Greek Billionaires

Two billionaire brothers…brides wanted!

Gorgeous Greek brothers Akis and Vasso Giannopoulos have the world at their feet.

They have everything they need…except love.

Until their lives—and hearts!—are turned upside down when two feisty women arrive on their luxurious Greek island…

Akis meets his match—and the only woman who can discover the man beneath the suit and tie—in The Millionaire’s True Worth

And

Vasso finds the woman of his dreams, but dare she love him? Find out in A Wedding for the Greek Tycoon

Let Rebecca Winters whisk you away with this riveting and emotional new duet!

A Wedding for the Greek Tycoon

Rebecca Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

REBECCA WINTERS lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. They, plus her favorite vacation spots in Europe, often end up as backgrounds for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to e-mail her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.

To my wonderful grandsons, Billy and Jack.

These two brothers show a love and devotion to each other that touches my heart.

Contents

Cover

Greek Billionaires

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

August 9, New York City

THE BEARDED OLDER DOCTOR looked at Zoe. “Young woman. You’ve been cancer-free for eight months. Today I can say without reservation that it’s definitely in remission. We’ve already talked about the life span for recovering patients like you. But no one can predict the end of life for any of us.”

“I know,” she said as he continued to explain the survival expectancy statistics for patients like her. But she’d read about it all before and didn’t really listen. The adage to take it one day at a time and rejoice for another day of life was the motto around the hospital.

Zoe’s physical exam had gone without incident. Her labs looked great. But she would never outgrow her nervousness. Fear lurked in her that the next time she had to have a checkup, the cancer would have come back. She couldn’t throw it off.

The therapist at the center had given her a book to read about dealing with the disease once it had gone into remission. Depression bothered many patients who feared a recurrence and that was a problem they needed to deal with. Since Zoe was a prime example, she could have written that section of the book herself.

But for today she was filled with relief over the lab results. In fact she was so overjoyed with the news she had difficulty believing it. A year ago she’d been told she had a terminal case, but now... She looked at the doctor. “So what you’re saying is—it’s really gone.”

His brows furrowed. “Believe it, girl.”

She believed it for today, but it would come back.

“I’m pleased that the terrible fatigue you felt for so long is now gone. You seem much stronger physically and emotionally. Your therapist and I believe you’re ready to leave the center today if you wish.”

That was the news she’d been waiting for. She had plans and there was no time to lose.

“Here’s hoping that from now on you can live a normal life.”

Normal... It would never be normal when she knew the cancer would return. But she smiled at him. “How can I thank you for everything you’ve done for me?”

“You already have by working so hard to get well. You have a beautiful spirit and are an inspiration to the other patients here in the hospital. All the friends you’ve made here will miss you.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I’ll miss them more.” With this checkup behind her, she could put her plan into action.

“I doubt that.”

Zoe folded her arms to her waist. “My bill has to be astronomical. If it takes me the rest of my life, I’m going to pay back every cent of it.”

“It’s been taken care of by the generosity of the Giannopoulos Foundation Charity.”

“I’m aware of that.” So aware, in fact, she needed to thank the members of the Giannopoulos family personally and one day she would. “But everyone who works here is an angel, especially you. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve such care.”

When she’d been admitted to the hospital, she’d read the material given to every patient. The first time she’d gone to the chapel inside the hospital she’d read the plaque. It had been named for the Church of Agii Apostoli in Greece.

In honor of Patroklos Giannopoulos and his wife Irana Manos who survived the malaria outbreak on Paxos in the early l960s.

In honor of her brother Kristos Manos who survived the malaria outbreak and emigrated to New York to build a new life.

In honor of Patroklos Giannopoulos who died from lymphoma.

“I’m here by the grace of the foundation here in New York too,” the doctor reminded her. “It was established for Greek Americans with lymphoma who have no living family or means for the kind of help you’ve needed. There are some wonderful, generous people in this world. Do you have a place to go?”

“Yes. Father Debakis at the Sacred Trinity Greek Orthodox Church has taken care of everything. I’ve known him since I was young. Throughout my ordeal he’s been in constant contact with me. I owe him so much, and Iris Themis too. She’s from the humanitarian council at Sacred Trinity and has arranged to take me to their homeless shelter where I can stay until I find a job and a place to live. All I have to do is phone her at her office.”

“Splendid. As you know, you’ll need another checkup in six weeks, either here or at another hospital depending on what’s convenient. It will include a blood test and physical exam for lumps. But you can contact me at any time if you have concerns.”

Zoe dreaded her next checkup, but she couldn’t think about that right now. Instead she stood up to give him a hug. “Thank you for helping me get my life back. You’ll never know what it means.”

After she left his office, she hurried through the hospital and walked along the corridor that led to the convalescent center. She had a room on the second floor. Having lost her family, this had been her home for twelve months.

In the beginning, Zoe didn’t dream that she’d ever leave this place alive. At first the man she’d been dating had called her often, but the technology company Chad worked for transferred him to Boston and the calls grew fewer and fewer. She understood, but it hurt her to the core. Even if he’d told her he was crazy about her, if he could leave at the darkest moment of her life, then she couldn’t expect any man to accept her situation.

Though there were family friends from her old neighborhood who phoned her every so often, the inmates had become her choice friends. With all of them being Greek American, they shared stories of their family histories and had developed a camaraderie so strong she didn’t want to leave them. It was here that her whole life had passed before her.

Once inside her room, she sat down on the side of the bed and phoned Iris. They planned to meet in front of the convalescent center in a half hour. One day Iris and the priest would receive their crowns in heaven.

Zoe had emerged from her illness wanting to help people the way they’d helped her. College could wait. If she could go to work for the Giannopoulos Foundation, that was what she wanted to do. Of necessity Zoe would have to approach Alexandra Kallistos, the woman who managed this center, but any experiences with her were unsettling. The other woman was standoffish. Whether that was her nature, or if she just didn’t care for Zoe, she didn’t know.

Earlier today when they’d passed each other in the hall, Ms. Kallistos hadn’t even acknowledged her. Maybe it was because Zoe was taking up a bed someone else needed, but the therapist had insisted she still needed to be here. Because she’d lost her parents and required more time to heal mentally, the arrangements had been made for which Zoe would be eternally grateful.

Ms. Kallistos had an office at the hospital and was officially in charge. All the staff, doctors, nurses, therapists, lab workers, X-ray technicians, orderlies, kitchen help, volunteers and housekeeping people reported to her. She was a model of efficiency, but Zoe felt she lacked the bedside manner needed to make the inmates comfortable enough to confide in her.

Alexandra was a striking, brown-eyed, single Greek American woman probably in her early thirties. Her dark brown hair flounced around her shoulders. She wore fashionable clothes that made the most of her figure. But she seemed cold. Maybe that wasn’t a fair judgment, but the thought of approaching her for a position made Zoe feel uneasy.

