Wedding The Greek Billionaire. Rebecca Winters

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СКАЧАТЬ didn’t care if you missed your board meeting.”

      “You’re right about that. I’m trying to keep it together, but I couldn’t go to work today, or stay at the villa. Thank you for helping me keep my sanity, kyria. You’re just the company I need.”

      “I’ve been where you’ve been,” she said compassionately. “If you’d like a job, why don’t you come to Ithaca with me for the day? I could use an interpreter of your caliber.”

      “What caliber is that?”

      “I asked my landlord about you. He said you’re a very important man.”

      “Don’t believe him.”

      She chuckled softly. “I knew it when the police officer recognized you and immediately acceded to your wishes.”

      The fact that she’d asked him to go to Ithaca with her had lifted his mood. They reached the dock and got in line to board the ferry. The four-hour trip across and back meant they wouldn’t be home until eight or later.

      Once they could leave the car, they went to the dining room to eat, then walked out on deck. “It’s hard to believe this view is real,” she murmured. “The green of the Ionian islands bathed by crystal blue waters is out of this world.”

      He’d never been around anyone as appreciative of everything as she was. As he’d told her earlier, she was easy to be with. “I couldn’t agree more. Tell me why Ithaca is so important.”

      “When Lord Byron left Genoa in July of 1823, he traveled on a ship called the Hercules with Pietro Gamba and William Fletcher among others. They arrived at Cephalonia in August and made an expedition to Ithaca. He was filled with inspiration and did a lot of writing during that period. I want to visit the two museums in Vathy and see what memorabilia is there.”

      Being with Zoe made the time pass quickly. Soon they were able to drive onto the island and tour some of the archaeological sites before stopping at the museums.

      “Tell me what those words say, Andreas.” It was the first time she’d used his name. He enjoyed translating some of the lines from the marble commemorative stele of Byron for her.

      “If this island belonged to me, I would bury all my books here and never go away,” he told her.

      “That’s an interesting thing to say. He really was taken with the history of this place.” She recorded Andreas’s words in the notebook she carried in her purse. They worked well together and he regretted it when they had to leave to drive back to the ferry.

      Again they ate aboard ship and discussed Ulysses, who was said to have been born on Ithaca or Cephalonia. She was so knowledgeable about literature in general, it was fascinating to be with her.

      When they got back to the apartment, he turned to her and told her his plans. “Tomorrow I’m leaving for Athens to be with my son. Temporary visitation has been worked out with the judge. I’m with him for two days, usually over the weekend. Then his mother has him for five and we go back and forth. It’s unequal, but works for now because of my business schedule.”

      “You can’t bring him here?”

      “I could, but it’s a lot of flying. Do you mind if I call you after I’m back?”

      “Not at all, but just so you know, I’m leaving tomorrow to join my friends on holiday in Switzerland.”

      The news stunned him. He’d just met her and already she was going away? “How long will you be gone?”

      “I’m not sure.” She reached for the door handle. “But I can’t thank you enough for taking me to Ithaca today. It was a real treat, and I know you can’t wait until tomorrow when you see your son. Have a safe trip, Andreas.”

      “Wait—let’s exchange phone numbers so we can stay in touch.”

      “All right.”

      By then she’d already gotten out of the car. It was still light out. “Don’t get in any accidents on your way home,” she teased before disappearing around the big tree.

      Andreas sat there for a few minutes, upset that he might not see her again. Before he pulled away, he phoned her.

      She sounded breathless when she answered. “Andreas?”

      “Hi. Just wanted to make sure I could reach you.”

      “You must have driven your mother crazy.”

      “Probably,” he quipped. “Enjoy your trip.”

      “You, too.”

      He hung up and headed for the villa. Though he was counting the hours until he could be with Ari, there was someone else he’d be thinking about this weekend. Since he’d told her he was divorced with a son, she’d relaxed around him, like she might around a friend.

      But he would never be able to think of her in the friend sense. She’d grown on him like mad today and belonged in an entirely different category. The thought of not seeing her again disturbed him a great deal.

       CHAPTER TWO

      WHEN ZOE’S PLANS with the girls didn’t turn out, she flew back to Patras four days later and returned to her apartment in time to go to bed. Their long-awaited vacation in Switzerland had gone up in smoke.

      Abby had fallen for a Burgundian vintner and had gone to France with him. Ginger had wanted to stay in Venice. Zoe had the idea she’d met a man because something was definitely keeping her there.

      As for Zoe, she was excited to return to Greece. All the way back on the plane she debated whether to phone Andreas when she got there and let him know her plans had changed. But by the time she got ready for bed, she’d talked herself out of calling him.

      Zoe had been a fool to ask him to go to Ithaca with her and should forget him. What she needed to do was finish her Greek research and go home to California.

      Once she got in bed and turned out the light, her phone rang. Was it Abby or Ginger? She shot up in bed and reached for her cell on the bedside table.

       It was Andreas.

      “Hello?” Her voice had a pathetic tremor.

      “Zoe—I’m back from Athens and couldn’t go to bed until I’d spoken with you. Are you enjoying your trip with your friends? Where are you?”

      Hearing his deep familiar voice, she pressed a hand to her heart. “We had a lovely time, but circumstances changed and I’m actually back in Patras.”

      “You’re here?” She could hear the excitement in his voice. It matched hers.

      “Yes. How’s your son?”

      “I loved being with him, but tell me, what are your plans now?”

      “Tomorrow I’m going to Ioannina.”

      “In СКАЧАТЬ