worth twice the sizable chunk of money she relinquished for his services.
Her hair had lightened a bit from its normal mundane brown to show a little streaking from all the time she spent out in the pool and sun.
In the hands of the talented Giorgio, it had gone from sun streaked and unruly as it straggled down her back to a glossy, shining tawny brown, touched with the faintest tones of amber around her face.
He’d cut off very little, but layered much of it, giving her an elegant, tousled look that she knew was much more her style than anything too fussy.
In the hands of the talented Giorgio, it had gone from sun streaked and unruly as it straggled down her back to a glossy, shining tawny brown, touched with the faintest tones of amber around her face.
He’d cut off very little, but layered much of it, giving her an elegant, tousled look that she knew was much more her style than anything too fussy.
Although she didn’t normally wear much makeup, she brushed her lashes with inky black mascara, and added a touch of nude lipstick.
“You’re as good as you’re going to get,” she said, hearing voices down the hall.
Iakovos must be back home.
He’d be in in a minute to take a shower and shave before changing into his evening clothes.
Should she wait in his bedroom in case he didn’t like her dress?
Iakovos must be back home.
He’d be in in a minute to take a shower and shave before changing into his evening clothes.
Should she wait in his bedroom in case he didn’t like her dress?
“I am
so
not afraid of him,” she told her reflection, tossing her tawny head and heading out of the room to find him.
so
not afraid of him,” she told her reflection, tossing her tawny head and heading out of the room to find him.
He stood with his back to her in the living room, Dmitri in front of him, holding out something to be signed.
She lifted her head, and slowed down from the aggressive march to a leisurely stroll, her eyes on the back of his head.
She lifted her head, and slowed down from the aggressive march to a leisurely stroll, her eyes on the back of his head.
Dmitri saw her first.
He was in the middle of saying something and just stopped dead, his eyes wide.
He was in the middle of saying something and just stopped dead, his eyes wide.
Iakovos didn’t notice Dmitri’s reaction right away, but when he did, he glanced over his shoulder.
The double take he did was extremely satisfying to her ego.
“Good evening, Dmitri.
Are you going to the museum shindig with us?”
Are you going to the museum shindig with us?”
“Er .
.
.
no.”
He cast a glance at Iakovos, who was staring at Harry as if he’d never seen her before.
“I didn’t think it would be interesting.
I see I was wrong.”
.
.
no.”
He cast a glance at Iakovos, who was staring at Harry as if he’d never seen her before.
“I didn’t think it would be interesting.
I see I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.
Do you like my dress, Iakovos?”
she asked, sliding him a look that she hoped would steam his shorts.
Do you like my dress, Iakovos?”
she asked, sliding him a look that she hoped would steam his shorts.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Without saying a word he shoved the paper he’d been holding at Dmitri, walked over to her, and scooped her up in his arms.
Without saying a word he shoved the paper he’d been holding at Dmitri, walked over to her, and scooped her up in his arms.
“Oh, don’t wrinkle me,” she said, her blood catching on fire from the look in his eyes.
“I have no idea how I’d go about ironing a dress covered in beads.”
“I have no idea how I’d go about ironing a dress covered in beads.”
He was silent as he kicked the bedroom door shut and set her on her feet next to the bed.
“Turn,” he finally said.
“You want to see the back?
It’s kind of low, but with my hair down, it doesn’t make me feel quite so naked,” she said, turning so he could see the plunging back.
It’s kind of low, but with my hair down, it doesn’t make me feel quite so naked,” she said, turning so he could see the plunging back.
To her surprise, he unzipped the dress, pulling it off her and laying it carefully across a chair before turning back to her.
“You don’t like it?”
she asked, suddenly worried.
She’d thought he’d forgive her for going against his desire because the dress was, after all, rather pretty, even if she wasn’t normally a gold-bead sort of person.
she asked, suddenly worried.
She’d thought he’d forgive her for going against his desire because the dress was, after all, rather pretty, even if she wasn’t normally a gold-bead sort of person.
He slid his hands underneath the sides of her underwear, peeling it off her before pushing her back onto the bed.
