It's All Greek to Me (29 page)
Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
“You don’t need to do that,” she answered, feeling restless for some reason.
“I don’t, but I am.”
Harry watched as he stuffed his laptop into a bag, shuffled through a few papers and tossed them into his briefcase.
He looked every inch a billionaire businessman, ready to make deals that would boggle the mortal mind.
Who would he be meeting with today?
Some equally rich Arab looking for a new real estate investment?
An Asian conglomerate that wanted a new resort?
Or perhaps some überskinny, nonpregnant blond heiress who saw him in a magazine and instantly desired his manly body?
“I just bet she does,” she muttered.
He looked every inch a billionaire businessman, ready to make deals that would boggle the mortal mind.
Who would he be meeting with today?
Some equally rich Arab looking for a new real estate investment?
An Asian conglomerate that wanted a new resort?
Or perhaps some überskinny, nonpregnant blond heiress who saw him in a magazine and instantly desired his manly body?
“I just bet she does,” she muttered.
He gave her a knowing eye.
“You’re writing dialogue in your head again, aren’t you?”
“You’re writing dialogue in your head again, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I liked it better when your mouth told me what you were thinking,” he grumbled.
“Oh, trust me, my love,” she said, slipping her arm through his.
“In this case, you really don’t.
Would it do any good to point out that I’m perfectly able to drive myself now that I have a driver’s license here?”
“In this case, you really don’t.
Would it do any good to point out that I’m perfectly able to drive myself now that I have a driver’s license here?”
“Would that be the same driver’s license that you couldn’t obtain until you called me up to ask how to spell your last name?”
She flared her nostrils at him.
“The clerk was being obnoxious about it.
And besides, I don’t know why I have to be able to spell everything!
I’m a writer!
Spell-check is my best friend!”
“The clerk was being obnoxious about it.
And besides, I don’t know why I have to be able to spell everything!
I’m a writer!
Spell-check is my best friend!”
“The answer is no, Harry,” he said with a pointed look at her massive stomach.
“Pregnant women can drive,” she pointed out.
“Not
my
pregnant woman,” he said, and patted her on the butt as he left, Dmitri following with a wink at her.
my
pregnant woman,” he said, and patted her on the butt as he left, Dmitri following with a wink at her.
Theo was a few steps behind them, pausing as he glanced back at Harry.
“Friends again?”
“Friends again?”
“Of course,” she said, telling herself she was an idiot to be uneasy.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years,” Harry told Mikos a couple of hours later, “it’s to pick my battles.
There’s simply no sense in making a big deal over the fact that your boss wants me to be driven everywhere.”
There’s simply no sense in making a big deal over the fact that your boss wants me to be driven everywhere.”
“I hope not,” Mikos said as he gestured toward the waiting limo.
“Good jobs are hard to find these days.”
“Good jobs are hard to find these days.”
“It’s just that I feel so .
.
.
ugh .
.
.
movie star in a limo.
Can we take that other car, the smaller one?”
.
.
ugh .
.
.
movie star in a limo.
Can we take that other car, the smaller one?”
“The BMW?”
Mikos shrugged.
“It’s up to you.”
Mikos shrugged.
“It’s up to you.”
She was soon settled in the much more—to her mind anyway—reasonable car, and consulting a list she had printed the day before, she spent the morning crossing off a significant number of items before deciding she had earned a little reward for such hard work.
“What do you think, Mikos?
Lunch at the café next to the Archaeological Museum?
The one on Patission Street?
We can grab a quick lunch there before tackling the last few things on the list.”
“What do you think, Mikos?
Lunch at the café next to the Archaeological Museum?
The one on Patission Street?
We can grab a quick lunch there before tackling the last few things on the list.”
“Whatever you like, pretty lady.”
Mikos hummed along to a song on the radio.
She had to admit that she was grateful Iakovos had insisted she take Mikos for the day—not only had it been less stressful to be driven than to cope with the noise and traffic of Athens, but he’d served as an excellent translator when needed.
Mikos hummed along to a song on the radio.
She had to admit that she was grateful Iakovos had insisted she take Mikos for the day—not only had it been less stressful to be driven than to cope with the noise and traffic of Athens, but he’d served as an excellent translator when needed.
All in all, she was pleased with herself.
That feeling stayed with her until Mikos announced that there was no parking near the café.
“I will drop you off in front of it and find somewhere else to park.”
That feeling stayed with her until Mikos announced that there was no parking near the café.
“I will drop you off in front of it and find somewhere else to park.”
“Sounds good.
I am feeling the heat a bit today, so I really don’t relish the thought of walking out in that sun too long.”
