LITMIR.BIZ

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leave for Athens.

      Out of deference to his family, she’d dressed more formally in a light blue summer suit and white high heeled sandals. Beneath the short-sleeved jacket she wore a white T-shirt. After applying her lipstick, she’d fastened her hair back with a tortoise shell clip. She often wore it this way to work.

      Rob had said he preferred it back because it made her look more sophisticated. For him, the right look was everything. But Fran had chosen to wear it this way today because Demi liked to pull on it and she was strong.

      “Do you know you’re the best eater?” Though the seven-month-old couldn’t possibly understand her, she smiled and opened her mouth for more peaches. “You like these better than plums, don’t you. Two more bites and you’re all finished.” She moved the spoon around to bait her before putting it in her mouth. Demi laughed, encouraging Fran to do it again.

      As the baby laughed harder, a shadow fell over her. It couldn’t be a cloud. She turned her head in time to see a somber-faced Nik staring down at her from those dark eyes she couldn’t read. Standing there so tall and hard-muscled, he looked incredibly handsome in the midnight-blue mourning suit and tie he’d worn to the funeral.

      “There’s nothing like Demi’s laughter to dissolve the gloom, is there?” he murmured before bending down to kiss his niece on both cheeks. “Sorry we’re late, but there was a huge crowd at the burial and many people who wanted to express their sympathy.”

      Fran nodded, feeling his pain. Demi’s parents had been laid to rest. She would never know them. The enormity of raising this little girl who would need the Angelis family from here on out settled on Fran like a mantle.

      She could only imagine Nik’s feelings of love mixed with inadequacy right now. Their whole family had to be weighted by the new responsibility thrust upon them. Moved with compassion, Fran got to her feet and wiped Demi’s mouth with her bib. Driven by her own heartfelt emotions, she picked up the baby and handed her to Nik, who must be feeling empty inside.

      “Demi’s going to need all of you now. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go finish the last of my packing.”

      She practically ran inside the villa so she wouldn’t hear the baby start to cry. Nik was a big boy now. He would deal with this crisis in the expert way he handled all of his business transactions.

      Fran had done her packing early, but she’d needed the excuse to tear herself away from Demi. To be sure she hadn’t left anything behind, she made one more trip into the bathroom.

      “Fran? Are you about ready?”

      “Whenever you are.” She came back out to find Kellie who’d changed from her black dress to white pleated pants and a watermelon-colored top.

      “I asked Leandros to tell the family the three of us couldn’t stay to eat. We’ve already said our goodbyes to them. I’ll help carry your cases out to the helicopter pad.” She took the big one while Fran reached for the smaller bag.

      Halfway down the hall they met Leandros, whose drawn features aged him. He gave Fran a hug. “You look beautiful.”

      “Thank you,” she whispered.

      There was an ominous quiet as he took the suitcase from Kellie and they walked through the villa to the rear entrance. Neither of them had another word to say. Fran was so uncomfortable, she could scream.

      When they stepped into the sunlight, Fran could see the helicopter waiting for them in the distance. She almost ran toward it, but as she drew closer, she saw a tall figure talking to the pilot. It was Nik!

      Her heart missed a beat because she’d thought she’d seen the last of him. When she’d handed Demi to him on the patio, she’d intended that to be her own form of goodbye.

      “Here. Let me take your bag while you climb inside.”

      Fran had no choice but to give it to Nik before he helped her up. The touch of his hand sent fire through her body. No sooner had she found a seat than he joined her in the one next to her. Behind him came Kellie. Apparently their luggage had been put onboard ahead of time. Then Leandros climbed in next to the pilot and shut the door.

      She turned to Nik in shock. “You’re not staying with your family?” But her question came too late because the rotors whirred and they lifted off.

      He gave her a ghost of a smile. “Last night after I went to bed, I thought about our conversation and decided to take your advice. Everyone who loves Demi is there to take care of her. I’m going to let them, and give myself a vacation. In another week they’ll have sorted out what’s best for her without my taking charge.”

      Guilt smote her for having been so outspoken. “You’re joking…aren’t you?” she blurted in consternation.

      “Not at all. You made perfect sense. I’m afraid I have a tendency to do everything myself. Thanks to you, that’s a flaw I’m going to work on. A vacation from my problems is exactly what I need. I haven’t had a real one in over a year.”

      She blinked. “Where will you go?”

      “Well, I was hoping you’d let me and Leandros drive you and Kellie around. I talked to him about it last night. I never drive anywhere anymore. Believe it or not, driving used to be one of my great passions. Not only would it be a great pleasure, but it would make me feel like I’d paid all of you back for everything you did for Demi and my family.”

      Kellie looked even paler than she had earlier in the morning. She shot Fran a private message before she looked at Nik. “That’s very thoughtful of you, but Fran and I have decided to fly back to the States in the morning and vacation in California.”

      Uh-oh. For Kellie to have made a decision like that, the situation between her and her husband had reached flashpoint.

      Nik’s piercing gaze shot to Fran. “I haven’t been there in years. How would you feel about having a third party along?”

      Fran had no choice but to back up her friend. “I had no idea you could be such a joker.”

      “It turns out we make a good pair.” His comment was meant to remind her of the way she’d talked to him last night. “But if you’re not going to take me seriously, at least agree to have dinner with me this evening. I refuse to let you leave the country without enjoying a night out in the Plaka. I owe you a great deal for all you’ve done.”

      Afraid he would be unstoppable until she gave in, she decided to capitulate to that extent. “Your invitation sounds delightful, but if I say yes, it will have to be an early night.”

      “Good. In that case I’ll ask Leandros to drop us off at my apartment. You can change clothes there. We’ll go casual and play tourist while we walk around and eat what we want.”

      In the next instant he spoke to Leandros who nodded and gave instructions to the pilot. Soon Fran saw the glory of Athens spread before them in the late afternoon sun. The magnificent Parthenon, one of the most famous landmarks in the world, sat atop the Acropolis.

      Seeing this sight from the air with Nik gave it special meaning. Just when she thought she’d figured him out, he did something unexpected that illuminated other appealing facets of his intriguing personality. She had to admit she wanted to spend the rest of the day and evening with him.

      Right now his spontaneity thrilled her down to her toenails. With Rob every move had been calculated and planned out. She didn’t want to compare the two men, but she couldn’t help it. Rob wasn’t unkind, but he’d expected her to conform. When she didn’t, he went into a private sulk until she ended up being the one to apologize.

      Nik, on the other hand, wouldn’t know how to pout. He had hidden depths. Already she’d learned that his way was to zoom in and change the game plan if necessary to achieve the desired outcome. If he ever settled down, it would have to be with a woman who was even more unpredictable than himself. His psyche required a challenge.

      Unfortunately Nik occupied too many of her thoughts and

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