“Iakovos!”
she said, her eyes big as she realized what he was doing.
He yanked off his suit coat, unzipped his pants, and freed himself from his underwear before spreading her legs.
“You’re still dressed!
And I’ve got my shoes on!
Oh my god, yes!”
she said, her eyes big as she realized what he was doing.
He yanked off his suit coat, unzipped his pants, and freed himself from his underwear before spreading her legs.
“You’re still dressed!
And I’ve got my shoes on!
Oh my god, yes!”
He plunged into her, taking her moan into his mouth, his fingers hard on her hips as he angled her up to meet his thrusts.
She twined her legs around his, still clad in his pants, and gave herself up to the pleasure that only he could give her.
She twined her legs around his, still clad in his pants, and gave herself up to the pleasure that only he could give her.
Neither of them lasted long, on Harry’s part because she was secretly scandalized that he would take her while they were both still partially dressed, and also flattered because the sight of her in the gown had so inflamed his passion.
And inflamed he was—his mouth burned hers as he kissed her witless, his hips pounding against her, the long, lovely muscles of his back and butt moving with such grace, she just wanted to yell with the glory of it all.
And inflamed he was—his mouth burned hers as he kissed her witless, his hips pounding against her, the long, lovely muscles of his back and butt moving with such grace, she just wanted to yell with the glory of it all.
When he lay heavy on her, his breath steaming a spot on her neck, she whispered in his ear, “We’re going to be late.”
“To hell with the fund-raiser,” he said, groaning as he rolled off her.
“We’re staying home.”
“We’re staying home.”
“After I went through the nightmare of shopping?
I don’t think so.”
She slid off the bed, pulling his shoes and socks off before tugging his pants all the way off.
“Come on, my virile Greek stud muffin.
Go take a shower so I can show you off to all the world’s-sexiest-bachelor-hungry women of Athens.”
I don’t think so.”
She slid off the bed, pulling his shoes and socks off before tugging his pants all the way off.
“Come on, my virile Greek stud muffin.
Go take a shower so I can show you off to all the world’s-sexiest-bachelor-hungry women of Athens.”
He shot her a look, but got to his feet, giving her butt a squeeze as he passed her.
“That dress isn’t green, Eglantine,” he said before going into the bathroom.
“That dress isn’t green, Eglantine,” he said before going into the bathroom.
“I’m so glad to know you’re not color-blind, Yacky,” she yelled after him, waiting until he turned on the water to collapse on the bed and spend a few moments reliving the last ten minutes.
After a quick wash in the spare bathroom, she headed to the living room to wait.
She didn’t like the room, didn’t like much about the apartment at all except the view.
Since it was the penthouse, the patio and rooftop garden had an astounding view of Athens, especially at night.
She loved the city at night, and stood staring out into the velvety blackness, wondering how she was going to address the subject of the apartment with Iakovos.
She didn’t like the room, didn’t like much about the apartment at all except the view.
Since it was the penthouse, the patio and rooftop garden had an astounding view of Athens, especially at night.
She loved the city at night, and stood staring out into the velvety blackness, wondering how she was going to address the subject of the apartment with Iakovos.
“Don’t you look nice.”
She turned slowly to find Theo standing next to a chaise lounge, his hair combed, his face shaved, and his body clad in a tuxedo.
She frowned at this.
“Evening, Theo.
I didn’t know you were back in town.”
She frowned at this.
“Evening, Theo.
I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Got back earlier.
Did you do something to your hair?
I like it.”
Did you do something to your hair?
I like it.”
“Thank you.”
She watched him warily, something he obviously noticed because he gave a wry smile and came toward her.
She stood her ground, but braced herself in case she needed to deck him again.
She watched him warily, something he obviously noticed because he gave a wry smile and came toward her.
She stood her ground, but braced herself in case she needed to deck him again.
“You don’t have to look so angry—I haven’t had a drink today.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
She hated feeling so constrained around him, but ever since the night when she broke his nose, she hadn’t been comfortable alone with him.
