The Greek's Pregnant Lover (13 page)

“Yes.” And he had always appreciated that.

“Are you okay?”

“Naturally.” A simple conversation with his mother and her husband wasn’t about to disconcert him. Although, maybe there hadn’t been anything simple about that phone call.

“You are the most amazing man, do you know that?” The warm approval in Piper’s voice washed over him.

“You’ve said something to that effect before.”

“Well, I mean it even more now,” she assured him.

“You are good for my ego, even if I do not understand why you are so impressed.”

“It took a lot to forgive your mom and her husband.”

“I forgave them a long time ago.” A man could not afford to expend the energy to maintain anger and hatred when he was building a new life for himself. “I simply did not trust them to be a positive part of my life. You have convinced me to give them a chance.”

“I love you, Zephyr.”

“Thank you.”

She laughed. “You are welcome. I still say it takes a big man to overlook the sins of the past and forge new relationships in the present.”

“I am glad you think so.” He liked looking heroic in her eyes.

“So, our families are all going to be there. Tell me you got the church booked.”

“Since we were flexible what day of the week we would be married, it was no problem. My secretary is booking your family’s flights even as we speak. They will all arrive over the weekend, which will give them time to take in some sights before our wedding blessing on Thursday evening. We will fly over to Greece with Neo and Cass on the company jet after their wedding on Sunday.”

“I’m still having trouble taking in the fact we’ll be married in just over two weeks. In Greece, just like I dreamed.”

“It is what you wanted.” And what he had wanted for himself as well.

“So you made it happen.”

“If a little unorthodox in my methods.”

They had discovered that having the actual wedding in Greece required a lot of paperwork that would extend the date for their ceremony further out than they wanted. Neo had suggested a civil ceremony in Seattle followed by a blessing in Greece, for their families to attend. When Piper agreed, Zephyr had insisted on coordinating both events immediately.

“I kind of like it this way. The legal ceremony is private, just for us, and our families get to share in the communal blessing.”

“As long as you are content so am I,” Zephyr responded.

“Just keep saying stuff like that.”

She was always so positive and it had only gotten better since they decided to get married. A man could be forgiven for being impressed with his own acumen in choosing such a woman to marry.

“How goes the great search for a dress?”

“Splendidly, thank you. I found the absolutely most perfect one ever online. The designer is shipping it to a downtown bridal shop in case any alterations are needed.”

“Good.”

“It’s going to cost more than the GNP of a small country.” He could tell she was striving to feel guilty and failing miserably. She must
really
love the dress.

“I do not care.” He wanted everything perfect for her and he was only grateful she did not want a huge event that would require months of planning. Months in which she could change her mind about marrying him.

Or, God forbid, lose the baby and destroy his chances of getting her to marry him at all.

“So you said.” She sighed happily. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.”

“Are you sure we aren’t rushing?”

Something clenched in his gut. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No! Not at all.”

Okay, so that was good. “Have you changed your mind about walking down the aisle with a noticeable bump?”

“Definitely not.”

“Then we are not rushing things, we are simply being expedient.”

“Right. Um, Art called a little bit ago.”

Was that what had prompted her uncertainty? If so, was it because old feelings for her ex had resurfaced, or was it because seeing him made her question her decision-making skills when it came to marriage? “What did he want?”

“It finally sank in what you said about us getting married.”

“He is not invited.” Forgiving his family was one thing, her ex was a bridge too far.

“He wasn’t angling for an invitation, well not entirely.”

“That man has no shame.” And even less business sense.

“And you don’t even know the main reason he called.”

But it wasn’t hard to figure out. “Let me guess. He wanted a loan?”

“Yes! How could he?”

“For a man like him? Very easily.”

Piper made a sound of disgust that transferred more than adequately over the cell phone. “I suppose so, but there was a time, and I find this really hard to accept now without considering myself an idiot, only I loved that man—or at least the man I believed him to be.”

“He has feet of clay.”

“His whole body is clay, if you ask me.”

Okay, so definitely not resurrected tender feelings. Zephyr could afford to be generous. “Do you want me to bail his company out?”

“Would you, if I did?” she asked, sounding more curious than anything.

“Yes.”

“You didn’t even hesitate.”

“I want you to be happy.”

