The Tycoon's Son
Cindy Kirk
Single mother Trish Melrose has been offered a rare opportunity to mix business and pleasure.While sailing the Mediterranean aboard the luxurious Alexandra's Dream, she's to convince businessman Theo Catomeris to re-sign his shore excursion company with Liberty Line. Theo's long-estranged father has put her up to this assignment, but an undeniable attraction between Trish and Theo is distracting her from the business at hand.Theo's success and happiness on the island of Corfu suggest that he's a man with blueprints to good fortune, but absentee parents have made it difficult for him to get close to anyone.Having discovered that his father has purchased the cruise line he used to work with, Theo is more than reluctant to trust a relationship with him. But will meeting Trish give him a new perspective on building a future and resolving his past?
WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE
The Daily Cruise Letter/The Daily Cruise News
Captain Pappas reports that it should be fine sailing as we make our way from Corfu to Naples. Since this is our only full day at sea, why not make the most of it?
Start your day off with a light breakfast at the Garden Terrace while you gaze out at the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Join a spinning class in our fitness centre or “salute to the sun” in a yoga session on the Helios deck. Refresh yourself in the Mermaid Lagoon and Coral Cove, or just lounge poolside with a good book. Our full-time librarian, Ariana Bennett, will be happy to make recommendations.
Don’t forget to check the special offers in our gift shops, then relax to the soothing music of our pianist in the opulent Court of Dreams. Join the captain for a champagne reception at La Belle Epoque, followed by dinner in the Empire Room. It’s baccarat night at Caesar’s Forum, but if gambling’s not your thing, come up to the Starlight Theater at ten o’clock and discover how romantic a movie can be under a glittering night sky.
Mediterranean days and Mediterranean nights.
Yours to experience on Alexandra’s Dream.
CINDY KIRK
learned at an early age the value of having an active imagination. If she didn’t like the ending of a television show or movie, she simply thought of a different one. Or if she had difficulty falling asleep, instead of counting sheep, she made up a story. When she was sixteen she penned these words in her diary, “I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a writer.”
But it would be several decades before her dream would become a reality. Now a wife and mother, Cindy is a writer of contemporary romance. She invites you to get to know her by reading her novel and visiting her Web site at www.cindykirk.com.
The Tycoon’s Son
Cindy Kirk
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Dear Reader,
Writing a continuity book was a new experience for me. When I was asked to write The Tycoon’s Son I was thrilled and told editor Marsha Zinberg that she’d picked the perfect book for me. I love all kinds of animals, so Theo’s work to help the wild horses of Kefalonia touched a chord in my heart. Theo and Trish were also such great characters that it was a pleasure helping them find their happy ending.
Getting to know the other authors involved in the MEDITERRANEAN NIGHTS continuity was also a wonderful experience. They are a talented group of women and I can’t wait to read all the other books in this series!
Best,
Cindy Kirk
To author Patt Marr, who seems to know everyone—probably because she is so much fun to be around! I owe Patt a big thanks for introducing me to Greek woman extraordinaire Pam Dokolas, who helped me with all things Greek. Anything Greek I got right in this book is thanks to Pam.
Any errors are strictly my own.
DON’T MISS THE STORIES OF
FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE
Ingrid Weaver
SCENT OF A WOMAN
Joanne Rock
THE TYCOON’S SON
Cindy Kirk
BREAKING ALL THE RULES
Marisa Carroll
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
Karen Kendall
BELOW DECK
Dorien Kelly
A PERFECT MARRIAGE?
Cindi Myers
FULL EXPOSURE
Diana Duncan
CABIN FEVER
Mary Leo
ISLAND HEAT
Sarah Mayberry
STARSTRUCK
Michelle Celmer
THE WAY HE MOVES
Marcia King-Gamble
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
TRISH MELROSE FELT like a hooker. Or maybe a college student at the end of a bar crawl…
It wasn’t even one o’clock in the afternoon and here she was sitting in a taverna with a carafe of Greek wine on the table in front of her.
Okay, so maybe she didn’t look like a lady of the evening. Her skirt brushed her knees and the linen shell beneath her suit jacket didn’t show a bit of cleavage. And, as far as the coed thing, the fine lines at the edge of her eyes weren’t usually found on a college girl’s face.
But that didn’t change the fact that for the past thirty minutes she’d been sitting in the small café in Corfu Town, sipping the same glass of wine and plastering a smile on her face whenever the tiny bells above the door jingled a new arrival. With unabashed interest she’d checked out every man who walked through the door.
She only prayed Theo Catomeris wouldn’t keep her waiting much longer.
As the owner of a growing company in Miami that arranged shore excursions for cruise ships, Trish loved everything about her job…except the games.
While arriving late was a common way to show power, in this case it was totally unnecessary. Theo Catomeris had to know that he was the one in control.
If he said yes to her very generous offer, billionaire Elias Stamos would be appeased and Trish would retain her firm’s contract with Liberty Line.
Unfortunately if he said no…
Trish’s fingers tightened around the wineglass. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if she failed.
There was so much at stake. If she lost the Liberty contract she’d have to lay off or cut back the hours of at least one of her two employees. Who would it be? Twyla, the single mother who gave 110 percent every day? Or James, whose wife didn’t work and who’d just bought his first house in anticipation of the baby due next month? Her company, Excursion Plus, was more than just a business. She and her employees worked hard but they also had fun. And they all cared about each other. She couldn’t let them down.
Maybe if she groveled…
She stopped the thought before it could go any further, appalled it had even crossed her mind. Trish Melrose didn’t grovel. Had never groveled. Would never grovel.
She would do her best to convince Mr. Catomeris that it would be in his—and his wildlife foundation’s—best interest to continue to do business with Liberty Line. She’d make the points she’d rehearsed calmly and rationally.
The offer she had for him was a win-win. If he renewed his contract with Liberty Line for excursion services—the same services he’d been providing to Liberty passengers prior to the cruise line’s buyout by Argosy Cruises, Trish would make a hefty donation to his pet project, a foundation to help the wild horses of Kefalonia.
In actuality the money for the donation would come from Elias Stamos, the owner of Argosy Cruises and now Liberty Line. But the Greek billionaire insisted she leave his name out of the offer. As far as Theo Catomeris was concerned, Trish’s company would be the one making the donation. She’d asked several times why the subterfuge was necessary but had never gotten a straight answer.
When she’d seen she was getting nowhere, Trish had checked out the legalities with her attorney and discovered doing it the way Mr. Stamos required was perfectly legal. Only then had she finally agreed to do it his way.
Now all she needed to do was convince Catomeris to sign.
If he ever showed up, that is.
What if he’d forgotten?
That seemed unlikely considering she’d confirmed the meeting by e-mail just yesterday.
Did I mix up the time?
It couldn’t be that. When Alexandra’s Dream had docked off the small Greek island this morning, Trish had made sure her watch was on local time. She’d double-checked her notes for the location and had arrived at the small taverna on the edge of the Esplanade at precisely twelve-fifteen…well ahead of their twelve-thirty appointment.
