A Date With Dr Moustakas
Amy Ruttan
A date with her former flame……brings the past flooding back!In this Hot Greek Docs story, doctor Naomi always thought her ex didn’t want kids. So she’s shocked to find Dr Christos Moustakas at her new workplace—and he’s now a single dad! Chris has dropped his playboy ways, but he still has a hold on Naomi’s heart. And if she can now reveal their secret loss it might finally give them another chance…
A date with her former flame...
Brings the past flooding back!
In this Hot Greek Docs story, doctor Naomi thought her ex didn’t want kids. So she’s shocked to find Dr. Christos Moustakas at her new workplace—and he’s now a single dad! Chris has dropped his playboy ways, but he still has a hold on Naomi’s heart. And if she can now reveal their secret loss, it might finally give them another chance...
Born and raised just outside Toronto, Ontario, AMY RUTTAN fled the big city to settle down with the country boy of her dreams. After the birth of her second child Amy was lucky enough to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a romance author. When she’s not furiously typing away at her computer she’s mum to three wonderful children, who use her as a personal taxi and chef.
Also by Amy Ruttan (#ulink_78d0bb3c-ff96-5de3-bb68-3809cbbbe5e0)
Convenient Marriage, Surprise Twins
Navy Doc on Her Christmas List
The Surgeon King’s Secret Baby
A Mummy for His Daughter
Hot Greek Docs collection
One Night with Dr Nikolaides by Annie O’Neil
Tempted by Dr Patera by Tina Beckett
Back in Dr Xenakis’ Arms by Amalie Berlin
A Date with Dr Moustakas
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
A Date with Dr. Moustakas
Amy Ruttan
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07520-6
A DATE WITH DR. MOUSTAKAS
© 2018 Amy Ruttan
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
This book is dedicated to my Medical Romance girls,
Tina, Annie and Amalie.
You three are an amazing inspiration to me.
Contents
Cover (#ue7fbd1bf-3b5f-5dd8-a5cb-8a7788e7c625)
Back Cover Text (#ueba69759-864f-51aa-a2b1-559420baa601)
About the Author (#ufb4c61c7-642c-5e09-acfb-09a67cccf6de)
Booklist (#ulink_edd16fc2-4ff4-521f-9048-bcf25292f64e)
Title Page (#u094bc0a4-d9fc-5822-ba6c-d056e558b352)
Copyright (#u38ad0366-f727-5a23-9717-ba913695b02b)
Dedication (#u840327c4-1ab5-52d5-b1b8-b341d698e98b)
PROLOGUE (#u7fd0a96a-3758-5d1b-83f8-df5bcea3b6a8)
CHAPTER ONE (#u42c6c267-e708-57ff-a425-2cff70550db5)
CHAPTER TWO (#ub27b4e44-bad9-5efa-b25f-64df6640de93)
CHAPTER THREE (#ucb011a15-305f-5b64-a3df-689abf7abe41)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
PROLOGUE (#ulink_0e77aaf9-9fc5-57c5-8afc-c0b708bf5df8)
Nashville, Tennessee
HE HATED HIMSELF for what he was about to do.
Don’t do it, then.
Dr. Christos Moustakas stared down at the contract on his desk—the one he’d just signed for a job that would take him away from Nashville and away from Naomi.
He was angry at himself for getting involved with her. When he’d first seen her—when they’d been placed on the same surgical resident rotation last year—he’d known that he shouldn’t even pursue her. Naomi was the type of woman who wanted far more than he could give.
He never wanted to get married. He never wanted to settle down. He had told her that in the beginning, but now...despite his warnings...he knew that she wanted more from him and he just couldn’t give it to her.
Why not?
Chris cursed under his breath and walked away from the contract. He looked about his apartment, which was full of memories of him and Naomi together. She was in his blood...she was all he ever thought about.
And he couldn’t have that.
Work was more important.
He had to end it now.
There was a knock at the door and his heart skipped a beat. His jaw clenched and his stomach churned, because he knew that he was going to break her heart.
But it was for the best.
He didn’t want to marry her and lock her into an unhappy marriage—just like what had happened to his parents.
He never wanted that.
Naomi beamed at him when he opened the door, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek as she came into his apartment.
“There you are! What’s up? You’ve been a bit distant recently...” She trailed off as she saw the boxes in the apartment. “Oh.”
Chris shut the door. “Yeah, sorry I haven’t been returning your calls, but something came up.”
“I see that,” she said quietly, and then turned around. “Where are you going?”
“New York City. I’ve been offered a fellowship with Dr. Heffernan in neurosurgery, and then I’ll take over his practice when he retires later next year. I’ll be the head of neurosurgery.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. Congratulations... When do you leave?”
“Tonight.”
Her face fell and he knew that it had hit her. “You were going to leave without telling me?”
“No, that’s why I asked you over.”
You’re a monster. You’re just awful.
“I thought...” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I thought.”
“Tell me.” He could take it, and he deserved her wrath. He deserved it all.
For one brief moment he wished he was a different person—but he wasn’t, and he couldn’t see how to change. He knew what it was like to grow up with an absent mother who hated and loathed your very existence and a father who couldn’t look at you because you were a disappointment.
Families were complicated and messy.
He wanted none of it.
“I thought we would talk about our offers together,” she said. “I mean, I turned down Mayo because I thought you wanted to be with me.”
Her eyes were full of tears and he fought the urge to take her in his arms and comfort her.
“Why didn’t you take the job at Mayo?” he asked.
“I should’ve, apparently.”
“Yes, you should’ve, Naomi. This is your career. It’s important.”
“I didn’t want to leave you. I wanted to give us a chance!”
He closed his eyes, pain washing over him, but he hardened his heart. He shouldn’t have gotten involved with her to begin with. He should’ve walked away after that first stolen kiss that had electrified his world.
Naomi Hudson was dangerous, and he’d known that all along—but he’d still pursued her.
“You should’ve taken the job, Naomi. There is no long-term future for us. I told you this at the start.”
A tear slipped down her cheek. “I remember, but I thought—”
“You thought what?” he interrupted. “That I would change my mind? My goal has always been to make it to head of neurosurgery. You knew this.”
“And you knew, deep down, that I wanted more from our relationship and yet you kept me dangling. You kept pursuing me. You didn’t let me go either!” she shouted.
“I’m letting you go now,” he said stonily, his heart breaking because he didn’t want to let her go, but it was for the best.