“Even if I wanted you to do it, giving Art a loan would just be throwing good money after bad. Most of his best designers have left the firm because of creative or financial difficulties. I suggested moving to smaller offices when I still worked at the firm, but he liked the ‘grand’ impression the space made on clients, the illusion that the firm was bigger than it was. He’s still paying rent on prime New York commercial real estate much bigger than he needs.”

“He doesn’t want to acknowledge his poor choices and the effect they’ve had on his company.”

“He never did. As for all the employees that would be out of work, I made a few phone calls. Along with learning his best designers had left Très Bon, I discovered he’s mostly been staffing with temporary interns since the year after I left. He always was more about appearances than substance.”

“So, no loan?”

“No loan,” Piper confirmed.

“I am sorry.”

“So am I, for the people who do rely on Très Bon for their
livelihood and for his uncle, who is still living. Old Mr. Bellingham has to watch his company fall apart, but then he could have stepped back into the picture at any time. He gave acting control to Art, but never signed over his ownership of the company.”

“So, your ex is
not
an issue between us.”

“I told you he wasn’t.”

“You had feelings for him a long time after the divorce,” he reminded her.

“You’re right, but I got over him. With your help.”

He didn’t have to ask himself why that knowledge was so satisfying. “Where are we sleeping tonight?”

“My place. The movers are going to be there in the morning to pack me up.”

“I look forward to sharing the same home.” And for the first time, his penthouse apartment would be a home with her living there.

The move went smoothly and Piper was surprised at how easily her things integrated into Zephyr’s apartment. It helped that he gave her carte blanche on the décor and over what furniture stayed and what had to go.

That could have made her feel like he didn’t care how their home together took shape, but he noticed every change. And commented on it in some positive way. He’d just got through telling her how he liked the way her curtain scarves brought a splash of color to that side of the living room.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” he demanded.

“Like what?”

His eyes narrowed and she wondered if he’d say it. She knew what was in her eyes right now: love, adoration and even a bit of hero worship.

He was so perfect for her.

“Like I am the perfect man.” Ah, he got it.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“No one is perfect, Piper.”

“True, but then you don’t have to be perfect for me to love you. You just have to be
perfect for me
. And you are.”

He looked unconvinced, but he did not argue. “Did your dress arrive?”

“Yes.”

“Who is the designer?”

“I’m not telling.” His curiosity was cute, but if she told him that, he would be
so
offended. “You’ll have to wait until our wedding blessing in Greece before you get to see me in all my glory.”

“You aren’t going to wear it for the civil ceremony?”

“Nope.” She enjoyed teasing him about it. Who would have thought Zephyr Nikos would be so naff that he wanted to know what her wedding dress looked like? And he said he wasn’t sentimental.

Right.

“I suppose you’ll wear one of your work outfits to the courthouse, it being a weekday morning.”

“I suppose you’ll see when you get there.” She adjusted the angle of the silk and bamboo screen she’d put in the corner.

“I don’t plan to wear a blindfold on the way there.”

“And I don’t plan to spend the night in our apartment on Thursday.”

That got his attention, and not in the fun way. “What? Why not?”

“Tradition.”

“But…” He let his voice trail off, thought for a second and then gave her an immovable look. “Fine, but that tradition only gets one airing, do not think you are going to sleep anywhere but in our bed every night thereafter.”

“Duly noted.”

“I mean it, even the night before the wedding blessing in Greece.”

She laughed. “Fine, but I’m leaving our bed early in the
morning and you’re not going to see me until I walk down the aisle of the church again later that day.”

“That is acceptable.”

“I’m glad you approve.” She sashayed over to him and wound her arms around his neck. “I know we’re in a rush but I want to observe all the traditions that are important to you and me.”

He pulled her in close. “No problem, just remember, no doubling up on traditions because we’re having two ceremonies.”

“But some traditions are worth doing twice, like the part where the officiant says, ‘You may kiss the bride.’ And I think having two wedding nights could be earthshaking. I even bought two different sets of sexy lingerie.” She gave him her best fake disinterested look. “I suppose I could take one of them back.”

Over her dead body.

“Let’s not get hasty.”

“So, you think—”

“That two wedding nights are worth two wedding ceremonies and all that entails.”

