Greek Billionaire's Forbidden Lover (The Rosso Family Series Book 2) Read online

  “I can’t believe you were able to pull this off,” Eva whispered to Dareios. The church had a hushed air, with others here talking in quiet voices. “Look at the layering da Vinci did—all tempera paint,” Eva muttered. “That’s what allowed him to be so creative, but it’s made for such problems in maintaining the fresco. And we’re so lucky this wall survived the war—it was bombed in forty-three, but this wall…this beautiful wall survived. It’s just finished an extensive restoration process and only twenty-five visitors are allowed to view it at any one time.” She grinned and walked ahead of them.

  Alexandra smiled. She had watched Dareios use both his charm—and a very generous donation to the church—to secure a special showing for them. Eva was practically vibrating with excitement, Alexandra thought.

  They had already visited the Milan Cathedral, also known as the Duomo di Milano. It was the largest cathedral in Italy, and Eva had chattered on about the Gothic architecture and how it was a masterpiece revered the world over.

  They had taken a short cruise around the structure in Dareios’ car, and then eaten lunch at a small bistro along the main street, dining on risotto alla Milanese, a tender rice dish, tortelli di zucca or pasta stuffed with pumpkin, and piccata Milanese, a tenderized chicken served with mushrooms and ham. Alexandra had picked at her food, but Eva had demolished everything with the same gusto she applied to most things.

  Dareios simply smiled back at Alexandra and stepped closer to her. “She truly loves art.”

  “Yes, and she’s a good artist in her own right. She’s going to be so excited when Antonio tells her about the school in Paris.”

  “I hope so,” Dareios said. “Although I think Antonio wants to keep her at home.”

  “Well, he can’t keep either of us from growing up. What are we doing after this? More tours? Shopping perhaps?”

  “I thought I would take you lovely ladies to dinner and then back to the hotel so you could get packed for the morning. I would like to leave for Taranto no later than seven.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Why so early?”

  “Because I want to get on the Kairos and out to sea while the water is still calm.”

  Alexandra sighed. “Very well. I have to tell you I am not a morning person. At all.”

  “As if I don’t know that already. How many times have I come to the Rosso estate for an early morning outing with Antonio only to find you and Eva still asleep?” He winced—and Alexandra wondered if he was picturing her in bed.

  She leaned closer. “If I was in your bed all day, I wouldn’t be grumpy.”

  He shot her a disapproving sideways look that told her to behave. She almost laughed—he’d never looked so stuffy. Shaking his head, he headed over to Eva. “So? Is it as awesome as you thought it would be?”

  Eva’s eyes shone. She nodded. “It’s absolutely fantastic. The restoration work is amazing, and I see now why it took so many years to accomplish it.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed seeing it. I’m going to escort Alexandra out to the front. Join us whenever you’ve finished.” Eva nodded, already engrossed in studying the masterpiece in front of her.

  Dareios took Alexandra’s elbow and together they headed toward the front of the church to wait for Eva. Dareios didn’t say anything, but Alexandra was positive he felt the shiver that ran through her body when he took her arm.

  The butterflies were swarming in her stomach again, and her heart skipped to an unsteady race. Looking around, she realized there was nothing she could do about any of that right now. Not only were they in a church, but other tourists and priests roamed the hallways.

  She swallowed, and breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the entrance and he let go of her arm. She took a few steps away from him and then turned to look at the skyline of the city. She needed some space to get her emotions and libido back under control—at least in public.

  But once she got Dareios alone, then she would see if she could convince him that a fling between them wasn’t just smart—it was inevitable.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You’re coming with us?” Alexandra blinked and stared at Eva. They’d had dinner, and had packed their suitcases. Alexandra had just finished dragging her case to the front door of the penthouse when Eva came out of her bedroom with a smile on her face and her luggage.

  Eva rolled her eyes. “Well, of course I’m coming. Dareios invited us both. I don’t think he wants to be alone with you.”

  Alexandra flopped down into a chair. “I know he doesn’t. And I should have known he had some plan in mind when he invited me…I mean us to sail with him.”

