LITMIR.BIZ

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again and again, relishing the slight rasp that sent tingles of desire through her body. After that, she found the strength to dash inside the hotel entrance to the elevators.

      With pounding heart she reached her room, filled with unassuaged longings. After a minute when she had caught her breath, she called the front desk to find out if there were any messages for her. Thankful when she learned there was nothing pressing, she hung up and took a shower.

      Lys had hoped to fall asleep watching TV, but she couldn’t concentrate. Throughout the night she tossed and turned. Her fear that Takis’s father would learn about Nassos’s willed gift wouldn’t leave her alone. Her mind relived what Danae had told her, that she approved of Takis and felt he’d make the right husband for her. Lys was so in love, she wanted him for her husband.

      Takis hadn’t asked for Nassos’s gift. Who would have dreamed he would pass away this early in life? Nassos hadn’t known the degree of fragility between Takis and his father, otherwise he wouldn’t have put Takis in this situation. Nassos would have found another way to show his admiration.

      When morning came, she felt like she hadn’t slept at all and knew she had to see Takis again. He’d become her whole life! After eating breakfast in her room, she dressed in dark brown pleated pants with a matching-colored long-sleeved sweater.

      Once she’d run a brush through her hair and had applied an apricot frost lipstick, she went down to the office to return phone calls and talk to some vendors. She texted Danae that she’d call her later in the day. Lys wasn’t prepared to talk to her yet.

      Around noon she told Giorgos she was leaving without giving him a reason and headed for the parking garage before he could detain her. Giorgos couldn’t hide his frustration that she’d been avoiding him. Takis had planted a seed. Clearly it had taken root.

      Once out on the road, she made several stops to buy souvlaki, fruit and soda. All the way to Takis’s house she hoped she’d see his car parked outside. To her relief she did find the car there and parked behind it. Anxious to talk to him, she grabbed the sack of food and hurried to the front door. After knocking twice with no response, she tried the handle. To her surprise it opened.

      “Takis?” she called out. “Are you here?” No answer. She crossed through to the kitchen and saw a couple of old wooden chairs and a card table. On the counter he’d left a coffee thermos. He must have gone somewhere. Maybe he’d gotten hungry and had walked to the hotel that was only a few blocks away.

      She put the food on the table knowing he’d be back or he wouldn’t have left the door unlocked. While she waited for him, she went up the small staircase to the second floor. Both tiny bedrooms were separated by a bathroom that needed work. And before she could prevent the thought from forming, she decided that one of the bedrooms would make a perfect nursery.

      Each had a door that opened onto the terrace. You would need a railing if you brought children over here. In her mind’s eye she could picture a lovely table with a colorful umbrella surrounded by chairs and pots of flowers.

      Beyond the village the view looked out on the ancient Minoan site with its archaeological ruins, reminding her of the statue of King Minos on Takis’s desk in Italy.

      While she stood there near the edge, deep in thought, she saw a pickup truck turn the corner and pull up behind her car. All kinds of equipment filled the bed. Her pulse raced as she saw two men get out. The taller of the two, an Adonis dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, looked up and waved to her.

      “Yassou, Lys! I’ll be in as soon as I unload the truck!”

      “Let me help!”

      Excited he’d come, she hurried downstairs and opened the front door. His brother—it couldn’t be anyone else with those features—had red tinges in his dark blond hair. He brought in a ladder and some paint cans. Takis followed, carrying other paint equipment and drop cloths.

      His eyes, that marvelous hazel green, played over her. “I’m glad you’re here.” His deep velvety voice wound its way through her body, igniting her senses. He put everything down in the living room. “Lukios? I’d like you to meet Lys Theron. Lys? This is Lukios Manolis.”

      Takis had told her that Lukios hadn’t been friendly the other day. Lys had hoped for his sake that his brother would warm up. It appeared they were getting along better now and that knowledge made her happy.

      “You’re the wonderful brother he’s told me about. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve been anxious to meet Takis’s family.” She smiled and put out her hand.

      The other man shook it. “How do you do,” he said in a subdued voice. His eyes swerved back and forth at the two of them, trying to figure things out. She had no doubt he’d seen her in the news.

      “I thought Takis might be hungry while he worked, so I brought lunch. It’s in the kitchen. He has such a big appetite, I bought enough for half a dozen people. Please feel welcome to eat with us if you’d like.”

      He looked taken back. “Thank you. Have you known each other long?”

      Without giving Takis a chance to answer, she said, “Quite a while. We met in Italy while I was on vacation. Those were your children in the photos I saw on his desk at work? Both yours and your sister, Kori’s. They are adorable. Your parents must be crazy about their grandchildren.”

      “They are,” he murmured.

      “In case you didn’t know yet, Takis asked me to marry him yesterday and brought me here to see where we’re going to live.”

      Lukios blinked. “I had no idea.”

      “He surprised me too.” She smiled at him. “Since he told me I could decorate it any way I want, I decided to start with a housewarming present by offering my services to help with the painting.”

      “How come I’m so lucky?” Takis interjected, as if they had no audience. His eyes gleamed.

      She knew what her response had meant to him and heat swept through her body. By throwing herself into his suggestion for an engagement, she had no choice but to be a hundred percent committed and go all the way.

      “This is such a cozy house, I’m anxious to see how we can bring it to life.”

      Takis moved closer. “All I brought with me today is the primer for the walls. After we’ve put it on, we’ll go to the paint store and decide on the best color for the rooms.”

      Lys had really done it now! She’d taken him by complete surprise, but it hadn’t thrown him. Nothing did. Takis was always several steps ahead no matter the situation. His responses since coming in the house had to have convinced his brother that their relationship was all but sealed.

      “Come in the kitchen, Lukios. Let me serve you while you tell me about your family. What is your wife’s name? I’m sure Takis told me, but I can’t remember.”

      “It’s Doris.”

      “That’s it. I had a friend in school named Doris too! I understand your two children are older than Cassia.”

      He blinked, as if he were surprised she knew so much. “Paulos and Ava. They’re four and five.”

      “What a blessing. I always wanted siblings, but my mother died when I was little. My father never remarried, so it was just me.”

      “That must have been hard.”

      “Yes, but I had a father I adored.”

      While she served him on a paper plate, Takis helped himself and stayed in the background of the conversation. She took it that he didn’t mind that she’d more or less taken over and was chatting away.

      “Is Doris a stay-at-home mother?”

      “No. She works with me at the hotel.”

      “How terrific for both of you.” She handed him some tangerines.

      He peeled one and ate the whole

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