He eyed Zoe. “I know you want to revisit the Book of the Rock.”
“Please.”
They left the hotel and started walking. It was a favorite place of Byron’s where he’d sat on some rocks and wrote his poetry. The town had erected a white stone plaque to honor him. It resembled a large book and was inscribed.
“Is everything all right, Andreas?”
“It is now.” He grasped her hand and they kept on going until they reached the spot for which Lakithra was famous. She tugged on him to climb up the hill to reach the book. Then she read the Greek words aloud in English. “If I am a poet, I owe it to the air of Greece.”
Zoe looked all around. “I know exactly how Byron felt. The air and the scenery here are intoxicating. What a tragedy he died young.”
“We can be thankful he was prolific. After we walk to Metaxata to see his statue, we’ll have a late lunch.” He would just as soon not return to the hotel, but he’d come to see if its efficiency and the chef’s menu were up to Gavras standards.
An hour later, as they were finishing their meal of lobster and anginares, she flashed him an impish smile.
“Did you know? Byron said, ‘A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be lobster salad and champagne, the only truly feminine and becoming viands.’ The poet had opinions on everything and hang-ups about getting fat. He’d binge, then exist on soda water and potatoes soaked in vinegar.”
His black eyes smiled. “A most unusual genius.”
A worried look crept into her expression. “Forgive me for going on and on, Andreas. Thank you again for bringing me here and putting up with me. While I’ve been relishing this unforgettable day in Byron’s world, I’ve driven you nuts. But now I’m through and am looking forward to meeting your little boy. Does your wife know I’ll be there? It might be upsetting to her.”
They were finally getting around to Lia. Because Zoe was the kind of sensitive woman who had never pried into his personal life—a quality he cherished in her—she deserved to hear everything. He needed her to know all the truth.
“When we get on the plane, I’ll tell you about Lia.” He rang the driver to pick them up.
Her eyes reflected concern as he got to his feet and ushered her out of the dining room. With no intention of visiting the office again, Andreas walked her to the entrance. The two male staff members helped them inside the back of the limo.
During the short drive to the airport, Zoe studied him. “What’s wrong, Andreas? You’ve been preoccupied since we first arrived at the hotel. Is it something I’ve done?”
“Never you.” They sat by each other, making it easy for him to grasp her hand and squeeze it. “News of my separation has traveled fast. I haven’t been seen in public with anot
her woman except for you. I forgot how fast word would spread throughout the company, even to Kefalonia and a hotel manager I’d like to fire.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He commented on your beauty and inferred I might want a room for the night.”
“Ooh—he said that to the CEO? He really has no boundaries and doesn’t know what a private person you are.”
“The one thing it did do was remind me I haven’t protected you from Lia. There’s no doubt she’s aware of you. She has eyes and ears watching me, but so far I haven’t taken you to Athens.”
Zoe looked stunned. “Is she the reason I haven’t met your son?”
“That requires a complicated answer. I wanted you to get to know him, but at first you and I were both feeling our way carefully with each other. I feared overwhelming you.”
She nodded. “How long were you married?”
“Twenty months to the day I filed for separation. I met you two days later. It’s a contested divorce so I don’t know when it will become final.”
“I didn’t realize you’d been married such a short time. I thought mine held the record for brevity but yours didn’t last much longer.”
“Neither marriage was meant to be,” he murmured. “I’m anxious to explain everything, but we’ve arrived at the airport. I’ll tell you the rest after we board the jet.”
Andreas helped her up the steps. The elegant interior included the arrangement of four taupe-colored club seats with couches behind them. He sat across from her. Once they’d attained cruising speed and the fasten seat belt light had shut off, he leaned forward to talk to her.
“I met Lia in Athens. She was the daughter of a prominent banker I did business with in setting up an international exporting business. I fell for her.
“We didn’t want a really long engagement so we were married only five months after we met. My parents had been killed in a helicopter crash the year before.”