I am feeling the heat a bit today, so I really don’t relish the thought of walking out in that sun too long.”
He dropped her off about half a block from the café, reminding her to take her sun hat.
“Yes, Mother,” she said, smiling at him as she jammed the straw hat on her head.
“Don’t be long.
I’m starved.”
“Don’t be long.
I’m starved.”
She strolled down the block, glancing at a few windows, but more interested in the people than anything else.
As she approached the café, she knew she’d have to use the bathroom, so she stepped around the tables into the cooler interior.
As she was about to ask a waitress where the bathroom was, she caught sight of a familiar shape leaning over one of the small tables .
.
.
and a tiny little blond bit of fluff with her head so close to his, they were touching.
As she approached the café, she knew she’d have to use the bathroom, so she stepped around the tables into the cooler interior.
As she was about to ask a waitress where the bathroom was, she caught sight of a familiar shape leaning over one of the small tables .
.
.
and a tiny little blond bit of fluff with her head so close to his, they were touching.
“OK, Harry,” she said out loud, ignoring the waitress as she stared at the couple.
“This isn’t the end of the world.
They work together.
There’s no reason they shouldn’t be here having lunch.
Just because he’s married and about to become the father to twins doesn’t mean he can’t have lunch with a former girlfriend.”
“This isn’t the end of the world.
They work together.
There’s no reason they shouldn’t be here having lunch.
Just because he’s married and about to become the father to twins doesn’t mean he can’t have lunch with a former girlfriend.”
Brave words
, a little voice in her head said as she watched them, hurt pricking the edges of her heart, those cryptic words spoken on the day of her wedding coming back to her.
, a little voice in her head said as she watched them, hurt pricking the edges of her heart, those cryptic words spoken on the day of her wedding coming back to her.
Does she know?
No.
You are going to tell her soon, I hope.
Dear god, could she have been wrong all along about Iakovos?
No, that was insane.
She wasn’t wrong.
She felt it in her bones.
But something was up, and dammit, she wanted to know what.
Should I go over and say hi, she thought to herself, and ask Iakovos what the hell he’s doing?
Or pass by with a friendly wave, as if it’s nothing to me that they’re here, practically kissing, right in front of everyone?
Or, she thought with a sigh, simply go home and remind myself that I trust him.
No, that was insane.
She wasn’t wrong.
She felt it in her bones.
But something was up, and dammit, she wanted to know what.
Should I go over and say hi, she thought to herself, and ask Iakovos what the hell he’s doing?
Or pass by with a friendly wave, as if it’s nothing to me that they’re here, practically kissing, right in front of everyone?
Or, she thought with a sigh, simply go home and remind myself that I trust him.
“God, I hate being adult sometimes,” she snarled as she turned on her heel and went to find Mikos.
Chapter 23
“C
hange of plans,” Harry told Mikos with a smile that she knew was too bright to be convincing.
She took his arm and steered him in the opposite direction.
“Let’s go to that other place, the one with the yummy calamari.”
hange of plans,” Harry told Mikos with a smile that she knew was too bright to be convincing.
She took his arm and steered him in the opposite direction.
“Let’s go to that other place, the one with the yummy calamari.”
He seemed surprised by her change of heart, especially since all she did was pick at the food, but Harry was too angry with herself to eat.
She finished her shopping with grim efficiency and returned home for a short rest.
As she entered the apartment, she found Mrs.
Avrabos scrubbing the stone wall.
The glass and pool of liquor had long since been cleaned up, but a faint pink still stained the stone, which evidently insulted Mrs.
Avrabos’ sensibilities.
As she entered the apartment, she found Mrs.
Avrabos scrubbing the stone wall.
The glass and pool of liquor had long since been cleaned up, but a faint pink still stained the stone, which evidently insulted Mrs.
Avrabos’ sensibilities.
“You don’t have to do that,” Harry said with an indignant look at the wall, as if it personally offended her.
And why shouldn’t it?
she thought to herself.
The whole apartment offended her.
Damn that Patricia!
Damn Iakovos!
And why shouldn’t it?
she thought to herself.
The whole apartment offended her.
Damn that Patricia!
Damn Iakovos!
Harry closed her eyes for a minute, suddenly so tired she felt as if she could sleep for a solid month.
Just exactly what
was
Iakovos doing having an intimate lunch with Patricia?
Unable to keep the little spike of jealousy from pricking at her despite her promise to the contrary, she pulled out her phone and dialed a familiar number.
Just exactly what
was
Iakovos doing having an intimate lunch with Patricia?
Unable to keep the little spike of jealousy from pricking at her despite her promise to the contrary, she pulled out her phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Hi,” she said, when Iakovos answered.
