LITMIR.BIZ

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not?”

      “Because you’re alive. I’ve looked into the law. No one can adopt them unless you give away your parental rights. In truth, Thea never wanted you to know anything.”

      He shrugged his elegant shoulders. “If not for money, then why didn’t you just spirit them away and forget the legalities?”

      Gabi stared hard at him. “Because I plan to adopt them and had to be certain you didn’t want to claim them before I take them back to Virginia with me. You have that God-given right after all.” She took a fortifying breath. “Being their aunt, I don’t.”

      Her lids prickled, but she didn’t let tears form. “As for the twins, they have the same God-given right to be with their father if you want them. If there was any chance of that happening, I had to take it, thus my presence in your office today. Naturally if you do want them, then I’ll tell my parents everything and we’ll go from there.”

      The air seemed to have electrified around them. “If you’re telling me the truth, then you’re one of a dying species.”

      His cynical remark revealed a lot. He had no qualms about using women. In that regard he and Rand had a lot in common. But Gabi suspected Mr. Simonides didn’t like women very much.

      “One day when they’re old enough to understand, I wouldn’t be able to face them if I couldn’t tell them that at the very beginning I did everything in my power to unite them with you first.”

      His eyes looked almost black as they searched hers for a tension-filled moment. “What’s in Virginia when your parents are here in Greece?”

      “My life, Mr. Simonides. Like you, I have an important career I love. My parents’ responsibilities are here on Crete for the time being. Dad has always had connections to the Greek government. Every time they’re transferred, I make the occasional visit, but I live at our family home in Virginia.”

      “How long have you been here?”

      “I came a month before the children were born. They’re three months old now.” They’re so adorable you can’t imagine.

      “What’s your routine with them?”

      Gabi thought she understood what he was asking. “Between naps I usually take them for walks in their stroller.”

      “Where?”

      “Several places close by. There’s a small park with a fountain and benches around the corner from the consulate. I sometimes go there with them.”

      “Let’s plan to meet there tomorrow, say three o’clock. If that isn’t possible, phone me on my cell and we’ll arrange for another time.”

      “That will be fine,” she assured him.

      “Good.” He wrote a number on a business card and handed it to her. In the next breath he pulled the phone out of his trouser pocket and asked Stavros to report.

      Half a minute later the other man appeared. “Come with me, Ms. Turner, and I’ll show you to your cabin.”

      “Thank you.” When she got up, she would have taken the envelope with her, but Andreas was too fast for her.

      “I’ll return this to you later. Let’s hope you sleep well. The sea is calm tonight.”

      She paused at the entrance. Studying him from across the expanse she said, “Thank you for giving me those two minutes. When I prevailed on your receptionist, she said you were already late leaving your office. I’m sorry if I interrupted your plans for the evening.”

      He cocked his dark head. “A life and death situation waits on no man. Go to bed with a clear conscience. Kalinihta, Gabi Turner.”

      His deep, attractive voice vibrated to her insides. “Kalinihta.”

      As soon as Stavros saw her to her cabin, Andreas pulled out his cell phone to call Irena for the second time this evening.

      “Darling?” she answered on the second ring. “I’ve been hoping to hear from you.”

      “I’m sorry about tonight,” he began without preamble. “As I told you earlier, an emergency came up that made it impossible for us to join the family party on Milos.”

      “Well, you’re free now. Are you planning to come over?”

      He gripped the phone tighter. “I can’t.”

      “That sounded serious. Something really is wrong, isn’t it?”

      “Yes,” his voice grated. In the space of a few hours his shock had worn off enough for agony to take over.

      “You don’t want to talk to me about it?”

      “I will when the time is right.” He closed his eyes tightly. There was no right time. Not for this.

      “Which means you have to discuss it with Leon first.”

      What did she just say?

      “Judging by your silence, I realize that came out wrong. Forgive me. Ever since we started seeing each other, I’ve learned you always turn to him before anyone else, but I said it as an observation, not a criticism.”

      She’d only spoken the truth. It brought up a potentially serious issue for the future, but he didn’t have the time to analyze the ramifications right now. “There’s nothing to forgive, Irena. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

      “Whatever’s disturbing you, remember I’m here.”

      “As if I could forget.”

      “S’agapo, Andreas.”

      In the six months they’d been together, he’d learned to love her. Before Gabi Turner had come to his office, he’d planned to ask Irena to marry him. It was past time he settled down. His intention had been to announce it at to-night’s party.

      “S’agapo,” he whispered before hanging up.

       Chapter Two

      THE next afternoon Gabi’s mother helped her settle the babies in their double stroller. “It’s hot out.”

      “A typical July day.” Gabi had already packed their bottled formula in the space behind the seat. “I’ve dressed them in their thinnest tops and shorts.” One outfit in pale green, the other pastel blue. “At least there’s some shade at the park. We’ll have a wonderful time, won’t we?”

      She couldn’t resist kissing their cheeks. After being gone overnight, she’d missed them horribly. Now that they were awake, their sturdy little arms and legs were moving like crazy.

      “Oh, Gabi…they’re so precious and they look so much like Thea.”

      “I know.” But they also looked like someone else. That was the reason they were so gorgeous. She squeezed her mother around the shoulders. “Because of them, Thea will always be with us.”

      “Your father’s so crazy about them, I don’t know if he can handle your taking them back home to Alexandria to live. I know I can’t. Please promise me you’ll reconsider.”

      “We’ve been over this too many times, Mom. Dad can’t do his work the way he needs to. It’s best for both of you with your busy schedules. At home I’ll be around my friends and there’ll be other moms with their babies to befriend. We’ll see each other often. You know that!”

      Right now Gabi had too many butterflies in her stomach at the thought of meeting up with Andreas to concentrate on anything else. She slowly let go of her. “See you later.”

      Making certain the twins were comfy, she started pushing the stroller away from the Venetian-styled building that had become a home to the consulate with

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