She hated feeling so constrained around him, but ever since the night when she broke his nose, she hadn’t been comfortable alone with him.
As if reading her thoughts, he touched his nose.
“I never did apologize to you for that, did I?
Jake sent me off to Brazil right after Elena’s party, and I didn’t have the chance to tell you how much I regret what happened that night.”
“I never did apologize to you for that, did I?
Jake sent me off to Brazil right after Elena’s party, and I didn’t have the chance to tell you how much I regret what happened that night.”
“Consider it forgotten,” she said politely, although she had absolutely no intention of letting down her guard around him.
“I appreciate that.
How about a kiss to show there are no hard feelings?”
How about a kiss to show there are no hard feelings?”
Her mouth dropped open at his audacity, and she was about to tell him what he could do with himself when Iakovos strolled out.
“I’m joking, Harry.”
Theo laughed, giving her one of his charming smiles.
He glanced over at his brother.
“I think I scared Harry, Jake.”
Theo laughed, giving her one of his charming smiles.
He glanced over at his brother.
“I think I scared Harry, Jake.”
“I doubt that,” Iakovos replied, the look in his eyes making her want to fall on him and lick every inch of him.
“She doesn’t scare easy.
It’s more likely you were just making an ass of yourself.
You ready to go, sweetheart?”
“She doesn’t scare easy.
It’s more likely you were just making an ass of yourself.
You ready to go, sweetheart?”
“That depends.
Do we have any drool cloths handy?
Because I’m going to need at least half a dozen, if not for me, then for all the other women who see you.”
Do we have any drool cloths handy?
Because I’m going to need at least half a dozen, if not for me, then for all the other women who see you.”
He rolled his eyes, holding his hand out for her.
“Theo is coming with us.
His mother was very big on this charity, and he likes to continue on in her name.”
“Theo is coming with us.
His mother was very big on this charity, and he likes to continue on in her name.”
She slid a glance to Theo, but he really did seem to be sober tonight.
She supposed that stranger things could happen than that he could see the error of his ways, so she gave him a smile and reminded herself that everyone deserved a second chance.
She supposed that stranger things could happen than that he could see the error of his ways, so she gave him a smile and reminded herself that everyone deserved a second chance.
Besides, she had more important things to do, like stare in openmouthed wonder at Iakovos.
The third time he caught her doing that on the ride to the hotel ballroom where the fund-raiser was being held, he leaned into her and whispered, “It’s just me, Eglantine.
The same man who was balls-deep in you half an hour ago.”
The third time he caught her doing that on the ride to the hotel ballroom where the fund-raiser was being held, he leaned into her and whispered, “It’s just me, Eglantine.
The same man who was balls-deep in you half an hour ago.”
“You look different when you’re all dressed up.
You look like you really are number five.”
You look like you really are number five.”
“Number five?”
Theo asked with a puzzled frown.
Theo asked with a puzzled frown.
Iakovos made a face.
“That magazine list.”
“That magazine list.”
“A list?
Oh, the bachelor list?”
Theo grinned.
“You still sore that you dropped two spots?”
Oh, the bachelor list?”
Theo grinned.
“You still sore that you dropped two spots?”
“You were number three?”
Harry asked, staring at the love of her life in horror.
Harry asked, staring at the love of her life in horror.
“Last year he was,” Theo told her, laughing at the expression on her face.
“I keep telling him to hold out for the number one spot, but it looks like that’s a moot point now.”
“I keep telling him to hold out for the number one spot, but it looks like that’s a moot point now.”
“Three,” she growled to herself, digging her fingernails into Iakovos’ thigh.
He twined his fingers through hers and gave his brother an annoyed frown.
“You just had to mention that, didn’t you?”
“You just had to mention that, didn’t you?”
“Sorry, didn’t know it was a sore topic.”
He tipped his head to the side and looked at them.
“So, when are you two going to get married?”
He tipped his head to the side and looked at them.
“So, when are you two going to get married?”
Harry stopped glaring at Iakovos and turned a smile on Theo.
“What an excellent question, one I’m sure Yacky is just dying to answer.
Aren’t you?”
