Page 26 of Seasons of Sin

Rocco.

He was just like Thad, in many ways. Tall, swarthy, with eyes that saw too much and a face chiseled from stone. His body was broad, his sculpture defined.

Thad squeezed Saphire’s hand reassuringly, and he continued to hold it as they got nearer to Rocco. The Italian’s eyes were unapologetic as they purposefully appraised Saphire before turning back to Thaddeus.

“I’m not invading,” Rocco said in response to his friend’s look of admonishment. “I had business in Athens, and it seemed a waste not to come to you, seeing as I was almost here anyway.”

“Yes, a waste,” Thad said with amusement. “You are always welcome. Even after being specifically told not to come.” He performed the perfunctory introductions and Rocco held a hand out to Saphire. Instead of taking the fingers she extended, he reached for her left hand and brought it to his lips. His kiss was brief, and interestingly, stirred nothing inside of her.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Arana.”

Something in the way he said it ignited a fire of warning in Saphire, but she told herself she was simply being paranoid. It was her own guilty conscience, and the fact she was used to hearing Arana in concert with the title ‘Mrs’.

“Come. Join us for breakfast,” Thad said, gesturing towards the house.

“I’d like that.” Rocco slid a glance towards Saphire that made her pulse spin, and not in a good way. His look was thickened with an emotion that didn’t fit. Something dark she couldn’t explain.

“Excuse me,” Thad murmured as they reached the patio. “I’ll let the housekeeper know to bring food.” He disappearedthrough the doors, leaving Rocco and Saphire alone on the sun-lit balcony.

“You just met him?” Rocco queried, his manner appearing civil.

She nodded jerkily and licked her lower lip. She was nervous. So nervous!

“How?”

“On the flight over.” She settled herself into a chair, knowing that she had to at least appear calm, even though she was far from it. The intrusion was premature. She wasn’t ready to answer questions about her and Thad. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be. But after the night they’d spent on the boat, she knew she needed to speak to him. To tell him the truth. And to beg him to help her.

“Interesting. What brings you to Greece?”

She swallowed. “A few different things, actually. And you? How do you know Mr Konstanides?”

“Mr Konstanides?” He repeated in obvious disbelief and Saphire laughed despite the tension she felt. The sound was pleasant. Rocco had arrived certain he would despise her, yet her appeal easily challenged that expectation.

“I’m sorry. It’s an inside joke, I guess. I just sort of like the way it sounds.” She shook her head. “How do you know Thaddeus?” It was the first time she’d said his name. She liked the taste of it in her mouth.

“Our grandfathers were friends.”

“Ah. A dynastic relationship, then,” she said with a smile that only added to her sweetness.

“Absolutely. That’s us. Out to rule the world one transportation company at a time.”

Her eyes sparkled with mirth and intelligence. “How noble.”

“What is noble,agape mou?” Thad asked, walking with his natural athleticism through the doors and taking the seat next toSaphire. He reached over and caught her hand in his, lacing their fingers together.

“Nothing, Mr Konstanides,” Rocco jibed his friend.

“Ah, I see your name for me is spreading. How … wonderful,” he drawled. Then, to Rocco, “Don’t you start.”

“You have come from the boat?”

“We slept there,” Saphire nodded, though her cheeks had a betraying smudge of pink when she thought of how little sleeping they’d actually done.

“A nice night for it,” Rocco murmured conversationally. “Clear and warm.”

“It could have been pouring with rain and it still would have been perfect,” Saphire said instantly, but the sentence knocked them all off-kilter, and her the most. She had to be more careful. She was the one who’d imposed rules to keep their relationship simple and now she was breaking them in every way.

Thad squeezed her hand and then leaned forward. “What’s happening in Athens?”