Kitabı oku: «Double Trouble: Newborn Twins», sayfa 7

Chapter Seven

THE blood donation area of the hospital in Athens had continual traffic. Gabi looked over at Andreas. Both of them were stretched out side by side on cots giving blood. They’d taken the day off from work. It was a good thing since they’d had to wait at least an hour after arriving there before their turn was announced.

In preparation for today she’d eaten a good breakfast and had forced down fluids. Before bringing her to the hospital where Kris would be having his surgery, Andreas had instructed the limo driver to drop them off at a fabulous restaurant in the Plaka for lunch. But instead of ordering the specialty of the house, they’d eaten iron-rich spinach salad followed by sirloin steak.

Andreas was remarkable. In the short time she’d been working for him, she’d learned that when he did something, he always did it right and thoroughly. She loved him with a vengeance. If Kris weren’t facing an operation, Andreas wouldn’t have asked her to stay on and none of this would be happening.

“This is kind of like lying on the beach at Papafragas.”

For him to mention that night—out of the blue—when she’d lost almost every inhibition in his arms came as such a surprise, she almost fell off the cot.

“It’s not as warm,” she murmured.

“No, and we’re not alone. It’s a good thing we don’t have to swim the length of that fjord later. We’re not supposed to do any strenuous activity for the rest of the day. I wouldn’t be able to save you.”

In spite of that bittersweet memory, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Then what are we going to do?”

“I’ll tell the chauffeur to drive us back to the office and we’ll watch TV in your apartment while we take it easy.”

“If you get lightheaded, the long couch is yours,” she quipped, but the second the words came out, she regretted saying anything. Since the day he’d shown it to her, he’d never asked to come inside and she’d never invited him. To cover her tracks she asked, “Do you ever watch TV?”

“All the time.”

“You’re joking—”

He chuckled. “Leon and I are sports nuts.”

“I can believe that, but when do you find the time?”

“My iPhone. Broadband is everywhere and performs almost every trick known to technological mankind.”

“Aha! So in between important phone calls and meetings, you’re watching soccer?”

“Or basketball or the NFL.”

“How about NASCAR? The Grand Prix?”

“Love it all.”

She frowned. “And here I thought you were different.”

His smile was too much. “What do you watch?”

“When I’m in the States and have time, the History Channel and cooking shows, British comedies and mysteries. I also like bullriding.”

“You’re a fan of the rodeo?”

“When I was in college, a friend of mine attending there asked me to go back to Austin with her during our two-week break. We met a couple of cowboys and got talked into going to one. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

He stared at her as if trying to find a way into her soul. “On a certain cowboy?”

“For a time I was,” she answered honestly, “but the illness passed.”

“Have there been many?”

“Many what?” She knew exactly what he meant.

“Illnesses.”

“Probably half a dozen.” She didn’t want to talk about old boyfriends. The man lying near her made every male she’d ever known fade into insignificance. “Andreas? Speaking of illness, what did Kris’s heart surgeon tell Leon when he took him in for his checkup yesterday? You went with him, but you acted differently when you came back to the office.”

“Did I?”

“You know you did. If you’re trying to spare me, please don’t.”

Suddenly the curtain was swept aside and two hospital staff came in to finish up and unhook them. “You’re all done.” They both sat up and put their legs on the floor. “Take your time. There are refreshments outside before you leave the hospital.”

When they were alone again, Gabi slid off the cot and turned to him. “I’m still waiting for an answer.”

By now Andreas had rolled down his shirtsleeve and was on his feet. “The doctor couldn’t promise the operation would be risk free.”

“Of course not. No operation is.”

“My brother’s dealing with too many emotions right now.”

They all were. She sensed Andreas was secretly worried, but he hid it well. “On top of Leon’s pain, taking care of the twins is physically exhausting work no matter how sweet they are.”

His eyes were almost slumberous as they looked at her. “We need time off from our fears, too. Since there’s nothing more we can do for the moment, let’s go home and relax.”

She watched him shrug into his jacket. He sounded as if he meant that they would actually go back to her apartment and spend the rest of the day together, but it was out of the question. Andreas had a playful side that could throw her off guard at unexpected moments, but from the time Deline had told her he had a serious girlfriend, Gabi refused to play.

