Her Greek Romance aka Greek Encounter (2 page)

“
Kyria
,
separakalo
.” Ashley raised her head toward the young man in a waiter’s apron. “Miss, please,” he repeated in broken English, “two gentlemen, there.” He pointed to the sidewalk café across the street. “
They ask you, for kaffe and pastry
.” He held out a card.

Annoyed, she ignored the card. Her arms still wrapped around her chest, she spun her head toward the street and saw the two men, in shorts and t-shirts, sitting at a table, one of them smoking a cigarette. They acknowledged her with a nod.

The gall of these locals. Couldn’t she be left in peace for a single minute in this country?

“
Kyria
, please. The card,” the waiter insisted, probably worried about losing his tip.

With a sigh, she took the card and frowned while reading the name. Her heart double-flipped. Theodore Pastroudis. The lawyer of that Greek SOB, Dimitri Kostapoulos, who was responsible for her dear grandpa’s heart attack. The same devil’s spawn who wanted to destroy her grandfather’s villa. She’d studied the case as soon as she got wind of their sneaky deal. They could both go to hell as far as she was concerned. She wouldn’t meet with the enemy’s lawyer.

“
Kyria
,
look at back
, please,” the waiter begged.

What now? Her brow arched and she flipped the card impatiently. She gasped, hardly believing her eyes as she uttered between gritted teeth the words scribbled. “Miss Sheppard, it would be in our best interests to get acquainted today in a friendly environment before meeting in court.”

“How on earth did he find out my name? Has he been following me?”

Taken aback by her glare, the waiter lowered his head with uncertainty. “
Scuse-me, kyria?
Me no understand
.” She shouldn’t blame him for the message he’d delivered. She took a deep breath to calm her jumbled nerves.

“There will be no answer.” She reached into her bag for her wallet and dropped a coin in his hand. “You may go now,” she added in a tone of voice that brooked no discussion.

“
Efkharisto,
kyria
. Thank you, Miss.” He turned his back and rushed away.

Her sunbathing spoiled by the unpleasant episode, Ashley decided not to linger around the beach half naked. The nasty lawyer might not take no for an answer. The last thing she needed now was for him to show up in front of her while she used her arms in lieu of a bra. Bending forward, she fumbled in her bag for the top of her bikini.

“Miss Sheppard. A moment, please.”

An American voice? Damn, damn. And he knew her name. Her fingers buried in the bag, she frantically searched for the tiny piece of material, while her other arm covered her breasts. “Go away. Please, go away.” Where was the damn towel? Already spread on the sand but too far out of reach.

“I need to speak to you.” Too close for comfort, the deep masculine voice scattered goose bumps along her arms and froze her hand inside the bag.

“Not now,” she said with the forceful tone she used in court. No way she’d carry a conversation in the buff. Or semi-buff. Especially with a compatriot. “I’m very busy.”

“Really?” Heavy sarcasm underlined his question.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the man approaching her chair. In a second, he’d be staring at...

Without hesitation, she plunged forward and landed half on the towel and half on the sand. At least now, she didn’t feel exposed. Still she flattened herself on her stomach and stiffened, both arms bent against her sides for a partial shield of her vulnerability.

“Miss Sheppard, I just need a minute of your time.” The jerk now stood in front of her, his ankles at the level of her eyes. “I’m Ted Pastroudis.”

The opposition lawyer. Lifting her head a tiny bit, she scowled at his hairy legs. “Mr. Pastroudis, don’t you think you’re going too far?”

The man crouched in front of her, holding her gaze. “What are you doing here? Why did you come, Miss Sheppard?”

Pressing her arms closer to the curves of her breasts, she twisted her head to his side. “Mr. Pastroudis,” she spat, her anger escalating with her desperation at hiding the topless part of her body. “As a lawyer, you should realize this is harassment.”

Damn his stubbornness. She glared at him, and then frowned. She’d never seen Pastroudis before and yet she could swear he looked familiar. Dark hair, hazel eyes, aquiline nose, and the general appearance of a thin, nervous man always on the go.

His brows shot up as he surveyed her. Surprise replaced his professional aggressiveness.

“Ashley? From Harvard Law School?”

“Yes. And you are...Teddy,” she said, after a brief hesitation to scan her memory.

“We worked together on a student paper in second year, remember?”

She nodded, and lowered her head. Of all the awkward situations. Damn it, she couldn’t continue to converse in this position. With a former comrade from school. “I never knew your last name.”

“And I didn’t make the connection. I’ll be damned,” he said with a congenial smile.

“Teddy.” Her hiss should warn him she wasn’t in a mood to exchange niceties right now. “Please, go away.”

“Pastroudis, stop.” A strong male voice called from behind them, and continued in Greek with an authoritative edge.

Ted straightened up. His legs finally ambled out of her field of vision.

“Miss,” the newcomer said with a softer tone. “I’m so sorry we’ve intruded on your privacy.” He spoke perfect English with a hint of Greek accent. “Here are your things. Ted will be waiting at the boardwalk to apologize.”

A sigh of relief escaped her when her bag and see-through wrap landed in a heap next to her hands. “Thank you.” She twisted her neck and caught a glimpse of a pair of bronzed legs elongated into muscled thighs that could make a woman drool. “I really appreciate it,” she called after Strong-Legs as he strutted away from her umbrella.

Without bothering to wipe off the sand sticking to her skin, she pulled her bra from the bag, slipped it on and fastened the clasp as fast as possible. While still lying on her stomach, she threw the wrap over her back, and enveloped herself in the soft material. Finally decent again. The stiffness in her shoulders relaxed as she scrambled up to tie the edges between her breasts.

