The Greek's Long-Lost Son (6 page)

She had to do something immediately to help Ari, but what? Only one person had the power to make this right. For once it was beyond Stasio’s ability to fix, which was a revelation in itself.

While she rocked her son back and forth, her cell phone rang. The last thing she wanted to do was answer it, but it was probably the doctor.

“Let me see who it is.” She let go of him long enough to reach for her phone on the dresser.

She recognized the blank caller ID. It was Theo! She almost bit her lip all the way through before answering it. “Hello?”

“Stella?” The sound of his deep voice permeated
through her body to the soles of her feet. “I promised you I wouldn’t try to see Ari until after your vacation, but I need to see you tonight. Alone,” he added, sending a shock wave through her body. “I’m here in Palaiopolis at a small bistro called Yanni’s. I’m seated at a table on the terrace overlooking the water and will wait an hour for you to come.”

Stella’s pulse sped up. She’d been there once with Rachel, but it was a romantic spot meant for couples so she had never gone to that particular restaurant again. “I-is there something wrong?” she stammered.

“Yes. I’ll tell you when you get here.”

She shifted her weight nervously. “I don’t know if I can come without arousing suspicion.”

“It’s important.” After a slight pause, “While you’re thinking about it, I’d like to talk to Ari for a minute and tell him how much our outing meant to me yesterday. With Dax around I couldn’t say all the things I wanted to. Do you think he’d be willing to come to the phone or call me back? If he doesn’t want to do either, then I’ll leave it alone.”

Stella couldn’t believe the timing of his call or the reasons for it. But she heard something in his voice that sounded like he was anxious. “Just a minute and I’ll check.”

She put it down on the dresser and walked over to Ari. “It’s your father on the phone. He’d like to talk to you for a minute.”

That brought Ari’s head around. “What does he want?”

Her poor boy had been suffering all last night and today. She’d known it, but she hadn’t known about the jealousy.

“He said there are things he wanted to tell you but couldn’t because Dax was there. You don’t have to talk
to him now. He said you could call him anytime or not at all. It’s your choice, honey.”

He took a long time making up his mind before he walked over to pick it up.

She held her breath as he said a tentative hello.

At first it was a very one-sided conversation with Theo doing most of the talking. She thought it would end fast, but like every assumption she’d made since he’d come back into her life, he surprised her with the unexpected.

In a minute Ari grew more animated. He actually laughed at one point. Before the phone call, she hadn’t thought it possible. The call went on another five minutes.

All of a sudden he said, “Mom?”

“Yes?”

“Do I have to wait till our vacation is over to see my father again?”

How utterly incredible! She’d died and come back to life several times since Theo had returned to Athens. “What about Dax?”

“Dad says I can ask him to come with us if I want. It’s up to me.”

Amazing. Theo had taken the sword out of their son’s hand without knowing it. “Then it’s fine.”

Stella couldn’t believe she’d just said that, but after Ari had been honest with her just now, she was thankful tonight’s crisis had been abated by the only person who could help their son.

The fact that Theo was the cause of all the trouble in the first place hadn’t escaped her, but none of that mattered in light of Ari’s pain which seemed to have vanished at the sound of his father’s voice. She would call the doctor back and tell him everything was okay after all.

“Mom? Do we have anything planned for tomorrow?”

That soon?

“Nothing special.”

More conversation ensued before he walked over with her phone still in his hand. She waited for him to say something.

“Did you make plans?”

He made an affirmative sound in an offhand manner like it was no big deal, but the light in his brown eyes told her it was a very big deal.

“Mind filling me in first?”

“Dad’s going to fly us to Meteora at four o’clock. He says that’s where the monasteries are. We’re going to hike around until it gets dark. He’ll bring his telescope so we can look at the stars. Maybe we’ll see some UFOs.”

Stella could only marvel.

“It’s a good thing your aunt Rachel won’t know about this or she’d want to go with you.”

“Don’t worry. He said no women allowed this trip.” This trip? Theo was doing everything right. She could find no fault. “I’ve got to tell Dax.”