The arched colonnade lined with cafés at the edge of the vast main plaza and park had practically begged to be explored. But today wasn’t about shopping and sightseeing. The meeting with Theo Catomeris was her priority.
Trish had already discussed this issue with him once. Shortly after she’d learned he hadn’t signed the new agreement with Liberty, she’d e-mailed him, assuming the contract had gotten lost in the mail…or on his desk. His response had been brief and to the point. Not interested.
She’d immediately started looking for other vendors. But Stamos had insisted on Theo Catomeris. So Trish had tried again. She’d followed up the e-mail refusal with a call. The connection hadn’t been good but there’d been no misunderstanding the response. Catomeris had made it more than clear he wasn’t interested in working with the new owner of the cruise line.
Mr. Stamos hadn’t been happy with the news but he’d given Trish one more chance. She would join one of his cruises, and when the ship docked in Corfu, she would meet with Catomeris and make her plea in person.
The action seemed extreme—personally she would have just replaced Catomeris—but Elias Stamos was the client and it was his call.
“You no like the food?”
Trish looked up to find the proprietress’s anxious gaze fixed on the nearly full plate and glass in front of Trish.
Menka was short and nearly as round as she was tall. Her long hair, more silver than black, pulled back from her face in a fat bun. Trish guessed her to be somewhere in her late seventies.
Trish offered her a reassuring smile. She’d always had a soft spot in her heart for older people and Menka clearly went out of her way to make her customers comfortable. Though the woman’s English was far from flawless, she was easily understood. In fact, when Trish had first arrived, they’d spent several minutes bonding over discussions of Miami, where Menka had relatives.
“I like the food very much.” To illustrate the point and further reassure the woman, Trish took a sip of wine and popped a piece of feta into her mouth.
She must have been convincing because Menka patted her on the shoulder and moved on to the next table.
Glancing around the café, now half-filled with diners, Trish was suddenly happy that Catomeris had chosen this place to meet instead of one of the upscale restaurants or European bistros surrounding it.
The small, family-owned taverna had a warm, homey feel that had instantly put her at ease. Intricately tatted lace topped the oilcloth covering the tables, and the lamps scattered throughout the dining area gave the café’s interior a golden glow. It was almost like meeting in a favorite friend’s living room.
The bells heralding another new customer pulled Trish from her reverie. She shifted her gaze to the doorway just in time to see Menka wrap her arms around a broad-shouldered man.
With his dark curly hair, aquiline nose and classic cheekbones, the man standing just inside the doorway could have posed for the Greek statue on the cover of the travel guide nestled in Trish’s purse. Not only that, but he was in the age range of the man Trish had come to meet.
Trish straightened in her seat, her senses on high alert. Could this be Theo Catomeris?
He glanced around the room. When he saw Trish, she offered him a smile. Instead of returning the friendly gesture, he turned and spoke to the proprietress again. Menka shook her head and pointed to Trish, obviously reiterating that she was the only American in the room, or perhaps the only one waiting for someone.
As he started across the taverna, Trish took the opportunity to study him. Like her, he was dressed for business. Anticipation quickened Trish’s pulse. Since starting in the cruise industry fifteen years ago, she has discovered her ability to exhibit a cool confidence under pressure had served her well. After becoming her own boss five years ago, she’d been successful in contracting with most major cruise lines to provide excursion services to their guests.
Not to say it hadn’t been challenging. Every day other companies sprang up promising to do what she did…only better, faster, cheaper. In the highly competitive travel industry, she’d had to develop nerves of steel. But this wasn’t just another industry executive she was dealing with, this was a man whose decision could cause her to lose a significant percentage of her current business.
Apparently determined to make her wait, the man stopped at several tables, taking time to laugh and talk with other patrons. Customers called out in Greek to him or raised a hand in greeting. Trish decided the fact that most of the people here knew him probably wasn’t all that surprising considering the size of Corfu Town.
Finally he stood tableside. Trish rose to her feet and extended her hand. “Theo Catomeris?”
“Mrs. Melrose.” A slight smile touched his lips and he gave her hand a brief shake. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
His English was perfect with only the barest hint of an accent.
“Please,” she said, taking his hand. “Call me Trish.”
A tingle raced up her arm when her palm met his large callused one in a firm grip. Up close his brown hair reminded her of strong coffee, so dark it could almost be black. But the hint of gray at his temples told her he wasn’t as young as she’d first thought. In fact, he was probably a little older than her own thirty-seven years.
Still, he was a magnificent forty. A man in his prime. She could practically feel the waves of testosterone rolling off him.
“You may call me Theo,” he said politely, pushing in her chair as she took her seat.
Out of the corner of her eye, Trish saw a few people staring and realized she and Theo had become the main attraction in the small café.
“Have you had lunch?” she asked when he took the seat opposite her.
Mentioning food or the weather was always a good conversation starter. But Theo didn’t have a chance to respond because the proprietress chose that moment to deliver a bottle of ouzo to the table along with ice and water. The older woman’s cheeks might have been a road map of wrinkles, but her dark eyes still had a youthful flare and a healthy dose of curiosity.
“This woman is a friend, Theo?” the woman asked, her hands fluttering in the air like tiny wrens.
“Mrs. Melrose and I have done business together in the past,” Theo said smoothly. “She and I have some work-related concerns to discuss.”
Theo went on to introduce the proprietress as his grandmother, Menka Catomeris. He also casually mentioned that his grandfather, Tommy, was in the kitchen cooking.
After a few seconds of polite conversation, the woman bustled off to take care of other diners. But not before giving Theo another hug and making him promise to stop in back and see his grandfather before he left.
Trish felt a pang of envy. It was obvious the threesome had a warm, loving relationship.
“You’re lucky to be so close to your grandparents,” Trish said, her tone sounding wistful even to her ears. It had been her dream to have her daughter, Cassidy, grow up surrounded by family. But her ex-husband’s parents were too busy with their own lives to spend much time with the child and Trish’s parents lived in Nebraska.
Theo poured ouzo into the glass and added water. “They’re more like parents than grandparents. I’ve been with them since I was a baby.”
She’d expected him to continue but his lips clamped down as if he’d said more than he’d intended.
“I’m sorry.” A wave of compassion washed over Trish. “Did your parents die?”
“No.” Theo raised the glass to his lips. “My mother lives in Athens. My father isn’t…involved.”
Trish almost asked what had happened, but at the last minute regained her common sense. This was a work-related luncheon, and until their business was concluded, it wouldn’t do to let the conversation get too personal. Still, the more she knew about Theo, the better she’d be able to solidify a deal that met both their needs.
“How did you get started doing tours?” she asked.
“I went to college in Athens,” he said in an offhand tone, taking a sip of ouzo. “Then to Stanford for my MBA.”
Trish smiled. No wonder he spoke such perfect English.
“And then?” she prompted when he didn’t immediately continue.
“When I returned to Greece, I worked in Athens for a brokerage firm for several years.” His eyes grew distant with remembrance. “But my heart wasn’t in it. I bought my first boat, returned to Corfu and started my business.”