Gathering her bag and flip-flops, she folded her towel and turned around. Teddy stood by himself fifty feet away. Where had Strong-Legs gone?

Sunshine burned her naked back and sensitive neck as she trudged through the blazing sand to reach the boardwalk.

Teddy waved to her but remained in place until she reached him. “Is everything okay?”

“You could say that.” At least, now, she was ready to talk with her usual calm.

“Ashley, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you or embarrass you.” The meekness in his voice surprised her. Was it due to the tongue-lashing he’d received a moment ago?

“It’s okay. What was so important to discuss?”

“My client saw you coming out of the Pink Villa. Are you representing Mr. George Zanis or is your presence here a coincidence?”

She tilted her head, arching a brow. “Teddy, we learned in Law School that most coincidences have logical causes.”

“I see. So you are here to work on the Pink Villa case.”

“Yes, with a Greek attorney. Tomorrow, we’ll meet in court.”

“And we’ll tear each other apart.”

“Probably.” Since she’d graduated from Harvard, Ashley had joined a well-known firm and built a solid reputation, fighting tooth and nail in court to defend her clients. In this case, her client was her own darling grandfather who had entrusted her with the villa so dear to his heart.

“Ashley, I’ve never lost a case. It may be ugly tomorrow.”

She shrugged. “It’s always ugly.”

“Yeah, but you’re my former classmate, and it’s your first day in Mykonos.”

“Having premature remorse?” she asked without smiling. “Tell your client to drop his request to level the house. It’s not his to destroy.”

“It belongs to his grandmother as well as to Mr. Zanis. My client is ready to generously compensate Mr. Zanis for his part.”

“For sentimental reasons you’ll never understand, Mr. Zanis refuses to see the Pink Villa demolished. And that is not negotiable.”

“Damn it, Ashley, we’ll have a war tomorrow.”

“So be it. See you later.”

Ted fiddled with his sunglasses and threw a glance toward the café. Was he waiting for reinforcement? As she turned to leave, he touched her arm. “At least, can I invite you for a cup of coffee? For old-time’s sake?”

Not knowing what to make of his invitation, she narrowed her eyes at him. “We’re lawyers, Teddy. I don’t need to remind you, it’s unethical to discuss a case, even though we’re not in the U.S.”

He burst out laughing. “Deal. We won’t talk about the case. This way, please. I have a friend waiting for me at the café.”

“A friend?”

“Yes, he handed you your things a moment ago. Please, join us.”

The man with strong legs and broad shoulders. The one who talked with enough authority to intimidate a lawyer of Pastroudis’ caliber. She’d like to meet this Greek. Hanging the straps of her bag on her shoulder, she nodded. “Only for a short while. I have work to do.”

He led her to a sidewalk café where a sign greeted the tourists in Greek and English:
Welcome to Kaffe Paradizio. Proper attire required. NO bikinis or half bikinis on premises
.

Ashley snorted inwardly. At least here, she wouldn’t feel out of place.

To hell with local customs. For once she’d given in to well-intended advice about blending with the crowd, and ended up with a wasted day and a severe headache. She should have remained locked in her grandfather’s house to work on her case—the Pink Villa her grandpa had bought for the woman he loved half a century ago. How romantic… and frustrating. Envy and puzzlement filled Ashley’s heart, and she glanced in the direction of the Pink Villa.

How had that Greek woman, Elena, managed to inflame Grandpa George with a love that endured a fifty-year separation?

Irritation pinched Ashley’s insides. Her own romances had never lasted more than a year, earning Grandpa’s reproachful looks and his never-wavering advice.
Look for a Greek man who can love you unconditionally.

Did Greek men belong to a special brand of lovers whose passion could survive the test of time and distance?

Well, the few locals who had stared—leered at her was more correct—didn’t strike her as the kind of heroes who’d love forever, or even long enough to walk to the altar. But maybe all Greeks were not that bad. A moment ago, Strong-Legs had acted like a gentleman.

Ted navigated his way through the crowded area and waved his hand. “Here’s my friend.”

A hunk sprang to his feet and waved back. Tall, lean, solid, his body matched the legs she’d admired a moment ago. Bulging muscles stretched the beige t-shirt that contrasted with the bronze of his skin. And she thought gods belonged only to mythology.

“Ashley, this is Stefano, my lifelong friend and former roommate. He also spent eight years in Boston, but he studied Architecture and then went on for a Master in Business Administration. Stefano, Ashley Sheppard is another Harvard graduate.”

Ted had forgotten to mention Stefano’s last name. By mistake or on purpose? She flicked a guarded glance from the lawyer to his friend.

“Stefano Alexios,” the hunk specified.

She nodded and extended her hand. He enfolded it in his warm palm and held it a moment too long. “Nice to meet you, Ashley.” His voice drifted velvet-smooth, tinged with a hint of accent. A faint scent of lemon and spice tickled her senses while his heart-stopping smile numbed her mind. He pulled a chair for her into the shade of the white and blue canopy. “You’ll be more comfortable here.” He sat next to her at the small table.

Heavy and dark curls ruffled in the breeze and fluttered over his gold-rimmed, polarized sunglasses. She’d bet her bikini bra he’d have dark chocolate eyes to match that tanned skin. As if reading her thoughts, he took off his glasses.

Lo and behold, his eyes were turquoise blue, similar in color to the sea surrounding his island. She’d eat her tongue before making another bet in her life. The noon temperature suddenly seemed unbearable. A rush of blood coursed to her face, creating a tiny sheen of perspiration. She wiped her forehead and removed her sunglasses to rub at her temples. And stilled as Stefano peered at her face. What was wrong now?