LITMIR.BIZ

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closed her eyes, fearing she’d never be able to sleep. But to her shock the twins didn’t start crying until seven-thirty the next morning.

      Maybe it was the sea air or the gentle sway of the boat. Whatever, they’d actually slept through the night!

      After she’d bathed and fed them, she got dressed in shorts and a top before carrying them up on deck one at a time. Already the sun was warm. Stavros had breakfast waiting for her on the up-and-down table, another remarkable invention aboard the cruiser.

      “Mmm, that looks delicious. Good morning, Stavros. How are you?”

      “Never better.”

      “I’m glad to hear it. Is Andreas still asleep?”

      “No,” sounded a familiar voice behind her. She swung around to discover him standing there in a sage-colored polo shirt and white shorts. There couldn’t be a more attractive man anywhere in the Cyclades. His slate eyes collided with hers. “I’ve been waiting for you and the babies to appear. Let’s eat. I’m ravenous.”

      “I’m hungry myself,” she admitted. “It must be this gorgeous air.” Andreas sat down next to her. Gabi tried to act natural, but after her dreams of him it was close to impossible.

      Andreas studied her for a moment. “How did you sleep?”

      Was this god from Olympus psychic, too?

      “Would you believe these two didn’t start crying until seven-thirty? It’s the first time I haven’t had to get up in the middle of the night. The pediatrician said it would happen when the time was right. Isn’t it strange how they both did it at the same time?”

      His compelling mouth broke into a lopsided smile. “My mother could tell you endless stories about the mystifying aspect of twins.”

      “I don’t doubt it.” She would love to meet the mother of this extraordinary man, but held back from telling him so. Near the end of their meal he chuckled over Nikos, who gave a big yawn. In the next breath he got up and took the twins out of their carry-cots. Propping them in either arm, he moved over to the windows. “What do you think of this sight, guys?”

      Gabi had been concentrating so hard on Andreas, she could tell him that the sight of him standing there holding his nephews was the most spectacular one in all Greece. Terrified to realize how emotionally involved she’d become with him, she found it a struggle not to let him know it.

      When she could finally tear her gaze away, she noticed the cruiser was anchored off an unreal white outcropping of elongated rocks set against a brilliant blue sea. She stood up and joined him. “What is this place?”

      “Sarakiniko, an Arabic word.”

      “It looks like a moonscape.”

      “That’s what it’s famous for. When we were boys, Leon and I would come here to play space aliens with our friends.”

      She laughed. “That beats the neighborhood park.” Andreas’s backyard was unlike any other. “Every time you show me a new place, I think it’s the most fabulous spot around. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for this tour. I’m very lucky.”

      He cast her a sideward glance. “Seeing everything through your eyes has taken me back to happier days and times. I’m the one indebted to you, so let’s agree we’re even.”

      Once again she sensed he was brooding. If he’d heard from Leon, he would have told her. His change in demeanor had everything to do with his brother.

      Gabi knew most men stuck in this unique situation would have left her to her own devices while she waited for word from his brother. Not Andreas. His unselfishness meant he’d put his own needs aside, but it was wearing on him. She wouldn’t allow this to happen again.

      For the next while they lazed on deck and played with the babies. To convince him he wasn’t the sole meaning of her existence she phoned her mother to let her know she and the children were fine. She hoped that if she played it breezy in front of him, he wouldn’t suspect how on fire she still was for him.

      Her mom was delighted to learn the boys had slept through the night. In front of Andreas she raved about her sightseeing trip and his kindness, then promised to phone again when she knew more about Leon’s plans. He could prob-ably see through her attempt to keep everything light and above board, but she had to try.

      By the time she hung up, they were coming into port at Apollonia. Since Andreas was still having fun with the babies, she excused herself and went below to pack up the few things in her cabin. She found Stavros and thanked him.

      Within a half hour Andreas had driven them back to the house. While he helped her and the twins inside, she sensed he had other matters on his mind. As he was bringing in the last bag, she met him at the door.

      “Stop right there. You’ve done enough.” She took the bag from him. “I had the time of my life. Now go. I know you’ll get back to me when you have any news.”

      Gabi felt his gaze travel over her, turning her body feverish. He seemed reluctant to leave. “Promise me you’ll phone if you need anything.”

      His entreaty spoken in that husky tone sent a weakness to her legs. She rubbed her palms against her hips nervously. “You know I will. Now I’ve got to take care of the babies.”

      “Before you do that, I need this.” In the next breath he pulled her into his arms and started kissing her again. Caught off guard, she was helpless to stop him. Gabi had been dying for his touch since last night. Without conscious thought she slid her hands up his chest and encircled his neck, needing to get closer to him.

      He was such a gorgeous man. With every caress her senses spiraled. The heat he created was like a fever in her blood. Another minute and she would beg him to stay. Through sheer strength of will she wrenched her mouth from his and eased away from him, breathing in gulps of air.

      “I’ll be back. Miss me a little.” With another hard kiss to her trembling mouth, he strode off. She shut the door and fell against it while she waited for him to drive away.

      As soon as she couldn’t hear the car motor any longer, she made fresh bottles of formula, then put the twins in their stroller and headed out the door for a long walk. If her life depended on it, she couldn’t have stayed in the house another second, not when she was feeling this kind of pent-up energy. She didn’t plan to come back until she’d visited every shop in the village and had worn herself out.

      At noon the next day Gabi left the house again, this time taking the twins with her to enjoy lunch in a delightful little restaurant she’d passed last evening. It was a good thing Andreas hadn’t come back.

      She blushed to realize how wantonly she’d responded to him at the door. Twice now she’d been playing with fire, but only she was going to get burned if she continued to let it happen every time he got near her.

      During the delicious meal, the babies created a minor sensation with customers and staff alike. On her way out the door several tourists asked if they could take their picture because they thought the boys were so angelic.

      Gabi supposed it didn’t matter as long as no one knew they were the sons of Leonides Simonides. In that case their pictures would show up in the newspaper and on television.

      Before long she reached the path to the house. As she was about to open the door she heard a female voice call to her. She turned around to see the manager come hurrying up to her. “I’m glad you’re back. You have a visitor who’s been waiting for a while. She’s in the office.”

      “Who is it?”

      “Mrs. Simonides.”

      Her heart pounded an extra beat. Deline? Was it possible? Where was Leon? Or maybe it was Andreas’s mother. Had he dropped her off with the intention of coming by for her later? She could hardly breathe at the thought of seeing him again.

      “While I take the children inside, would you please show her over here, Lena?”

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