Trish picked up a piece of feta. “How many boats do you have now?”
“Six,” he said, a note of pride in his voice. “We now go to most of the Ionian Islands. In the beginning it was just Kefalonia.”
Trish took another bite of the delicious cheese, and tried to get a hold on the excitement strumming through her body. The excursion to Kefalonia was the reason for this meeting, and Theo had just opened the door to that discussion.
“From what I understand, Kefalonia is a must-see for visitors to this area,” Trish said, doing her best to keep her tone casual.
“You’ve never been there?” Menka asked, suddenly reappearing to place a plate of savory phyllo pastries on the table. Apparently the older woman had decided if they were there, they were going to eat.
Trish shook her head. “This is my first visit to the area.”
“You must go,” Menka said. “You must make a tour.”
Trish hesitated. She and her friend had booked a spot on an excursion to Kefalonia later in the afternoon. But she hated to mention the plan for fear Theo would use it as a reason to cut their meeting short.
“It sounds like Kefalonia is a place everyone should have a chance to see,” Trish answered instead, casting a pointed glance toward Theo.
Theo nodded. “It’s very beautiful.”
“Theo. Maybe you could—” Menka stopped mid-sentence, her gaze focused on Theo. Instead of continuing with the thought she merely patted Theo on the shoulder and scurried off.
Theo glanced down at the phyllo pastries his grandmother had placed on the table. “Yiayia likes to bring me all my favorite dishes when I come here. I can ask her for a menu if you’d like to order something else.”
“Thank you, but these will be fine. They look wonderful.” The delicious smells in the café had set her stomach to rumbling and she’d always found eating to be conducive to doing business. “While we’re eating, why don’t you tell me a little bit about Corfu?”
Theo obligingly started talking and continued to talk while Menka brought them salads and then grilled fish. It didn’t take Trish long to realize why Theo was so effective as a tour operator. The man possessed a wealth of knowledge about his home country…and a passion.
Yet by the time the galactoboureko—a milk custard pie with phyllo pastry and a touch of honey—had arrived, Trish had lost interest in geography and history.
Instead she found her attention focused on Theo. On the way his brown—almost black—hair brushed his shoulders. The way his lips closed around the spoon with the custard, the way he gestured with his fingers to make a point.
Even the way he talked fascinated her. His English was excellent, but occasionally his inflection would reveal that he wasn’t a native speaker.
Trish suddenly wished that she didn’t have an agenda and could just enjoy his company. If only the words business and contracts didn’t have to cross her lips.
She wasn’t sure how he was going to react to the incentive she planned to offer him. Regardless of what Mr. Stamos called it, offering Theo’s foundation a generous donation in exchange for him resuming the Kefalonia excursions smacked of bribery.
“Trish.” Theo’s deep voice broke through her reverie and she looked up to find him staring at her, an inscrutable expression on his face.
“I suppose you want to get down to business.” She practically sighed the word and a dimple flashed in his cheek. Once she’d laid the offer on the table, the delightful lunch would be over.
He leaned back in his chair. “What’s on your mind?”
Trish opened her mouth and the words she didn’t want to speak tumbled out.
CHAPTER TWO
“COULD YOU EXPLAIN to me,” Trish said, lifting a glass of ouzo to her lips, “your reservations about signing the contract to do shore excursions for Liberty Line?”
Though Theo had wondered how long it would take her to get to the point of the meeting, disappointment coursed through him. He’d been enjoying her company and hated to see the conversation turn ugly.
He had terminated all of his tour company’s contracts with the Liberty Line when his father had bought out the previous owners.
He had no doubt that Mrs. Melrose, Trish, was in league with his father. When he’d spoken with her on the phone she’d been careful to portray herself as an independent businesswoman who needed his help. But Theo hadn’t been fooled. Her new alliance with Elias Stamos made her the enemy.
But he’d contracted with her company for a number of years and had always been treated fairly. That was the only reason he’d agreed to meet with her. Not because he was considering her offer, but out of respect.
“The previous owners of Liberty were friends of mine,” Theo said, meeting her gaze. “I don’t care to work with the new owner.”
“Is that what you want me to tell Mr. Stamos?” Trish’s voice remained calm but the two bright patches of color on her cheeks told him he’d been right to delay this discussion. At this point, the only way their conversation was going to end was badly.
“Tell him whatever you want,” Theo said with a careless shrug.
“There has to be more going on here.” Trish’s brows pressed together in a delicate frown. “In our business we both work with people we either don’t know very well or sometimes don’t particularly like. As long as they follow the terms of a contract, I don’t see the issue.”
She was a bulldog, this one. Once she’d latched on to something, it wouldn’t be easy to shake her loose. But this was one battle that wouldn’t be won by tenacity, because Theo would never, ever work for the man who had abandoned him as a boy, no matter how pretty the emissary.
“You don’t need to understand.” A thread of steel wove its way through Theo’s voice. “All you need to know is that I don’t choose to accept your offer.”
Trish opened her mouth to speak but shut it without saying a word.
Theo felt a surge of satisfaction. She’d finally gotten the message. And she’d taken his refusal remarkably well. His gaze lingered on her face, the ivory skin with a smattering of freckles, the patrician nose with just enough tilt to make it interesting. If she were just another tourist from America, he’d ask her to go with him to Kefalonia this afternoon.
Visitors to the island were always awed and amazed at its beauty. If they’d had time, he might have even taken her up into the mountains and shown her the wild horses…
“I understand there are wild horses on Kefalonia,” Trish said.
Theo jerked back slightly. It was as if she’d read his mind.
“I don’t know if I told you,” Trish said. “But I’m a huge animal lover.”
Theo tilted his head. It confused him when women switched conversation topics midstream. Usually he could follow their logic…but not this time.
“Is that right?” He wrapped his hands around the steaming cup of espresso.
“I’m involved with Paws and Hands Together,” she said. “It’s a shih tzu rescue organization.”
Theo pulled his brows together, trying to place the breed. “Are those the dogs that look like mops?”
Trish laughed. “They’re the ones.”
“What do you do with the organization?” He liked the way her eyes lit up when she talked about the dogs.
“I maintain the Web site,” she said, the tension which had tightened the corners of her mouth easing. “And I take in foster dogs, ones waiting to be adopted. I also do some fund-raising. Finding good homes for these animals takes some serious cash.”
The passion in her voice was contagious and suddenly Theo found himself telling her all about the wild horses of Kefalonia and his plans to save them from extinction.
“I can’t believe that the government isn’t doing more to protect them.” Outrage filled Trish’s voice and her hazel eyes flashed.
Theo had to smile at her vehemence. He felt the same way but had learned anger without action accomplished nothing. “I know what you mean. We continue to lobby for a ruling to protect wild horses on public and National Park lands. But we can’t wait for that to happen. We need to focus on making changes happen ourselves.”
“That can get expensive.”
There was something in her voice that caused him to look up. But all he saw on her face was concern.
“It is,” Theo admitted. “We need to improve the watering facilities and provide shelter, as well as developing nature watch facilities and protection safaris. It all costs money.”
