He turned into the parking lot at the marina and saw that Captain Platakis had his yacht ready to go. “Transition periods are always difficult in a business situation.”
“In a personal one, too,” Ava added.
“Indeed. Too bad that I can’t map out a plan for our relationship the way I can for Theakis Shipping.”
“Am I complicating your life?”
“In ways you can’t even fathom.”
“Oh, I think I can.”
“What doesfathommean?” Theo asked from the back seat, reminding Christos that the boy was listening in on their conversation.
“Understand,” Ava said.
“Oh. Why can’t you understand?” Theo asked.
Christos reached around and ruffled the boy’s hair. He was way too young to have to learn that women had secrets a man could never unravel. “It’s a man-woman thing.”
“A love thing?”
Ava flushed. “Probably, sweetie. Are you ready to go out on the boat?”
“Wait a minute,” Christos said, putting his hand on Ava’s thigh to keep her from opening her door. He turned to Theo. “What’s a love thing?”
“You know,Baba,when a man and a woman start to love each other.”
Theo undid his seatbelt and climbed into the front seat, sitting on Ava’s lap. She stroked her son’s hair. “He asked a lot of questions about why you and I weren’t together.”
Christos wasn’t sure what that meant. Did she think she had loved him?
He opened his door and climbed out of the car, needing distance. The happiness he’d felt earlier dimmed a little. What exactly was happening between him and Ava? Lust he could handle. Love…he didn’t believe it existed. Sure, he cared for his father and Theo and couldn’t even think of what he’d felt for Stavros. But love? Romantic love? He’d never experienced anything that made him believe it was real.
Not even with Ava.
“Christos?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re glaring at the car.”
“The sun’s in my eyes,” he said. “Theo, please run down to Captain Platakis and tell him we’ll be ready in five minutes.”
The boy hesitated and glanced at Ava. She stepped in front of him and turned toward Christos.
“He’s afraid of water.”
“What?”
She gave him a look that said she wasn’t repeating it. He’d forgotten she’d mentioned that the boy didn’t like water. “Theo, come here. Ava, will you go tell the captain we’re here?”
She hesitated. And he gave her a hard look. He was to be Theo’s father by marriage if not biologically, and that meant he had rights where the boy was concerned. Meant there were times when Ava was going to have to let go.
She sighed and he wondered a little more about the love thing she’d talked to Theo about. He was glad to have this very real problem to solve for his son. Fear of water he could help the boy get over. Understanding women…not so much.