“I don’t suppose you’re free for lunch today?”
“I don’t suppose you’re free for lunch today?”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I’ve got solid meetings all day.
Speaking of that—would you be angry with me if I couldn’t go to the doctor with you this afternoon?”
Speaking of that—would you be angry with me if I couldn’t go to the doctor with you this afternoon?”
“You don’t want to go see the scan?”
“Of course I want to, but things are insane here today.
Bring me the pictures, and I’ll look at them tonight, all right?”
Bring me the pictures, and I’ll look at them tonight, all right?”
“Sure,” she said, not liking the emotions that were roiling around inside her.
“I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“All right.
Harry?”
Harry?”
“Yes?”
“Are you well?
Your voice sounds strained.
You’re not trying to do too much, are you?”
Your voice sounds strained.
You’re not trying to do too much, are you?”
Would a man who was out having a sneaky lunch with an ex-lover ask if you were doing too much, the voice in her head asked her.
No, he would not.
“I’m fine.
Just a little grouchy.
You know shopping makes me cranky.”
No, he would not.
“I’m fine.
Just a little grouchy.
You know shopping makes me cranky.”
Harry hung up the phone, out of the blue wondering why he couldn’t tell her he loved her.
At first she had assumed it was a little game he was playing, his way of getting back at her when she teased him mercilessly about something or other.
At first she had assumed it was a little game he was playing, his way of getting back at her when she teased him mercilessly about something or other.
But all of a sudden, his inability to say it took on huge importance.
“How dare he?”
she yelled once she got to the privacy of their bedroom, and promptly hit the REDIAL button.
“How dare he?”
she yelled once she got to the privacy of their bedroom, and promptly hit the REDIAL button.
“What is it, Harry?”
he asked, his voice tinged with the tiniest bit of annoyance.
he asked, his voice tinged with the tiniest bit of annoyance.
“Why the hell can’t you tell me you love me?”
she shouted into the phone.
“What’s wrong with you that you can’t say the words?”
she shouted into the phone.
“What’s wrong with you that you can’t say the words?”
Silence was the answer for a good ten seconds.
“You want me to tell you that I love you right now?”
“You want me to tell you that I love you right now?”
“Yes!”
she said, brushing away a couple of errant tears.
“Yes, I do.
I think you should tell me right this very second that you love me, because frankly, I’m tired of waiting for you to get around to remembering it.”
she said, brushing away a couple of errant tears.
“Yes, I do.
I think you should tell me right this very second that you love me, because frankly, I’m tired of waiting for you to get around to remembering it.”
More silence.
“Are you angry with me about something?”
“Are you angry with me about something?”
“Say the words!”
she demanded, tears streaming down her face now.
she demanded, tears streaming down her face now.
“All right.
Harry, I—”
Harry, I—”
“No!”
she shrieked, interrupting him.
“Don’t you say it!
Not like that!
Never mind.
Just ignore me.
The pregnancy hormones are making me insane.
Good-bye.
Have a good .
.
.
meeting.”
she shrieked, interrupting him.
“Don’t you say it!
Not like that!
Never mind.
Just ignore me.
The pregnancy hormones are making me insane.
Good-bye.
Have a good .
.
.
meeting.”
She hung up before he could say anything more, then turned off her phone in case he tried to call her.
“Well, as long as I’m making a mess of my life, I might as well go share my gloom,” she said, a sense of righteousness filling her as she stomped out to the living room.
She glared at all the offending pieces of furniture made of leather, black glass, and gleaming silver.
She glared at all the offending pieces of furniture made of leather, black glass, and gleaming silver.
“Mrs.
Avrabos?”
she yelled, her hands on her hips as she stood in the center of the room.
Avrabos?”
she yelled, her hands on her hips as she stood in the center of the room.
“Yes?
You wish something?”
the housekeeper emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a little towel.
You wish something?”
the housekeeper emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a little towel.
“I want movers in here this afternoon.
Tell them to take everything out of here, every single piece of furniture, every lamp, every picture, every postmodernistic piece of crap artwork.”
Tell them to take everything out of here, every single piece of furniture, every lamp, every picture, every postmodernistic piece of crap artwork.”
The housekeeper gave a confused look around the room.
“You want the things .
.
.
removed?”
“You want the things .
.
.
removed?”
“Yes, I do.
Each and every item here offends me on a personal level that I can’t begin to describe.
They blight my existence.
I want them gone in the next three hours.
I am going to take a bath and then see the doctor, and when I get back, this room had better be empty.”
Each and every item here offends me on a personal level that I can’t begin to describe.
They blight my existence.
I want them gone in the next three hours.