If there was a problem, maybe Father Debakis would have better luck in bringing up the subject of Zoe working here.

August 10, Athens, Greece

Vasso Giannopoulos was nearing the end of the audits on the Giannopoulos Complex in Athens, Greece he co-owned with Akis, his younger married brother, when he heard his private secretary buzz him. He’d been looking over the latest inventories from their convenience stores in Alexandroupolis.

“Yes, Kyria Spiros?”

“Ms. Kallistos is on the line from New York. She’s calling from the hospital in New York, asking to speak to you or your brother. Do you want to take it, or shall I tell her you’ll call her back later? I know you didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“No, no. You did the right thing.” The Giannopoulos Hospital and Convalescent Center were located in Astoria. But why she would be calling when he was scheduled to meet with her tomorrow seemed odd. His head lifted. “I’ll speak to her.”

“Line two.”

He picked up the phone. “Alexandra? This is Vasso.”

“I’m sorry to bother you, Vasso. I thought I could catch you before you fly here. You’re very kind to take my call.”

“Not at all.”

“Everyone knows that you and your brother established the Giannopoulos Greek American Lymphoma Center here in New York several years ago. This is the fourth time that I’ve been contacted by a major television network to devote a piece to your lives.

“The managing director of the network wants to send a crew here to film the facility and interview some of the staff. More importantly they want to interview you and your brother for the featured documentary. I told him I would pass this along to you. I know you’ve turned them down before, but since you’ll be here tomorrow, would you be interested in setting up an appointment?”

Vasso didn’t have to think. “Tell the man we’re not interested.”

“All right. When can I expect you to arrive?”

“By two at the latest. I appreciate the call. Yassou.” As he rang off, Akis walked in the office. “Hey, bro. I’m glad you’re back. Alexandra just phoned. One of the networks in New York wants to do a documentary on us.”

“Again?” Akis shook his head. “They never give up.”

“Nope. I told her to tell them no.”

“Good. How soon are you leaving for New York?”

“I’m ready to head out now. I plan to meet with some of our East Coast distributors early in the morning. Then I’ll go over to the hospital and take a look at the books.”

“While you do that, I’ll finish up the rest of the inventories for the northern region. Raina will help. She’s a genius with accounts. You won’t have anything to worry about.”

“How’s her morning sickness?”

“It hardly ever bothers her now.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Before you leave, I have a question.” Akis eyed him with curiosity. “How did your evening go with Maris the other night?”

“So-so.”

“That doesn’t sound good. We were hoping she might be the one who brings an end to your bachelor existence.”

“Afraid not. She’s nice and interesting, but she’s not the one.” He patted Akis’s shoulder. “See you in a couple of days.”

Vasso hadn’t been dating Maris that long, but already he knew he needed to end it with her. He didn’t want to lead her on. But Akis’s comment had hit a nerve. Both of them had been bachelors for a long time. Now that Akis was married, Vasso felt an emptiness in his life he’d never felt before. His brother was so happy these days with his new wife and a baby on the way, Vasso hardly recognized him.

August 12, New York City

“Vasso!”

“How are you, Alexandra?”

The manager got to her feet. “It’s good to see you.”

“I walked through the hospital and convalescent center first. Everything seems to be in perfect order. My congratulations for running an efficient center we can be proud of.”

“Thank you. I know you’re busy. If you want to go over the books in here, I can order lunch to be brought in.”

“I’ve already eaten. Why don’t I look at the figures while you’re out to lunch? If I see anything wrong, we’ll discuss it when you get back.”

“All right. Before I leave, I wanted to tell you about a young woman who applied here for a job yesterday. I told her she didn’t have the education or background necessary for the kind of work we do at the center.

“Later in the day I received a phone call from Father Debakis at the Sacred Trinity Church here in Astoria. He knows this woman and finds her a very capable person. He wanted to know if he could go to someone higher to arrange for an interview. I wrote the priest’s number on my sticky note in case you want to deal with him.”

“I’ll take care of it now. Thanks for telling me.”

“Then I’ll leave and be back in an hour.”

“Take your time.” Vasso’s curiosity had been aroused by the mention of the priest. As she reached the door he said, “I want you to know my brother and I are very pleased and grateful for the work you do to keep this center running so smoothly.”

He heard a whispered thank-you before she left the office. Vasso phoned the number she’d left and asked to speak to Father Debakis. Then he sat back in the chair.

“It’s an honor to speak with you, Kyrie Giannopoulos. I’m glad Ms. Kallistos passed my message along. Since I don’t wish to waste your time, I’ll come straight to the point.” Vasso smiled. He liked brevity. “A very special twenty-four-year-old Greek American woman named Zoe Zachos here in Queens would like to work for your charity. I’ve taken it upon myself to approach you about it.”

“I understand Ms. Kallistos had reservations about hiring her.”

“When I spoke to her on Zoe’s behalf, she said this young woman doesn’t have the credentials and flatly refused to consider interviewing her for a position. I disagree strongly with her assessment and hoped to prevail on you to intercede in this matter.”

Vasso and Akis had flown to New York ten months ago to find a new manager after the old one had to give it up due to ill health. Alexandra had come to them with outstanding references and was the most qualified of all the applicants because she’d had experience working in hospital administration.

Akis, who’d been in business with Vasso from childhood, had flown to New York five months later to check on her. So far neither he nor Vasso had a problem with the way she’d been doing her work. She must have had good reason not to take the other person’s application.

“Obviously this is important to you.”

“Very.” Vasso blinked in surprise at the priest’s sobriety. “Perhaps she could be interviewed by you?”

He sat forward. “That isn’t our normal procedure.”

“Ah...” The disappointment in the priest’s voice wasn’t lost on Vasso, who’d been taught by his deceased father to revere a priest.

His black brows furrowed. “May I ask why you have such strong reasons for making this call?”

“It’s a matter of some urgency.”

The hairs lifted on the back of Vasso’s neck. After the priest put it that way, Vasso didn’t feel he could refuse him. “Tell me about her background.”

“I think it would be better for you to discover that information yourself.”

At this point Vasso was more than a little intrigued. In all honesty he found himself curious about the unusual request. “How soon could she be at Ms. Kallistos’s office?”

“Within two hours.”

“Then I’ll be expecting her.”

“Bless you, my son.” The priest clicked off while a perplexed Vasso still held the phone in his hand. For the next hour and a half he pored over the books. When Alexandra returned, he told her everything looked in order and listened to some of her suggestions to do with the running of the hospital.

During their conversation, a polite knock sounded on the closed door. He turned to Alexandra. “That would be Zoe Zachos. If you’ll give us a half hour please.”

