LITMIR.BIZ

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right to accuse her now of not putting their children first.

      The more she thought about it, the more she realized the wisest thing to do would be to try out one of these therapists in Athens. When the counseling didn’t work, then she’d fly back to Philadelphia and the divorce could go through. She’d have to let her aunt and uncle know. The news would be welcome to them, because they adored Leandros and were crushed by the news that he and Kellie were getting a divorce.

      He watched as she sat down and scrolled through the list of names. All seemed to have impressive credentials. She was glad he’d included some women. She preferred their therapist to be a female, who would understand Kellie’s point of view about things. Leandros probably wouldn’t like it, but he’d said this was her choice.

      She looked at their ages. The first woman was forty-eight, younger than Kellie’s aunt. The other therapist was seventy-six. That sounded pretty old, but she did have a long record of running a practice. At that age she’d probably seen thousands of couples, with every type of problem, enter her office. To still be in business meant she’d enjoyed a certain amount of success.

      “Today is a workday.” Leandros’s deep male voice permeated to Kellie’s insides. “Is there a name on the list you’d like to call now?”

      He stood behind the couch, more or less looking over her shoulder. Though he’d sounded in control just now, she sensed his impatience for their therapy to get started. Actually, she was anxious, too. The sooner they met with someone and discovered counseling wouldn’t help, the sooner she could go home and start getting over Leandros once and for all.

      “I’m rather impressed with this older woman, Olympia Lasko.” She glanced back at him. “The notes say she’s been in practice forty-five years. That’s longer than any of the other therapists’ histories. I think it speaks quite highly of her.”

      “I couldn’t agree more. Go ahead and phone her.”

      Leandros didn’t act the least upset with Kellie’s choice. If he was, he’d learned how to hide his true feelings. That ability made him the shrewd genius who’d become one of the leading business figures in Greece.

      She reached in her purse for her cell phone and made the call. It rang several times before a woman answered. “This is Olympia Lasko.”

      “Oh—” Kellie’s voice caught. “I guess I expected a receptionist.” She spoke in Greek.

      “I’ve never used one. Your name, please.”

      “Kellie Petralia.”

      “What can I do for you?”

      “M-my husband and I are on the verge of getting a divorce and need marriage counseling,” she stammered. “Could I see you soon to discuss our situation, or are you too booked up?”

      “Both of you come to my house tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.”

      “Both?” Kellie had planned to talk to her first and explain things.

      “I never see you individually. It’s together or nothing.”

      “I see.” She bit her lip. “Then we’ll both be there.”

      “What’s your husband’s name?”

      “Leandros Petralia.”

      “Thank you. When you enter the driveway, keep going until you reach the side door. Just walk in.”

      The other woman rang off without making a remark about Kellie’s husband. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people couldn’t refrain from commenting on him and the famous Petralia name. Kellie sat there blinking in surprise.

      Leandros walked around to look at her. “When can she see us?”

      “Tomorrow at ten. We’re to go to her house. She must work out of her home.”

      “Would that we all could do that,” he murmured.

      “I can’t believe she had an opening this fast.”

      “My dentist always leaves the first hour free for emergencies. It sounds like she operates the same way. I’m impressed already.”

      Kellie got up from the couch, unnerved by the prospect of talking to Mrs. Lasko in front of Leandros without any private time first. “She’s very different than I’d supposed.” No chitchat of any kind.

      “Let’s keep the appointment. If we decide she’s not the one for us, then we’ll try someone else.”

      Leandros was being so supportive, just as he’d always been during their visits to the hospital, that Kellie felt like screaming. But not at him. She was frightened, and nervous of being alone with him. “I think I’m hungry now.”

      “Why don’t we drive to Chora and have an early dinner.” He was reading her mind. She needed to be around other people and he knew it. “Do you have any particular cravings at this stage in your pregnancy?”

      “Not yet.”

      “Let’s try a restaurant you haven’t been to. The Circe is on the far side of Chora. It’s cozy and the cuisine is basically traditional Andriot.” He’d probably been there with Petra. Of course he had, you fool. If the therapy didn’t work out, Kellie would have to take part of the blame, because she couldn’t rid herself of her demons. “You’ll love their seafood mezes and froutalia.”

      “I’ve forgotten what froutalia is.”

      “A sensational omelet with sausage and other kinds of meat.”

      “Oh, yes. That sounds delicious.”

      “Good. Why don’t you freshen up first. I’ll meet you at the car parked around the side of the house.”

      “I’ll hurry.”

      “There’s no need. We have all the time in the world. By the time we get back, Yannis will have arrived with your luggage. You can have an early night in the guest bedroom.”

      Her heart ached as she realized how far apart they’d grown. No sleeping in the same bed for the past two months. Most likely never again…

      When Kellie went outside a few minutes later, he was waiting for her, and helped her in the passenger side. She glanced at his striking profile as he started the engine. Whether immaculately groomed or disheveled with a five-o’clock shadow as he was now, Leandros’s male beauty stood apart from other men’s.

      Her heart thudded ferociously. A month ago she’d never dreamed she’d be on the island with him again, going to a romantic spot for dinner.

      During the six-mile drive to town, she stared out the window at the fruit trees dotting the ancient landscape. When she couldn’t stand the silence any longer, she turned to him. “Have you seen Fran and Nik?”

      He nodded. “They invited me to their apartment last week for dinner. Demi is thriving and has started to say words even I can understand.” Kellie smiled. “I’ve never seen two people so happy.”

      Guilt washed over Kellie for the part she’d played in trying to influence Fran to stay away from the gorgeous Nik Angelis, Leandros’s good friend. The press had labeled him Greece’s number one playboy. Like Leandros, Nik was the head of his family’s multimillion-dollar business and could have any woman he wanted.

      In Kellie’s zeal to protect her divorced friend’s wounded heart, she’d done everything she could to get her away from Nik. She’d been convinced he would only use Fran. But it turned out Kellie was wrong. Ultimately, he’d proved to be the perfect man for her, and had married her on the spot. Since he couldn’t give her children and she couldn’t conceive, they were adopting Demi, who’d lost her parents in a tornado. In time they planned to adopt more.

      “I’m so happy for them,” Kellie said aloud.

      “Me, too.”

      To Leandros’s

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