After they’d been served juice and rolls, the limo took them to the office. They rode his private elevator to her floor. Gabi’s heart thudded heavily as they walked across the foyer to her suite.

She opened the door, then turned to him. “Thank you for accompanying me this far in case I fainted, but as you can see I’m fine. If you’re feeling dizzy, there’s a very comfortable couch to lie down on in the reception room of your office.” A smile broke the corner of her mouth. “I know because I spent half a day on it waiting for you to give me an audience.”

She heard him inhale quickly, as if he were out of breath and needed more air. “I’m sorry you were forced to wait so long.”

“I’m not,” she said brightly. “It gave me an opportunity to watch Anna at work. On that day who would have guessed I’d end up filling in temporarily after she left?”

When he still made no move to leave, she said, “Thank you for giving blood with me, Andreas. I’m glad I didn’t have to do it alone. See you in the morning and we’ll plan that big company party you want to give for Anna after she’s recovered from her knee surgery.”

Before the weakness invading her body smothered the voice telling her not to let him get near enough to touch her, she stepped inside and started to close the door.

“Not so fast.” Andreas had put his foot there, making it impossible to shut it. Quick as lightning he stepped inside and closed it. Her heart thumped so hard, she was afraid he could hear it.

“What is it?”

“What do you think?” he demanded in a silky voice.

Uh-oh. Gabi backed away from him. “I—I’m sure I don’t know,” she stammered.

He moved toward her. “When I left you at the resort on Apollonia after our night at Papafragas, I held a woman in my arms who was with me all the way. In the blink of an eye I learned she’d left the island. When I went after that woman and found her, she’d changed. Since then I’ve been waiting for her to re-emerge, but she hasn’t. Now I want to know why.”

She smoothed her palms against her hips, a gesture his piercing gaze followed while she tried to think up an answer. Unless it was the truth, nothing would satisfy him, but in doing so she would give herself away.

As the silence lengthened a grimace marred his handsome features. “At the hospital you admitted there was no other man in your life, or is that a lie and it’s your boss you’re in love with?”

Gabi had a hard time believing she’d injured his pride by playing hard to get, because that was all this interrogation could possibly be about.

“No,” she finally answered with every bit of control she could muster. “Like you, I don’t have a significant other I’m keeping secrets from.” She’d said it on purpose to watch for the slightest guilty reaction from him. Now was the time for him to admit his involvement with the woman Deline had mentioned, but nothing was forthcoming.

“If that’s true, why do you rush away from me the second our business day is over? How come we never share a meal unless it’s on Milos while we’re checking on the twins?” His eyes narrowed on her mouth. “Have I suddenly become repulsive to you?”

She was aghast. “I’m not going to dignify that absurd question with an answer.” If anyone were listening, they’d think he was her husband listing the latest problem in their marriage.

“Then prove it. I told you I’d like to spend the rest of the afternoon with you. We can do it here or at my penthouse.”

There was no putting him off. She bit her lip. “Well, as long as you’re here, y—”

“My thoughts exactly.” He finished her sentence and removed his jacket, tossing it over a side chair. “When we get hungry later, we’ll have the restaurant send something up.”

She got that excited sensation in her midriff. “Excuse me for a moment.”

“Take all the time you need to freshen up. I’m not going anywhere.”

That was what she was afraid of as she darted from the living room. The second she saw herself in the bathroom mirror she groaned to see her cheeks were filled with hectic color. After giving blood, she was shocked by her body’s betrayal.

When she returned a few minutes later her feet came to a standstill. Andreas had stretched out on her couch with his eyes closed. He’d turned on television to a made-for-TV Greek movie.

He was so gorgeous, she didn’t dare move or breathe in case he sensed she was there and caught her feasting her eyes on him. Every part of his male facial structure was perfect. From his wavy black hair to the long, hard-muscled length of his powerful anatomy, he was a superb specimen. But it was the core of the remarkable human beneath that radiated throughout, bringing alive the true essence of what a real man should be.

Maybe it was the combination of giving blood and the many hours of work he’d been packing into each day so they could spend time with the twins. Whatever, it all seemed to have taken its toll. She could tell from the way he was breathing that he’d fallen asleep.