After a discernible hesitation she said, “Of course.” She showed remarkable poise by not questioning him about it. He watched her get up and open the door. “Come in, Zoe,” she said to the blonde woman before she left them alone.

Zoe? That meant Alexandra knew her.

Vasso didn’t know exactly what to expect other than he’d been told she was twenty-four years old. He got to his feet as the young woman came into the office.

“Kyrie Giannopoulos?” she said, sounding the slightest bit breathless. “I’m Zoe Zachos. I can’t believe it, but somehow Father Debakis made this meeting possible.” In an instant a smile broke out on her lovely face. “You have no idea how grateful I am to meet you at last.”

Tears had caused her translucent green eyes to shimmer.

When she extended her hand to shake his across the desk, he saw a look of such genuine gratitude reflected in those depths, it reached places inside him he didn’t know were there.

“Please, Thespinis Zachos. Sit down.”

Her lissome figure subsided in one of the chairs opposite the desk. She was wearing a print blouse and khaki skirt, drawing his attention to her shapely body and legs below the hem. She had to be five-six or five-seven.

“I’m sure he told you that I’d like to work for your foundation.”

He felt an earnestness—a sweetness—coming from her that caught him off guard. “He made that clear.”

She clasped her hands. “When he spoke on my behalf with Ms. Kallistos, she said I didn’t have the kind of background she was looking for.”

“But Father Debakis feels that you do. Tell me about yourself. Why would you want to work for the foundation as opposed to somewhere else, or do another type of work entirely?”

“He didn’t tell you?” She looked surprised.

“No. He’s a man of few words.”

“But he makes them count,” she said with a smile that told him she’d had a running relationship with the priest.

Vasso agreed with her assessment. The priest had an amazing way of making his point. It had gotten Vasso to conduct this interview, which was out of the ordinary. “Why not start at the beginning, thespinis?”

She nodded. “I’ve been a patient here with non-Hodgkins lymphoma for the last year and was just released on the ninth of this month.”

A patient...

Knowing what that meant, he swallowed hard. Vasso had thought of several reasons for the possible conflict between the two women. He thought back to a year ago when another manager had to resign because of health issues. When they’d hired Alexandra, Zoe Zachos had already been a patient here. The two had seen each other coming and going for months. But it didn’t explain the problem that caused Alexandra to turn down Zoe’s request.

“I was thrilled to be told I was cured.”

The joy in her countenance was something Vasso would never be able to describe adequately. “That’s wonderful news,” he said in a thick-toned voice.

“Isn’t it?” She leaned forward with a light in those marvelous green eyes. “It’s all because of your family. The foundation you established literally gave me back my life!” The tremor in her voice resonated inside him.

He had to clear his throat. “To hear your testimonial is very gratifying, Thespinis Zachos.”

“There’s no way to pay you back monetarily. But I would love to work for you in some capacity for the rest of my life. I’m a good cook and could work in the hospital kitchen, or in the laundry, or give assistance to those convalescing. Give me a job and I’ll do it to the best of my ability. The trouble is Ms. Kallistos told Father Debakis that without a college degree and no experience in the health field, there was no point in interviewing me.

“She wondered if I might not be better suited to becoming a nun if I wanted to be of service to others.” A nun? “I’m sure she was just teasing. Father Debakis and I laughed over that. I’m hardly nun material. But I do want to make a difference.”

Vasso’s anger flared. Not so much at Alexandra as at himself and Akis. At the time they hired her, both he and Akis had decided she had the best credentials for the important position even if she was younger. But Vasso could see there was a great deal more to finding the right person for this particular job than what was put on paper. Since Zoe had been a patient here for such a long time, surely Alexandra could have shown a little more understanding.

“Whatever was said, you have a great advocate in Father Debakis. How did you come to know him?”

“My parents owned a Greek taverna and we lived in the apartment above it here in Astoria near the Sacred Trinity Church. Father Debakis was serving there when I was just a young girl and always took an interest in our family. If it hadn’t been for him, I’m not sure I’d be alive today.”

“Why do you say that?”

An expression of unspeakable sorrow brought shadows to her classic features, changing her demeanor. “A year ago I’d gone to a movie with some friends from the neighborhood. We walked home after it was over. It was late. My parents would have been in bed.”

She paused before saying, “When we got there, it looked like a war zone. Someone said there’d been an explosion. I ran towards the fire chief who told me an arsonist had planted a bomb in the back of the laundry next door to my parents’ taverna where I sometimes helped out part-time. Fire spread to the taverna’s kitchen. Everything went up in smoke. My parents died. So did the owners next door who’d run the laundry for many years.”

“Dear Lord.” Vasso couldn’t fathom it.

“Everything burned. Family photos, precious possessions, clothes—all was gone. I’ve always lived with my parents and worked in the restaurant kitchen to save money while I went to college. The scene was so horrific, I collapsed. When I came to, I was in the ER at the local hospital. Father Debakis was the first person I saw when I woke up.

“He told me the doctor had examined me and had discovered a lump in my neck.” Vasso saw her shudder. It brought out a protective instinct in him he hadn’t felt since he and Akis were on their own after their father died. Though Akis was only eleven months younger, their dying father had charged Vasso to look after his younger brother.

“Honestly, I’m still surprised I didn’t die that night. I wanted to. I was convinced my life was over. He, along with Iris Themis, one of the women on the church humanitarian council, wouldn’t let me give up.

“They are wonderful people who did everything to help me physically and spiritually in order to deal with my grief. The diagnosis of cancer added another level of despair. My parents and I had never taken a handout from anyone. For them to shower me with clothes and toiletries lost in the fire besides being there for comfort, meant I felt overwhelmed with their generosity.”

Vasso got up from the chair, unable to remain seated. Father Debakis had told him she was a very special young woman.

“Before the fire and my illness, I’d planned to finish my last semester of college to get my English degree. I’d even thought of going on to get a secondary school teaching certificate. Because I had to work at night and go to school during the day, my education had to be strung out.”

A sad laugh escaped her lips. “At twenty-four I would have been one of the oldest college graduates around, but the enormity of losing my parents this last year along with the lymphoma has changed my focus.”

“It would change anyone’s.” When Vasso’s father had died of the disease, the world he and Akis had grown up in was changed for all time. They’d adored their father who was too poor to get the medical treatment needed. As he slipped away from them, they’d vowed never to feel that helpless again.

He watched as she re-crossed her elegant legs. “While I was still at the hospital, I met with a cancer specialist who discussed my illness with me. My student insurance would only cover a portion of the costs. There was only a little money from my parents’ savings to add to the amount owing.

“With their insurance I was able to pay off my student loan. What I had left was the small savings in my bank account that wouldn’t keep me alive more than a couple of months. I was trapped in a black abyss when Father Debakis and Iris came to get me and bring me here.