“I thought I meant more to you,” she said, her voice shaking.
“Look, we both knew this had to end sometime.”
“I didn’t know that. Or I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“Well, then, that’s your problem.”
And he hated himself for saying those words, but they needed to be said. He had to put an end to it. She’d given up a job for him, but he’d never asked her to do that. She had to move on from him.
The sting of her slap on his cheek didn’t catch him off guard. He was expecting it.
“Enjoy New York, you bastard! I hope to God I never see you again!”
She pushed past him, and he didn’t turn around as the door opened and then slammed shut behind her.
Instead he sighed, felt a tear almost slipping from his eye. He wandered to the window, watching her get into her car and drive away.
When had he become such a coldhearted monster like his father?
He was selfish, greedy. He’d wanted her so badly, and for a year it had been bliss. Then she’d started to creep her way in through his carefully constructed walls. She’d started to plan for a future that he had never wanted.
It was time to let her go—even if his heart really didn’t want to.
She would find someone better than him. Someone who deserved her. He was not the man for her.
He didn’t deserve her, but he would never forget her. There would never be a woman like her for him again—he’d make sure of it—and he was also sure that he would never love another woman the way he’d loved her.
There would only ever be one Dr. Naomi Hudson in his life, and he’d just thrown her away. She’d be happier without him, and he’d be miserable without her, but it served him right.
He picked up the contract for the job in Manhattan again. This was what his life was all about—saving lives. In some ways, at least, if he excelled at his job, it might make up for the hurt he’d caused her.
At least he could do something good with his time...even though his life and his heart were beyond saving and always would be.
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_4df469d8-c1cc-5e15-a1f4-572aa5cb42ba)
Three years later, Mythelios, Greek Islands
ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT.
The heat wasn’t helping. Even though he’d been back in Greece since the middle of July—two months after the earthquake—Chris still wasn’t quite used to the temperature. His body was firmly set to Manhattan mode and Manhattan temperatures. It also didn’t help that the island of Mythelios was still recovering from that earthquake.
His late grandmother’s home didn’t have air-conditioning either. And, since the island still remained in repair mode, renovations that weren’t crucial to the infrastructure and safety of the citizens had been put on hold.
Air-conditioning would have to wait.
He yawned as he opened the doors to the small terrace of his grandmother’s beautiful villa. He leaned over the balcony, watching the sun rise over the Aegean Sea.
It had been a long time since he’d watched the sun rise bright and beautiful over the turquoise sea of his youth. It had been years since he’d picked olives in his grandmother’s garden or swum in the sea. The garden was overgrown now, but up on the top level of the house he had an unobstructed view of the horizon.
His grandmother’s home was the oldest and the highest of the old homes that had been built into the cliffs of Mythelios. It had thankfully fared pretty well during the earthquake, only suffering slight damage, while newer homes had suffered and crumbled.
It was funny how it had managed to stay intact through the powerful quake.
It was funny how nothing really seemed to have changed here since he was a young man.
He’d been in America for so long, pursuing women and his career, that he’d forgotten to stop and smell the roses—or in this case the orange blossoms that wafted up from his late grandmother’s garden.
His life for the last three years in New York City had been endless parties, women and work. Work had been his priority. He’d let nothing get in the way of becoming the top neurosurgeon on the eastern seaboard.
Well, that wasn’t quite accurate. One thing had gotten in the way—and that was the reason for his sleepless nights and why he’d returned to Greece.
An ill-fated one-night stand in a long string of the one-night stands he’d had in order to get over losing the woman he truly loved had led to him having a baby dropped off on his doorstep. Well, not so much on his doorstep. He’d paid a lot of money to the mother so he could keep his son.
Baby Evangelos was his world now, and even though Chris could afford a nanny, and had one for his infant son, she was entitled to take a night off—as she had last night. He was on feeding and diapering duty whenever that happened.
Chris scrubbed a hand over his face.
Why had he let his life go completely sideways like this?
When had it gotten to be so hard?
Right—he knew exactly when that had happened: when he’d walked away from Naomi and put his career before love. That was when it had all gone to heck. He’d left behind the only woman who had ever broken down the careful walls he’d created to keep people out. She’d started to come even before his work, and that had annoyed him.
He’d sworn he would never settle down—not after watching his parents’ disastrous marriage crash and burn.
So he’d left her. Frozen her out and left her behind in Nashville while he pursued his high-flying career in New York City. And even worse, she’d loved him and he’d held her back. He hadn’t been able to give her what she’d wanted, and yet she’d turned down an excellent job for him. That guilt still ate away at him.
He hadn’t been able to forget about her. So he’d tried moving on by bedding a series of different women. And that was how he’d ended up with Evangelos.
And there was no question that he loved his son. He loved being a father—something he’d never thought that he’d ever want—but this was not how he had pictured his return to his home village.
“Nice abs!”
Chris frowned and then looked down to see Ares walking through the square in the tiny village. His long curls were hidden under a baseball cap—one that Chris had sent him when he first went to America.
Ares had been one of his best friends since he was a child. He was one of the four founders of the Mythelios Free Clinic and he worked in emergency medicine. All his friends were back on Mythelios now, since the earthquake, when one of their number—Theo—had put out a call for their help.
Ares had boyish good looks, and the silly hat that Chris had sent him as a joke looked so out of place on him, but it made Chris smile nonetheless. He was glad to be back with Theo, Deakin and Ares, even though they were working in the clinic and he wasn’t.
Of course none of them had a baby yet.
“Put a shirt on!” Ares teased again, laughing.
“Where are you off to?” Chris called down, ignoring the teasing.
“The clinic. Actually, I was going to come see you. There’s a case I’d like your opinion on.”
“I’m not here to practice medicine. I came back just to lend a hand and deal with my grandmother’s death.”
“Come on,” Ares begged. “I need your expert opinion. Besides, it’s high time you got your hands dirty at the clinic you helped found.”
Ares had a point—and he did miss working. He missed neurosurgery.
Chris nodded. “Okay. I’ll come by when Lisa comes back.”
Ares raised his eyebrows. “Who’s Lisa?”
“Evan’s nanny.”
“Ah, and here I thought the infamous Greek Valentino of Manhattan was up to his old tricks.”
Chris snorted. “And since when do I have time for that?”
“Well, you must’ve had some time,” Ares teased. “You’re the only one with a kid.”
Not for long, since Cailey Nikolaides was four and a half months pregnant now. Cailey was a nurse at the clinic, and Theo’s wife.