He leaned forward and his love for these abandoned creatures welled up and spilled over into his voice. “The wild horses of Mount Ainos have no one else. If my foundation doesn’t help them, who will? They are on the verge of extinction.”
His grandfather had taken him to Kefalonia for the first time when he’d been but a small boy. They’d hiked the mountain above the village of Arginia and it was there that Theo had gotten his first glimpse of the ponies.
When his grandfather had told him that no one wanted the proud, spirited animals, Theo had felt an instant affinity. Though he knew his grandparents loved him, sometimes he felt as if no one wanted him, either.
Way back then, when he’d been but a child, he’d vowed to help the horses.
Now his childish dream had become a reality.
“Where do most of your donations come from?”
Trish’s voice pulled him back to the present.
“Ironically, from tourists.” Theo gave a little laugh. “When we do our tours…when the visitors watch the horses gallop across the steep, rocky slopes of the mountain, they fall in love. And when they learn of the precarious fate of these beautiful animals, they dig into their wallets.”
The generosity of the Americans, in particular, continued to amaze Theo.
Trish’s finger traced an imaginary figure eight on the tabletop. “It sounds like fewer tours to Kefalonia could mean less money for your foundation.”
There was something in her way-too-casual tone that sent red warning flags popping up in Theo’s head. “What are you trying to say?”
Trish looked straight at him. “By refusing to contract with Liberty, it would seem that you are also cutting off a large source of potential donors to your foundation.”
The statement hung in the air, bold and raw, for several heartbeats. Theo tightened his grip on the cup. “I’m not contracting with Liberty.”
Trish leaned back in her seat and expelled a long breath. “If you look at this rationally—”
“I’ve said all I’m going to say on the matter,” Theo told her, not bothering to hide his irritation. He’d given her his answer. The subject was not up for discussion.
To his amazement, Trish didn’t back down. She leaned forward and rested both elbows on the table. “Hear me out,” she said, raising a hand when he started to speak. “I really want you to sign that contract. It will be good for me, good for you, and—”
“I told you—”
“—and good for your foundation,” she continued without missing a beat. “As a bonus for signing I will donate the following sum of money to your foundation—”
Theo’s jaw dropped open at the amount she named. It was at least a year’s worth of tourist donations. For a second his mind jumped ahead to what they could do with the money. They could start work on some additional self-filling watering facilities, they could—
No. He shut down the wishful daydreams playing in his head. Even if he was interested in signing—which he wasn’t—there was something about the offer that didn’t ring true.
“What do you say?” she asked, her eagerness making her words come out fast. “The way I see it, this deal is a win-win for everyone.”
She looked so pretty sitting there with the sunlight from the window dancing across her hair and a hopeful gleam in her eyes that Theo was hard-pressed not to give her everything she wanted.
“This money you would donate,” Theo said, “where would it come from?”
She paused for a half heartbeat before answering. “From my company.”
The momentary hesitation confirmed Theo’s suspicions. Still he pressed onward, wanting to hear her admit that his father was behind this offer. “It’s a large sum.”
“My business is important to me. Keeping clients such as Liberty happy and satisfied is essential.” There was an earnest look on her face and a ring of truth in her words. Still, Theo wasn’t convinced.
“Stamos gave you the money, didn’t he?” Theo suddenly leaned forward, crowding her, trying not to be distracted by the intoxicatingly sweet scent of her perfume.
She averted her gaze, her hair hiding her eyes from view. “I told you,” she said, “I will be the one writing the check.”
He wasn’t fooled. She still hadn’t answered his question. “But the money will come from him.”
“How many times do I have to tell you.” A hint of desperation crept into Trish’s tone. “I will be—”
“The money is coming from him.” Equally determined, Theo hammered his point.
“Do you really care who it comes from?” Trish gazed at him over the top of her glass of ouzo, a splash of red coloring her cheeks.
Disappointment coursed through Theo’s veins. It was as he’d thought. The redheaded American was in league with the devil. She didn’t care about the horses…or him. All she wanted was to get him to bend to his father’s will. Theo pushed back his chair. “Our business is concluded.”
“You didn’t give me your answer,” Trish protested.
“I’d sooner strike a deal with Satan himself than enter into an agreement with Elias Stamos,” Theo said, keeping his tone low, aware of the curious glances directed their way.
Confusion clouded Trish’s gaze. “But why? I’d say in this instance he’s being more than fair.”
“I don’t like to be manipulated,” Theo said. “And I don’t like lies.”
Her cheeks reddened as if she’d been slapped. She lifted her chin and her eyes blazed, but when she spoke her words were carefully measured and conciliatory. “I’m sorry you feel that way. That’s certainly not the intention of the offer.” She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “I want to help you and the wild horses. At least consider the possibility.”
Theo could see the desperation in her eyes. She obviously had a lot at stake here. But he couldn’t help her, not this time.
His mind had been made up long ago, when he was a little boy. Back then he’d vowed never to have anything to do with the father who hadn’t wanted him.
And that was a promise he intended to keep.
CHAPTER THREE
TRISH STARED at the three wild ponies on the hillside and breathed in the fresh mountain air. The brilliance of the blue sky wrapped itself around her and the sun warmed her face. She’d scheduled the side trip to Kefalonia so she could better understand why Elias Stamos insisted this excursion be offered to his passengers.
It made sense now.
As far as Trish was concerned, the history and beauty of Kefalonia was something everyone should experience. The plight of the horses was something everyone should know, and no one told their story better than Theo Catomeris.
She turned from the wild ponies and slanted a sideways glance at the handsome Greek. She wasn’t sure which of them had been more surprised when she and her friend, Sally Edwards, had shown up at the dock for the three-thirty tour.
Right now his attention was focused on a salesman from Cincinnati. But during the boat ride from Corfu to Kefalonia, and even on the trip in the van to Mount Ainos, she’d caught him slanting quick glances at her. Trish could only hope her presence would prompt him to reconsider her offer.
Mentally crossing her fingers, she turned back to the horses, watching in amazement as one—a spunky roan—negotiated a steep patch of rocky hillside with surprising ease.
“Incredible,” Trish breathed.
“I know,” Sally said. “If he didn’t have that bald spot in the back, he’d be perfect.”
Bald spot? Although the ponies weren’t close, Trish had a good view of the roan and, from where she stood, his hair appeared intact.
“What bald spot?” Trish asked.
“Shh.” Sally grabbed her arm, and when she spoke, her voice was a whisper. “He’ll hear you.”
Trish rolled her eyes. Okay, so maybe she spelled words she didn’t want the dogs in her home to hear, but the pony was so far away she could have shouted without worrying about the animal being offended.
“The horse is not going to hear me,” Trish said. “And even if he did, I hardly think he’s going to care.”
“Horse?” Sally’s perfectly tweezed brows pulled together. “I’m talking about Jerry.”
Aha. Finally Trish understood. Jerry Arthur was the salesman Sally had been flirting with since they’d met on the boat ride from Corfu. Recently divorced, Jerry was in the Greek Isles on business. He was also the one currently monopolizing Theo.