She grinned up at him triumphantly.

“Except the sleeping apart thing. That’s a one-time event.”

“Agreed.” It wouldn’t be the same after the civil ceremony anyway.

Her family and his might not know they were already legally wed when they arrived in Greece, but she would.

“So, where are you going the night before our ceremony?”

“Cass invited me to stay with her and Neo. We’re taking the limo to the courthouse. Neo is driving you.”

“You’ve got it all planned, do you?”

“Any objections?”

“I could do without a night alone in an empty bed.”

“You’ll survive just fine.” She gave him a small peck on the lips.

He returned it with interest before saying, “So you say. I probably won’t sweep a wink.”

“You’d better. I expect a wedding night to remember.” As if he could give her anything but.

“
Every
night we spend together is one to remember.”

“You know, for a man who staunchly denies any sense of romance, you do mushy awfully well.”

“T
HE
truth is not sentimental.” Zephyr tried to look offended, but he was obviously pleased. Even if he didn’t want to be.

“Whatever you say. I’m just glad I’m getting such a romantic guy to spend the rest of my life with.”

Now, he was looking worried. “I don’t do hearts and flowers, Piper. You know me better than that.”

“Sometimes, I think I know you better than you know yourself.” She could tell right away she shouldn’t have said that aloud.

If Zephyr were a dog, his hackles would be at full attention. For a billionaire tycoon, he did a pretty fair imitation. “Like you knew Art?”

She understood where the question came from, but it still hurt. “I thought I knew my ex, but it turned out I only saw the man he wanted me to, until his whole facade came crashing down.”

And she felt pretty gullible acknowledging that, but seeing Art again in person had made her realize just how much of who she thought he was had been a result of her imagination and his acting ability.

“You say you love me, but you have made me into some kind of superhero in your mind. What happens when you see me for the man I really am, unsentimental, ruthless tycoon and all?”

“First of all, I do see you for who you are, Zephyr Nikos.” No matter how naive she had been with her ex, she hated that
Zephyr thought her judgment regarding him could be skewed. It was not the same at all. It wasn’t. “We were friends before we were lovers,” she reminded him. “I’ve seen you in every aspect of life from your most impatient day on the job to the moment when you realized your mom didn’t give you up without immense regret.”

“So?”

Sheesh, did he really think stuff like that didn’t matter? But then not loving her, maybe it didn’t to him. “So, I know you can be ruthless, but I also know you aren’t obsessed with revenge. If you were, you would have done something to your mother’s husband, but you never did. You bought them a house, put his children through school. You never did a single thing to hurt him. You’re just not
that
ruthless.”

“But I am.”

“Oh, really?”

“You are being deliberately obtuse.”

She pulled away from him, crossed her arms and glared. “No, that would be you.”

“Is this our first fight?” he asked, as if the concept amused him.

She was not laughing. “No. We argued before.” He was too fond of getting his own way for even their friendship to have been all smooth sailing.

And maybe so was she.

“Not since we got engaged.” He tugged her toward the couch.

She put up token resistance, but grudgingly allowed herself to be maneuvered into a spot beside him. She refused to sit on his lap, however, and kept her arms crossed. “Considering how recent that is, that’s not saying much.”

“You said first of all.”

“So?”

“That implies you have more to say on the subject. You might as well get it all out now.”

Her first reaction was to accuse him of fishing, but then she
realized this whole discussion might have taken the turn it did because he needed reassurance. And no way would Mr. Arrogant Alpha think to simply ask for it.

If Zephyr needed reassurance, she was happy to give it to him. Even if he was being more than a little annoying, but it was odd how she had told him she loved him and he was the one needing proof.

She was the one marrying a man who had told her he could not love her, and she had no fears she was not doing the right thing for her. Almost no fears. All right. Fine.
No fears she was willing to give voice to
. But what woman in her situation wouldn’t be at least a little nervous?

“Maybe you aren’t sentimental by nature, but you are just sappy enough for me, all right? You may not see yourself as romantic, but the way you are with me, the things you say and do, are all I ever wanted in that department. Art
pretended
to be the kind of man I could love. You are that man. You don’t pretend to be anything. In fact, you are almost brutally honest at times.”

“And that does not give you pause?” His tone doubted her sanity.