“Look, either come into the house or get to work. You’re going to wake the neighbors with your incessant shouting in the streets!” Chris called.
Ares winked. “See you in a couple hours.”
Chris watched him jog away through the narrow alleyways of the old part of the island, where other villas like his grandmother’s clung to the side of a cliff by the sea. The homes were brightly colored and connected by narrow cobblestone streets that eventually wound their way down to a large square dominated by a church, and then there was a small path to the docks and to the clinic.
The bell at the church rang out the time, waking up this sleepy island that was only an hour’s ride by ferry to Athens, a city much more modern in comparison to the simple way of life that still dominated Mythelios.
He yawned, stretched and looked down.
Dammit.
He wasn’t wearing anything at all. Good thing the balcony was solid, and not an open terrace like they had in the larger cities, because he’d fallen asleep naked.
He had to get some clothes on fast, before Lisa came back.
He didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.
That had been his problem his whole adult life—he seemed to give all the women he met the wrong idea. Even Naomi had gotten the wrong idea about him in the end.
“I thought I meant more to you,” she’d said, her voice shaking.
“Look, we both knew this had to end sometime.”
“I didn’t know that. Or I guess I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“Well, then, that’s your problem.”
His stomach clenched as he recalled some of the last words he’d said to her. It cut him to the quick how badly he’d hurt her, but he’d told her from the start he didn’t want anything serious.
And it still killed him that she’d given up that job at Mayo for him. He’d held her back and that would haunt him forever, but there was no way he was ever going to settle down with one woman for the rest of his life.
He’d watched his parents.
Once marriage came into play, everything went south. His mother had left, and no matter what Chris had done, he’d never been able to please his father.
He shuddered. He was never going to get married.
Chris reluctantly walked away from the balcony and headed back inside. He pulled on a robe and checked on his son, who was sleeping peacefully in his crib. The only fan in the entire house was in the nursery, but even that just pushed around the hot air.
You never wanted to be a father either, a little voice reminded him.
And yet here was Evangelos.
He smiled at his son, so like him, sleeping peacefully. He was sucking the chubby fist in his mouth in his sleep. His dark curls were plastered to his face from the heat.
This island was his world now. He’d do right by Evangelos. His son would never want for anything and would never feel like a stranger to his father—a toy that would be played with only when it suited his parents. Chris was going to make sure his son had everything he could possibly need.
Except he won’t have a mother.
Chris shook that thought from his mind.
Evan didn’t need a mother. He’d made do without a mother’s love, and he’d give his son enough love for both parents.
He closed the door to the nursery and headed back to his room, where he had a quick shower and then pulled out the scrubs and lab coat that Theo had given him when he’d returned to Mythelios a few weeks ago.
“What are these for?” Chris had asked as he’d stared down at the scrubs that Theo had handed him.
“They’re scrubs.”
“I know that,” Chris had said, “but what are they for?”
“Look, I know that your yia-yia just died, but when you feel the need to come back and work, we could really use you at the clinic.”
“Thanks. I’ll think about it. If you need me for an emergency, I’ll be there, Theo, but I can’t commit right now.”
“I know,” Theo had said gently. “But these are yours for when you need them.”
It might not be the glitzy Manhattan hospital where he’d been working, but at least he’d still be working. He would still be doing what he loved and he would be giving something other than money back to his home. His time and his skills.
Ever since he’d headed to America, he’d had a financial hand in the clinic that Theo ran, using his trust fund from Mopaxeni Shipping to help fund it year after year the same way his friends did, but he’d never done more than that.
It was time to do more now, and he’d still be able to devote enough time to Evangelos, and to fixing up his grandmother’s home, and to raising his son in a place that was safe and quiet. A place where he’d always been happy when he was young.
Chris was mad at himself for staying away for so long, but he’d thought life would be better in America.
He’d slipped on his clothes and was tying his shoes when the front door opened.
Lisa blushed when she saw him. “Sorry, Dr. Moustakas. I meant to come back sooner, but my cousin from America arrived in Greece a month ago, and she was visiting my family last night in Athens.”
“It’s okay, Lisa. I gave you the day and the night off. You deserve a break.”
Lisa ducked her head and brushed back one of the errant strands of her dark brown hair behind her ear. If he’d been a younger man, and not a father, he would have flirted with her. Only, he wasn’t that playboy anymore, and Lisa was from a respectable Athens family. A family that would be expecting a proposal of marriage from any man she became involved with.
“I’m headed down to the clinic. I can be reached there,” Chris said as he opened the door, and then he turned back. “How long is your cousin in Athens for?”
“For a while. She’s working there,” Lisa said eagerly. “My father’s brother fell in love with an American girl and settled over there. No one has seen my uncle or my cousin since she was a small girl. It’s the first time I’ve gotten to meet her!”
“Well, perhaps you can spend the weekend with your family in Athens next week. Get to know your cousin a bit better.”
Lisa brightened. “I would like that, Dr. Moustakas.”
He nodded and shut the door. As he walked through the cobbled streets, he saw the little village at the edge of the sea where his yia-yia had lived was coming alive, and that the ferry boat from the mainland sat at the docks as people boarded it for the hour’s jaunt to the mainland and the docks at Piraeus.
It wasn’t too much farther to the clinic, and there was a bit of a spring in his step as he headed there. It felt good to be working again and helping out Ares, Theo and Deakin, his best friends, as well as their significant others—he was still having a hard time wrapping his mind around that.
All his friends were matched up. They’d finally found love. He was the only single one left among them. And that wasn’t going to change anytime soon. No way.
There had been only one woman he’d come even close to thinking about marrying, but he’d bungled that so badly that he’d broken her heart. He deserved to be alone. That was his punishment for the pain he’d caused her. One he’d bear gladly.
Chris sighed and opened the door to the clinic. No one was at the front desk, but the door had been unlocked.
“Ares?” he shouted. There was no answer. “Ares, where are you? Hello?”
“Good gravy, what is with all the shouting? I’m coming!” a soft Tennessee accent answered back. One that he knew so well.
His heart skipped a beat as the owner of the voice came charging out of the back of the clinic, dressed to the nines in business attire—the high heels that he’d always thought were ridiculous and a pristine white lab coat.
Her thick strawberry blond hair was swept up off her neck in a tight bun, which didn’t suit her, and her soft hazel eyes widened in shock as she froze to the spot.
