LITMIR.BIZ

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brought you here this morning?”

      Andreas didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Not long.” He engaged the gears and the boat burst across the water like a surfaced torpedo.

      Gabi had to be happy with that explanation. She was happy. Too happy to be with him when he didn’t know what it meant to be faithful to one woman. Gabi wished she didn’t care and could give in to her desire without counting the cost.

      Deline was a much better woman than Gabi. She’d forgiven Leon his one-night stand with Thea. Until she’d found out about the twins…

      Resigned to her fate—at least until they reached Heraklion—Gabi put her head back to feel the sun on her face. Every so often the boat kicked up spray, dappling her skin with fine droplets of water. She kept her eyes closed in an attempt to rein in her exhilaration.

      The problem was, she’d fallen irrevocably in love with Andreas, the deep, painful kind that would never go away. But she’d made up her mind he would never know he was the great love of her life. Nor would she ever dare to say it out loud. An ordinary mortal reaching for the unattainable might bring on the mockery of the gods.

      “Tell me something honestly, Gabi. How wedded are you to returning to your old job?”

      His question jolted her back to the real world. She sat up, eyeing him through shuttered lids to keep out the blinding sun. “I’m very wedded. Besides being stimulating, it provides me a comfortable living with the promise of great things in the future. Why do you ask?”

      He cut the motor, immediately creating silence except for the lapping of water against the hull. In a deft motion he left his seat long enough to produce a couple of sodas from the cooler. After handing her one, he sat down again with his well-honed body turned toward her.

      “Thank you. I didn’t realize I was thirsty until now.”

      His eyes, a solid metal-gray at the moment, met hers over the rim of his drink. “I know what you mean.” An odd nuance in his low voice caused her to believe he was referring to something else. Memories of the two of them communicating in the most elemental of ways on that beach never left her mind. Trembling, she looked away.

      “What do you recall about my receptionist?”

      The question was so strange, she thought she hadn’t heard him right, but Andreas never said or did anything without a reason. “I suppose I thought she was firm, but fair…even kind in her own way.”

      “An excellent description,” he murmured. “Anna’s going to be seventy on her next birthday. She worked for my father forty-five years and never married.”

      “They must have been a perfect match for her to stay in his employ that long.” Gabi imagined the woman had been madly in love with the senior Simonides. If he had a tenth of his son’s brilliance and vitality, it all made perfect sense.

      “When he stepped down, I kept her on with the intention of asking her to train a new receptionist before I let her go. However, after one day of working with her, I realized what a treasure she was and I refused to consider breaking in anyone else.”

      Gabi swallowed the rest of her drink. “If it hadn’t been for her, the twins would still be without their father. For that alone, I like her without really knowing her.”

      She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Being a receptionist is only one of Anna’s jobs. In a word, she’s the keeper of the flame. Do you understand what I mean?”

      “I think so,” Gabi said with conviction. “She’s a paragon of the virtues you admire most.”

      He nodded gravely. “But she needs to retire and get the knee replacement she’s been putting off.”

      “I noticed her limping.”

      “It’s getting worse every day. The trouble is, I’ve despaired of finding anyone else like her. Then I met you.” His piercing glance rested on her, reminding her of something he’d said to her a week ago.

      If you were looking for a job, I’d hire you as my personal assistant on your integrity and discretion alone.

      The worst nightmare she could conceive of was upon her. She knew exactly where this conversation was going and shook her head.

      “Before you refuse me outright,” he said, “I’m only suggesting that I could use your help while I look around the company for the right person to replace her. It could take me several months. You’ll be given your own furnished apartment on the floor below my office. There’s a restaurant on the next floor down for the staff.”

      “Andreas—” she blurted almost angrily. “What’s this really about?”

      “I don’t want you to leave Greece until we know Kris’s heart operation is successful. If there are complications, you’ll want to be here.”

      She didn’t want to be reminded of that possibility. “I’m praying everything will go well, but if it doesn’t, I’ll fly over on the spot.”

      “That’s not good enough.”

      What was going on inside him? She knew his request couldn’t be for personal reasons. Besides his girlfriend, there were legions of women who’d love a fling with him. “Why?”

      He seemed fascinated by the pulse throbbing in her throat. “I just came from being with the family. The babies were out of control. We both know they were looking for you.” They were? “Let’s be honest. With the operation coming up, Leon’s going to need you. I know it in my gut.”

      Gabi bowed her head. “They’ll get over the separation in a few days and cling to him.”

      “I don’t believe that, and neither do you.” Andreas leaned closer to her. “These things take time. I know how much you love the boys. Admit you’re dying inside after having to give them up.”

      “Of course I am.” The tears started spurting. Too late she covered her face with her hands.

      “Gabi…” Andreas whispered in a compassionate voice.

      “When Thea asked me to find a couple who would adopt the boys, it killed me because I wanted to be the one to take over. She didn’t know that by then I was prepared to give up my career for them. But the law forced me to come to you.”

      “Thank God it did!” In a sinuous movement Andreas pulled her into his arms. At first she remained stiff, but his gentle rocking broke down every defense and she ended up sobbing against his broad shoulder.

      “I know how much you love them,” he murmured into her silky curls. “That’s why I don’t want you to leave. Stay and work for me until Kris has recovered fully from his operation. You and I can visit the twins after work every few days. That way everyone will be happy and it won’t interfere with the bonding going on between them and their father.”

      When she realized she’d be content to stay like this forever, she eased away from him and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

      Eventually she glanced at him, never having realized gray eyes could be so warm. His love of the twins produced that translucent glow. “When you put it that way, you manage to exorcize all the demons. Only Andreas Simonides can make everything sound so simple and reasonable, even if it isn’t.”

      “That’s all I needed to hear. The matter’s settled.”

      No. It’s not. “Nothing’s settled. First I have to talk to my boss and determine if that promotion will still be waiting for me if I get back at a later date.”

      “After knowing you a week, I can guarantee he’ll move mountains to accommodate you in order to get you in the end.”

      Andreas said whatever needed to be said in order to accomplish his objective. That was why he was the head of the family business. There was just one problem. She couldn’t figure out his objective. She knew he loved the twins, but he

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