  Coming over to her, Eva put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out of the picture soon enough. I’ve got to get back soon because I said I’d help out at a children’s grief camp from the fifth through the tenth.”

  Alexandra straightened. “You do know it’s the first today.”

  Eva’s smile fell away. “What? No, it can’t be. That means it’s starting right away.”

  “Can’t they get a replacement for you?” Alexandra said. “I mean, if you’re not coming, Dareios might just send me home on a plane.”

  “I have to go. The camp helps children come to terms with the loss of a parents or sibling, and they use a lot of art in their program. I’m one of the resident artists for the first week. Besides, I don’t want to cancel, and there’s no way we’ll reach Athens in time for me to fly back to the camp. Maybe I should just fly home tomorrow.”

  “No!” Alexandra stood and grabbed her hands. “I might want some one-on-one time with Dareios, but if I show up without you, he’s going to bail on this whole idea. I just know it. Where is the camp?”

  “Methoni Communal. I haven’t been there since we went there to visit the castle, but from what I remember, it’s the perfect peaceful setting for these kids.”

  Alexandra nodded. She knew Methoni Castle was one of the largest in the Mediterranean, and built right on the shore. It had a smaller structure joined by a stone road that had once served as a prison during the Turkish Wars, but these days the beaches made it a favorite haunt of tourists, and the city was lovely. She took Eva’s hand. “That’s perfect. If Dareios sails across the Ionian Sea, and then goes south, he could dock at Methoni in plenty of time for you to make it to the camp.”

  “What if Dareios doesn’t want to head there? He gets to order the captain around since it’s his boat. Besides, without me there, you can have more fun with Dareios.”

  Alexandra let out a sigh. “Will I? Or is he just going to send me home and use you not coming as the perfect excuse to get rid of me? Eva, you have to go with us…at least for the first few days. You love being on the water, and this will give us some time together, too...and, and—”

  “And what? Just what are you planning now, sis?”

  Alexandra shrugged. “I was just so looking forward to spending a few more days with you is all.”

  Eva shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve been your sister long enough to know when you’ve got some scheme in mind. You didn’t just happen to run into Dareios last night. You planned this trip for the sole purpose of meeting him. And now you have more in mind for him. Just how serious are you about him?”

  Alexandra shook her head. “Don’t change the topic. You need to come with us.”

  “Alexandra, tell me what happened at that nightclub?” Eva sat down on the sofa. “You do know I was waiting up for you. And waiting. And then Dareios brought you back, and today you two were so weird with each other. Are you sure you’re not going to end up just trashing your friendship with him?”

  “Nothing happened—that’s the problem. Nothing ever happens between us. But…well, he did kiss me.” Alexandra could feel the heat spreading from her chest into her neck and cheeks.

  “What kind of kiss? We’re not talking peck on the cheek, are we?”

  “No…more like toe curling, sizzling, makes you want more kiss. But that was before he figured out who I was.
And then it was back to him acting like I really am his sister. He’s driving me nuts. I can’t get him to think of me, but all I do is think of him. Our friendship is already on the rocks and if we don’t work this out of our systems…well, I don’t expect you to understand.”

  “What? I’m too young? I’m the product of an all-girls school?” Eva sat up. “You went to the same school, and…well, okay maybe it does leave you a little clueless about boys. Your seduction of Dareios kind of flopped, didn’t it?”

  “More than kind of.” Getting up, Alexandra headed to the phone. “I’m calling for room service—for ice cream and gelato and anything chocolate.”

  Leaning over the back of the sofa, Eva grinned. “That’s not going to solve your Dareios problem.”

  “No, but it will make me forget it for a time. And if you’re flying back to Athens tomorrow, I’m just going to throw in the towel and go with you.”

  Getting up, Eva walked over and hugged her sister. “No, I’ll go with you, instead. A couple days on the water does sound good. I’ll even play matchmaker while we’re on the Kairos. Even the name is a good sign—it means you should seize the moment. And I’ve always thought Dareios would make a nice addition to the family, and since he’s way too old for me, he might as well marry you.”