“Naomi?” he said in a daze as he found his voice. “What’re you doing here?”
* * *
Oh, my good Lord, what is he doing here?
She knew that Dr. Christos Moustakas was Greek, but she’d had no idea that he was here in Mythelios. She’d thought he was still in Manhattan, playing all-knowing neurosurgical God and playboy.
She’d thought when she left him behind and started working for an international relief effort as a surgeon that she would never have to lay eyes on him again, and that had been good enough for her.
She’d given up so much to take a chance on love and she’d been rejected. He’d shattered her heart and soul three years ago, and she’d never wanted to see him again. Ever.
That’s not completely true.
She had longed to see him, but she just hadn’t been able to risk him hurting her again. Not when it had taken her so long to put her heart back together after he’d so coldly dismissed her—and then she’d lost their baby. The baby she hadn’t even known about until after he’d left for New York.
She’d tried to tell him, but he hadn’t returned her calls.
So she’d borne that pain alone.
She hated him. He was the reason she didn’t date anyone—ever. She’d put her career first because she was never going to make that mistake again.
Her heart was hardened.
You don’t hate him. Not really.
Yet here he was. Standing in front of her in clinic scrubs and looking just as good as the day he’d left her all those years ago. His thick dark hair still perfect. Those dark eyes still with that twinkle in them. And even though he wasn’t smiling, just seeing his chiseled handsome face made her go weak in the knees all over again.
No. Don’t let him have any power over you.
It had taken her a long time to get over Christos after he’d put his career over her. She’d made her peace with that, and even though she’d blown her chance with Mayo, she’d never blown another one.
And now she was one of the attending surgeons with International Relief. She had a lot of responsibility. Maybe she had him to thank for that—for focusing her mind on her career instead of on him.
Still, she was not happy he was here. Of all the places in the world, why did he have to be here in Mythelios?
Good gravy, why did he have to be here?
She’d been assigned to work between Athens and Mythelios as a surgeon for the next couple of months. When she’d come to Athens in July, she’d gone to the clinic a couple of times, and Chris hadn’t been there. Of course, during the first part of her assignment in Greece, she hadn’t spent a lot of time in Mythelios, since most of the seriously wounded from the earthquake had been sent to Athens.
And now that she was going to be spending more of her time lending a hand at the clinic, rather than working in the city, he was here—and he was in scrubs as if he belonged here.
You haven’t said one word since he asked you what you’re doing here. Speak!
“What’re you doing here?” she asked.
Oh, my Lord in heaven, that was the most pathetic...
She cringed inwardly, because she really didn’t know what else to say.
“This is where I’m from. I’ve come back here because my grandmother died and I inherited her home. Also, this is the clinic I helped found with a few friends of mine. I thought since I was here I would spend some time working here.”
“I’ve been in Greece since last month and I haven’t seen you here at the clinic before—and you haven’t been mentioned by anyone,” she said.
“I’ve been busy dealing with the passing of my grandmother.”
“I had no idea you were from here.”
“We didn’t do much talking when we were together.” There was a twinkle in his eye as he said that.
She groaned. Of course... She quickly jogged through all those memories—which were mostly of hot, passion-filled nights. He had once mentioned coming from a small Greek island and helping to found a charitable clinic, but of all the charitable clinics in all of Greece why did she have to walk into this one?
It’s simple. You’re cursed.
That was what her father’s mother had said, the one and only time she’d met her when she was fourteen. She’d told her that she was cursed by the gods because she had forsaken her father’s heritage and was doomed.
Naomi hadn’t given it much credence then, but after meeting Dr. Christos Moustakas four years ago, and having her heart completely trampled on a bare year later, she was beginning to believe her grandmother’s words.
She was cursed.
And this just proved it.
“I work with International Relief. I’m here to help on the island after the earthquake. Mythelios and Athens is my assignment for the next couple of months. I’m a general surgeon, and I also raise funds to cover the cost of surgeries for those who can’t afford it. The earthquake’s damage is wreaking havoc on people.”
A smug grin spread across his face. “Is that so? I hadn’t heard that.”
“Yes,” she said firmly, annoyed with him. She clutched the file she was holding tight to her chest. “Dr. Nikolaides did mention to me that a new surgeon would be coming today, but he didn’t mention it was you.”
“Would that have made a difference?” he asked.
“Yes, of course it would! I’m not happy about this, Dr. Moustakas.”
You’re supposed to be in New York.
Out of sight and out of mind. Except that was easier said than done. He’d completely crushed her heart. She didn’t trust men anymore, thanks to him.
She’d been head over heels in love with Chris. He’d even gotten her pregnant. But he’d made it clear that his career was more important to him than she could ever be. He’d broken things off, and although she’d tried to contact him to tell him about the baby, she’d lost it only a few short weeks after he’d left for New York.
It had destroyed her.
She’d been alone, heartbroken and mad at herself for getting involved with Chris in the first place when she’d known that he’d never wanted anything serious. She’d fallen for his charms. She’d been a fool.
It had taken her this long to pick herself up. To put herself back together. Seeing him again was the very last thing she needed, but it was clear that he was going to stay here and she was just going to have to suck it up and work in the same physical space with him. But that didn’t mean they had to work together.
This island was big enough for the both of them.
Oh, who are you kidding?
“Well,” Chris said, breaking the tense silence and running a hand through his hair, “I’m sorry that you’re not happy about this, Naomi...”
“Dr. Hudson.”
“What?” he asked, dazed, and for the first time she noticed the dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t been sleeping.
“Dr. Hudson is how I wish to be referred to by you. We’re not on a first-name basis. Not anymore.”
His eyes narrowed and he frowned, crossing his arms.
He was annoyed by that.
Good.
“Fine. Dr. Hudson, do you think we can work together and remain professional?”
“Of course we can, Dr. Moustakas.”
She was relieved—or she should be relieved. Except that she wasn’t. Not really.
This is what you want, remember?
“Good, because I really am exhausted and I don’t have the energy for games. I’ve had enough games to last a lifetime.”
Her blood boiled and she could feel a flush rise in her cheeks. “I’m very aware of your games, Dr. Moustakas. Trust me.”
“I don’t have time for this,” he snapped. He pushed past her and headed to the back where the staff room was. “I need coffee.”
She turned and followed him, feeling bad. He was in the back lounge, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He rolled his eyes and groaned when he saw that she’d followed him.
“I’m sorry,” she said tentatively.