“I was told the center existed to help Greek Americans with lymphoma who had few sources of income to cover the bulk of the expense. They took me into the chapel where I read what was written on the plaque.”

As she looked up at Vasso, tears trickled down her flushed cheeks. “At that moment I knew the Giannopoulos family truly were Samaritans. You just don’t know how grateful I am.” The words continued to pour out of her. “As long as I’m granted life, I want to give back a little of what your foundation has done for me. It would be a privilege to work for you and your family in any capacity.”

As long as I’m granted life.

What had Father Debakis said? It was a matter of some urgency.

Zoe Zachos’s revelations had left Vasso stunned and touched to the soul. He sucked in his breath. “Are you in a relationship with anyone?”

“I had a boyfriend named Chad. But he got a job offer in Boston around the time of the fire. I urged him to take it and he did. We’ve both moved on. So to answer your question, no, there is no special person in my life.”

Good grief. What kind of a man would desert her in her darkest hour?

“Where do you live right now?”

“I’m at the church’s shelter. I’m planning to find an apartment, but I hoped that if I could work at the center here, then I would look for a place close by.”

“Do you have transportation?”

“Yes.”

“And a phone?”

“Yes.” She drew it from her purse. “Iris will pick me up here as soon as I call her.”

He pulled out his cell. “Let’s exchange phone numbers.” After that was done he said, “Before the day is out you’ll be hearing from me.”

She got to her feet. “Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk to you. No matter what you decide, I’m thankful I was able to meet one of the Giannopoulos family and thank you personally. God bless all of you.”

All two of us, he mused mournfully. Four when he included Raina and the baby that was on the way.

After she left the office, Vasso went back to the desk and sat down to phone Akis. He checked the time. Ten o’clock in Athens. His brother wouldn’t have gone to bed yet. He picked up on the third ring.

“Vasso? Raina and I were hoping we’d hear from you before it got too late. How do things look at the center?”

He closed his eyes tightly. “Alexandra has everything under control. But something else has come up. You’re not going to believe what I have to tell you.” For the next few minutes he unloaded on his brother, telling him everything.

“When we created the foundation, it felt good. It was a way to honor Papa.” In a shaken voice he said, “But one look in her eyes taught me what gratitude really looks like—you know, deep down to the soul. I’ve never been so humbled in my life.”

“That’s a very moving story,” Akis responded in a serious tone. “What do you think we should do? Since Alexandra has made her opinion obvious for whatever reason, I don’t think it would work to create a position for Thespinis Zachos under the same roof.”

“I’m way ahead of you. What do you think if we hired her to work at the center on Paxos?”

He could hear his brother’s mind ticking away. “Do you think she’d be willing to relocate to Greece?”

“I don’t know. She has no family in New York, but she’s very close to Father Debakis and one of the women working for the Church’s humanitarian program.”

“What about a boyfriend?”

“Not at the moment. But I’m sure she has friends she met at college. There was the mention of friends she’d been out with the night of the fire.”

“She’s definitely one of the survivors of this world. What does she look like?”

How to describe Zoe Zachos...? “I can’t explain because I wouldn’t do her justice.”

“That beautiful, huh?” Akis knew him too well. After a pause, “Are you thinking of asking her if she’d like to move to Paxos?”

It was all he’d been thinking about since she’d left the office.

“Just be careful, Vasso. I know you inside and out. If she does take you up on your offer of a job, you’re going to feel responsible for her. Be sure that’s what you want.”

He lowered his head. Funny how circumstances had changed. Vasso used to be the one watching out for Akis. Now his little brother had taken over that role. It gave him a lot to think about, but there wasn’t time if he expected to phone her before nightfall. “I’ll consider what you’ve said. Yassou.”

On his way out of the office, Alexandra was just coming in. “You’re finished?”

“That’s right.”

She looked surprised. “Are you staying in New York tonight?”

“No. I’m flying back to Athens.” The beauty of owning a private jet meant he could sleep at night and arrive where he needed to be the next morning.

“I see. What have you decided about Ms. Zachos?”

“You were right. Her skills can best be used elsewhere.” Her bilingual abilities in English and Greek played only a tiny part of what she could bring to the job. “That’s what I’ll tell Father Debakis. Keep up the good work, Alexandra. My brother and I are relying on you.”

Relief broke out on her face. “Thank you. I hope the next time you come you’ll arrange to stay longer.”

Vasso nodded before leaving the center. After he got in the limo, he phoned the priest.

“Father? This is Vasso Giannopoulos. I’ve just come from the center and am pressed for time. Could I meet with you and Thespinis Zachos in your office ASAP?”

“That can be arranged. I’ll ask Kyria Themis to bring her immediately.”

“Excellent. In lieu of her parents who died in the fire, I look to you as someone who has her deepest interest at heart. I understand she has revered you from childhood. What I’d like to do is present an employment offer to her. I believe it’s vital that you are there so she can discuss it with you.” He paused, then said, “She regards you as her mentor.”

“She’s so grateful to everyone who helped her; her dearest wish is to work for your foundation. She lost everything. Now that she has survived, she wants to give back what she can.”

“After talking to her, I believe that’s true. I’ll see you soon.”

He hung up and asked the limo driver to take him to the Greek Orthodox Church a few blocks away.

CHAPTER TWO

ZOE DIDN’T KNOW what the meeting with the priest was all about. The incredible-looking man she’d met at the hospital earlier had told her he’d phone her before the day was out. Since leaving that office, she’d wondered if he’d really meant what he’d said.

But any concern in that department vanished the second she caught a glimpse of his black hair through the opening of the study door. Her pulse quickened for no good reason the second a pair of jet-black eyes beneath black brows zeroed in on her.

Both men stood when she walked in wearing the same skirt and blouse she’d worn earlier. She only had three or four outfits because no more was necessary living at the hospital. But now she needed to do some shopping for a wardrobe with the money she still had left in her bank account.

Over the years Zoe had been in the priest’s study many times with other people, but she’d never laid eyes on any man as gorgeous as Vasso Giannopoulos. The thirtyish-looking male possessed facial features and a hard-muscled body that were as perfectly formed as her favorite statue of Apollo she’d only seen in pictures. No other man could possibly compare.

Her first meeting with him had been so important, she hadn’t had the luxury of studying him the way she could now. He was probably six foot two and topped the priest by several inches, having an authority about him not even Father Debakis possessed. The dark gray suit toned with a lighter gray shirt gave him a rare aura of sophistication.

“Come in and sit down, Zoe. Kyrie Giannopoulos requested that I be in on this visit with you.”

“Thank you.” She found an upholstered chair next to the couch where he sat.