He would never know how much she wanted to lie down and wrap her arms around him, never letting him go, but she couldn’t. Feeling tired herself, she lay down on the small couch facing him so she could watch him as he slept.

The movie played on, but she had no idea what it was about. Her lids grew heavy. When next she became cognizant of her surroundings, Andreas had just set a tray of sandwiches and coffee on the table.

Surprised at how deeply she’d slept, she took a minute to clear her head before she sat up. Her watch said five to six! She glanced at Andreas. “How long have you been awake?”

“About twenty minutes. It’s apparent we both needed the rest.”

“I never sleep in the middle of the day!”

She felt his chuckle down to her toes. “You did this time.” Did she snore? Help! “I’m going to take it as a compliment you felt comfortable with me.”

“In other words it was the proof you needed to realize I don’t find you repulsive?”

“Something like that,” came the wry comment. “I’ve already eaten. Have some coffee.” He handed her a cup.

“Thank you.” She drank half of it before eating a sandwich. In a few minutes she sat back. “That tasted good.”

He stood there surfing the channels until he came to another movie. Before she could countenance it, he sat down next to her and pulled her across his lap into his arms.

“This is what I wanted to do earlier.”

Andreas moved too fast for her. She could no more resist the hard male mouth clinging to hers than she could stop breathing. Oh—he tasted so good, felt so good. Her body seemed to quicken in acknowledgment that they’d done this before.

Without conscious thought she curled on her side and wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to get her lips closer to his face. The need to press kisses to each feature took over. She ran a hand into his hair, loving the texture of it.

On a groan he crushed her tighter, then his mouth covered hers again and she thought she’d die of the pleasure he was giving her. “I want you, Gabi. I want to make love to you.”

She wanted it, too, more than anything she’d wanted in life, but enjoying a few kisses and sleeping together were two different things. Gabi refused to get in any deeper when she knew she wasn’t the only woman in his life. Girlfriend or wife, there was someone else. The fact that he still hadn’t admitted it revealed the one flaw in him she couldn’t overlook.

These last three weeks she’d avoided this situation for the very reason that you couldn’t go on kissing each other or it turned into something else. She needed to quit while she could still keep her head. That way she’d have fewer regrets when she got back to the advertising world.

The second he allowed her a breath she eased away from him and stood up. “Much as I’m tempted, I’d rather we didn’t cross that line. Remember we’re an aunt and uncle to the twins and will be seeing each other on the rare occasion throughout our lives. Many times I’ve heard you tell potential clients you like keeping things above board and professional. It’s my opinion that line of reasoning works well in our particular case.”

After his arrival on Milos, Andreas strode through Leon’s villa looking for his brother. Estelle told him he was putting the babies down for the night. As he approached the nursery he saw Leon closing the door.

They glanced at each other. “Thanks for coming,” he whispered. “Let’s go to my room.”

“Sorry I couldn’t get here any sooner to help with the twins. I had an important meeting.” He’d asked Gabi to type up his notes and leave them on his desk before he took off for Milos.

Since the night she’d delivered the coup de grâce, he’d only been functioning on autopilot. Gabi was keeping something from him and he was determined to get it out of her no matter what he had to do.

Leon shut the door behind them. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

Andreas stared at his brother. He’d lost weight and looked tired, but that was to be expected considering he was a new father. The look of anxiety in his eyes was something else again, kindling Andreas’s curiosity. “What’s this about? I thought you told me Kris was fine after his checkup.”

“He is.”

“Don’t tell me you think they’re still missing Gabi?”

“Not as much. After the first few days they both stopped crying for her and accepted me. Now when they see me, they reach for me and don’t want anyone else except Gabi when she comes. It’s an amazing feeling.”

“I can only imagine.” Andreas was longing for the same experience himself, but only under the right circumstances. “So what’s wrong?”

“Maybe you ought to sit down.”

Was it that bad? He remained standing. “Just tell me.”

“You won’t believe this. Deline called me this afternoon. She’s pregnant.”

The news rocked Andreas back on his heels. In fact it was incredible. He stared at his twin. Leon was now the father of a third child yet to be born.

“The doctor confirmed she’s six weeks along. It was the shortest phone call on record. Before she hung up, she said she was still divorcing me, but wanted me to know the baby was due next spring.”