“What an excellent question, one I’m sure Yacky is just dying to answer.
Aren’t you?”
Iakovos turned a smile on her that just about melted her innards.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
“Of course, sweetheart.”
“Well?”
He answered her in Greek, kissing her fingertips.
She looked from one man to the other as Theo obviously asked a question.
Iakovos answered, gave her another beatific smile, patted her cheek, then leaned back against the seat of the limo and closed his eyes, his thumb rubbing little circles on the back of her hand.
She looked from one man to the other as Theo obviously asked a question.
Iakovos answered, gave her another beatific smile, patted her cheek, then leaned back against the seat of the limo and closed his eyes, his thumb rubbing little circles on the back of her hand.
“Ah,” Theo said, giving her his half grin.
“That should be good.”
“That should be good.”
“I’m not talking to either of you,” she said, and stared out the window until they arrived at the hotel, ignoring both Theo’s laugh and the fire that Iakovos could start with just one brush of his thumb.
Chapter 14
T
he blissful routine of their life lasted for another couple of weeks until the day when Iakovos woke up to find that his body was wracked with some horrible virus that had been going around his office.
he blissful routine of their life lasted for another couple of weeks until the day when Iakovos woke up to find that his body was wracked with some horrible virus that had been going around his office.
“This is what you get for going off to work the last two days.
I told you that you were coming down with something,” Harry told him when he struggled to get out of bed.
“Honestly, men!
Stay there, and I’ll call the doctor.”
I told you that you were coming down with something,” Harry told him when he struggled to get out of bed.
“Honestly, men!
Stay there, and I’ll call the doctor.”
“I don’t need a doctor,” he said fretfully, annoyed at her high-handed manner with him.
He was a man, dammit.
He had important business demands.
You didn’t rise to the top by lying around whenever some insidious bug invaded your body.
He was a man, dammit.
He had important business demands.
You didn’t rise to the top by lying around whenever some insidious bug invaded your body.
It took him five minutes to get himself untangled from the sheets before he could stand, and the second he did, he felt a hundred times worse.
“The doctor’s on his way, and Mrs.
Avrabos has made you—what are you doing out of bed?”
Harry tsked, set down a mug of some steaming liquid and tried to put him back to bed.
Avrabos has made you—what are you doing out of bed?”
Harry tsked, set down a mug of some steaming liquid and tried to put him back to bed.
“I have to use the toilet,” he said with dignity, even though he didn’t.
He had an idea about taking a quick shower and escaping to the office before she noticed he was gone, but by the time he managed to get his teeth brushed, he was so exhausted and so miserable that he staggered back to the bedroom.
He had an idea about taking a quick shower and escaping to the office before she noticed he was gone, but by the time he managed to get his teeth brushed, he was so exhausted and so miserable that he staggered back to the bedroom.
“Sit down for a minute and drink that flu medicine,” Harry said as she stripped the sheets off the bed.
“You must be running a fever, because your sheets are damp with sweat.”
“You must be running a fever, because your sheets are damp with sweat.”
He groaned and leaned back in the chair, just wishing to die quietly in some dark corner.
“My poor darling.”
Harry’s cool hands were there, helping him into bed, tucking blankets around him, and pouring an obnoxious hot liquid down his throat.
He opened his eyes to stare balefully at her.
She brushed the hair back off his forehead.
“You don’t get sick much, do you?”
Harry’s cool hands were there, helping him into bed, tucking blankets around him, and pouring an obnoxious hot liquid down his throat.
He opened his eyes to stare balefully at her.
She brushed the hair back off his forehead.
“You don’t get sick much, do you?”
“No.
I don’t have time for it.
I don’t have time for it now.
We’re working on a buyout.
I’m going in to the office.”
He closed his eyes and hoped death would claim him.
“I’ll do that in a minute.”
I don’t have time for it.
I don’t have time for it now.
We’re working on a buyout.
I’m going in to the office.”
He closed his eyes and hoped death would claim him.
“I’ll do that in a minute.”
“Yes, you do that,” she said soothingly.
