“Some advice on how I can deal with your father. He keeps telling me that I’m not Greek so I can’t understand, and his secretary won’t give me any time on his calendar.”
She sounded so upset and so earnest that he wanted to fix this for her. But he knew the old man wasn’t going to soften in his attitude toward Ava. Even if she’d been a Greek woman, he’d treat her the same way.
“It’s just his way. Don’t let it bother you.”
“I can’t help it. All day long he watches me and everything I do. Then when Theo’s out of the room he tells me all the things I’m doing wrong.”
Christos walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. She nestled against him as though she belonged there. And for the first time that day, he felt a measure of peace. This was what he’d been missing during the long hours at the Theakis Shipping office. And he knew this was a false promise. Ava wasn’t waiting here for him. She’d been waiting for advice. He should drop his arms and move away…except he was wound so tight from wanting her that he’d take whatever he could get.
“That’s his way. Just tell him to mind his own business.”
She pulled back and glanced up at him. “That might work for you. You get to leave this house.”
“Is that what this is all about?”
She shrugged and drew back. “I’m not sure what my life is going to be like as your wife.”
“Taking care of Theo and socializing with me in the evenings.”
“Oh. I’m just…”
“What, Ava?”
“I don’t know. I feel so isolated from everything. I don’t want to crowd Theo, but there’s no one else here who likes me.”
“I like you,” he said.
“Really?” she asked.
“Yes, really.”
He had the feeling he was getting closer to whatever was upsetting her. “I…I don’t have anyone I can ask to be my attendants in the wedding. I’d like to invite Laurette to be my maid of honor, but she can’t afford to fly from Florida. And that still leaves three openings…I know you have three groomsmen, right? Antonio, and then Tristan and Guillermo?”
“I’ll arrange it all. I like Laurette and you should have your friends with you. Is there anyone else we should bring over from the States?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t worry. I’ll have Guillermo and Tristan each draft a woman to bring down the aisle.”
“That’s not the point,” she said.
“What is the point?”
“I’m…not sure I can live here.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re to be married in less than two weeks.”
“I know. That’s why I’m bringing this up now. This last week has given me a glimpse of what my life will be. I need something more to do.”
He understood what she meant; even he didn’t really like living in the Theakis compound, but certain concessions had to be made. He ran through the job openings they had at Theakis and couldn’t think of one thing that was suitable for the mother of the Theakis heir to fill. But then he remembered that Nikki had served on their family’s foundation board.
“I’ve got a few ideas that I’ll investigate tomorrow.”
“Do you have time for that?”
“No, but I’ll make time for you. I want you to be happy here.”
Ava knewshe needed to leave Christos alone to let him have some rest. He was working very hard; she saw the signs of stress in his eyes and in the way he carried himself. “This probably isn’t the best time for you to marry me.”