“No matter what, congratulations are in order.” Andreas gave him a brotherly hug.

Leon looked shell-shocked. “Ironic, isn’t it? I’ve got Thea’s children, Deline’s carrying mine, yet none of us will be getting together.”

He’d left out a heartbroken Gabi who would have had every right to hold on to the twins without telling anyone, but she didn’t have a selfish bone in her beautiful body. One thing was evident. Through this experience Leon had learned how much he loved Deline. Andreas could only commiserate with him.

“Don’t despair. With time it could all work out the way you want it. As long as I’m here, why don’t you fly to Athens and talk to her tonight? I’ll do the babysitting duties here until you get back. If you need a couple of days, take it!”

Leon’s eyes ignited. “You’d do that?”

His brother was in pain and needed help.

“What do you think?” After today’s meeting he didn’t have anything of vital importance on for tomorrow. If he went to Gabi’s door, she wouldn’t let him in. “I’m crazy about my nephews and want to spend some quality time with them.”

His brother had difficulty swallowing. “Thanks. It seems like that’s all I ever say to you. I haven’t been to work in weeks. You’ve had a double load.”

“Don’t you remember you’ve been given maternity leave? As Gabi once said to me, what’s sauce for the goose…”

While Leon changed clothes, he shot Andreas a curious glance. “How’s she doing as Anna’s replacement?”

“Better than even I had imagined.”

“Under the circumstances you were wise to break it off with Irena as soon as you did. Everyone in the family knows it now, but I have to tell you it came as a shock to Deline.”

Andreas nodded. “Those two managed to grow even closer during the time I was seeing her.”

“Deline says Irena is leaving for Italy for a long holiday. Before she does, she wants to take a look at the twins, so don’t be surprised if she shows up. Sorry about that if it happens.”

“I’m not concerned. If there’s any problem with the boys that I don’t anticipate, I’ll call you.”

As soon as Leon left the villa Andreas stretched out on top of his brother’s bed and drew the phone from his pocket. He frowned when all he got was Gabi’s voice mail. The beep eventually sounded.

“Gabi? Something has come up and Leon needs my help. First thing in the morning I’d like you to reschedule any appointments for the next two days, then I want you to fly to Milos. The helicopter will be standing by. I’ll expect you in time to have a late breakfast with the boys.”

She would never come for him, but an opportunity to see the twins was something else again.

The apartment in the Simonides office building was more fabulous than any five-star hotel. Every time Gabi stepped out of the shower of the guest suite, she felt as if she were a princess whose days were enchanted because she was allowed to be with Andreas while he worked.

If there was a downside, it came at the end of the day. When Andreas left his office and said he’d see her in the morning, the enchantment left with him. Except for the evening she’d talked to him about not crossing the line, she hadn’t been with him in another setting away from the office.

Since she’d come to work for him, the nights had turned out to be the loneliest Gabi had ever known. To stave off the worst of it, she spent time after hours acquainting herself with the files stored on the computer and memorizing the names of his most important clients.

One night last week she’d come across the merger with Paulos Metal Experts. To her astonishment she read that Dimitri had brought several unscrupulous lawsuits against the Simonides Corporation in order to get the judge to intervene.

Andreas had represented his father in court. Every attempt by the opposition was defeated. Photocopies of all the court documents were there. It had been a heated case. She didn’t say anything to Andreas, but reading the material gave her a much fuller understanding of the disgusting man Thea had married.

This evening when Andreas had left the office, she could tell he was in a hurry. Naturally she imagined he was planning to spend the night with his girlfriend, a possibility too devastating to contemplate.

With an aching heart she reached for her cell phone to see if there’d been any calls from her parents or Jasmin while she’d been in the shower. To her shock, the only message she’d missed had come from Andreas.

She always loved the opportunity to fly out to Milos so she could hold her precious babies. This time she’d make it a short, drop-in visit and take some pictures of the twins with her cell phone to show her parents. After that she would ask the pilot to fly her to Heraklion for a surprise visit. They’d love to see how much their grandsons had grown.

Since Gabi needed a break to separate herself from Andreas, it was a good plan. In a few more days Kris would be having his surgery. After he’d recovered, she would resign her job with Andreas and go back to Virginia.

That would leave him free to do whatever. Everything would be wrapping up soon and she’d be gone for good.