He eyed her cautiously and took a sip of coffee.
“Why are you so tired?” she asked.
“No reason. Late night,” he said quickly, not looking at her.
She knew he was hiding something. This was how he’d acted with her when he’d been given that job offer in Manhattan for an attending position. He would get self-protective—surly, even—and would feign exhaustion as he closed up tight.
She had no time to deal with this. So much was on her plate—including a bachelor auction she had to organize. Originally it had been planned by the clinic as a small affair on Mythelios, to raise funds for the clinic. But when Theo had realized the extent of the damage done by the earthquake to the entire island, he’d suggested to Naomi on her arrival that with her fund-raising background she should take the project on, on behalf of International Relief, and expand it to a much bigger event for maximum exposure and funds.
Having witnessed the desperate need for funds firsthand, Naomi had had no choice but to agree. The auction was now happening in Athens, in a little less than two weeks’ time, so she couldn’t afford to play Chris’s games.
“Well, I’ll let you get on with it, then,” she said as she backed out of the lounge and made her way to a small office where she could do her paperwork in relative peace.
Maybe she should cancel lunch with her cousin Lisa, who was working on the island as a nanny, and catch an earlier ferry back to Athens. Then at least she’d have the sea to separate herself from Christos Moustakas.
Only, deep down, she knew the sea wasn’t enough to keep him at bay. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about Chris and their lost baby, but it all came rushing back to her regardless.
Work was the only thing that kept the pain at bay, but she wasn’t sure even that would be enough now, because Chris was here in Mythelios—and he clearly still had the ability to invade both her dreams and her heart.
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_354de352-b853-58f9-a825-c7d9e76b1207)
CHRIS MANAGED TO avoid Naomi for most of the morning by retreating into one of the offices to go over the file that Ares wanted an opinion on.
He leaned over the computer and frowned as the scans from the Athens MRI came up. The scans were of a local Mythelios bartender whom they all knew and loved.
He’d heard that since the earthquake in May Stavros had been experiencing debilitating headaches, but he’d always brushed them off until finally, the other day, he’d collapsed.
Now Chris knew why Stavros had been having such a hard time, because he was staring down at one of the biggest anaplastic oligodendrogliomas that he’d ever seen.
Dammit.
He knew men like Stavros; the older generation of men from the island were stubborn and brushed off what they thought were minor symptoms, like a headache, as nothing. “Minor symptoms” that might be warning them of something far more sinister. Like Stavros’s headaches.
Chris leaned back in the swivel chair and scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. This surgery would be intricate and costly.
It was too expensive to have the clinic cover the cost—especially since the clinic was still trying to recover financially from the consequences of the earthquake. And even though Stavros had a successful taverna, Chris was pretty sure that he didn’t have enough money to pay for this surgery.
Yet Chris couldn’t let him die. He had to try to find a way to help Stavros. He had to get a surgical team together. He needed an operating room and post-anesthesia care. The list was endless.
He hated cases like this, but he also loved cases like this. It was a challenge, and he hadn’t had a challenge like this in so long.
“That’s one nasty-looking tumor,” Naomi said, interrupting his thoughts.
Chris turned to see Naomi leaning in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the screen. She was so close to him he could smell the sweet scent of her perfume. Jasmine and magnolia. It reminded him of his time in Nashville. The flowers from the trees there had bloomed and filled the air with their sweet fragrance, and every time he’d taken Naomi in his arms he’d thought of those flowers. The blooms so soft, so delicate and so beautiful...
Get a hold of yourself.
“Yes. It is. A local patient who hasn’t got time to wait for a place on a state-provided health care surgery list. To pay privately it’s going to be costly, and I don’t think he’ll be able to afford it, sadly. If he wants to live, I’m going to have to get him to Athens and do it myself.”
Which made him think about how he’d have to uproot Evangelos and take him to Athens too. He would have to find a big enough rental unit so that he, Lisa and Evangelos all had their privacy. It was going to be a nightmare, but Chris couldn’t sit back and do nothing. Stavros would die.
“Well, you know the International Relief effort might be willing to help this patient out.”
“I thought those funds could only be used to help out earthquake victims. He might have been a victim of the earthquake, but this tumor has been growing for several years.”
“Funds are to help those in need,” she said. “If he needs help—”
“I have to talk to the patient first and give him all the details,” Chris interrupted. “He may say no.”
“Yes, but you’re saying he needs the surgery. Correct?” she asked.
“Yes. He does.”
“Do you know him? Do you think he’ll agree to the surgery?”
“Only if he gets to pay his way. He’s stubborn—like most men from this island.”
He couldn’t help but grin at her, and for a brief moment he thought he saw a flicker of humor in her eyes and a small twitch of a smile on her lips.
“Well, I’ll try to find out more information. I would like to help in any way that I can. I used to...”
She trailed off and the pink flush of a blush bloomed in her cheeks. He knew what she was going to say, because he was thinking it too.
“You used to assist me in surgery. You were a brilliant neurosurgical resident. Please tell me you didn’t give up neurosurgery.”
“Oh, you mean after you got the fellowship and then the position in Manhattan?”
Chris sighed. “I didn’t take that position to hurt you, Naomi.”
She frowned. “I know that—and, yes, I’m still a neurosurgeon, as well as a more than competent general surgeon, which was what was particularly needed in the aftermath of the earthquake.”
“I’m glad.”
And he was. Naomi was far too talented to be wasted.
He had been so relieved when he’d gotten that position in New York. Naomi had been getting way too close to him for comfort. She’d become part of his life in a way he’d never wanted a woman to be. The Manhattan job had been an escape and he’d jumped at the chance.
He’d completed his fellowship and then become an attending all within three years, and he didn’t regret it. The only thing he regretted was losing her along the way. Being so scared of committing to one woman for the rest of his life that he’d run away rather than face up to his fears.
And he regretted hurting her career. He wanted to ask her about whether she’d ever got into Mayo. He wanted to know what she’d done after they’d parted. But he couldn’t find the words. He was still far too ashamed.
He glanced at his watch.
It was noon, and he had to head back to relieve Lisa for lunch. Besides, he wouldn’t mind having a light lunch at home and a quick nap. The coffee, though strong, had not woken him up. He needed sleep.
“Well, I’d better get some lunch.” He stood. “Are you eating here?”
“No, I have plans. A lunch date,” she said.
A lunch date? With who?