“Not yet,” she cautioned him. “You and I still need to talk for a minute first. Stay here.”

“Okay. Dad wants to speak to you again.” He handed her the phone.

“Theo?” she asked too breathlessly for her own ears.

“Ari’s response was more than I’d hoped for. It’s yours I’m counting on now. This time, however, I’m the one waiting for
you
to show up. Let’s pray no dark forces will prevent you from arriving.”

Before she could say anything, Stella heard the click. It echoed the thud of her heart.

“Mom? Do you think Aunt Rachel would let me borrow her photos of Mars some time? I want him to see them.”

“I’m sure she will.”

“When do you think I could ask her?”

“Honey? I was hoping we’d keep this from the family until after we go back to Athens. You know, until we’ve got things a little more settled.”

“Okay.”

“Ari? Listen to me. Your father’s here on Andros.”

His eyes lit up. “He is?”

“Yes. He says he has to talk to me about something very important before he flies back to Salamis. I…I told him I would try to meet him, but I need your help because I don’t want anyone else to know about it.”

“I won’t tell.”

“I know that, so what I’d like you to do is stay here in your room and get ready for bed. I’ll send Dax up to keep you company and you can tell him what your father has planned for tomorrow. In the meantime I’ll tell Rachel I need to do an errand and will be right back.”

“I wish I could go.”

“Not this time, honey. Your father and I have things we need to discuss alone. Can you understand that?” He nodded. “You’ll be seeing him tomorrow, right?”

His lips broke into a smile. “Yeah.”

Stella kissed him and hurried to her room for her purse. She didn’t dare change out of her pants and top she’d worn sailing. It might give her away.

“Rachel?” she said a minute later. Everyone was out by the pool eating. “Ari’s resting. I think he got too hot, but he’s feeling better now. Anyway, I’m running into town for some things he wants. I’ll be back shortly.” She turned to Dax. “When you’re through eating, Ari hopes you’ll come up.”

“I’m all finished,” he declared before darting away.

Glad everyone was preoccupied with the girls, Stella hurried out to her car and headed into town. On the way she phoned the doctor and told his receptionist that Ari was doing much better so the doctor didn’t need to call back.

Due to the tourists, she had to park a street away from Yanni’s. It was getting crowded. By the end of the evening, the night life would take over.

She hurried inside the bistro and told the hostess she was meeting someone out on the terrace. There was no sign of Boris, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t there.

The other woman showed her to Theo’s candlelit table on the terrace. With every step, she wished she’d been able to wear an evening dress at least. Especially when she saw him get to his feet wearing an expensive black silk shirt and gray trousers. He stood out from the other males, drawing feminine attention from every direction including that of the sultry hostess.

His black gaze swept over Stella with that old intimacy. When he helped her to be seated, she felt his hands caress her shoulders lightly, as if he couldn’t help himself. It took her back to another time when they hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other.

“You picked up a lot of sun today,” he whispered against her ear. “Your beauty radiates like a torch. Every man out here envies me.”

She tried not to react, but inside she was a quivering mass of emotions. Theo always did have that effect on her. Right now she was in danger of forgetting the chasm of pain separating them.

Once he was seated he said, “Since I knew you couldn’t be gone long from the villa, I took the liberty of ordering for us.”

Stella could hardly breathe for the way he was de
vouring her with his eyes. “You’re very sure of me, aren’t you.”

His gaze narrowed on her features. “I’m sure of what we felt for each other before we were tragically prevented from getting married. Nothing since that time has changed for me. I’m operating on the belief that deep down you still have feelings for me.”

She looked away while the waiter served them baked shrimp with garlic and onions. Theo remembered. It was one of their favorite dishes, accompanied by bread and a glass of house wine.

After their server had gone, she began to eat, realizing she was hungry. “This is delicious.”

“Like the shrimp we used to eat at the Blue Lagoon during our walks on Salamis.”

She reached quickly for the wine, wishing he wouldn’t remind her. “We don’t have much time. Why don’t you tell me what’s so important you had to see me tonight.”