She did her best not to take offense. “No. Trust comes hard for me now. Knowing just how unwilling you are to lie, even when a lie would serve you well, is a great comfort to me. I
know
I can trust you, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that to a man I loved again.”

“What is love without trust?”

“I don’t know.” Why didn’t he ask her something easy like what the meaning of life was, or something? “I’m not a philosopher. I never pretended to be. All I know is that I do love you. I do trust you because of who you are. And nothing is going to change the way I see you. So, you might as well get used to it.”

“I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

“Not if you still want to marry me.”

“That is never up for discussion.”

“Good.”

“Can we progress to the makeup sex now?” he asked with a leer that should have irritated her. But it just made her laugh. She uncrossed her arms. “I think maybe we can.”

They were soaking in a bubble bath after a tender session of lovemaking that had wrung every ounce of emotion and pleasure from her.

“I thought makeup sex was supposed to be all hot, sweaty and urgent.”

“We have that without the lively discussions beforehand.”

“True.”

“Besides, I do not like to fit the stereotypes.”

“No worries there. You are very much your own man, Zephyr.”

“And you are a very special woman, Piper Madison.”

“Be careful, you’re sliding into sentimentality there.”

“Then perhaps this is the ideal moment to do this.”

“This?”

But he was leaning over the side of the oversized tub, reaching for something, and did not answer. When he straightened, there was a dark blue ring box with a white satin bow around it in his hand. There was no mistaking the signature look. He’d been shopping at Tiffany.

“Zephyr?” she asked in a voice that would not come out above a whisper in her suddenly dry throat.

He looked directly into her eyes, his espresso gaze both serious and warm. “Piper Madison, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

He went blurry as happy tears filled her eyes and made her vision watery. “You know I will.”

He took a gorgeous diamond-and-platinum engagement ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. “Every woman deserves a proposal before marrying.”

“Thank you,” she said in a choked voice.

“I knew you were going to go gooey on me.”

She laughed. “That’s me. Gooey.”

“And incredibly sweet.”

She swiped the water from her eyes. “I do love you.”

“Wait until you see what I had done to the wedding rings.” She grabbed for the box but he held it above his head. “No, no, no…not until the ceremony.”

“You’re just getting me back for my wedding gown.”

“You yourself said I am not obsessed with revenge. I am merely revering tradition.”

“You are revering a chance to keep me in suspense.”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“You…”
She launched herself at him.

He tossed the box before accepting her weight as he wrapped his arms around her.

With frequent looks toward the street, Zephyr paced the landing at the top of the courthouse steps. He tugged at the neck on the white dress shirt he wore with the ring in his pocket. His gaze skimmed toward the building.

Neo lounged against the wall and watched him with a smirk.

Zephyr glared over at his closest friend. “You just wait. Come Sunday at the front of the church,
you
won’t be so complacent.”

“No, but I won’t make a prat of myself pacing all over the sanctuary, either.”

“I’m expending excess energy.”

“And what do you call looking at your watch every thirty seconds? Checking the time?”

“They were supposed to be here five minutes ago.”

“Are you seriously worried Piper isn’t going to show up?”

“She wouldn’t even let me text her last night.” She’d said she wanted to observe the full tradition and he had indulged her.

He was an idiot.

Neo rolled his eyes. “Man, you have got it bad.”

Zephyr refused to answer that silliness. “What I have is six minutes past the hour on my watch.”

“And a bride arriving.”

Zephyr spun around and sure enough, the limo was pulling up in front of the courthouse. An unreasonable amount of relief washed over him for the amount of time she was actually late, but she had left him once, if only for a week. And Zephyr knew better than most how easy it was to leave behind someone you professed to love.

The driver double-parked and turned on his flashers. Zephyr sprinted down the steps to open the door before the driver got around the car to do it.

Cass came out first, wearing a bright pink suit and a huge grin. “Happy wedding day, Zee.”

“Thanks.”

She stepped past Zephyr as he looked at his bride. And Piper looked like a bride.

She was wearing a short veil and a white cocktail-length dress with layers and layers of chiffon in the full skirt. Her blue eyes sparkled with a happiness he never wanted to see dimmed.

She put her hand out to him. “Help a girl out?”