  “Whoa!” Alexandra backed up a step. “Who said anything about marriage? We’re talking fling here. And that’s with a capital ‘F’ for fun. Dareios has more than made it clear—not just with what he’s said but with how he’s acted—that he’s a party guy. He wants…he likes…good time girls. I just want to show him I can be that. We’ll have a great time and I’ll get this…this itch for him out of my system. And then we can go back to being friends.”

  “Can you honestly tell me you haven’t thought about it?” Eva asked. She tipped her head to the side. “Marriage? Kids? Daddy always told us he wanted us to be happy. Is just a fling going to be enough for you?”

  Alexandra picked up the hotel phone. She wasn’t about to admit to anyone that she’d once had fantasies about a forever after kind of love. She’d pictured Dareios kissing her, realizing she was the only one for him, and giving her his heart. She’d also day dreamed that he’d ride up on a motorcycle and whisk her away to another life. Or she’d jet set with him around the world.

  She let out a breath. She was going to have more luck eating a ton of ice cream and not gaining a pound from it. That was the world where those dreams belonged—in the impossible place. She shook her head and punched in the room service number. “No. And you have to promise me not to talk like that when he’s around. He has issues—and who wouldn’t given his family.”

  Eva nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard bits and pieces, and I know his mom lives in London and his dad in Greece—and isn’t his dad on like mistress number ten.”

  “Try eleven. But he does leave all of them smiling, at least according to the gossip magazines. And that’s how I intend to leave Dareios—with both of us smiling. Right now, it’s all frustration and…and I’m going to explode if I can’t make him notice me as more than his friend’s sister.”

  Eva kissed Alexandra on the cheek. “Have fun planning how you’re going to storm Castle Dareios. I’m heading to bed.”

  Alexandra watched her sister retreat. She went ahead with her order for ice cream—chocolate and black cherry. Then she spent the time waiting for it debating whether or not she should give Dareios a head’s up that Eva wasn’t going to be accompanying them home. The ice cream arrived. She signed for it and for a tip and sat down with the treat.

  After weighing the possible outcomes, she decided to keep silent until the last possible moment. She’d wait until it was impossible for Dareios to do anything but sail the Mediterranean with her.

  She headed to bed, the ice cream a poor substitute for Dareios kisses. As she drifted off to sleep, she touched her lips and wondered how long it was going to take to get him to kiss her again. Or do even more.

  Chapter Fourteen

  For almost two days Alexandra had behaved. And she was driving him crazy.

  She and Eva had been dressed and ready to go when he’d knocked on the penthouse door. Both girls had been full of high spirits, and they’d admired his new yacht—which, he had to say, was worth admiration.

  The Kairos was a hundred and sixty feet of sleek beauty with every modern convenience, teak decks, a lounge and dining room, and could sleep six, as well as hold a crew of ten. He was proud of the Kairos since he’d worked with the shipbuilders on the design.

  With GPS and radar, solar and wind power for electronics, full recycling of waste, and a desalination rig, and engines that could run on diesel or bio-diesel, it could stay on the water almost indefinitely. He’d been dying to take her out. Except for a few minor issues, she sailed as smoothly as he had hoped.

  During the day, Alexandra and Eva had lounged on the deck, both in skimpy bikinis. Alexandra had insisted on Dareios putting on her suntan lotion. He’d frowned, thought about telling her to have Eva do it, but that seemed too much like backing down.

  In the evenings, they’d dined on deck and played card games. He’d almost begun to think Alexandra had given up on the idea of anything happening between them—and he wasn’t about to admit to any disappointment.

  And then on the afternoon of the second day, the captain had come to him with a course request that Alexandra had made.

  Heading up on deck, he found Alexandra lounging in the sun. Eva was not in sight, so she must have gone to her cabin for a nap—which seemed to be her habit. Dareios stopped at the sight of Alexandra’s naked back, baking in the sun. His heart rate quickened and his mouth dried. All that beautiful, golden skin.

