LITMIR.BIZ

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to become world renowned and knew what it took to get there. But sometimes he longed for quiet, tranquility and genuine people. Like Spiros and Eleani. They were content on the island, or traveling when the mood suited them. They entertained and also spent time alone enjoying their own company.

      He could find that tranquillity at the family island. His father wanted him to stop in. His grandfather had invited him. He’d go.

      And he’d take Sara with him.

      The next morning Nikos rose early. Ignoring his computer and the work that awaited, he donned his swimming trunks and grabbed a towel. In less than ten minutes, he was on the aft deck, contemplating the sea. He’d had all night to think about his plan. If Sara kept her distance as she had yesterday on the runabout, he’d have a harder sell. If she showed some sign of interest, he’d move ahead.

      “Good morning,” she said from behind him.

      Nikos let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding as he turned slowly around.

      Sara dropped her own towel and cover-up on one of the chairs. Her hair was bound back in a ponytail. She didn’t look directly at him, but he didn’t care. She’d come to swim. He would take that as the sign he wanted.

      “Good morning. I hoped you would come to swim.”

      She looked at him in surprise. “You did?”

      “You seemed to enjoy it. Why not take advantage of the opportunities?” He thought that sounded reasonable. Which was not at all the feeling he had seeing her again this morning. He felt a most unreasonable attraction.

      “My thoughts exactly.”

      He wished she’d smile. Her eyes lit up when she did. But her expression remained solemn.

      He opened the railing gate and gestured for her to go first. She descended the steps quickly and without a word dove into the sea. He followed. She was ahead of him, swimming leisurely. She didn’t seem angry or upset. Just distant.

      She bobbed up and trod water, looking around. The sun was rising, the air crisp and clear.

      “Is it always this beautiful?” she asked when he stopped next to her.

      “Always.”

      She grinned at that and shook her head. “What about the storms? Wasn’t one of Shakespeare’s plays based on a severe storm in the Med?”

      “Ah, but this is the Aegean, always perfect.” He relished her grin. What could he do to keep it there?

      “And never any storms?” Her doubt was obvious.

      He shrugged. “Only if nature’s awesome power can be described as beautiful.”

      She rolled her eyes at his attempt to describe the storms that sometimes erupted without warning and were the bane of sailors. No body of water ever escaped storms.

      “Today will be clear, however,” he reassured her.

      “And duty calls,” she said, turning to swim back to the Cassandra. “I need to get breakfast ready for your guests.”

      “And for today’s meal?”

      “Eggs Benedict.”

      “A favorite of mine,” he said, keeping pace with her.

      She frowned. “I didn’t know that.”

      “Now you do.” He would not let her retreat.

      “So tomorrow will be oatmeal,” she retorted. Reaching the swimming board at the back of the yacht, she held on while kicking her legs lazily in the silken water.

      “No oatmeal.”

      She grinned again. “We don’t have any on board anyway. But it’s good and nourishing.”

      “Fine for a cold winter’s morning.”

      “So should I wait for such a cold snap?”

      He felt foolish talking about oatmeal, but at least Sara hadn’t scurried up the ladder and disappeared into the galley. Twice she’d grinned at him. Could he go for three?

      “I’ll come up with something different tomorrow,” she promised.

      “Actually, there will be no need.”

      “What do you mean?”

      “We’re returning to the resort this afternoon. I’m cutting the cruise short.”

      “Why?”

      Nikos hesitated. “Family business,” he said.

      “Oh.” She grabbed hold of the support and lifted herself onto the swim board and then scrambled up the steps to the deck. “I’ll make today’s breakfast special, then,” she said, leaning over the rail to see him. “And lunch on board?”

      He nodded.

      She disappeared from view.

      Sara’s heart pounded. Family business. Did that mean something was wrong? Not with her grandmother, she hoped. While she had no warm feelings for the woman, she desperately wanted her to read her daughter’s last letter. It meant so much to Sara that her mother’s mother knew how much her daughter had loved her and wanted to return to Greece. How much she regretted her impetuous marriage and asked for forgiveness.

      All through breakfast Sara speculated on what Nikos had meant. Would he be going to the family island? Would he take the Cassandra and its crew? Even if he did, she’d learned it was less than a three-hour cruise to the island. There was a chef in residence on the island, so he undoubtedly would feed the smaller crew. A ship’s chef would not be needed.

      And she had no other incentive to offer. She couldn’t hope that the chef fell ill like the ship’s chef she was substituting for had.

      Could she smuggle herself on board? Hide in the stateroom? Or did the crew sweep through before sailing to verify no stowaways? Just her luck to be found. Then what would she say?

      The word about the change in plans swept through the crew quickly. Stefano told Sara and she pretended she didn’t know and asked what he’d heard. “Why the change, do you know?”

      “He is probably tired of his guests,” Stefano said as he waited for the plates for breakfast.

      “He would cut the trip short for that? I thought he was interested in Miss Fregulia.”

      Stefano shook his head. “He never has cut short a cruise before and sometimes he can get some very demanding guests. But it’s only a day early. The captain said we were returning, no reason given. I’m not privy to the captain’s orders. Nor the path of true love—or at least the proposed walk down the aisle.”

      “Nor am I. Just curious.” Raging with curiosity, was more like it. “What happens with the Cassandra? Do we stay aboard?”

      Stefano shrugged. “I also work at the resort. If he does not plan another trip soon, I would resume my duties there. As you would, I’m guessing.”

      “Probably.” At least she had the job at the resort. And if Nikos took another cruise, maybe he’d ask for her. Oh, no—wait. The regular cook for the yacht would be ready to sail again in only a few weeks. If the ship didn’t go out before that, she would not be included on the next trip.

      It had seemed destined when she’d landed this berth. Now without ever getting close to the family island, she was going to miss the opportunity. She would not wish sickness on anyone, so she couldn’t keep hoping the regular chef would not be able to go the next time. But one quick trip before he was well would suffice.

      “I’ll return as soon as they finish lunch to clear the galley and stow any nonperishables. The rest will be taken to one of the restaurants,” Stefano said as he hoisted the tray laden with breakfast plates. “We’ll wait until the guests take off before leaving—just in case they want any last-minute assistance.”

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