Twelve hours later Gabi climbed aboard the helicopter atop the office building with her overnight bag. En route to Milos she informed the pilot she would only be there for a brief time. Afterward she wished to be flown to Heraklion.

Armed with her plans, she arrived at the Simonides villa where Andreas stood at the helipad, disturbingly handsome in an unfastened white linen shirt and bathing trunks. She’d been so used to seeing him in a business suit at the office, her heart skipped around, throwing her completely off-kilter.

As he stepped forward to help her out, his penetrating eyes seemed to be all over her, turning her insides to mush. She’d worn a summery print skirt and sleeveless blouse in earth tones on white with white straw sandals. It was an outfit he wouldn’t have seen before.

“I’m glad you made it. You smell as delicious as you look this morning.”

“Thank you.” She hadn’t been prepared for a comment like that. Her stomach clenched mercilessly. “It’s a new mango shampoo I bought. Your pilot said the same thing. He’s going to buy some for his wife.”

His white smile was so captivating, her lungs constricted. “I know you can’t wait to see the boys. They’re in their new swings on the patio. Follow me.”

She knew the way as they walked down several flights of steps past flowering gardens to the rectangular swimming pool of iridescent blue.

The Simonides compound was exquisite, surpassing what she’d seen from the air the first time they’d come. Each white villa was terraced with flowers and greenery, one on top of the other all the way down to the sea where the white sand merged with aquamarine waters. She paused on one of the steps to look around.

“Oh, Andreas…I know I say this every time, but this is all so gorgeous, I can’t believe it’s real.” She couldn’t believe he was real. “With a devoted father like Leon, the children have to be the luckiest little boys on earth.”

“The real miracle is that they got their start with you and your family. They’re waiting for you.”

“I’m dying to see them.” She trailed him down one more flight of steps and through an alcove. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the canopied swings propped near each other beneath an overhang of brilliant passion flowers. The seats were moving back and forth to a little nursery-rhyme song.

She ran toward the boys, then slowed down for fear she’d frighten them. They were dressed in identical blue sunsuits. No shoes or socks on because it was too hot.

“They’ve filled out!”

Andreas chuckled as he undid Kris and handed him to her. “Look who’s here.”

“Oh, you little sweetheart.” She hugged him in her arms, unable to stop kissing his neck and cheeks. While she walked around with him, Andreas extricated Nikos and propped him against his broad shoulder.

“I’ve missed you,” she crooned to him, rocking him gently. Finally she put her head back so she could look at him. “Do you remember me?” He blinked. “I don’t think he knows me, Andreas.” Her brows furrowed.

“Give him a minute. The sun’s so bright. Here. We’ll trade.” He reached for Kris with one arm and handed Nikos to her with the other.

“How could you possibly be this adorable?” She kissed his tummy. “Do you take cute pills?” She lifted him above her head.

Andreas’s happy laughter filled the air. “Kris recognizes your voice. See? He’s craning his head to look at you.”

“You think?” she cried out joyously. All of a sudden Nikos started getting more excited and made his little baby sounds. “Well, that’s more like it.” She kissed one cheek, then the other, making him smile each time.

“I’d smile like that if you kissed me that way all the time,” Andreas said in a provocative aside. He was back to being playful.

Gabi ignored the comment, but felt the blush that swept into her cheeks. “I’m not sure this was such a good idea. I don’t know how I’m going to tear myself away.”

“No one’s going anywhere quite yet. Estelle will be out in a minute with their bottles. We’ll feed them before she puts them down for their naps.”

“Maybe the two of you better do it. I don’t want my presence to upset them and undo the progress Leon has made.”

She lowered Nikos into his swing so she could take pictures. Now that she had an excuse to capture Andreas at the same time, she took a dozen different shots of him and the children in quick succession.

“It’s good for them to see you every few days,” he murmured, brushing off her worries. “Their psyches have a greater sense of security knowing you haven’t disappeared from their lives.”

Gabi squinted at him. “Is that based on scientific fact?”

“No.” His lips twitched. “I made it up because I know how much you need to hold them.”

I love you, Andreas Simonides.