He was surprised by the sharp burst of jealousy that reared its ugly head deep inside him.
You don’t have any claim on her now.
“Oh...?”
“Yes,” she said noncommittally, not taking the bait and elaborating. “So, I’ll see you later, back at the clinic?”
“Yeah. Enjoy your lunch date.”
“Oh, I will,” she chirped.
Follow her. Find out who he is.
Only, he wasn’t going to do that. He wasn’t going to let that jealous, foolish part of him take over. It had been way too many years since he’d gotten into any kind of a brawl over a girl, and he couldn’t afford to have his hands out of commission now. Not when he had to get Stavros over to Athens as soon as possible and get that tumor out of him.
Theo was in the hall, waiting for the computer when he left.
“You done?” Theo asked.
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
No. But he didn’t say that out loud. He’d never told his friends about Naomi and he wasn’t going to elaborate on that secret shame now.
“I just need a nap. Babies are bad for sleep,” Chris teased. “You’ll see soon enough.”
“Great. I can’t wait.” Theo grinned.
“Hey, is Stavros coming in again today?” Chris asked.
“No, he’s working.” Theo frowned. “Is this about those scans?”
“He has a very aggressive brain tumor. I have to get him to Athens and do a very expensive surgery.”
“He’s not going to like that,” Theo commented. “He never leaves his taverna. He’s not going to agree to surgery unless it can be done here on the island and he can be back to work in an hour or less.”
Chris laughed at that. “Well, none of that’s going to happen.”
“The surgery could happen here if necessary.”
“Theo, I’d need a surgical team that’s used to operating on grade three anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. I also think he’s going to need some chemotherapy afterward. And I’ll need more scans to see if the cancer has progressed.”
“I can tell you now—Stavros won’t leave Mythelios. You’re going to have to work a miracle,” Theo announced, ducking into the office and leaving Chris cursing under his breath.
Why did the men on this island feel they needed to be pigheaded and stubborn to the point at which it cost them everything? Stavros with his brain cancer...his father driving his mother away...and him doing exactly the same thing to Naomi because he’d taken the New York job without consulting her. He’d just upped and left.
Maybe he was cursed?
On days like today it didn’t feel as if he had any kind of blessing from the gods smiling down on him. Not that the patron saint of Mythelios had smiled on him in a long time.
What about Evangelos?
Chris’s bad attitude melted away.
Yeah, there was Evan. Chris might not have the love of a woman, but he had his son to brighten his life.
And that was all he needed.
“I’m headed for lunch, Theo,” Chris called over his shoulder.
“See you,” Theo called back.
Chris ducked out the back door and headed along the faster route, through the winding streets to his yia-yia’s home. He’d just slipped off his shoes when there was a knock at the front door.
Lisa came down the stairs. “That’s my cousin. I’m meeting her for lunch. I’m just finishing feeding Evan and then I’ll be there.”
Chris nodded. “Take your time. I’ll let her know.”
Lisa nodded and headed back upstairs to where Evangelos was hollering for strained peas—quite loudly.
Chris opened the door.
“Sorry I’m late, I got lost,” the woman outside began breathlessly. “I—Chris?”
“Hi, Naomi. So you’re Lisa’s cousin.”
He mentally rolled his eyes at the gods, who were surely laughing at him now.
* * *
Just. Great. What’s he doing here? Can’t I get away from him?
“This is where my cousin works. I thought you were...” Then she trailed off as she realized. “This is your home?”
He nodded. “It is. You’d better come in.”
Naomi stepped over the threshold and he shut the wooden door to help keep the heat out of the house. She’d seen this house when she’d first arrived on Mythelios. It was on the topmost part of the hill and it overlooked the sea. It was brilliant white, surrounded by the bright colors of the other houses. It had a huge balcony, and she’d imagined what it would be like to live there. To always see the sea.
She’d wondered about the family who lived there. Her cousin hadn’t said much about the people she worked for. Only that it was a family with money and that her charge was a young baby.
Baby? But Chris lives here.
Of course he’d found someone else. Of course he was married now. His heart hadn’t been broken when things had ended between them.
She remembered hearing about all the women he’d been with. He was a playboy in Manhattan, regularly seen out and about with a variety of famous women. And he had money, so of course he would be married.
“My cousin is a nanny,” she stated, feeling foolish.
“Yes. I’m aware of that,” he said, and his mouth quirked up in a half smile—the one that had always made her melt in the past. “It’s my son she cares for when I’m working.”
“Your son?”
“Yes,” he said. “My son, Evangelos. He’s eight months old now.”
“What about his mother?” Naomi asked.
“My, you’re full of questions today,” he teased.
“I’m sorry. I just... You were always very clear that you never wanted a wife or kids. You didn’t want a family.”
“I don’t understand. Why can’t I come to New York with you?”
“You don’t have a position there.”
“So? I want to be with you.”
His muscles had tensed and she’d seen a look that had made her stomach churn.
“You knew this wasn’t long-term. I don’t want marriage. I don’t want a wife or kids. Don’t follow me, Naomi. Don’t waste your life pursuing me when I can’t give you what you want.”
“Circumstances changed,” he said now.
Yes, because I wasn’t the right woman for you.
And her heart ached as she thought about the baby—their baby—the one she had lost. She would have loved that child. She’d always wanted children.
So Chris had got that too.
“Well, I’m happy for you and your wife.”
“I’m not married, Naomi. Not much has changed on that score. I have a son, yes, but no wife. Evan was the result of a one-night stand with a woman who just wanted me for the money. She was going to get rid of the child unless I paid her quite a lot of money to have him. I didn’t want her to get rid of him, so...here I am. A single father.”
Lisa came down the stairs and in her arms was a baby.
Naomi was struck by how much the little boy looked like Chris. Same dark eyes and hair, but the little boy had the biggest cheeks she’d ever seen, and a gummy smile that completely lit up his face when he saw Chris.
“Sorry,” Lisa said, handing the baby over to Chris. “He got up late and then his whole schedule was thrown off.”
“It’s okay,” Chris said. “Enjoy lunch with your cousin. I’ll see you back here in an hour.”
Chris then turned his entire focus onto his son as he carried him up the stairs away from the hallway. The baby gurgled and laughed, and all Naomi could do was stand there in stunned silence.
Her heart was melting as she watched how loving he was with his son.