Trish cast a surreptitious glance in their direction. “You’re right,” Trish said to Sally. “The guy does have a bald spot.”
“I’m not criticizing, mind you. I think it makes him look distinguished.” Sally’s lips curved up in a satisfied smile. “Did I tell you he promised to look me up the next time he’s in Omaha?”
“That’s great, Sal.” Trish tried to put some enthusiasm in her voice. While she wanted to believe the man would call, she had the feeling this was the last her friend would see of the guy. It had been her experience that men often promised things then didn’t deliver.
Sally and Trish had been best friends growing up in Nebraska. They’d kept in touch even after Trish had left for college in Florida. Though still single, Sally had never given up on her dream of having a husband and children.
Two years ago, at age thirty-five, Sally had decided to make her dream a reality. She’d lost eighty pounds, bought some new, stylish clothes and lightened her mousy-brown hair to blond. While she would never be model-thin, her weight loss had given her a newfound confidence with men and she’d jumped into the dating scene with an enthusiasm Trish envied.
“I’m glad you made me go on this excursion,” Sally said, her blue eyes sparkling. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
“I can’t imagine missing this, either.” Though Trish didn’t endorse his tactics, she now understood why Elias Stamos wanted this excursion available to his passengers.
Trish had barely finished speaking when Theo’s voice rang out over the crowd.
“If you all move closer, I’ll tell you about efforts currently underway to save these fine animals.” His deep voice sent a shiver up Trish’s spine. Though he’d made it clear when they’d left the taverna that their business was concluded, Trish couldn’t help but hope the door was still open.
She began to move forward, and when she turned to say something to Sally, Trish found herself alone. Sally now stood next to Jerry, her arm looped casually through his.
Trish sighed and let the group of people push her forward until she stood directly in front of Theo. His lips were moving ever so slightly, and it took Trish a second to realize he was counting, making sure all twenty-five people in the tour group were present.
She waited with anticipation for his gaze to settle on her. But when he got to her, he skipped over her.
The action told her more than words that the door was still shut.
Theo took a step back and gestured with an out-swept arm toward the side of the mountain and valley below.
“This mountain where we now stand is Mount Ainos. Below you can see the village of Arginia. And if you look over there, you can see three of the wild horses of the island.” Though his voice never faltered, Trish could see the emotion in his eyes when he looked at the horses. “These animals belong to a mountain breed of Greek horse descended from the Pindos breed. The Pindos is a descendent from the old Thessalonean breed which is now extinct.”
Though a few in the crowd moved away, most were as mesmerized as Trish by the passion in Theo’s voice as he painted a vivid picture of the horses’ struggle to survive.
“While they have faced tremendously adverse conditions in the past, these horses now face even greater challenges. They share this area with many other animals. Years ago, there was enough food and water for all. Now, due to the felling of many trees as well as destructive fires, the horse’s ability to find enough food and water is threatened.”
“What can we do to help?” the distinguished-looking older gentleman next to Trish called out.
“Thank you for asking,” Theo said. “We’ve established a foundation to save these horses. The immediate goal is the provision of self-filling watering facilities and shelter, along with a balanced diet in the winter months.”
Theo didn’t stop there. He went on to talk about more extensive long-range possibilities before mentioning to the group that when they stopped at the Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi on the way down, they would have an opportunity to make a donation, if they so desired.
After giving them a few minutes to take pictures, Theo announced it was time to head back to the van. As they started down the mountain path, Trish fell into step beside Theo.
“We’re going to have to stop meeting like this,” she said, keeping her tone deliberately light.
This time Theo couldn’t ignore her. “I didn’t know you were coming on this tour.”
Trish struggled to keep up with his fast clip. Normally she loved hiking, but she’d tripped on a hidden rock on their way up the mountain and her ankle was still sore from the almost fall.
Theo must have noticed her difficulty because he slowed his pace and even reached out a helping hand when she stumbled.
“I guess we’re even then,” she said.
“How’s that?” he asked.
“I didn’t know you were going to be leading this tour.”
He shot her a skeptical glance.
“I didn’t,” Trish said. “When I booked the tour, someone named Basil was listed as the guide.”
“Basil went home sick,” Theo admitted. “I’m filling in for him.”
“You do a nice job,” Trish said. “When you were talking about the hardships the horses face…”
Her voice caught. She wondered if the bay or the gray or the black roan would die this winter. Trish took a moment to compose herself. Ever since she’d been a child she’d loved animals. While her encounters with horses had been few, these proud, well-spirited ponies had found their way into her heart.
She thought of the money Elias Stamos would give, and how it could make the difference in these horses surviving the winter…or not.
While Theo hadn’t been overly friendly, he hadn’t been hostile, either. Maybe now that he’d had time to think, he’d be willing to take the money and give these horses a chance at a better life. She simply had to try again…
“I was wondering if you’d thought more about my offer,” Trish said.
A tiny muscle jumped in his jaw. “No,” he said. “I haven’t.”
It might not have been the most encouraging answer she could have gotten but it gave Trish something to build upon.
“I know,” she said. “There hasn’t been much time. It seemed like I’d barely left the taverna to meet Sal when it was time for the tour to start.”
“Sal?” He stopped and turned to face her.
He stood so close Trish could see the sheen of sweat on his brow and she realized his eyes looked more gold than brown in the light. Her heart did a little flip-flop in her chest.
“Sal?” he repeated.
“My friend.” Trish gestured with her head toward the back of the group. “The blonde.”
“The woman with Larry,” Theo said, his eyes dark and inscrutable.
“Jerry,” Trish said, automatically.
Theo’s gaze remained fixed on hers. “Is he a friend of yours, too?”
Trish frowned. Why were they talking about a salesman from Cincinnati when they had more important things to discuss…like Theo accepting the money so the wild horses could survive.
“Sally and I just met him this afternoon,” Trish said impatiently.
“I didn’t know you were in Corfu with a friend.”
“That’s not important.” Trish wished he’d quit talking and listen to what she had to say.
He started walking again and the road came into view. Time was running out. Dear God, they were almost to the van.
“Theo.” She grabbed his arm. “Please. There’s something I have to say to you.”
He hesitated only a second before stepping off to the side and letting the rest of the group follow the trail to the van.
“You want to apologize.” It was more a statement of fact than a question.
“Apologize?” Trish shook her head, suddenly confused. “No, I want you to reconsider my offer.”
“Offer?” A hardness edged the word.
“The bonus if you sign the agreement.” Trish spoke quickly, sensing a wall was on its way up. When she’d walked away from Theo earlier, she’d told herself she’d done her best. She’d asked. He’d said no. But this was no longer just about her. This was about the ponies. “Think of all the good you could do for these animals with that kind of money.”
He opened his mouth then closed it. Trish felt a surge of hope.
“New watering stations,” she said in her most persuasive tone. “Grain and other feed to last them through the winter.” She leaned close. “Enough money to ensure that no horse will have to die this year.”
