She closed her eyes. “They sound the same to me. I heard it once and never thought about it again.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “This is unbelievable. Our children are engaged, Aris.”
“My forefathers, they would call this divine intervention. The gods, they amuse themselves with mortal folly.” I moved to the sideboard, pouring two fingers of brandy into a crystal tumbler. I held up a second glass in silent question. She shook her head.“Extraordinary timing. Precise choreography. All to bring us to this perfect hour.”
“This fling has to end. We can’t do this anymore.”
I took a slow sip, letting the brandy burn away some of the surreal edge to this situation. “Why does Tia believe you arrived in Athens yesterday?”
“I came to Greece to keep an eye on her... ensure her safety.” Dede wouldn’t meet my eyes. “She can’t ever know that I’ve been here for almost as long as she’s been.”
“You have been monitoring her this entire time.” My respect for her maternal devotion deepened. “While maintaining the fiction that you were still in America.”
“For your information, I didn’t monitor her as I never got the time.”
“We spoke of our children constantly, Dede.” A laugh escaped me. “How did we miss this?”
“Maybe if you’d mentioned your son’s fiancée by name—” Her tone sharpened. “I mean, how many Tias could there be in Greece?”
“If we are cataloging oversights,” I replied calmly, “perhaps we should note you never once mentioned your daughter’s location during our time together. If you had, we might have connected these dots sooner, yes?”
Her mouth set in a stubborn moue I found unreasonably attractive even now. Then her expression softened. “We were so caught up in each other, and with trying to maintain boundaries, that we never saw what was in front of us.”
Caught up. An inadequate phrase to describe the magnetic pull drawing me to her villa night after night. The way she’d invaded my thoughts during business meetings, her image surfacing during conference calls. The unprecedented disruption to my existence that I had, against all common sense, welcomed.
“Dimitrios gave me the full rundown on your gangster act when you arrived here last evening. What exactly was your plan if we were holding Tia hostage?”
That surprised a laugh out of her. “Thank God you never had to find out.” Then, her expression grew serious. “Aris?”
“Mm?”
She crossed the space between us, placing her hand over mine where it rested on the desk. “Thank you for taking care of Tia and welcoming her into your home when you had no obligation to.” Her fingers tightened. “I owe you more than I can say.”
I pulled her close, desperate for her warmth. “Your daughter, she is respectful and brave young woman. She also saved my son’s life. It has been pleasure to have her here.”
“And your son...” She leaned into me, fitting against me the way she had a dozen times before. “From what I’ve seen, he’s a good man. Accountable.”
Accountable? Chrysanthos?
If she only knew the diplomatic incidents I’d smoothed over, the compromised business deals, and the string of broken hearts. Nevertheless, I maintained a neutral expression.
My hand strayed possessively to the curve of her ass. I wanted to lift her onto my desk, push her skirt up, and tear away whatever barrier she wore beneath—to bury myself in her and reclaim what had been mine just days ago, before our kids complicated everything.
She slapped it away. “No, Aris. This needs to end.”
“What happens between our children, it has no bearing on what exists between us.” I bent my head, seeking her mouth, using our undeniable physical chemistry to override her objections.
For a full minute, she responded. Her body molded to mine, and her hands gripped my shoulders.
The sound of the door handle rattling broke through the moment. We both froze as my son’s voice came through the wood.
“Father? You in there?”
Dede scrambled away, smoothing her clothes and raking her hair back from her face. “It’s over between us,” she whispered, putting even more distance between us. “Please. Let it be.”
Restraint was the cornerstone of power and control. It took all my discipline not to reach out and haul her back.
Watching her walk away felt like watching a vital piece of myself depart. She reached the door and turned the lock. As it swung open, Tia’s voice spilled into the room.
“Mom! Everything okay?”