I am going to take a bath and then see the doctor, and when I get back, this room had better be empty.”
Mrs.
Avrabos nodded, watching with an open mouth as Harry charged down the hall toward the bedroom, pausing at Theo’s room to yell, “You’d better be sober when you get home, Theo, because if you get drunk again, I’ll lay you out so you won’t ever get up.”
Avrabos nodded, watching with an open mouth as Harry charged down the hall toward the bedroom, pausing at Theo’s room to yell, “You’d better be sober when you get home, Theo, because if you get drunk again, I’ll lay you out so you won’t ever get up.”
Mrs.
Avrabos wondered to herself if the
kyria
knew Theo had left, then decided that it really didn’t matter.
She would enjoy seeing the Kyrie’s face when he came home to find his living room gone.
Avrabos wondered to herself if the
kyria
knew Theo had left, then decided that it really didn’t matter.
She would enjoy seeing the Kyrie’s face when he came home to find his living room gone.
“He loves me, dammit!”
she heard Harry yelling from the bedroom.
“I know he does!
He can just bloody well get with the program and tell me!”
she heard Harry yelling from the bedroom.
“I know he does!
He can just bloody well get with the program and tell me!”
Mrs.
Avrabos smiled.
She remembered the first few months of her marriage.
She recalled doing a little shouting of her own, then.
It was the way of things.
Avrabos smiled.
She remembered the first few months of her marriage.
She recalled doing a little shouting of her own, then.
It was the way of things.
Harry said several rude things to no one in particular as she stripped off her clothes and turned on the tub with the wonderful jets that would help relax some of the tension she felt simmering along her skin like electricity.
Mikos was waiting for her when she was once again dressed.
She nodded to the three men in overalls who were in the process of moving furniture out of the living room, saying nothing to Mrs.
Avrabos but that she wanted pizza for dinner, and she didn’t particularly give a damn if Iakovos didn’t like it.
She nodded to the three men in overalls who were in the process of moving furniture out of the living room, saying nothing to Mrs.
Avrabos but that she wanted pizza for dinner, and she didn’t particularly give a damn if Iakovos didn’t like it.
Her scan was amazing.
She could actually see the twins as individual babies now, tucked away safe as they waited in her belly.
She was overwhelmed by the thought of them, overjoyed that they were healthy, and furious at the man who had given them to her because he wasn’t there to see them.
She could actually see the twins as individual babies now, tucked away safe as they waited in her belly.
She was overwhelmed by the thought of them, overjoyed that they were healthy, and furious at the man who had given them to her because he wasn’t there to see them.
She had the technician save a copy of the video for her on a DVD, which she asked Mikos to drop off at the office after he took her home.
She ate her pizza in solitary grandeur, occasionally glancing at the text from Iakovos.
Late meeting.
Don’t wait dinner.
The bastard.
Late meeting.
Don’t wait dinner.
The bastard.
She fell asleep immediately after eating, and was only dimly aware of Iakovos stroking her back later, asking her if she was hungry.
“Just tired,” she said, trying to find a position that was comfortable.
He helped adjust pillows under and around her belly until she could relax again.
She woke up in the middle of the night, her bladder about ready to burst, Iakovos sound asleep next to her.
He helped adjust pillows under and around her belly until she could relax again.
She woke up in the middle of the night, her bladder about ready to burst, Iakovos sound asleep next to her.
She stared at his face for a minute, wondering if she would ever get tired of looking at him.
He was so beautiful—how could any woman resist him?
And did she really want to spend the rest of her life worrying about what woman was sharpening her claws in an attempt to get them into him?
He was so beautiful—how could any woman resist him?
And did she really want to spend the rest of her life worrying about what woman was sharpening her claws in an attempt to get them into him?
“Yes,” she said, brushing a bit of hair back off his brow.
“But you could be a little less perfect, you know.
You could get a beer belly.
You could grow a wart on the end of your nose.
You could snore.”
“But you could be a little less perfect, you know.
You could get a beer belly.
You could grow a wart on the end of your nose.
You could snore.”
He didn’t wake up, just made a comfy noise when he turned his face into where her hand was stroking his hair.
It was a little noise, a wordless, brief expression of comfort, something he probably never in a million years knew he was making, but it went straight to her heart.
No man could make that noise and not mean it.
It was a little noise, a wordless, brief expression of comfort, something he probably never in a million years knew he was making, but it went straight to her heart.
No man could make that noise and not mean it.
“You love me,” she said, pressing a little kiss to his head before sliding carefully off the bed so as not to wake him.
She visited the bathroom, then suddenly hungry, went out to the kitchen and made herself three sandwiches, all of which she ate while sitting on the patio, staring out into the warm Greek night.