He woke up an hour later, just long enough for his personal doctor to examine him and declare in a solemn voice that he had the same virus everyone else had.
Iakovos muttered rude things about that, and promptly fell asleep again.
Iakovos muttered rude things about that, and promptly fell asleep again.
When he woke up a few hours after that, it was to find Harry sitting on the edge of the bed next to him, speaking on the phone to Dmitri.
“No, he can’t, Dmitri.
He’s running a fever, and he’s been getting sicker and sicker, and last night I had to practically pour him into bed.
The doctor says he has to rest.
Just tell the board or the investors or whoever it is who is nagging you to make him come in today that he’s ill, and he’ll be there when he can be there.”
He’s running a fever, and he’s been getting sicker and sicker, and last night I had to practically pour him into bed.
The doctor says he has to rest.
Just tell the board or the investors or whoever it is who is nagging you to make him come in today that he’s ill, and he’ll be there when he can be there.”
“Eglantine, I forbid you to speak to Dmitri about me like I’m not here,” he said crossly, feeling like he’d been run over by a two-ton semitruck, but irritated nonetheless that she would try to run his life like that.
“If I say I have to go to work, I will go to work.
Now move so I can get up and take a shower.”
“If I say I have to go to work, I will go to work.
Now move so I can get up and take a shower.”
She pursed her lips and put one hand on his chest, holding the phone over his head with the other.
“Tell you what—you get the phone, and you can go to work today.”
“Tell you what—you get the phone, and you can go to work today.”
He gave her his very best scornful look and sat up to take the phone from her.
Or rather, he tried to.
Somehow during the night she must have gained superhuman strength, enough to keep him pinned to the bed.
Or rather, he tried to.
Somehow during the night she must have gained superhuman strength, enough to keep him pinned to the bed.
“Unhand me,” he demanded, glaring at her hand on his chest.
“If you, with all those muscles and all that body mass, can’t remove my hand from your chest, then you’re too sick to leave the bed,” she told him in that maddeningly infuriating way she had.
He shifted his glare from her hand to her face.
She kissed the tip of his nose.
“You go too far, woman.”
She kissed the tip of his nose.
“You go too far, woman.”
“I know.
It’s my fatal flaw.
Do you still love me despite it?”
It’s my fatal flaw.
Do you still love me despite it?”
He opened his mouth to tell her that he did, but snapped his teeth shut, smiling at her instead.
That never failed to annoy her.
That never failed to annoy her.
“Gah!”
she said, and handed him the phone, storming off to the bathroom.
she said, and handed him the phone, storming off to the bathroom.
“How do you feel?”
Dmitri asked when she was gone.
Dmitri asked when she was gone.
“Like hell.
Worse.
Can you get the meeting pushed back a day or two?”
Worse.
Can you get the meeting pushed back a day or two?”
“It won’t be easy, but I think so.
I’d better—I’d hate to think what Harry would do to me if she found I made you come to the office that sick.”
I’d better—I’d hate to think what Harry would do to me if she found I made you come to the office that sick.”
Iakovos grunted a nonreply and hung up, wondering if he was going to have to sweeten Harry’s mood, and how he could possibly do that when he just wanted to be put out of his misery.
He woke up a short while later to the bliss of a cold cloth on his face.
“Come on, bachelor number five, time for your medicine.”
Harry slid an arm behind him as he struggled to sit up, and held a glass to his lips.
Harry slid an arm behind him as he struggled to sit up, and held a glass to his lips.
“What is it?”
he asked, frowning at the bubbling liquid.
he asked, frowning at the bubbling liquid.
“Flu medicine.
Your doctor sent it around.
Drink up.
It should help with the fever.”
Your doctor sent it around.
Drink up.
It should help with the fever.”
He drank, then collapsed back onto the pillows, every bone in his body aching.
“You don’t have to do that,” he said as she wiped his face and neck with a cold cloth.
“You don’t have to do that,” he said as she wiped his face and neck with a cold cloth.
She paused, a worried look in her eyes.
“Does it feel good?”
“Does it feel good?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t worry about it.
Just rest.”
Just rest.”