A moment of longing crossed his face before his lips firmed. “If I agree to work with Elias Stamos.”
“If you agree to resume doing excursions for Liberty Line,” Trish clarified.
He waved a dismissive hand. “Same thing.”
A puzzle piece clicked into place. “It’s him. He’s the reason you won’t sign. You have something against Elias Stamos.”
She asked only out of curiosity. He’d made it clear he wasn’t going to do the excursions. While that didn’t bode well for her agency’s bottom line, Trish had survived tough times before and she would again.
“I gave you my answer.” Theo’s words were accusatory. “But instead of respecting that decision, you come on this excursion and interrupt my business for the sole purpose of getting me to change my mind.”
The idea was so ridiculous Trish couldn’t help but laugh. “You make it sound as if I’m stalking you.”
She expected him to laugh, too. Or at least crack a smile. But her words were met with a chilling silence. This conversation was going from bad to worse.
“Mr. Catomeris?” An older woman tapped Theo’s shoulder. “Will there be restrooms at our next stop?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Theo answered politely.
The woman looked at Trish. “Miss, your friend said to tell you she’s saving you a seat in the back of the van.”
“Thank you.” Trish smiled, then heaved a sigh of relief when the woman scurried off.
“I should get back to the group,” Theo said, but surprisingly he made no move to leave.
Trish shared his reluctance, knowing this was probably the last time they would be alone. Once she boarded the ship tonight, she would sail off to the next port and he would remain in Corfu.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Melrose,” he said finally.
“Goodbye…Theo.” Trish reached into her pocket and pulled out the business card she’d forgotten to give him earlier. “If you change your mind or just want to talk about the offer some more, I hope you’ll give me a call.”
Theo hesitated for only a moment before his fingers curved around the card she held out. “I won’t change my mind.”
“I understand you feel that way now,” Trish said. “But sometimes things change. Just remember I really want your business. I think we’d make a great team.”
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“The contract is important to me,” she said. “Now that I’ve seen them, helping these horses is important to me, too.”
“We need to get to the van,” he said. “So you can get back to the ship on time.”
Okay, so he hadn’t said he’d do it. But given time she knew she could persuade him. Unfortunately time was the one thing she didn’t have.
CHAPTER FOUR
AT SLIGHTLY BEFORE eight o’clock in the evening the harbor area in Corfu Town teemed with tourists. Many of them, exhausted after a day of tours and shopping, stood quietly, waiting to get back on the ship. Theo took his place at the end of the line.
Not in the mood to converse, he popped in some earbuds and let the music drown out the conversations around him. If only he could block out his thoughts as easily. But no matter how he tried, Theo couldn’t get Trish’s face out of his head. All the way down the mountain, every minute of the boat ride back to Corfu, he’d felt her eyes on him.
There was something about the woman that got under his skin. Coming on his tour, for example, had taken a helluva lot of nerve. And then approaching him again with that offer…
He stepped onto the gangway of Alexandra’s Dream, the flagship of Liberty Line. It had been a long day and it was going to be an even longer night. This evening he would meet his half sisters, Katherine and Helena Stamos, for the first time.
Theo’s looked up at the brightly lit ship. His mother thought he was crazy. Of course, she hated everything to do with Elias Stamos, including his children by his now-deceased wife, Alexandra.
The fact that Alexandra had enjoyed the life which Anastasia had thought should have been hers only fueled his mother’s bitterness. She was adamant that Theo have no contact with any of them.
But Theo was curious. Curious what they were like. Over the years he’d seen them on television many times so he didn’t think he’d have any trouble recognizing them. But what was there to talk about? They didn’t move in the same social circles or share the same lifestyle. And why had they even contacted him? A sliver of dread crawled up Theo’s spine.
His mother had been right. Having anything to do with the Stamos family was a mistake. For the briefest of seconds Theo considered leaving. But he’d given his word and, just like a handshake, his word meant something. Besides, he hadn’t gotten to where he was by running from difficult situations.
He paused halfway up the gangway and removed the earbuds, slipping them into his pocket. Sounds of music and laughter spilled over from the upper deck. The ship was supposed to pull out in the morning. This was one of those overnight port stays intended to give the passengers more time to enjoy Corfu Town by night.
He continued up the gangway behind a couple of chattering women. When he reached the top, he hesitated. Katherine had said she’d be there to meet him at eight. But it was already five after and there was no woman waiting. Only two staff members screening the returning passengers and a security guard sitting on a chair stood between him and the entrance to the ship.
His tour operator’s license had gotten him this far but it wouldn’t be enough to get him on board.
“Welcome back,” one of the staff said with a smile. “Your boarding pass, sir?”
Theo shook his head and offered an easy smile. “I’m not a passenger. I’m meeting—”
The man’s smile disappeared. “I’m sorry, sir. Only passengers are allowed on the ship.”
“I understand that,” Theo said amiably. “However, I’m here to meet—”
“It doesn’t matter, sir,” the man said.
“But—” Theo began.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the guard stand. He wasn’t surprised. Because of security concerns, most cruise ships were reluctant to allow non-passengers on board. That’s why Katherine was supposed to be here, to navigate him through security.
“I am so sorry I’m late.”
Theo heard the feminine voice even before the beautiful woman rounded the corner. Stylishly slim with light brown hair and a fair complexion, she looked more like her English mother than her Greek father.
“Gentlemen, it’s my mistake,” she said, in a soft, melodious voice. “I planned to be here with this before he arrived but I was detained.”
She showed the man the security pass and he scanned it then waved Theo forward. Katherine waited until they were in the hall before wrapping her arms around him in an impulsive hug that seemed to surprise her as much as it did him. He stiffened but didn’t pull away.
Her arms dropped to her side and she took a step back then held out her hand. “By the way, I’m Katherine.”
He took her hand in a brief shake. “Theo Catomeris.
“Thank you so much for coming.” The merest hint of pink touched her cheeks. “And just so you know, I’m not in the habit of hugging complete strangers. But the resemblance to…well, the resemblance is uncanny.”
Theo had seen Elias Stamos on television many times. He knew he bore a strong resemblance to the man, but in his family that was never mentioned. He didn’t know how to respond to Katherine’s comment so he remained silent.
“I’m so happy you decided to come.” Katherine punched the elevator button then gave a nervous laugh. “I think I already said that before, didn’t I?”
Theo just lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. This was a difficult situation for all of them to navigate. At least she was talking. His ability to make small talk seemed to have vanished.
“I was surprised to get the invitation,” Theo said finally. “I wasn’t aware you knew I even existed.”
“Well, I…we…haven’t always known,” Katherine said. “But we do now.”
Theo sensed she shared his unease on how to manage the situation. Obviously meeting your father’s bastard son wasn’t something covered in most etiquette books.
“Have you had dinner yet?” she asked.
Theo shook his head.
“Good,” Katherine said, and he could almost see a little of the tension ease from her face. “Helena and I considered having dinner brought to the penthouse but we thought you might enjoy seeing some of the ship. The Empire Room is the main dining room.”