Father Debakis took his place behind the desk. He nodded to the younger man. “Go ahead and tell her why you’ve asked for this meeting.”

Vasso sat forward to look at her with his hands resting on his thighs. Her gaze darted to his hands. He wore no rings. “After you left the hospital, I phoned my brother to tell him about you and your situation. We would be very happy to have you come to work for the foundation, but the position we’re offering would be on the island of Paxos in Greece.”

Zoe decided she had to be dreaming.

“Have you ever been there?”

She shook her head. “No, though I did go on a two-week university tour to England right before the fire broke out. As for our family, we took trips up and down the East Coast and into French Canada.”

After a quick breath she said, “My great-grandparents left Florina in Macedonia to escape communism after the Greek Civil War and came to the US in 1946. It was in New York my father met my mother whose family were also refugees. They’d planned to take us on a trip back there for my graduation present, but it didn’t happen.”

“Maybe now it can,” he said. “The center here in New York is fully staffed, and it might be a long time before there’s a vacancy. But our center on Paxos has needed an assistant to the manager since the last one left to take care of a sick parent.”

Zoe could feel her pulse racing. “You’ve established another hospital?” That meant she wouldn’t have to work under Ms. Kallistos?

“Our first one actually. My brother and I have interviewed a number of applicants, but the manager hasn’t felt he could work with any of them.”

He? “What makes you think he would feel differently about me?”

“I have a feeling he’ll welcome you because you have one credential no one else has possessed to date. It’s more important than any college degree.”

Her heart was pounding too hard. “What’s that?”

“Compassion. You’ve lived through the agony of having been diagnosed with lymphoma, being treated for it and beating it. The year you’ve spent in the center here has given you the most valuable knowledge of what it’s like to know you have the disease, and to have survived.”

“Still, Ms. Kallistos said—”

“Let me finish,” he cut her off, not unkindly. “For that kind of learning experience, you’ve paid a terrible price. Yet it’s that very knowledge that’s needed to work with patients because you conquered the disease. Everyone in the hospital will relate to you and your presence alone will give them hope.”

“She does that at the hospital every day,” the priest inserted.

Her throat swelled with emotion. “What’s the manager like?”

“Yiannis Megalos served as a rear admiral in the Greek Navy before his retirement.”

A man who’d been an admiral. How interesting. “Then he must run a very tight ship.”

The smile he flashed turned her heart over. “He’s an old family friend and came to us about a position with the foundation after losing his wife to cancer, in order to work through his grief. In that respect you and he already share something vital in common by having a burning desire to help. I don’t need to tell you his organizational skills and his work with the wounded during his military career made him an excellent choice.”

“He sounds remarkable.”

“Yiannis is a character too,” he added on a lighter note. She felt his eyes travel over her. “If I have any concerns, it’s for you. Leaving New York to live in a new country is a huge decision to make. If you’ve got anyone special you don’t want to leave, that could prove difficult.”

She shook her head. “There’s no one.”

“Even so, you may not feel that you can uproot yourself from friends. It might be hard to leave those here at the church who’ve helped you. That’s why I wanted Father Debakis to be here in case you want to discuss this with him in private.”

“Of course I’ll miss everyone, but to be given a chance to work for your foundation means more to me than anything.”

“We can come to terms over a salary you’ll feel good about. You’ll need a place to live. But all of those matters can be discussed once you’ve determined that you want this position. Talk it over with Father Debakis. Take as long as you need.”

Zoe was so thrilled to have been offered a job it took a minute for her to comprehend it. She fought back her tears. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for this offer, not to mention the generosity of your family’s foundation.”

He got to his feet. Again she felt his scrutiny. “Be sure it’s what you want,” he warned in a more serious tone of voice. If she didn’t know anything else, she knew deep down this was what she wanted and needed. “In the meantime I have to fly back to Athens tonight. You can phone me when you’ve made your decision.”

Seize the moment, Zoe. “Before you leave, could I ask you a few more questions?”

“Of course.”

“What’s the weather like right now?”

“It’s been in the low eighties all summer and won’t drop to the seventies until later in September. Usually the night temperature is in the sixties.”

“It sounds too good to be true. Are there shops near the hospital to buy clothes?”

“The center is on the outskirts of the small seaside village of Loggos. There are a few tourist shops, but I’d suggest you do your shopping in Athens first.”

“Then that solves any problems I’ll have about luggage. I lost everything in the fire so I’ll replenish my wardrobe there.”

He paused in the doorway, looking surprised. “Does this mean you’ve already made up your mind?”

She eyed the priest then glanced back at the other man. “I can’t wait!”

“I can see you’re a woman who knows her own mind.” She thought his eyes might be smiling. “Under the circumstances, let’s go out for dinner where we can talk over details. I’ll drive you back to your shelter then leave for the airport.”

She turned to the priest. “Oh, Father Debakis... I’m so happy I could take flight.”

He chuckled. “I believe you could.”

* * *

Vasso knew he’d never forget this moment. It was a nice feeling to make someone happy. He smiled at the priest. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you.”

“And mine, Kyrie Giannopoulos. Bless you.”

“Shall we go, thespinis?”

After they walked out to the limo, he asked her to recommend a good place to eat.

Zoe swung around. “There’s a Greek diner called Zito’s a few blocks over. They serve lamb kebabs and potatoes so soft you can taste the lemon.”

That sounded good to him. He told the driver who headed there, then concentrated on the charming female seated across from him. “We need to talk about your travel arrangements. There are dozens of flights to Athens every day. Once we know the date, I’ll book a flight for you.”

“Thank you, but I’ll take care of that. This is so exciting, I can’t believe it’s happening.”

Her excitement was contagious. He hadn’t felt this alive in a long time. Once inside the diner they were shown to a table for two. The minute they were seated and Zoe ordered for them, she flicked him a searching glance.

“While I’ve got you here alone, I need your advice. If I were to take Kyrie Megalos a small gift from New York, what would he like?”

His lips twitched. “He collects naval memorabilia from all over the world.”

That gave her a great idea. “Thanks for the tip.”

“You’re welcome. Before any more time passes, I need to know about your financial situation.”

“I don’t have one. I’m broke.” A laugh escaped her lips, delighting him. “That doesn’t mean I have no money, but it wouldn’t be enough to keep me alive for more than a few months. That’s why I can’t wait to start work.

“When I look back, I’m pretty sure I know the reason why Ms. Kallistos didn’t want me to work there. I took up a bed in the center for eight months after my first cancer-free checkup. That’s because I was allowed to live in the hospital’s long-term facility for the last eight months and get therapy to help me with grief issues.”

Vasso surmised that was only one of the reasons Ms. Kallistos had problems with Zoe. No woman could compete with this female’s effervescent personality. Her reverence for life sucked you in.