He opened his mouth to tell her he didn’t need her to attend to him, that the few times in the past when he’d been ill, he’d preferred to be left alone rather than fussed over, but somehow, this was different.
He dozed, woke periodically to find her trying to cool him down, or tempting him with cups of tea and soup, and gradually a sense of comfort settled next to the desire to end his miserable existence.
If he had to live and suffer through the horrible illness that gripped him so mercilessly, at least Harry was there to take care of him.
He dozed, woke periodically to find her trying to cool him down, or tempting him with cups of tea and soup, and gradually a sense of comfort settled next to the desire to end his miserable existence.
If he had to live and suffer through the horrible illness that gripped him so mercilessly, at least Harry was there to take care of him.
Three days later he emerged from the shower, feeling a little weak, but for the most part pretty damned good.
As he dressed he thought with gratitude about the woman who hadn’t left his side for one minute.
As he dressed he thought with gratitude about the woman who hadn’t left his side for one minute.
“If you ever want to give up writing, you could be a nurse,” he told her as he entered his bedroom, looping his tie around his neck.
She raised her head from the bed, shot him a scathing look that was suddenly arrested as her eyes grew large.
He only just got out of the way as she bolted for the bathroom, the sound of violent retching bringing back all too painful recent memories.
He only just got out of the way as she bolted for the bathroom, the sound of violent retching bringing back all too painful recent memories.
“I did point out to you that if you insisted on taking care of me, there was the likelihood that you’d end up with the same thing,” he reminded her as he entered the bathroom.
She was on the floor, her glorious long legs on either side of the toilet, her body hunched over the bowl.
She pushed back the tangled mass of her hair, wiped her mouth, and he knew that if she had been given the means to do so, at that moment she probably would have killed him.
She was on the floor, her glorious long legs on either side of the toilet, her body hunched over the bowl.
She pushed back the tangled mass of her hair, wiped her mouth, and he knew that if she had been given the means to do so, at that moment she probably would have killed him.
He loved her so much, it made his heart sing.
“Eglantine.”
“Eglantine.”
“Yacky,” she said tiredly, her cheek resting on the seat of the toilet, her expression one of utter misery.
“Marry me?”
Slowly her head rose, her eyes dark with fury.
“
What
did you say?”
“
What
did you say?”
“I asked if you would marry me.”
Her jaw worked for a few seconds.
“Now you ask me?”
“Now you ask me?”
“Yes.”
“Right now?
You do see that I’m hugging the toilet, don’t you?
You do know that I’ve been vomiting for the last three hours, right?”
You do see that I’m hugging the toilet, don’t you?
You do know that I’ve been vomiting for the last three hours, right?”
“I can see very well.
Will you marry me?”
Will you marry me?”
Her jaw worked again.
“I hate you.”
“I hate you.”
“I’ll take that as a yes, shall I?”
he said, wanting to sing and dance and quite possibly do a backflip or two.
he said, wanting to sing and dance and quite possibly do a backflip or two.
She rested her cheek on the seat again, her eyes closing.
“Go away.
I never want to see you again.
You are an evil, evil man.”
“Go away.
I never want to see you again.
You are an evil, evil man.”
“But you’ll marry me.”
“Not if you were the last world’s most eligible bachelor,” she said with a soft moan of revulsion.
“I’ll get Dmitri working on the wedding, then.
The nurse is here, by the way.
I’m sorry I can’t take care of you the way you did me, but I’m told she’s very good.”
The nurse is here, by the way.
I’m sorry I can’t take care of you the way you did me, but I’m told she’s very good.”
Harry told him, in exquisite detail, what he could do with himself.
He left the apartment whistling a cheerful tune.
He left the apartment whistling a cheerful tune.
Six weeks to the day after Iakovos finally got around to asking her to marry him, Harry sat in a doctor’s office in Seattle, completely speechless.
“You’re sure?”
she finally got out, her whole body in shock as she searched the face of the woman who stood in front of her.
she finally got out, her whole body in shock as she searched the face of the woman who stood in front of her.
“Quite sure.
I take it this isn’t something you were expecting?”