He broke his bread apart. “I asked you here to let you know I want a relationship with you, not just Ari.”

The world reeled for a moment.

Theo had always been frank and direct. In that regard he hadn’t changed, but life had changed the situation. She had to keep her head. “If you’ll take a look around, Theo, there are any number of females who’d like to accommodate you given half a chance.”

A sly smile broke one corner of his compelling mouth. “What females? I only see Stella Athas, the girl who ruined all other women for me.”

“Theo…” her voice throbbed.

“You did, you know.” He cocked his head. “I saw a lot of women in New York and found every single one wanting. I’d hoped to meet someone who would make
me forget you, but it never happened. Believe me, if it had, I would have married her and stayed in the States.”

His words sent a shiver through her body. After seeing him again, after knowing what he already meant to Ari, the thought of him married to anyone else brought a fierce new pain to her heart.

“How many men have you known since me?” His deep voice had taken on a territorial quality.

“That’s none of your business.”

“How many, Stella? They must be legion.”

She stared at him through veiled eyes. “If you’re asking what I think you’re asking, the answer is none.”

“But not for want of trying?” He lifted the last of the wine to his lips.

“I’ve been too busy raising Ari.”

His jet-black gaze seemed to gleam in the flickering light. “You’ve done a superb job.”

“Thank you.” She couldn’t handle this conversation any longer. After putting her napkin down, she got up from the table. He didn’t make a move to stop her. “I have to buy a few items in town before I return to the villa. If I’m gone any longer, the family will wonder why.”

“We can’t have that, can we,” he drawled.

Theo knew she was worried about her family’s reaction to him being in her life again. It made her unable to sustain his glance. “I’ll have the boys waiting at four.”

“Come with us tomorrow.”

“No,” she blurted. She was in too deep already. Any more time spent in his company would confuse her even more. “Ari’s looking forward to being alone with you. Good night, Theo.”

After a few purchases she headed back to Stasio’s. On her way, she needed to figure out an excuse why she
and the boys would be gone from the villa tomorrow. She couldn’t say they’d be going on a drive around the island again.

By afternoon of the next day Stella had finally come up with a plan. She told the family they’d decided to take a long hike in the mountains. Afterward they’d get a big dinner at one of the restaurants in Batsi and see a film, thus the reason they’d be home late.

At four, when she drove into the paddleboat parking area with the boys, Theo was waiting for them in thigh-molding jeans and a creamy cotton crew neck sweater. He looked so striking her pulse ticked right off the charts.

He put his hands on the door frame next to her. She felt his gaze wander over her, missing nothing. The smell of the soap he used had a familiar tang, causing her to tremble. “We’ll be back at ten. Will you plan to join us for a light dinner afterward?”

“I don’t think so.” She looked at Ari who was still sitting next to her. “This is your night with your father.”

“But I want you to come, Mom.” He leaned closer and gave her a kiss on the cheek. On that note he got out of the car with Dax.

“You may be too tired to eat a meal that late. Why don’t we see what happens.”

“I’ll take that as a yes” came Theo’s low, smooth rejoinder before he put an arm around Ari’s shoulders.

Stella didn’t know her son, who laughed freely before the three of them hurried toward the waiting helicopter. She stared after them. Was that Theo’s first physical gesture of affection toward their son? If so, Ari appeared to welcome it.

The two of them seemed to be bonding before her very eyes. If things continued like this, then she had to face
the truth. Theo planned to be Ari’s father in every sense of the word, something Ari obviously wanted. That meant Stella needed to grow another skin to survive.

Last night he’d told her he wanted them to have a relationship, but she was terrified. Right now the lines were blurred because she had an undeniable fatal attraction to him. Stella feared that given more time, she’d be right back where she’d started—madly in love with Theo.

On a groan, she walked toward the little town of Batsi where she would while away the hours until their return. She heard the helicopter pass overhead. The sound caused her to quicken her pace so she wouldn’t think about the excitement she was missing by not being with them.