“After the chemo and bone marrow transplant, I was given all the time there I needed to recover, for which I’m grateful. I don’t even have to wear a wig now. No one would ever guess that I’d once lost all of it.”

Without her blond hair that had a slightly windblown look, she would still possess stunning classic features. “You seem the picture of health. If a long stay at the center was what made the difference in your recovery, then I applaud the therapist’s decision.”

She nodded. “I finally got it out of my doctor that the therapist was worried about my recovery. Losing my parents was so horrendous I had gone into a deep depression, and he could see I needed counseling. That part was certainly true. I was an only child and way too connected to them at the hip. They were wonderful and worked so hard, I tried to do everything I could to help them. In one night my whole world evaporated.”

“That’s the way my brother and I felt when our father died of lymphoma. The world we knew had gone away. Luckily we had each other.”

“My therapist explained that if I’d had a sibling, it might have made a big difference. He made me realize why I had such a hard time letting them go. Grief hits everyone differently. In my case I was a twenty-four-year-old woman crying like a child for her parents. You don’t know how much fun they were. We were best friends.”

“Akis and I had the same relationship with our father.” Everything she told Vasso rang so true with him about his own life he had trouble finding words. “I’m glad the priest prevailed on me to interview you. He’s very persuasive.”

Another quick smile appeared. “He is that. The other day when the doctor saw me for my six-weeks checkup and told me I was still cancer-free, something changed inside of me. I didn’t want to stay there any longer and realized I’d come out of the worst of my depression. Father Debakis knew about my wanting to work for your foundation. So for you to give me a chance is like another miracle.” Her voice trembled. “Thank you for this opportunity. I promise I won’t let you down.”

“I’m sure you won’t.”

The waiter brought their food, but Vasso hardly noticed what he was eating because emotions got in the way of anything else. Their conversation had reminded him of the father he and Akis missed. Their dad had treated them like buddies. He had laughed and joked with them.

Vasso always marveled over how smart he was. Their father knew everyone and had taught them to treat other people with respect. That was how you got ahead. He and Akis remembered everything their father had told them.

She finished her meal before looking up at him. “Your money saved my life and it’s saving the lives of everyone at the hospital. Not just the patients, but the staff too. My oncologist is thrilled to be working there. You and your family have done more for others than you will ever know.”

“I hear you, Zoe. Now no more talk about gratitude. Because you’ll be living on Paxos, I know of several places you can rent. By the time you reach the island, I’ll have lined up some apartments for you to look at.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, but I can do that myself.”

“I’m sure you could, but you’ll need a place close to the center and they’re not easy to come by.”

“Then I take your word for it. Thank you.”

“If you’ve finished, I’ll run you by the shelter.”

She got up from the table. “I’ll phone you as soon as I’ve made my flight plans.”

“I’ll be expecting your call and we’ll go from there.”

As he walked her out to the limo, he felt as if he too had undergone a life-changing experience. Of course he realized the foundation was helping many people. But for the first time since he and his brother had established the two centers, he had a personal interest in one of the former patients who had recovered.

She’d been so open about her family it triggered memories for him about his father and the life the three of them had enjoyed together before he’d died. Despite their poverty they’d had fun, too. He’d forgotten that aspect until Zoe started talking about her life. Because of her comments about family, he was seeing his own past through fresh eyes. Her story tugged at his heart and Vasso found he was no longer the same emotionally closed-up man who’d flown to New York on business.

August 17, Athens, Greece

Prickles of delight broke out on the back of Zoe’s neck as the plane made its descent through a cloudless sky toward the runway. From her coach-class window seat she looked out at the sea, the islands. Closer still she made out the clay-roofed houses lining Athens’s winding roads. This was Vasso Giannopoulos’s world.

A sense of wonderment accompanied these sensations because she still couldn’t believe she was coming to a place where she’d never been before and would be working. No doubt her ancestors experienced the same feelings when they arrived in the US, ready to embark on a new life.

How easy her life was by comparison! Instead of reaching the US by ship, she was on an airliner. Instead of having to undergo a holding time for immigrants, she’d been given safe passage right through to the Athens airport where she’d be taken care of. A job was waiting for her. So was the man who’d made all this possible. He was so wonderful she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have met him.

Kyrie Giannopoulos and his family were responsible for everything that had happened to her since she’d been admitted to the Giannopoulos Center in Astoria a year ago. Somehow he’d made it possible for her to work for his foundation. He’d said he’d be waiting for her when her plane landed.

The thought of seeing him again gave her butterflies. Surely meeting him a second time wouldn’t cause her legs to almost buckle as they’d done the first time. The mere sight of such a magnificent-looking man had haunted her thoughts whether she was awake or asleep.

After the plane touched down and taxied to the hangar, the seat belt came off and Zoe reached for her secondhand overnight bag. She followed the other passengers out of the plane to the terminal lounge where they went through customs. Her bag was searched. After she’d presented her passport and answered a few questions, a female airline attendant came up to her.

“You’re Zoe Zachos?”

“Yes?”

“Come with me, please.”

She got on a cart and was driven some distance to an elevator that descended to the ground floor. After another little ride the airline employee stopped the cart in front of a door. She got out and opened it. “Your ride is waiting out there.”

The second Zoe walked through the door onto the tarmac where the hot sun beat down she saw a limousine in the distance. Once again her legs seemed to go weak when she spotted her benefactor lounging against the passenger side wearing sunglasses. This morning he’d dressed in a light blue sport shirt and tan chinos. He looked so wonderful she moaned before she realized he could have heard her.

“Thespinis Zachos, welcome to Greece.”

No man should be this handsome. Zoe felt out of breath. “Thank you for meeting me.”

“Of course. I hope you had a good flight.” He took her bag and opened the rear door for her to get in.

“It was fine.”

He went around the other side and got in with her bag so they sat across from each other. The interior smelled of the soap he must have used in the shower. Her reaction to him was over the top. Maybe there was something wrong with her.

“My driver will take us to the complex where my brother and I work. We’ll stay in the penthouse. It’s where we entertain guests and business people who must stay overnight. Tomorrow we’ll fly to Paxos.”

The limousine moved into the center of Athens. Another time and she might enjoy the scenery more, but right now she couldn’t concentrate. After what he’d just told her, Zoe felt like a tongue-tied high school girl with a giant-sized crush on a man so far out of her league it was outrageous.

Glomming onto the safer subject of business she said, “Does Kyrie Megalos know you’ve hired me?”

“Not yet. I want him to meet you first.”

She eyed him directly, but couldn’t see his eyes behind the glasses. “Something tells me you’re pulling the same thing on him that Father Debakis pulled on you.” Vasso laughed hard. “He may not want me to be his assistant.”