Something went
twang
in his chest as he tugged her out of the limo and straight into his arms. Then, with a flip of her veil, he claimed her lips in a kiss he could no more have stopped than he could stop his own heartbeat.

The sound of honking horns and wolf whistles finally broke through to his consciousness and he reluctantly pulled back.

“I thought the kiss was supposed to come after the ceremony?” Cass teased.

Neo laughed. “We expatriate Greek tycoons do things our own way.”

Piper looked up at Zephyr with passion glazed eyes. “I like the way you do things.”

“Good. I have become set in my ways.”

“You’re a traditionalist with a twist.” She sighed happily. “I like it.”

“I like what you are wearing.” She was right he was a traditionalist. He was more than a little pleased she had taken the effort to look like a bride for their legal ceremony. And such a beautiful bride.

She gave him a mischievous smile. “Wait until you see what I’ve got on under it.”

He swore. “Do not say things like that.”

“Why not?” she asked, all innocence.

“I do not fancy getting married with an erection in my pants.” But he wasn’t sure it was going anywhere, even if she refrained from all further naughty comments. He found the bridal look unbearably sexy on her.

“I can do that to you?” she asked teasingly.

“You know you can.” Too damn easily.

“I’ll try to be good.”

“Not too good,” he couldn’t help saying as they headed up the steps arm in arm.

The ceremony was short and to the point. All the pomp and circumstance was being reserved for the church blessing in Greece.

So, the sense of profundity choking Zephyr as he signed the marriage certificate was totally unnecessary. However, it did not go away even as he handed the pen to Piper. Her hand trembled as she signed her own name and he didn’t feel quite as foolish. This was a life-altering moment, after all.

They were now legally man and wife. She was his as no one had been since the day he walked through the children’s home’s doors.

He pulled her to him. “Is it time for the kiss now?”

“Yes, I do believe it is.”

He tilted his head down and she met him halfway. Their lips met and clung in a kiss of promise.

He pulled his head back. “Mine.”

“Yes, my personal caveman, I am yours. And you are mine.” Her soft smile said she didn’t mind his Neanderthal moments, but there was an emotion lurking in her azure eyes he did not understand. It was almost as if despite all her assurances to the contrary, linking her life to his frightened her on some level.

“Are you two sure you and Neo aren’t blood brothers?” Cass asked with laughter. “You’ve got so many of the same primitive tendencies.”

“We are brothers in every way that counts,” Neo said with certainty.

Zephyr nodded his agreement.

“I guess that makes us sisters-in-law,” Piper said to Cass with a happy smile.

Cass looked down at her own engagement ring with a satisfied grin. “Come Sunday we will be.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me, too.”

“Right now, I’m looking forward to a champagne brunch back at the penthouse,” Neo said. “My housekeeper has promised a repast fit for the superrich tycoons we are.”

But it wasn’t the penthouse they ended up in. Neo’s housekeeper, Dora, was waiting for them in the lobby of the Nikos and Stamos Enterprises building, along with what looked like the majority of their employees. Big banners that read Congratulations Zephyr and Piper, and Congratulations Neo and Cassandra, hung on either side of the reception area. Blackclad waitstaff walked between groups of Stamos & Nikos Enterprises employees with black trays of food and silver trays of champagne.

Zephyr and Neo’s personal assistants were standing together in front of the reception area. “Congratulations!” they said in unison.

“Ms. Parks, you planned this?” Cass asked in shock.

“With the help of Mr. Nikos’s personal assistant and Mr.
Stamos’s housekeeper, yes.” The office automaton actually managed a smile for them all.

Dora rushed up and hugged first Neo and then Zephyr. “We wanted to do something to let you all know how pleased your employees are that you have both found personal happiness.”

Cass hugged the housekeeper back and kissed her cheek. “Thank you. This is really special.”

The older woman patted Cass’s arm. “And you only stay as long as you are comfortable. Everyone understands. You are among friends here.”

Several people who had gotten to know Piper when she worked on his projects came up to tell her how happy they were she’d finally made an honest man out of Zephyr. It was unreal. To hear them tell it, plenty of people realized there was something between them.

Of course, the sexual tension between them before they made love the first time had gotten pretty thick. And he hadn’t made much effort to hide their intimate relationship afterward.