Her speech had taken on a nervous, edgy quality that he found oddly reassuring. At least he wasn’t the only one stressed over this meeting.
Katherine took a deep breath and continued. “It serves international cuisine so I’m sure you’ll find something to please your palate. It’s very impressive.”
“Spoken like a true PR person,” Theo said before he could stop himself.
Surprise skittered across Katherine’s face. “You know what I do?”
“Just what I read in the papers,” he said. “I know that Liberty is one of your firm’s biggest accounts.”
“Well, right now you seem to have the advantage,” Katherine said. “Because I don’t know a whole lot about you.”
“Not much to know.” Theo hoped dinner didn’t deteriorate into a question-and-answer session. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the evening being grilled about his past. Of course, enduring an hour of awkward silences didn’t hold much appeal, either.
They stepped into the elevator and Katherine punched the button for deck five. “Helena will join us there.”
“Is Helena younger or older than you?” Theo knew the women had been born a couple years apart but found it hard to keep the two straight in his mind.
“She’s thirty-five.” Katherine brushed a strand of hair behind her ears with a perfectly manicured fingernail. “I just turned thirty-seven. Sometimes I can’t believe I’m that old.”
“I’m forty,” Theo said. “By your calculations, I guess that makes me ancient.”
“Sometimes I feel like all the good years are behind me.” Katherine’s expression turned pensive. “Other times it’s as if the best is yet to be.”
“I understand what you mean,” Theo said, feeling a moment of connectedness with this stranger. At twenty, when Theo had envisioned his life, he’d been determined to have it all; a successful business and a loving wife and children. Lately he’d started to realize he’d been so focused on building his empire that the home and family he’d wanted had never materialized. Now he was forty years old, with nothing to show for his life except a fleet of boats and a profit and loss statement firmly in the black.
He shoved the self-pitying thoughts aside. He had a good life, and like Katherine, he held fast to the thought that the best was yet to come.
When the door to the elevator opened, Theo followed Katherine out and down a long hall. A throng of well-dressed men and women were milling around the entrance to the dining room, waiting to be ushered to their table. Theo wasn’t surprised when Katherine skirted the crowd.
The maître d’ led them to a table draped in white linen in an alcove just off the main dining area. The table looked like something from a magazine with its crystal wineglasses, shiny silver and fine china plates.
Theo didn’t give the elegant table setting much more than a passing glance. Instead his gaze settled on the attractive-looking woman with dark hair and eyes sitting at the table sipping a glass of wine. She rose when he approached the table. Unlike her older sister, Helena’s hair, eyes and facial features reflected her Greek heritage.
Though Theo wasn’t a fashion expert, Helena’s brightly colored dress had a designer look. Thankfully her smile was as open and welcoming as her sister’s.
She stood and extended her hand. “I’m Helena.”
He shook her hand, but instead of releasing it she held it firmly and took a step back. She studied him for a long moment, much as Katherine had, a look of utter astonishment on her face. “You look so much like—”
“He does, doesn’t he?” Katherine said, nodding her agreement.
Theo’s stomach tensed. Hopefully this would be the last remark he’d have to endure about Elias Stamos. If not, it was going to be a short evening indeed.
He offered an affable smile and gestured at the large airy room, hoping to change the subject. “This is a beautiful restaurant.”
“Thank you,” Katherine said. “It took a lot of planning. We have a fabulous French chef who is very talented. Excellent cuisine in an elegant environment is all part of giving passengers a memorable dining experience.”
Katherine sounded, Theo thought, very much like a proud parent.
“So I know that you’re responsible for Liberty’s public relations,” he said to Katherine, then turned to Helena. “And you do costume designing for stage and film?”
“That’s right,” Helena said with a pleased smile. “You’ve done your research.”
“Actually,” Theo said, “all I need to do to keep up is read the newspapers and watch television. Your father is an important man and the news media love his daughters.”
The minute the words left his mouth Theo saw the look of surprise on Katherine’s face when he’d deliberately not claimed any tie to their father. She seemed to be searching for a way to comment when one of the waitstaff standing a discreet distance away moved forward to pull out their chairs.
Once they were comfortably seated, it was Helena, not Katherine who spoke. “What business are you in, Theo? Katherine told me it has something to do with shore excursions?”
“That’s correct,” Theo said. “My company provides excursions to most of the islands around here. We contract with the major cruise lines so we keep busy year-round. Once we get the tourists to the different locations we have a number of employees on each island to lead tours.”
Though his operation had grown considerably over the last few years and earned a nice profit, it was tiny compared to Elias Stamos’s holdings. Still Theo couldn’t keep the pride from his voice. His company was something he’d built from the ground up, with no help from anyone.
“It must be wonderful to have that much control,” Helena said. “When I do my costume designs, I have a lot of artistic freedom but I certainly don’t have the final word.”
“Remember that show you did in Athens last year?” Katherine asked.
That was all it took for Helena to launch into a diatribe about the director from hell.
Theo just listened, grateful when the server came around and filled the wineglasses. The women were both friendly and going out of their way to make him feel at ease. Still, it seemed awkward to sit across the table from them and know that some of the same blood that flowed through their veins flowed through his. To know that they’d grown up in a whole different world based solely on the fact that his father had chosen to marry their mother.
Still, they kept the conversation going throughout dinner, and just as he’d hoped, the women seemed willing to carry the brunt of the conversation.
He learned that Katherine’s husband was an architect with worldwide clients, and consequently his job demanded a lot of travel. He also discovered that Katherine’s daughter, Gemma, was on the ship as a volunteer in the children’s centre. Helena touched briefly on her failed marriage and satisfaction with her career and single status.
But neither brought up the reason they’d contacted him, and even after they’d finished dessert, he still wasn’t sure why he was really there…until a spot of red hair caught Theo’s eye.
Trish Melrose, a woman he hadn’t planned on seeing again, sat across the dining room at one of the large round tables. His blood turned frigid as he made the connection.
He’d taken Katherine’s phone calls, hardly questioning the fact that out of the blue she’d decided it was time for them to meet. He hadn’t balked when she’d asked if he’d come aboard Alexandra’s Dream.
Now he realized he’d been a naive fool. His mother had been right. Katherine and Helena had their own agenda.
Now that he’d discovered what it was, he just had to decide what he was going to do about it.
CHAPTER FIVE
IF ASKED, TRISH couldn’t say exactly when she first became aware Theo was in the dining room. All she knew was that right in the middle of her Lobster Newberg, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She glanced around, checking out the other tables in her vicinity, but came up empty.
Then, after she ordered dessert, a curious warmth filled her body and she knew with absolute certainty that Theo’s eyes were on her. She couldn’t explain how she knew because she didn’t understand it herself.
Taking a sip of cappuccino, Trish slowly scanned the upper level of the dining room. Only this time she cut a broader swath, delving into the farthest reaches of the room, into the small alcoves reserved for VIPs and couples who wanted privacy.
She’d almost surveyed the entire room when her breath caught in her throat. For several heartbeats she sat frozen, unable to look away.