“In that case he’ll give you another position. Don’t worry. He won’t suggest that you join a nunnery.”

Laughter escaped her lips. His sense of humor was very appealing. “I shouldn’t have said anything about Ms. Kallistos’s remark. It wasn’t kind of me.”

“She should have known better than to say anything, so put it out of your mind.”

“I have. Do you mind if I ask you some questions? Would you please tell me what kind of business you’re in? I don’t have a lot of information about you apart from your philanthropic work.”

They’d driven into the heart of the downtown traffic. “If you’ll look out your right window, you’ll see a store coming up that says Alpha/Omega 24.”

Zoe searched each shop. “Oh—there it is! Everything from A to Z. It’s like one of the 7-Elevens in the States!”

“It’s store number four, the first store we opened on the mainland.”

“So you’re a convenience store owner! Where are stores one through three?”

“On Paxos. My brother and I started our own chain years ago. They’ve spread throughout Greece.”

“Now you’re forcing me to guess.” She eyed him with an impish expression. “Do you have as many as a hundred perchance?”

“We reached the hundred mark in Thessalonika.”

Zoe gulped. “You weren’t kidding, were you? Does your chain spread as far as Florina?”

“Farther, but it might interest you to know we have a store in Kozani. It’s not far from the home of your ancestors.”

She’d just been teasing, but he’d come back with an answer that filled her with awe. “So how many stores do you have altogether? Wait—don’t answer that question.” Heat filled her cheeks. “I’m being rude to pry. Forgive me.”

“I don’t mind. 2001, including the one we recently opened in Crete.”

Zoe had tried to imagine the kind of money it took to run both centers. Now that she knew what kind of wealth was behind the foundation, she was blown away by the generosity of these men. “You really are perfect,” she whispered.

“You have a lot to learn,” he quipped, making her smile.

By now the limousine had turned down an alley and stopped at the side of a big complex. He got out with her bag and came around to help her. He had a remote on his key chain that opened the door to an elevator. They rode it to the top. When the door opened, she entered a glassed-in penthouse where she welcomed the air conditioning.

“If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to the guest bedroom.” She followed him through a hallway to a room with a fabulous view of Athens.

“What an incredible vista! Am I the luckiest woman in the world to sleep here tonight or what? You’re far too good to me.”

“We do this for business people who come to be interviewed for store manager positions.”

“But I’m not exactly the kind of business person that generates a profit for you. I promise I’ll do my best to help the patients at the hospital.”

“I have no doubt of it.” He put her overnight bag on the floor. “The en-suite bathroom is through that door. This area of the penthouse is all yours until we leave for Paxos. Now I’m sure you want to freshen up and relax, but first let me show you the kitchen.”

She walked down the hallway to the other part of the penthouse with him. “There’s food and drink waiting for you if you’re hungry. Please help yourself to anything you want while I go down to the office and check in. If you need me, just phone me, but I won’t be long. After lunch we can go shopping if you’re up to it.”

“Thank you, Kyrie Giannopoulos.” He was beyond kind and so many other things she’d lost count.

“Call me Vasso.”

She smiled. “I’m Zoe.”

He’d removed his sunglasses. “Zoe Zachos. Has anyone ever called you ZZ?”

Another laugh broke from her. He had a bit of an imp in him. “No. You’re the first.”

She felt the warmth from his black eyes long after he’d left the penthouse. Before doing anything else she walked over to the windows in the living room. The site of the Acropolis seemed as surreal as the whole experience of meeting Vasso Giannopoulos for the first time.

He had to be a very busy man, yet he’d taken time out to interview her himself. His insight about the emotions she would experience by moving to Greece revealed he was a man of empathy and compassion. Because of his goodness, her life was already being transformed.

CHAPTER THREE

“KYRIE GIANNOPOULOS?” VASSO’S secretary spoke to him as he was passing through to his office. “Your brother said he’d be in after lunch. You’ve had two calls this morning from Maris Paulos who said it was urgent you get back to her.”

In order to maintain his privacy, he gave out his cell phone number only to a few people. It forced Maris to reach him through his secretary. Until she’d mentioned Maris’s name, Vasso hadn’t thought about her.

“I’ll call her now. Just so you know I’ll be out of the office tomorrow. Akis will handle anything that comes up. If there’s an emergency, he’ll call me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vasso went into his private office and rang Maris. After apologizing for not phoning her before his quick trip to New York, he asked if they could meet later that night. He’d stop by her condo. She sounded happy. That worried him because he didn’t plan on seeing her after tonight. But Maris deserved the truth. She wanted more out of their relationship, but he didn’t have it inside to give.

With that taken care of, he sequestered himself in his office for a couple of hours to do paperwork. Then he phoned Zoe.

“I’m glad you called. I’ve eaten lunch and was just leaving to go shopping.”

“Then I’ll take you.”

“Oh no. You’ve done enough for me.”

She was so different from other women he’d known whose interest in money seemed to be at the forefront. Both he and Akis felt the women they met were always assessing the worth of the Giannopoulos brothers, a real turnoff. But the Zoe he’d met so far seemed the exact opposite of a woman with that kind of hidden agenda.

“But you don’t know where to go to shop.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve lived in a big city all my life.”

Vasso chuckled at her show of independence. “I realize that. But it would please me to accompany you this once. I’m coming upstairs now.”

He was aware how grateful she was for everything. Pleased that she wasn’t too tired, he arranged for his driver to meet them in the alley and drive them to the Attica department store near Syntagma Square.

She must have showered because she smelled sweet like a fragrant rose, dressed in a different skirt and blouse, when he helped her out of the limo. “You’ll find everything you want here at a good price,” he explained. “Shall we start in the luggage department? You’ll need a large suitcase.”

Her sculpted mouth curved into a smile. “You’re reading my mind.”

He liked the three-piece set of luggage she picked with a gold fleur-de-lis design on a dark red background. Vasso asked the clerk to find an employee to take their purchases out to the limousine waiting in front of the store.

Women’s clothing was on the next floor. Zoe stopped him before they approached the counter. “Tell me something honestly. I saw Ms. Kallistos coming and going for a whole year. She only wore dresses or skirts and blouses. Would you suggest the same thing for me?”

“For work, yes. But you’ll want other kinds of clothes, too. The island has a lot to offer when you’re off of work. Among other things like jeans and shorts, you’re going to need some good walking shoes and a bathing suit. Maybe a sweater or jacket when the nights cool down. Paxos is a different world from New York.”

“I realize that. After living in the asphalt jungle, I’m relishing the quiet of a sun-filled island with no skyscrapers.”

“You’re going to undergo a big change. Tell me something. Do you have a laptop?”

“I had one for college, but it got destroyed in the fire.”

“I was afraid that might be the case.”

