“I don’t want to do that if I don’t have to,” Andreas said with a frown.
“That’s your decency talking. We’ll stay in close touch.”
With both calls made, he hurried to his bedroom to change into his trunks and a T-shirt. Then he gathered towels and sunscreen for them.
Andreas was finally going to be alone with Zoe and his son in his own home. It had taken a long time to reach this point. One day soon he planned on getting his heart’s desire. Being married to Zoe was all he could think about.
* * *
Zoe gasped softly as the limo drove along the seashore to Andreas’s cream-colored villa with a red tiled roof, spread out over the property like a one-story exclusive resort. It overlooked a beach with a fantastic view of the entire bay of Patras. Everywhere her eyes wandered she saw olive and citrus trees with sweeping flower beds, grass and plants.
When the limo drove up the circular drive to the entrance where she saw his Mercedes parked, Andreas was waiting for her dressed to go swimming. Every time she saw him, it was like the first time and she struggled to catch her breath. He was beyond gorgeous in so many ways. How Lia could have been unfaithful to him made no sense to Zoe.
She assumed things had to be better with his ex-wife or she wouldn’t have brought Ari to Patras and left him.
“Thank heaven you’re here,” he exclaimed after opening the door so she could get out. He reached for her bag and walked her inside the large foyer. You could see through to the swimming pool beyond the glass that formed the other side of the exquisite foyer filled with potted flowering plants.
“Oh, Andreas—” But those were the only two words that escaped before he crushed her in his arms and kissed the daylights out of her. She had no idea how long they tried to appease their hunger for each other. It didn’t matter. This was where she wanted to be, in his home, in his strong arms. The ache to be loved by him was reaching its zenith.
He picked her up like a bride and carried her through part of the villa and down a hall to the nursery where Ari was sleeping. Smothering her mouth with another deep kiss, he followed her down on the double bed and began devouring her in earnest.
To lie next to him like this was ecstasy. While his powerful legs twined with her jean-clad limbs, she ran her hands through his black hair and kissed every feature, not able to get enough of him. Everywhere he touched her, he set her body on fire.
“I love you, Andreas. I love you so much it frightens me.” The words poured out of her. She couldn’t stop them.
“We have to get married, Zoe. I need you desperately.” He stared down into her eyes. “Say you’ll be my wife as soon as the divorce goes through.”
Before she could answer him, they both heard Ari, who’d awakened without their knowledge and had gotten to his feet. He was shaking the crib railing and calling out “Baba!”
Andreas had to let her go and got up from the bed to reach for his son. “It’s about time your mother brought you back so you could sleep in your own bedroom.” He kissed him half a dozen times while Zoe sat up to watch the tender way he dealt with his boy.
Ari’s cheeks were rosy from sleep. Andreas changed his diaper and put him in a darling swimming suit. Once dressed, he slipped sandals on him and carried him over to her. “Do you remember Zoe?”
His son didn’t act interested or say her name. “I think he’s disoriented to see me here.”
“He’ll get used to it since you’re going to be an integral part of our lives.”
Zoe hadn’t said she’d marry him. He still hadn’t told her where things really stood with Lia, but just hearing Andreas say what he did sent a shiver of excitement through her.
“Come on. We left your bag in the foyer. Let’s collect it and I’ll show you to the guest bedroom where you can change.”
His villa was a marvel of modern design; open, airy and full of light. The use of plants and paintings provided the color against the white walls. He showed her to the guest bedroom and waited while she put on her swimming suit and beach jacket in the en suite bathroom.
When she walked out, his lingering gaze on every part of her face and figure set her heart pounding. She followed him as they walked on fabulous Greek tiles to the immaculate kitchen that was a housewife’s dream. Ari looked over Andreas’s shoulder at her. “Are you beginning to remember me, Ari? I’m Zoe.”
To her delight he finally said her name, producing happy laughter from Andreas. “We’ll take out a drink and some snacks for him. Would you like a soda?”
“That sounds wonderful. I’ll get it.” She reached in the fridge for a cola. “Do you want one, too?”
“Yes, please.”
She trailed him through an alcove to some doors that opened onto more tiles surrounding the rectangular pool. It was a glittering blue in the afternoon sunlight.
“This has to be the reason you stay in such fabulous shape.” Like a Greek god.
He grinned. “I don’t know about fabulous, but I try to work out here every morning before I leave for work.”
“What heaven!”