The Tycoon's Son. Cindy Kirk

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ She was adamant that Theo have no contact with any of them.

      But Theo was curious. Curious what they were like. Over the years he’d seen them on television many times so he didn’t think he’d have any trouble recognizing them. But what was there to talk about? They didn’t move in the same social circles or share the same lifestyle. And why had they even contacted him? A sliver of dread crawled up Theo’s spine.

      His mother had been right. Having anything to do with the Stamos family was a mistake. For the briefest of seconds Theo considered leaving. But he’d given his word and, just like a handshake, his word meant something. Besides, he hadn’t gotten to where he was by running from difficult situations.

      He paused halfway up the gangway and removed the earbuds, slipping them into his pocket. Sounds of music and laughter spilled over from the upper deck. The ship was supposed to pull out in the morning. This was one of those overnight port stays intended to give the passengers more time to enjoy Corfu Town by night.

      He continued up the gangway behind a couple of chattering women. When he reached the top, he hesitated. Katherine had said she’d be there to meet him at eight. But it was already five after and there was no woman waiting. Only two staff members screening the returning passengers and a security guard sitting on a chair stood between him and the entrance to the ship.

      His tour operator’s license had gotten him this far but it wouldn’t be enough to get him on board.

      “Welcome back,” one of the staff said with a smile. “Your boarding pass, sir?”

      Theo shook his head and offered an easy smile. “I’m not a passenger. I’m meeting—”

      The man’s smile disappeared. “I’m sorry, sir. Only passengers are allowed on the ship.”

      “I understand that,” Theo said amiably. “However, I’m here to meet—”

      “It doesn’t matter, sir,” the man said.

      “But—” Theo began.

      Out of the corner of his eye he saw the guard stand. He wasn’t surprised. Because of security concerns, most cruise ships were reluctant to allow non-passengers on board. That’s why Katherine was supposed to be here, to navigate him through security.

      “I am so sorry I’m late.”

      Theo heard the feminine voice even before the beautiful woman rounded the corner. Stylishly slim with light brown hair and a fair complexion, she looked more like her English mother than her Greek father.

      “Gentlemen, it’s my mistake,” she said, in a soft, melodious voice. “I planned to be here with this before he arrived but I was detained.”

      She showed the man the security pass and he scanned it then waved Theo forward. Katherine waited until they were in the hall before wrapping her arms around him in an impulsive hug that seemed to surprise her as much as it did him. He stiffened but didn’t pull away.

      Her arms dropped to her side and she took a step back then held out her hand. “By the way, I’m Katherine.”

      He took her hand in a brief shake. “Theo Catomeris.

      “Thank you so much for coming.” The merest hint of pink touched her cheeks. “And just so you know, I’m not in the habit of hugging complete strangers. But the resemblance to…well, the resemblance is uncanny.”

      Theo had seen Elias Stamos on television many times. He knew he bore a strong resemblance to the man, but in his family that was never mentioned. He didn’t know how to respond to Katherine’s comment so he remained silent.

      “I’m so happy you decided to come.” Katherine punched the elevator button then gave a nervous laugh. “I think I already said that before, didn’t I?”

      Theo just lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. This was a difficult situation for all of them to navigate. At least she was talking. His ability to make small talk seemed to have vanished.

      “I was surprised to get the invitation,” Theo said finally. “I wasn’t aware you knew I even existed.”

      “Well, I…we…haven’t always known,” Katherine said. “But we do now.”

      Theo sensed she shared his unease on how to manage the situation. Obviously meeting your father’s bastard son wasn’t something covered in most etiquette books.

      “Have you had dinner yet?” she asked.

      Theo shook his head.

      “Good,” Katherine said, and he could almost see a little of the tension ease from her face. “Helena and I considered having dinner brought to the penthouse but we thought you might enjoy seeing some of the ship. The Empire Room is the main dining room.”

      Her speech had taken on a nervous, edgy quality that he found oddly reassuring. At least he wasn’t the only one stressed over this meeting.

      Katherine took a deep breath and continued. “It serves international cuisine so I’m sure you’ll find something to please your palate. It’s very impressive.”

      “Spoken like a true PR person,” Theo said before he could stop himself.

      Surprise skittered across Katherine’s face. “You know what I do?”

      “Just what I read in the papers,” he said. “I know that Liberty is one of your firm’s biggest accounts.”

      “Well, right now you seem to have the advantage,” Katherine said. “Because I don’t know a whole lot about you.”

      “Not much to know.” Theo hoped dinner didn’t deteriorate into a question-and-answer session. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the evening being grilled about his past. Of course, enduring an hour of awkward silences didn’t hold much appeal, either.

      They stepped into the elevator and Katherine punched the button for deck five. “Helena will join us there.”

      “Is Helena younger or older than you?” Theo knew the women had been born a couple years apart but found it hard to keep the two straight in his mind.

      “She’s thirty-five.” Katherine brushed a strand of hair behind her ears with a perfectly manicured fingernail. “I just turned thirty-seven. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m that old.”

      “I’m forty,” Theo said. “By your calculations, I guess that makes me ancient.”

      “Sometimes I feel like all the good years are behind me.” Katherine’s expression turned pensive. “Other times it’s as if the best is yet to be.”

      “I understand what you mean,” Theo said, feeling a moment of connectedness with this stranger. At twenty, when Theo had envisioned his life, he’d been determined to have it all; a successful business and a loving wife and children. Lately he’d started to realize he’d been so focused on building his empire that the home and family he’d wanted had never materialized. Now he was forty years old, with nothing to show for his life except a fleet of boats and a profit and loss statement firmly in the black.

      He shoved the self-pitying thoughts aside. He had СКАЧАТЬ