And thought how completely heartbroken it made her feel.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_8acf4050-f349-5d25-af8a-50b06b33a66b)
SHE COULDN’T GET the picture of Chris carrying his son up the stairs out of her mind. How he’d held the baby so close and just how much he’d doted on him.
Would he have doted on their baby just as much?
She wanted to think he would, but she couldn’t be sure, and the fact that they would never know made her sad. Made her ache.
It had been a long time since she’d let herself think about her baby and the miscarriage. She never let her mind go there...it was too painful.
Work usually took care of that, but now she was working with Chris and he constantly reminded her of what might have been. What she might have had.
“You’re awfully quiet, Naomi,” Lisa said, interrupting Naomi’s thoughts.
“What?”
“I said you’re quiet,” Lisa teased. “I thought you were a chatterbox when we first met.”
“Sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” Naomi fidgeted with her napkin and tried to put Chris and his son out of her mind—but she couldn’t.
She just saw him again and again in her mind’s eye, kissing that baby who was the spitting image of him.
“I noticed. You’ve completely missed those handsome men over there who have been trying to get your attention for some time.”
Naomi turned and glanced over at the men in question. They were young—around Lisa’s age, which was about eight years her junior. They were definitely flirting with them, but Naomi wasn’t interested.
“Did you know your father’s mother? Our yia-yia?”
Lisa frowned. “Not really. She died when I was about seven years old. She lived outside of Athens and we rarely went to see her. She hated my mother. And Yia-yia travelled a lot. She died shortly after she came back from America.”
“She used to say I was cursed.” Naomi laughed half-heartedly.
Lisa looked confused. “Cursed? What? You were like...what...? Fourteen when you met her?”
Naomi nodded. “Yep—and she called me cursed or the cursed one the entire time she was visiting. Really annoyed my mother and father.”
“Well, my father said that Yia-yia had that effect on people. I don’t think you’re cursed, and I definitely don’t believe in curses, but people around here do take religion seriously. When they bring out the Saint for his yearly airing, people are really into seeing his mummified remains being carted around in a gold sarcophagus. They say it brings good luck, but I don’t know...”
“I could use some good luck,” Naomi said, and groaned. “This bachelor auction is coming up fast at the end of the month. It’s being held in Athens now, rather than on Mythelios, so we can get more exposure and hopefully more funds for the wider community as well as the clinic. Theo thought I was the perfect person to take it on, and it’s a great idea, but now I have to find some bachelors from Mythelios to auction off. Bachelors who are willing to give a romantic fantasy type of date. I was hoping to coerce some of the male doctors here into it, but they all have someone.”
Lisa took a sip of her iced tea. “There’s always my boss. He’s single. He has a baby, but it’s just a date for charity. It’s not like you’re selling off husbands or something. I’m sure if he knew what it was for he’d say yes. He’s quite generous.”
I’m sure.
“I’m sure he has enough women on his hands that he doesn’t need to be auctioned off.”
Lisa frowned. “Actually, no, I’ve never seen him on a date. He’s totally devoted to his son and his work. Mind you, I’ve only known him since I was hired to care for Evan. I don’t remember him from when my family would visit the island when I was a child.”
“Do you know anything about the baby’s mother?”
Lisa frowned. “Nothing. I just know that she’s not in the picture and that Chris has full custody of his son. Which is why he hired me shortly after he returned to Greece a few weeks ago. The only woman who lived with him before I came was Dr. Erianthe Nikolaides, but not for long. She’s married to Dr. Xenakis now.”
Naomi worried at her bottom lip, because she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of woman Evan’s mother was. Why didn’t she want her baby?
Naomi would’ve given anything to keep her baby.
One thing she knew: she felt really sorry for that sweet little boy, growing up without a mother.
“I can’t ask Dr. Moustakas to take part in the bachelor auction,” she said, steering the subject back to the auction because she didn’t want to think about Chris and his baby. How it had made her completely weak in the knees to see them together.
She’d never seen him like that before. So gentle, so loving. It made her long for what had been taken from her. For what she’d never got to have.
“You can ask Dr. Moustakas. He’ll probably say yes—and, honestly, he needs a night away,” Lisa said. “He really has no life.”
Lisa continued to chat about different things, but Naomi was only half listening. It surprised her to hear that Chris had become something of a hermit when he’d been the quintessential playboy in Manhattan—or so all the tabloids had said, when she was doing her fellowship in Nashville.
The church bell in the center of the old town chimed the hour.
“I’d better get back. Evangelos is due for a walk and Dr. Moustakas has to get back to work.” Lisa picked up her shawl and purse. “Are you heading back to Athens tonight?”
Naomi nodded. “There’s no place to stay on the island after the earthquake—though Dr. Nikolaides did offer a boathouse. But a place like that is more suited to a bachelor. Are you headed back to Athens too?”
“No, I’m on for three nights and then off for two. I have a small room close to Evangelos. I suppose when the boy gets older I’ll be making the commute daily, but it’s really not that long.”
“No, but it would be easier to stay here. Isn’t there a ferry that goes to Spritos?”
Lisa frowned. “Spritos? What do you need to do there?”
“There’s another small clinic there, and I was told Spritos could be accessed by ferry from Mythelios.”
“On the other side of the island. The ferry only runs twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Pray you don’t get stuck there, because they really have nothing—but it’s a beautiful place.”
Naomi walked Lisa back to Chris’s house.
“I hope we can visit more,” Lisa said as she unlocked the old wooden door to Chris’s home. “It’s nice that you’re here, and if Yia-yia did put a curse on you, perhaps we can lift it, eh?”
Naomi laughed. “I would like that.”
She turned and began walking back to the clinic. She made slow progress and was annoyed with herself for wearing completely impractical heels—especially when walking on cobbled streets. Then her heel broke, and she swore out loud and leaned precariously against a wall to inspect the damage.
Yep. Definitely cursed.
There was the beep of a horn behind her, and she looked over her shoulder to see a little scooter being driven by none other than Chris, who was grinning from ear to ear as he leaned over the front.
“I told you those heels would be your downfall one day.”
She snorted. “I wasn’t thinking. In Athens it’s no big deal.”
“Here, especially on the cobbled streets of the old part of town, flats are your friend. How badly is it broken?”
“Bad—but I do have a pair of flip-flops in my bag back at the clinic. I was planning on getting a pedicure in Athens when I returned tonight.”
“Well, you won’t make it hobbling like that. Do you want a ride to the clinic?”
She eyed the scooter speculatively. “I thought you walked.”