She found a chair beneath the overhang and put Nikos back on her lap so she could examine him. Andreas pulled up another chair next to her and sat down with Kris. Grasping the children’s hands, they started to play pat-a-cake with each other. Gabi broke into laughter. Andreas joined her.

“Maybe we shouldn’t interrupt them, Estelle. They’re having too much fun.”

Gabi heard an unfamiliar female voice and looked over her shoulder. She saw two women, each carrying a baby bottle. The older one was dressed for housework. The younger one was the epitome of the fashionably dressed, breathtaking, black-haired Greek woman, making a beeline for Andreas.

“Irena—” Andreas called to her.

Gabi wished she hadn’t seen her. Ever since she’d heard about her from Deline, she’d wondered where she’d been hiding. Now that she’d appeared, Gabi found it was much harder than she’d thought to actually meet her. She hugged Nikos to her body.

Deep inside she wished the vision of this incredibly beautiful female weren’t permanently etched in her mind. Her brown eyes looked like velvet. Taking the initiative, Gabi said, “You haven’t interrupted anything. I’m Gabi Turner, the boys’ aunt.”

“How do you do?”

“You’ve come just in time to help Andreas feed the twins. I can’t stay any longer. My parents are expecting me on Crete.”

She got up and motioned for Irena to sit down before handing Nikos to her. Andreas’s veiled eyes followed her movements. By his enigmatic expression, she had no idea what he was thinking. Estelle handed him the other bottle.

Gabi kissed Nikos before turning to Andreas. “When the pilot flew me here this morning, I hope it’s all right that I asked him to wait so he could fly me on to Heraklion.”

“Of course,” came the low aside.

If Gabi had taken license she shouldn’t have, she didn’t care. This was one time she needed an escape pod. The helicopter would do nicely. She gave Kris another peck on the cheek.

“See you at the hospital, my little darling.” Before she lifted her head, the temptation to cover Andreas’s sensuous mouth with her own was overpowering, but she resisted the impulse. “I’ll let myself out.”

As she hurried to retrace her steps back to the helipad she heard Kris start to cry. A few seconds later Nikos joined in. Their cries brought her pleasure as well as pain. In another minute they’d get over it and enjoy the attention of Andreas and his girlfriend.

Gabi, on the other hand, would never get over it. Her cries were loudest of all, but she would manage to stifle them until after she’d reached Heraklion.

By the time Andreas heard the helicopter and felt the paralyzing pang of watching it swing away with Gabi inside, the twins had settled down enough to finish their bottles.

Irena patted Nikos’s back to burp him before putting him in his swing. She glanced at Andreas. “Forgive me for intruding on you and Gabi, Andreas. I didn’t realize you were here this morning.”

“You don’t owe me any apology. Leon said you might come by to see the babies.”

She nodded. “Deline was right. Leon’s chil-dren are beautiful. What a tragic situation.”

Andreas kissed Kris’s head. “It’s a painful time for everyone concerned including you, Irena. Heaven knows I never meant to hurt you.”

“I’m going to be all right.”

He had to believe that. “I understand you’re leaving for Italy.”

“Yes, but I’m glad I came by here first and happened to see you. The change in you since last month has been so dramatic, I don’t know you anymore. When I saw you out here with her just now, I felt an energy radiating. It was like a fire burning inside of you. Seeing you with her explains several things I haven’t understood and makes me want that kind of love for myself.”

He got to his feet. “There’s no finer woman than you. You deserve every happiness. How long will you be in Italy?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because I’m concerned about you.”

“Don’t be. Your courage to break it off with me has opened my eyes to certain things about myself I haven’t wanted to admit or explore. To answer your question, I’ll be in Italy for as long as it takes.”

Her cryptic remark surprised him. “Irena?”

“Don’t say anything more. We already talked everything out at the house. Please don’t walk me to the car. You stay with your nephews. Adio, Andreas.”

“Adio.” In a strange way he couldn’t decipher, she’d changed, too. Something was going on…Bemused, he watched her until she disappeared, then he looked down at the twins. The time had come to get them out of this heat. He tucked a baby under each arm and carried them back to Leon’s villa. Another diaper change and they’d be ready for their naps.

Once the boys were asleep, he found Estelle and told her he was going to do some laps in the pool. The energy Irena had referred to was pouring out of him. He needed to release it with some physical activity or he’d jump out of his skin.