Theo Catomeris, the man she’d thought she’d never see again, sat at a table with two women, one with dark hair, the other an almost-blonde. He looked serious, his expression grim. Trish couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about and why he was on the ship.
When he’d dropped her and the other tourists back in Corfu Town, she’d been certain she’d failed. Now it looked as though she may have been given another chance to convince him to sign that contract with her company. Trish’s heart fluttered in her chest and she placed the cup back on the saucer with a trembling hand as excitement coursed through her.
Although she often got an adrenaline rush before making a big business deal, this felt like something more. She suspected her mounting excitement wasn’t just because she had another chance to make the deal or save the jobs of her employees. Some of the rush came from seeing Theo again.
“I really wanted Bananas Foster,” Sally said with an exaggerated sigh. “But the fruit should be good, don’t you think? And it’ll be a lot less calories.”
“The fruit will be fabulous,” Trish heard herself murmur. Pushing back her chair, she rose to her feet and placed her napkin on the table. “I see someone I know. I’m going to run over and say a quick hello.”
Without waiting for her friend’s reply, Trish started across the dining room, carefully avoiding the waiters holding large silver trays laden with desserts. On her way to Theo’s table, she noticed several admiring glances.
She gave all the credit to the russet-colored silk dress she’d picked up several months ago on clearance. It hugged her lithe body, giving a tantalizing illusion of curves where there weren’t any.
The closer she came to the table, the happier Trish was that she looked her best. She’d been so focused on Theo that she’d failed to properly appreciate his dinner companions, two very beautiful women in their midthirties.
The one with dark hair and an olive complexion looked as if she could be Greek. The other woman was fair, with classic English looks. Their dresses were designer elegant and judging by the number of waitstaff hovering near the table, one or both were very important.
Interrupting a man having a private dinner is risky, a tiny little voice inside Trish’s head warned. He saw you. He’s probably still angry. If he wanted to talk, he’d have come to you.
Trish knew she could have waited. That may have been a better option. After all, the alcoves were specifically for passengers desiring privacy. But she’d already finished her dinner and she couldn’t wait at the table all night hoping he’d come over. Besides, she only planned to say hello. Any business person would do the same.
Drawing closer to the table, she became increasingly aware of the intimacy of the setting. Neither woman looked up as Trish approached. There was something about the threesome…something that was similar. Perhaps it was their shared Greek heritage. Now that she was closer, Trish could see then even though the blonde didn’t have the same dark complexion, there was definitely Greek blood in her background.
The dark-haired woman was recounting some tale for Theo, punctuating her words with exaggerated hand gestures. The other woman’s attention was totally focused on Theo.
He wore a button-up shirt open at the neck, and its pristine whiteness brought out the olive tones of his skin. Trish could understand why the women couldn’t seem to take their eyes off him.
Her steps slowed, but when he looked up and saw her, Trish knew she was past the point of turning back. She was barely five feet from the table when the women finally noticed her.
Of course, Theo pushing back his chair and rising to his feet was a fairly obvious clue that she wasn’t just another guest passing by.
“Miss.” A tall muscular man in a dark suit appeared out of nowhere and stepped in front of her just before she reached the table. “This is a private party. I must ask you—”
“Mrs. Melrose and I are acquainted,” Theo said, cutting off the man’s dismissal.
The man kept his feet planted but cast a questioning glance at the fair-haired woman seated to the right of Theo. She inclined her head slightly and only then did the man in the suit step aside.
By now both women were staring, along with the serving staff clustered just a few feet from the table. Thankfully Trish had never been the type to blush. She lifted her chin and extended her hand to Theo. “Forgive me for interrupting. I just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
Theo hesitated before his hand closed over hers for the briefest of shakes.
“I believe you know Katherine and Helena.” He gestured to the two women at the table, now on their feet and openly assessing Trish.
She blinked several times before she made sense of the strange comment. She couldn’t believe Theo was so naive. Alexandra’s Dream had over a thousand passengers. Just because she and the women were on the same ship didn’t mean she knew them. “I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure.” Trish flashed a warm smile and extended her hand first to the dark-haired woman closest to her. “I’m Trish Melrose from Miami, Florida.”
The woman took Trish’s hand. “Helena Stamos. This is my sister, Katherine.”
Stamos? Trish frowned. “Any relation to Elias Stamos?”
Katherine laughed, a light gentle sound. “He’s our father. But, please, don’t hold that against us.”
Despite the words, Trish could hear the fond undertones and knew the woman and her father enjoyed a close relationship.
Theo stiffened and Trish couldn’t help but wonder why a man who seemed to have a grudge against the wealthy shipping tycoon was having dinner with the man’s daughters?
“Do you know our father?” Helena asked.
“I don’t know him personally,” Trish said. “I run a company that arranges excursions for cruise lines. So any contact I’ve had has been on a business level.”
Katherine’s eyes lit up. “You’re the one charged with getting the Kefalonia excursion back on the schedule.”
“That’s right,” Trish said, doing her best to keep her tone light. “I’ve been trying to convince Theo that it would be in everyone’s best interest to sign the contract.”
Theo’s expression darkened and Trish saw instantly that her calculated risk had blown up in her face.
“But of course, that’s his decision to make,” she said hurriedly. Trish knew she could stay longer and try to repair the damage, but the tense set of Theo’s jaw told her she’d already overstayed her welcome.
“I think it’s time for me to get back to my friend. Again, I’m sorry I interrupted.” Trish smiled at Theo, not surprised he didn’t smile back. “A pleasure to see you again.” She turned to Katherine and Helena. “It was very nice to meet you both.”
The three resumed their seats. Conscious of their eyes on her, Trish walked away with her head held high, making a determined effort to hide her disappointment. The encounter may have gone badly but she was only down, not out. She would regroup. Plan her next move. She wasn’t ready to give up yet.
Still, when she got to the table and saw everyone enjoying their dessert, Trish found herself wishing she’d remained at her table and chosen cheesecake over Catomeris.
“TRISH MELROSE,” Katherine mused as she stared after the other woman. “So that’s the woman whose company handles the excursions.”
“She seems nice,” Helena added, casting a sideways glance at Theo.
Theo took a sip of grappa, his gaze still firmly fixed on Trish. When he’d spotted her in the dining room, it had instantly become clear why his half sisters had chosen to eat there. Why he’d been asked to meet them on the ship. Why they’d even contacted him in the first place. He’d been set up. Obviously Stamos had asked them to do their part to get him to sign.
Anger warred with disappointment. Though he didn’t know Katherine and Helena well, he’d been open to considering a relationship with them. In his mind, they had nothing to do with their father’s treatment of his mother and him. But Trish…well, her behavior shouldn’t have been such a surprise. She’d made it clear by her repeated attempts to convince him to sign that her allegiance was with Stamos.
“Theo?” Helena’s concerned voice broke through his thoughts. “Is something wrong?”
They’d been in it together. Plotting, throwing out all the stops in an attempt to get him to sign with Liberty. Katherine hadn’t contacted him because she wanted to get to know him…she’d done it to help her father. Obviously family loyalty didn’t extend to him.
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