LITMIR.BIZ

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to intrude, but we have a problem.”

      “What is it? You can speak in front of my fiancé. Let me introduce you to Takis Manolis.”

      “It’s very nice to meet you, Kyrie Manolis. Congratulations on your engagement.”

      “Thank you, Magda. I’m afraid you’ll be seeing me around here a lot. I have a hard time staying away from Lys.”

      The other woman smiled before looking at Lys. “The finance minister Elias Simon from Athens has just checked in and was led to believe he could have the penthouse suite for the rest of the week.”

      Lys shook her head. “I can’t imagine how that happened since we’ve never let guests sleep there. When Kyrie Rodino was alive, he used it for VIP meetings, nothing else. Tell the minister we’ll put him in the Persephone suite.”

      “Will you tell him?” Her eyes pleaded with Lys, who understood her nervousness. Kyrie Simon had a forbidding presence.

      “I’ll take care of it.”

      “Thank you.”

      After she hurried away, Lys turned to Takis. “I’ll be right back.”

      “I’ll come with you.”

      The minute the two of them walked out to the front desk, the finance minister took one look and burst out, “Takis—”

      “Elias—” The men shook hands.

      “What are you doing here instead of New York? On business again?”

      “I’ve moved back to Crete for good and got engaged.” Takis grabbed Lys around the waist. “I’d like you to meet my gorgeous fiancée, Lys Theron, the former ward of Nassos Rodino. Now that he has passed away, she owns the hotel.”

      The other man’s dark eyes fastened on her in male admiration and they shook hands.

      “I envy you, Takis. If I were thirty years younger...”

      “I’m a very lucky man.”

      “That certainly goes without saying,” he said, smiling at her.

      “Kyrie Simon? I’m sorry that there was a misunderstanding about the penthouse. It’s not a guest room, but we’d love you to stay in the Persephone suite.”

      “No problem.”

      “Magda will check you in. Now if you will excuse me, I have some work to attend to back in my office.”

      “Of course. That gives me time to chat with Takis. You realize you’re going to marry one of the most important men in the country. Has he shown you the hospital he built and funds in Tylissos? It provides such invaluable free medical care for the patients. There’s another one being built in Athens as we speak. He’s a remarkable man.”

      What?

      “I’ll tell you later,” Takis said in an aside and kissed her cheek.

      She went down the hall and sat down at her desk, but she couldn’t concentrate on a thing. He’d built a hospital here? Another one was going up in Athens? How long had that been going on?

      While she was alone, she phoned Danae, who was still awake. After catching her up on the latest news, she asked the older woman what she knew about a hospital in Tylissos that had been built and was free to the patrons.

      “Only that it’s a children’s hospital for those parents who can’t afford big medical expenses. Stella told me about it last year and wished the government would build one here in Heraklion.”

      Lys was stunned. “The government has nothing to do with it. I just found out tonight that Takis is the one who had it built and pays for everything.”

      A long silence ensued. “Your Takis?”

      If only he were... She gripped the phone tighter. “Tonight Kyrie Simon, the minister of finance from Athens, checked into the hotel. He saw Takis. They appear to know each other well and it slipped out during their conversation.”

      “Your fiancé is a dark horse in many ways. What a lovely thing to find out about the man you’re going to marry. If Nassos were still alive, he’d be bursting with pride.”

      “The man who should be overjoyed is his father, but I’m sure he doesn’t know anything about all the great things his son has accomplished. It kills me that Takis lives with this terrible pain. I love him so much, Danae.” They spoke a little longer before she hung up.

      After another minute, Takis came back in her office. Her gaze fused with his. “I just got off the phone with Danae. Why haven’t you told me about these hospitals?”

      He stood in front of her with his legs slightly apart, so handsome, so masculine, she couldn’t look away. “I would have gotten around to it.”

      “You told me your niece had to go to the hospital for an asthma attack. You had it built for her.”

      “For all children with medical problems whose parents struggle to make a decent living.”

      She shook her head. “But no one knows you were the one.”

      “I want it that way.”

      “Even your parents?”

      “Especially them.”

      “But these hospitals aren’t hotels. Your mother and father would be so thrilled and proud if they knew what you’ve done. And you’re building another one?”

      “I’d rather remain anonymous.”

      “Takis—they deserve to know more about your life!”

      “They didn’t deserve to be abandoned by their son.”

      Lys got to her feet, upset by his comment. “What can I say to convince you that they love you and never thought any such thing?”

      His brows furrowed. “You can’t. I’m sorry Elias let that information slip.”

      “I’m not. Don’t you know how proud I am of you?”

      “Thank you for that. But I know I can trust you not to say anything when we go to the family party tomorrow evening.”

      They weren’t getting anywhere with this conversation. She took a deep breath. “Thank you for helping Magda out of a difficult situation. You’ve won her devotion.” Takis had a rare potent male charm that had made mincemeat of Lys.

      “It was my pleasure. Elias can be very intimidating. That’s why he’s in his particular position. Between us I think he makes the president of the country nervous.”

      Lys chuckled. “By tomorrow morning Magda will tell everyone that my fiancé is on first-name terms with a top-level Greek government official. You’ll have elevated me to new heights in our staff’s opinion.”

      His eyes narrowed on her mouth, sending darts of awareness through her. “Didn’t you know it’s the other way around? Elias insists on being invited to our wedding. He has a worse case on you than Basil. I didn’t think that was possible.”

      She chuckled despite her out-of-control desire for him. “Don’t be silly.”

      “Do you still have work to do, or shall I walk you to your hotel room?”

      Lys wanted to be alone with him. She was bursting with feelings she was dying to share. “I’d like that.” She grabbed her purse and left the room, turning out the light. They nodded to Magda and walked down the hall to the elevator. By the time they reached her suite, her heart was jumping all over the place.

      Lys unlocked the door. “Come in.”

      “I’m afraid I can’t.”

      She swung around in surprise. “Do you have to go right now?”

      “Yes.” Lines darkened his face.

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