I take it this isn’t something you were expecting?”
She looked from the woman to the computer screen that showed the test results.
A surge of pure emotion shot through her.
“You’re really, really sure?
There hasn’t been some sort of a mix-up in tests?”
A surge of pure emotion shot through her.
“You’re really, really sure?
There hasn’t been some sort of a mix-up in tests?”
“No, no mix-up.”
Her doctor gave her a little pat on the shoulder.
“Harry, I’ve known you for what, fifteen years?
I know you said you were getting married, but is there a reason you
don’t
want to be pregnant right now?”
Her doctor gave her a little pat on the shoulder.
“Harry, I’ve known you for what, fifteen years?
I know you said you were getting married, but is there a reason you
don’t
want to be pregnant right now?”
“No.
Other than .
.
.
well .
.
.
I just wasn’t really thinking along those lines yet.
Iakovos and I haven’t talked about kids.
And, to be honest, I’m almost thirty-four, Bess.
That’s kind of pushing it for babies, isn’t it?”
Other than .
.
.
well .
.
.
I just wasn’t really thinking along those lines yet.
Iakovos and I haven’t talked about kids.
And, to be honest, I’m almost thirty-four, Bess.
That’s kind of pushing it for babies, isn’t it?”
“Pah.
You’re in good health, the babies are fine, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to present your handsome Greek with two beautiful children.”
You’re in good health, the babies are fine, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to present your handsome Greek with two beautiful children.”
Twins.
She was going to have twins.
She looked at the screen again, at the results of the blood test and scan that had been done when she’d come to Bess complaining of feeling punky.
She left the doctor’s office walking a good foot off the ground, and barely made it back to her apartment before she sat down on one of the packing boxes holding her possessions and dialed his number.
She was going to have twins.
She looked at the screen again, at the results of the blood test and scan that had been done when she’d come to Bess complaining of feeling punky.
She left the doctor’s office walking a good foot off the ground, and barely made it back to her apartment before she sat down on one of the packing boxes holding her possessions and dialed his number.
His voice was clipped as he said his name.
“Hi.
Am I bothering you?”
Am I bothering you?”
“We’re about to go into a meeting.
Can I call you later?”
Can I call you later?”
“Sure.
It’s just .
.
.
Iakovos .
.
.
there’s something .
.
.
important I have to tell you.”
It’s just .
.
.
Iakovos .
.
.
there’s something .
.
.
important I have to tell you.”
“Are you coming to New York earlier than you thought?”
he asked, his voice sending little warm skitters down her back.
They’d been apart for ten days while she wrapped up her life in Seattle and he worked on the pressing business in his New York office.
“No.
Yes.
Oh, I don’t know.
Listen, call me as soon as you can.
But, Iakovos?”
he asked, his voice sending little warm skitters down her back.
They’d been apart for ten days while she wrapped up her life in Seattle and he worked on the pressing business in his New York office.
“No.
Yes.
Oh, I don’t know.
Listen, call me as soon as you can.
But, Iakovos?”
“Yes?”
“Make sure you’re alone when you call.”
“Phone sex is no substitution for the real thing,” he told her sternly before ringing off.
It seemed like an eternity before he called that night, and she had a hard time actually accomplishing anything but wandering around her half-empty apartment, taking a few calls from friends who knew she was moving to Greece; one from her publisher, who called to congratulate her on her upcoming marriage; and a visit from Tim with an invitation to come over for dinner to see the new baby.
Through it all she smiled and chatted, all the while secretly hugging herself with her news, hardly able to contain herself until she could share her excitement with the man whose life was now inexorably bound to hers.
“All right, my wild sea nymph, I am back at the hotel, and alone, as you requested,” Iakovos said a few hours later, his voice warm and comforting in her ear.
“You may now proceed to torment me with sexual talk, but be warned I will have my revenge when you come to New York.
I plan on taking out all my frustrations on your delicious body.”
“You may now proceed to torment me with sexual talk, but be warned I will have my revenge when you come to New York.
I plan on taking out all my frustrations on your delicious body.”
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