She visited the bathroom, then suddenly hungry, went out to the kitchen and made herself three sandwiches, all of which she ate while sitting on the patio, staring out into the warm Greek night.
Iakovos stood next to the bed the following morning, looking down at his wife as she slept, snoring gently into his pillow, which she had confiscated at some point during the night.
That was a regular occurrence of late—frequently he woke up to find himself pillowless, and Harry draped over every available pillow on the bed, her face buried in his.
That was a regular occurrence of late—frequently he woke up to find himself pillowless, and Harry draped over every available pillow on the bed, her face buried in his.
He stroked her cheek, so soft, so sweet, and wondered why she had chosen yesterday to storm.
Something had set her off, that much was clear, but just what it was eluded him.
A brief conversation with Mikos had determined that at some point during the day, something upset her, but Mikos had no idea what it was, either.
Something had set her off, that much was clear, but just what it was eluded him.
A brief conversation with Mikos had determined that at some point during the day, something upset her, but Mikos had no idea what it was, either.
It was probably the upcoming birth.
No doubt she was annoyed that he had been forced to miss going with her to the doctor.
She hadn’t even called him to tell him about the scan, nor had she put a note in with the DVD Mikos delivered.
But Harry wasn’t the type to remain silent when angry, and she knew he was trying to get through a couple of ticklish deals.
No doubt she was annoyed that he had been forced to miss going with her to the doctor.
She hadn’t even called him to tell him about the scan, nor had she put a note in with the DVD Mikos delivered.
But Harry wasn’t the type to remain silent when angry, and she knew he was trying to get through a couple of ticklish deals.
Perhaps it was the language barrier.
Although they had been attending prenatal classes, he had to translate all the instructions for her, and he knew it was frustrating to her.
Maybe she was just stressed by all of that.
He would insist that she hire an assistant of her own.
He couldn’t spare Dmitri right now, when negotiations were so critical, but there was nothing to stop her from getting her own assistant to help with things until she learned enough Greek to get around.
Although they had been attending prenatal classes, he had to translate all the instructions for her, and he knew it was frustrating to her.
Maybe she was just stressed by all of that.
He would insist that she hire an assistant of her own.
He couldn’t spare Dmitri right now, when negotiations were so critical, but there was nothing to stop her from getting her own assistant to help with things until she learned enough Greek to get around.
“Harry.”
“Nrf.”
He smiled and stroked his fingers down the velvety softness of her upper arm.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Harry?”
“Is there something you want to tell me, Harry?”
She opened her eyes, blinked to get him in focus, and frowned.
“What?”
“What?”
“The living room.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, one of his hands on her belly.
He loved touching it, loved feeling the occasional kicks and movements of the babies.
He sat on the edge of the bed, one of his hands on her belly.
He loved touching it, loved feeling the occasional kicks and movements of the babies.
“What are you talking about?”
she asked, groggy from being woken out of a deep sleep.
She blinked at him a couple more times.
“You must be going to work.
You’re in another one of those gorgeous suits.”
she asked, groggy from being woken out of a deep sleep.
She blinked at him a couple more times.
“You must be going to work.
You’re in another one of those gorgeous suits.”
He looked down at the navy suit.
She’d given it to him for his birthday, saying that when he wore it with his hair swept back off his brow, his beautiful eyes, and perfect face, he looked like a model headed for a Paris runway.
“I have to leave for work, yes.
The living room, Harry?”
She’d given it to him for his birthday, saying that when he wore it with his hair swept back off his brow, his beautiful eyes, and perfect face, he looked like a model headed for a Paris runway.
“I have to leave for work, yes.
The living room, Harry?”
“What about it?”
“It appears to be gone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, falling back into the nest of pillows.
“Rooms don’t just disappear.”
“Rooms don’t just disappear.”
“They do if you call up movers and demand they take everything out of them.”
A memory of her brainstorm the previous day obviously returned, for Harry struggled to sit up.
He slid an arm behind her, helping her upright.
“Oh.
That.
I .
.
.
er .
.
.”
He slid an arm behind her, helping her upright.
“Oh.
That.
I .
.
.
er .
.
.”
“I know you’re anxious for Patricia to redecorate, but don’t you think we should have new furniture before you move the old out?”
he asked with a little smile.
he asked with a little smile.
The look she gave him was almost stricken.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.
I’ll have everything put back.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.
I’ll have everything put back.”
“There’s no need.
I’m having that done this morning.”
He stroked her cheek again.
“Are you feeling well?”
I’m having that done this morning.”
He stroked her cheek again.
“Are you feeling well?”
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