  Grabbing the tanning lotion, Alexandra waved it at him. “Just in time. Be a darling and rub some lotion on my back. I don’t want to burn.”

  Swallowing, Dareios came over to her and sat on the chair next to her lounge. “You keep this up you’ll get skin cancer.”

  Alexandra smiled and pushed the lotion at him. Her long hair lay in a braid that she’d pulled to one side. Her gold bikini barely covered her butt. “Not if you put sunscreen on me. And I’m very careful. Besides, a little sun is good for you.” She tucked her hands under her cheek. With her top undone, he could see the sides of her breasts as they pressed against the beach towel that she had spread over the lounger.

  Dareios popped the top of the lotion and squirted it onto Alexandra’s back. She gave a gasp and her feet kicked up. “That’s cold—you could have warmed it.”

  He started to rub it in, trying to ignore how smooth her skin was under his hand. “Why did you ask the captain to head to Methoni?”

  She had on sunglasses so he couldn’t see her eyes, but he thought her smile became a little stiff. “It has a lovely castle.”

  “Which we’ve all seen. You’re not answering me.” He rubbed lower on her back, his fingers skimming close to her ass. She had a beautiful butt—wide hips and firm muscles, and…and he wasn’t going to think about that.

  “Do the back of my legs, too, please,” she said and turned away from him.

  Swallowing, Dareios shifted onto her lounge chair so he could reach. Her thigh brushed his leg—and he wished now he’d worn jeans and not shorts and canvas shoes. It seemed ridiculously hot now, even though a cool breeze came off the sea as the Kairos skimmed over the blue waters. “We’re not going to Methoni unless you tell me why.”

  “Oh, it’s for Eva.”

  He smeared lotion onto her thighs, and then on her calves, and finally came to her feet. He’d always loved beautiful feet, and Alexandra’s were perfect—high arches, narrow, beautifully shaped. Capping the lotion, he stood up. “What is for Eva?”

  Her voice muffled by her hands, Alexandra said, “She needs to be in Methoni by the fifth.”

  “Why? And when did you find out about this?”

  Alexandra turned to face him and sat up slightly. Dareios stared at her, his mind suddenly empty. She smiled. “Eva remem
bered that she agreed to help out at a camp for kids. She said she can’t cancel—it’s important. So we need to leave her in Methoni.”

  Pushing his hands through his hair, he glanced around. He realized he’d just pushed his fingers—still sticky with sunscreen—into his hair.

  Alexandra kept smiling at him, her breasts barely covered. “Eva’s going to help the children with their art projects. Isn’t that great? They use art as a way for the children to cope with grief.”

  He frowned and tried to focus on the water. But he couldn’t keep his gaze away from Alexandra—from those shapely legs and trim waist—and all that skin. “A worthy cause, to be sure. But that leaves us with another problem.”

  “I don’t see a problem.” Alexandra turned away again.

  “You wouldn’t. But then there is the little problem of your brother.”

  “Antonio is not little.”

  “That is the problem. The last time we boxed together, he proved he was faster than I am.” He wet his lips. What was he going to do? He didn’t know if he was strong enough to be alone with Alexandra on the Kairos for even a day. Yes, they’d have the crew, so there were ten others, including the cook and the waiters and maids. But they’d dine under the stars, just the two of them. They could anchor and swim in the water, just the two of them. They could…

  He cut off the thought, because he was seeing Alexandra here on the deck, without that bikini on, and picturing himself going down on her, spreading her legs, tasting her, pleasuring her.

  No…just no.

  He let out a breath. “We’ll talk about it at lunch.”

  He headed to the other end of the Kairos—and suddenly a hundred and sixty feet of length didn’t seem enough distance.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alexandra came to lunch on the back deck, which was shaded, wearing shorts that showcased her long legs and a thin T-shirt that clearly showed the bikini top she wore underneath. She also wore the golden anklet he’d given he for Christmas when she was sixteen.