“Stop, Vasso. I know what you’re going to say. I have enough money to buy another one.”

“I believe you, but the foundation supplies all the equipment, so I have an idea. While you shop for clothes, I’ll go to the electronics department and get you a computer. You’ll need it when you’re not at the center. It shouldn’t take me long then I’ll come back here for you.”

“That sounds good. When we’re through shopping, I’d like to take you to an early dinner. It will be on me. I’m afraid I won’t have much money left to spend, so I’ll let you pick a place my pathetic bank account can afford.”

Those shimmering green eyes had him mesmerized. “I know just a spot in the Plaka. You’ll love it.”

“The old part of Athens,” she mused. “To think I have Greek blood running through my veins, yet I’ve never been here. I promise to hurry because I can’t wait to explore.” Zoe’s eagerness to live life made him see it through new eyes. “My father didn’t like to go shopping with my mother because she took so long. I’ll try not to be like her.”

Amused by the comment he said, “Take all the time you need.” He and Akis had grown up in a one-parent household, so he didn’t know what it would be like to hear two parents going at it back and forth.

He left her talking to a saleswoman and headed for another part of the store. Besides a laptop, Vasso wanted her to have a new iPhone. He was still amazed by the extent of her loss, and even more astounded that she wasn’t bitter or angry. She didn’t know how to feel sorry for herself. That trait alone increased his admiration for her.

Fire had snatched away everything from her, including her parents. She was forced to build a life all over again. The woman was a survivor in more ways than one. He couldn’t imagine another woman of his acquaintance who would be eager to throw herself headlong into an undetermined future.

She was beautiful inside and out. By some miracle the lymphoma hadn’t taken her life. Her gratitude was over the top, yet it was that very quality that drew him to her. You couldn’t compare her to anyone else. She’d maintained a great sense of humor even after the ordeal she’d been through, which put her in a class by herself.

As Vasso had discussed with Akis, he was happy they’d honored their father by creating the foundation. But at the time, neither of them had any idea that their money would be responsible for Zoe getting the medical care she’d needed to whip the terrible disease. Today he was thankful they’d had both centers built so he could give her the job she wanted.

She’s becoming important to you.

An hour later he found her and they walked out of the store with their arms loaded. They were greeted by a rash of photographers and journalists taking pictures and calling out questions. Someone had tipped the paparazzi off that he’d come to the store. Vasso was furious this had happened, but Zoe seemed to handle it well by ignoring them. He helped her into the smoked-glass limo.

“You must be a celebrity,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Anyone’s a celebrity if they have money.”

“There’s a lot more to their interest in you than that!”

“It’s because Akis and I came from a life of poverty. The media has been following us around for several years.”

“How ghastly.” He heard a sigh come out of her. “But I think it’s because you’ve done something extraordinary with your lives. To impart your fortune for the good of humanity puts you in a class all by yourselves. Surely you must realize how much people admire you for that. It’s a great compliment to you, even if you don’t like the publicity.”

“Trust me, I don’t,” he muttered. “Let’s forget them. I’m just sorry I couldn’t protect you from them.”

“I can understand that you don’t relish being mobbed.”

She understood a lot of things that made him feel closer to her. He was beginning to desire her company more and more. “It’s one of the reasons why I don’t spend all my time in Athens.”

Her gaze darted to him. “I don’t blame you. Under the circumstances, can we go back to the penthouse to eat dinner? Now that they’ve seen you, they’ll probably follow us to the Plaka. If I can’t pay for our meal, I can at least cook for you.”

“I didn’t bring you here to cook.”

“You don’t know how much I miss it. I was at the center for a whole year. No place of my own to have fun in the kitchen. Yours is a cook’s dream, believe me! But please don’t misunderstand me,” she cried softly. “I just meant that now I’m well, I look forward to doing the things that once brought me pleasure. That is if you’ll let me.”

How could he say no to that? “Of course.”

“If I say so myself, my parents’ taverna brought in a lot of customers because of my mother’s recipes that go way back.”

Vasso couldn’t hear enough about her life. “What was her specialty?”

“She had several, but my favorite main dish is burek.”

His brows lifted. “You can make Macedonian burek?”

“So you like it?” Her eyes smiled.

“I had it once in Kozani and loved it.”

“I’d like to make it for you if you’ll let me loose in your kitchen. We’ll see how it compares. But you need to start with an appetizer and some Mastika liqueur over ice. You probably don’t have any of that on hand.”

“Our number-four store should carry it. We’ll stop there on the way back.”

She reached in her purse and wrote something on a piece of paper before handing it to him. “Do you have all these items?”

He checked the list: dough ingredients, minced lamb, white cheese, spinach, kasseri yellow cheese, olives and tomatoes. They’d need to pick up at least half the items on her list. Vasso alerted his driver, then focused on her. “I’m already salivating.”

“So am I.” She chuckled. “There’s nothing I’d love more than to fix you one of my family’s specialties.”

“Are you homesick for New York already?” He’d been worrying about that. To live on Paxos was going to be a huge adjustment for her.

“I’ll never stop missing my parents, but there’s nothing in New York for me now so I won’t be missing it. Yet being able to cook up a meal in your kitchen will be a little like old times with my folks.”

Her tremulous answer tugged on his emotions. He had a longing to comfort her. “I can relate. So many times I’ve wanted to discuss business with our father.”

“Every time I went into the hospital chapel, I would read the words on the plaque and wonder about him. When did he die?”

“Sixteen years ago.”

She shook her head. “You were so young to lose him. That must have been terribly hard on your mother.”

Vasso cleared his throat. “She died soon after I was born.”

A slight gasp escaped her. “I had no idea. That means your father raised you and your brother alone. Did you have grandparents?”

“They died too, but that’s another story.”

“Will you tell me about it?”

“Maybe. Over dinner.” Just then the limo pulled in front of the store. “I’ll be right back.” He got out and hurried inside the crowded interior.

“Boss?”

“Yassou, Galen. I’m here to pick up a bottle of Mastika liqueur.”

“I think we’ve got one left. It’s been on the top shelf in back for a while.”

“The older, the better.”

“I’ll get it.”

“Let me.” Vasso found it and the other items needed. After putting some bills on the counter he said, “Talk to you later.”

When he got back in the limo with the groceries, he handed the bottle to Zoe. “Is this what you wanted?”

She looked delighted. “I can’t believe you stock it here. No wonder your stores have been such a huge success. This is my lucky day. Now I’m going to have to produce a meal that will win the Giannopoulos seal of approval.”

He laughed, realizing that she had a knack for bringing that out in him. When she’d walked into Alexandra’s office last week, he hadn’t been prepared for the effect this utterly feminine woman would have on him. But the first impression she’d made on him, with her wavy blond hair, had brought a spring-like newness into his life.

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