Chrysanthos’s gaze moved between us. “Why was the door locked?”
“I must have done that by mistake,” Dede said quickly, then turned to her daughter. “I’m fine, baby. I just need to get back to my villa.”
I followed her to the doorway, composing my features into politeness as I observed our children standing together in the corridor.
“I’m coming with you, but before we leave, Chrys and I want you and his dad to have dinner with us before you leave Greece. This will give us a chance to get to know each other better.”
“I would like this,” I responded immediately, suppressing a sardonic smile at how they’d react if they knew exactly how intimately we already knew each other.
“Of course,” Dede agreed with a tight smile. “Dinner sounds... lovely.”
Tia beamed, oblivious to her mother’s discomfort, and clasped her hands together. “We should go, Mom. I’ll show you the grounds on the way out.”
“I’ll walk with you,” my son offered. “I’ll be back shortly, Father.”
I watched as Chrysanthos led them both toward the main entrance, his arm comfortably around Tia’s waist while she took her mother’s hand, enthusiastically describing various local attractions she intended them to visit.
I permitted myself a brief smile as she listed several locations Dede and I had already explored together, often with minimal attention to the actual surroundings.
Returning to my study, I poured another brandy and settled behind my desk. The hollow feeling in my chest was unwelcome.
This was why I’d maintained emotional distance since my wife’s death. Why I’d never allowed anyone close enough to leave a void.
Dede had somehow circumvented twenty-three years of discipline in eight weeks.
7
I’d managed to avoid being alone with Aristides Christakis for almost a week since learning our children were engaged. Those days, I spent touring the city with Tia and having deep conversations about her future.
When we visited the Christakis estate, I made sure Aris and I were never alone. Still, every night I returned to my villa with Tia, trying not to think about the man whose body I’d explored all summer.
Now here I sat at one of Athens’s finest restaurants—Aris’s favorite—with Aris and our ridiculously happy children, who had no idea their parents had been sleeping together.
We’d been here several times over the summer. Those times we shared the Agiorgitiko and left before dessert because neither of us could wait to get back to my place.
Tonight was different. Tia sat across from me, glowing with happiness, while Santo held her hand on top of the table. Meanwhile, under the table, Aris’s hand rested on my bare thigh.
Each time I shifted away, his hand followed. Like some kind of game.
“Are you joining us at the gala, Deanna?” Santo inquired.
“Gala?” I repeated, refocusing on the conversation and not the heat radiating from the man beside me.
“Oh!” Tia’s eyes widened. “I completely forgot to mention it.” She looked distressed. “It’s this big charity event the Christakis Foundation is throwing this Saturday. Chrys only told me about it a few days ago.”
“We would be honored if you attended, Deanna,” Aris chimed in. “Come as my guest. You are mother of my son’s fiancée, yes?”
“I’d love to, but I didn’t pack for galas,” I said.
“Kayla will help you find something!” Tia bounced in her seat. “She knows lots of great places in the city to shop, and I want to spend as much time as I can with you before Monday.”
“What happens Monday?” Aris inquired.
“That’s when she’s flying back to America,” Santo answered his father.
Aris’s fingers dug into my thigh. “This is too soon.”
“This trip to Greece was sudden and unexpected,” I said carefully. “My business needs me back.”