“In the morning, yes, but I’m running late and I thought I’d take this for a spin. It was my yia-yia’s and is proving handy.”
“Your yia-yia’s?” Naomi tried to picture a tiny little grandmother, dressed in black, motoring around Mythelios on this little turquoise scooter.
“Why not?”
“A scooter’s not very practical for a man with a baby.”
“I have a car on the mainland. The ferry’s not a far walk and neither is the clinic. Do you want a ride or do you want to spend all day holding up that wall?”
“Thanks.”
Naomi hobbled over to him and climbed precariously onto the back of the scooter, sitting sidesaddle behind him because she was wearing a tight pencil skirt. She crossed her legs at the ankles.
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Uh...you do have to hold on.”
“There’s nothing to hold on to.”
“Sure there is. Me. You have to hold on to me.”
Definitely cursed.
“Fine,” she murmured as she slipped her arms around his waist.
Under his loose scrubs she could feel every single one of his abdominal muscles, and when she closed her eyes, she could see him without his shirt on and it made her heart beat just a little bit faster.
She’d never really forgotten the electric effect he’d had on her, and being so close to him now, with her body pressed against his, it all came rushing back, making her blood heat and her palms sweat.
She hated that he still had this effect on her. Why did he still have this effect on her? Why was she letting him get to her?
Because you’re weak. Because you’ve never really gotten over him.
“You ready?”
“No!” she said, but nodded.
He chuckled. “Hang on.”
Chris revved the engine and the little scooter took off down the hill, through the narrow cobbled streets of the old part of Mythelios. Naomi closed her eyes tight for a few moments as Chris drove like a maniac through the streets, but then he turned away from the clinic road onto another road. A dirt track that overlooked the sea.
“Where are we going?” she shrieked over the roar of the engine.
“Just taking the back way,” he teased. “A more scenic route, since you probably haven’t seen all of Mythelios yet.”
“Uh, no—I really need to get back.”
“Live a little, Naomi. You’re always so uptight.”
That was what he’d said to her when they’d first met, and look where that had gotten her. It had left her with a broken heart, an unimaginable loss and, for the first time in her life, without a clue as to how to go on.
She’d fought hard to dig herself out of that pit of heartbreak and learn to put herself first. She wasn’t going to let him do that to her again.
“Chris, stop this thing now!”
Chris pulled over into a lay-by and stopped the scooter. Once she was off, she slipped off her shoes and began to walk barefoot down the dirt track toward the clinic.
“Naomi, I was only joking.”
She spun around. “That’s the thing. You’re always joking! I have real work to do. I have patients to see this afternoon! I don’t have time to waste driving all over the island just because I need to let loose! I’ve done enough of that in my life and look where it got me.”
Tears were stinging her eyes—not because she was sad, but because she always cried when she got mad, and she was mad about this whole situation. How he thought things could ever be normal between them was a mystery to her.
Maybe she was cursed and maybe he had all the luck, but she worked hard for what she wanted, for what she’d achieved, and she wasn’t going to let him stand in her way this time.
“Naomi!” he called out, but she ignored him, limping along the road, feeling small pebbles digging into the soles of her feet.
Chris came jogging up beside her and took her hand in his. It was so strong, so warm.
“I’m sorry, Naomi.”
There was sincerity in his eyes, and a well of sadness.
“Please let me take you back to the clinic and I’ll make it up to you any way that I can.”
“You’ll make it up to me?” she asked.
He nodded. “Of course. I was impertinent and flippant and I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this whole thing go away so we can work together.”
“Okay.” She grinned suddenly. “I know exactly how you can make it up to me.”
He cocked a wary eyebrow. “Really? That fast?”
“Yes. It’s something that’s put me in a bit of a predicament.”
“What is it?” Chris asked hesitantly.
“You’re going to be my feature bachelor.”
His expression fell. “What?”
“At a charity auction to raise money for earthquake relief. You’re going to give up your time and take the highest bidder on a romantic night out.”
* * *
He wasn’t quite sure that he’d heard her right.
“You want me to do what?” he asked in disbelief.
“Be in the bachelor auction.”
“No way!” he almost shouted at her, throwing up his arms.
“You said you’d make it up to me, and being the featured bachelor in our Hot Greek Nights bachelor auction would definitely be a highlight.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and crossed his arms. “I’m not a bachelor.”
A strange expression crossed her face and for a fleeting moment he thought he saw that flare of jealousy again.
“You’re involved with someone?” she asked slowly.
“No, but...”
She held up her hand to silence him. “Then you’re doing it, pal.”
“I think not. I’m a single father. I don’t have time to do a charity auction.”
“Even if it will help those less fortunate here in Mythelios? Those who were affected by the earthquake? Not everyone is so lucky as to have a trust fund and live like you do. There are other single parents out there seriously struggling to survive.”
Dammit.
He couldn’t argue with that, and if it was to help out with fund-raising, there was no way he could walk away from it. Naomi had him cornered, the minx.
“Who suggested me?” he grumbled.
“No one did. I see no wedding band. Like you said, you’re a single father.”
“I told you my son’s mother made it clear that she did not want him and left,” he snapped, surprised at how touchy he was about it.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“There was nothing to work out. I told you it was a one-night stand. I regret sleeping with Evan’s biological mother, but I don’t regret having him in my life.”
An unreadable expression crossed her face and he couldn’t quite place it, but then it vanished again as quickly as it had appeared.
“So, will you do it?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I have no choice—because I can’t have you cut your feet up walking back down to the clinic, nor have you savaged by a wandering goat.” A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he saw her eyes widen.
“Goats?”
He laughed. “I’ll do it. What do I need to do, though?”
“Just think of something romantic to do with whoever wins the date. You were always pretty good at that.”
A blush rose in her cheeks and his blood heated. He loved it when she blushed, and it made him feel good that he still had some kind of effect on her after all this time.
She was the only woman he’d ever cared about. Even though he’d been completely stubborn and too pigheaded back then to see it.
And now it was too late.
Is it?
“Come on, let’s get you back to the clinic,” he said, heading back to the scooter.
“Before I’m savaged by a goat?” she teased.
“Yeah.”
Naomi stumbled over some of the small rocks on this section of the road and without thinking he closed the distance between them and scooped her up, carrying her the short distance back to the scooter.
She was blushing again.
“This...” she whispered as he sat her down on the back of the scooter.
“What?”
“Sweep the winner off her feet. You’re good at that too.”
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