His Hidden American Beauty. Connie Cox

can’t have late-night snacks.”

      The captain dropped his hand and Annalise took a breath and an automatic step back from Niko, trying to find her comfort zone. But nothing about this man could be described as comfortable. As soon as the captain was out of earshot, she called him on his excuse. “I’ve seen you with your family, remember? When you speak, they all look at you as if every word was gold. You don’t need any help from me, Doctor.”

      “But I do.” His tiger eyes glittered. “You might notice I’m the only unmarried brother left. My family would like to change that. You’ll keep me safe from their matchmaking, at least for tonight.”

      Too aware that everyone at Niko’s table intently watched them, Annalise hesitated.

      “Please?”

      Annalise had never been able to turn down a plea for help—at least, that’s what she told herself as she said, “Okay. But don’t make a habit of this.”

      As she wove in and out, past the other diners, she questioned herself but could come up with no reason why she hadn’t made her usual polite escape whenever a man took notice of her.

      Was it the sincerity in his voice? What about him made her feel ready to respond to the interest in a man’s eyes?

      All the Christopoulos men stood as Annalise approached their table. Their good manners made her feel self-conscious and very feminine.

      With Sophie now cuddled in her Aunt Phoebe’s lap, it left an open seat between him and Yiayia.

      As Niko pulled out the chair for her, he leaned in and whispered, “You’re blushing. Nice.”

      “I’m not used to such …” She held her hand out to the standing men, speechless.

      “A show of good manners,” Yiayia finished her sentence. “Take it as your due, dear. You deserve it.”

      What would it be like to be a part of a large family where she was loved and respected on a daily basis?

      A warm glow deep inside vied with the chill of nerves prickling along her skin.

      Conflicted. Was she doomed to always be conflicted?

      “Wine, Doctor?” A server held the bottle of merlot for her inspection.

      Normally, Annalise would say no. While she enjoyed an occasional glass of wine with a good book, she never drank in uncomfortable social situations. But she found herself saying yes instead.

      “And you, sir?” the waiter asked Niko.

      He started to shake his head, but his brother Stephen was nodding instead.

      “Give the man another drink. He’s a doctor, you know? Under stress all the time. Look at that strain around his eyes. You need to cut loose every now and then, Niko, or you’ll be looking as old as me before your time.” Stephen held his glass out. “And pour me another one, too, will you?”

      Niko knew his brother’s remark was a dig at his supposed frivolous lifestyle, which Stephen was both jealous of and proud he’d played a part in providing. Niko should have never let the misunderstanding lie between them for so long.

      But so much had been happening when he’d left for his first mission. The restaurant fire, the miscarriage that had threatened his sister-in-law’s life and Sophie’s diagnosis had rocked the foundations of his very strong family.

      Leaving his family at their time of need had been the hardest decision he’d ever had to make.

      He wasn’t good at raw emotion. Just being there for his loved ones had made him feel trapped and helpless—made him remember too much.

      He’d had to take action. Do something. Fix something. There had been nothing he could do for his family to make them any better.

      But he’d had the medical dossiers of a half-dozen children in his briefcase—children who could die without his medical care. He’d decided he would only be in the way if he stayed around.

      He’d reasoned that there was no sense in adding to everyone’s worries if Doctors Without Borders wasn’t for him. Now that he’d made his decision, he wouldn’t put a damper on this trip, but he would tell them at the end that working for Doctors Without Borders would be permanent.

      He had already made arrangements to begin the sale of his share of the partnership as soon as he returned home. But for now he would keep pretending, for their sakes.

      “Everything okay?” Annalise’s hand fluttered over his arm, as if she wanted to touch him but felt he was off limits.

      Niko pasted on his brightest smile. “I’m sharing a glass of wine with a brilliant, beautiful woman. What could be better? Except maybe a bit of privacy.”

      While he didn’t know her well, he read her eyes with ease. Concern turned to disappointment. It seemed that’s all he did lately, disappoint the women in his life.

      But, then, Annalise wasn’t in his life, was she? She was a simple, uncomplicated diversion. In three weeks, walking out of her life would be as easy as walking off this ship.

      He’d meant to be flippant, but he tempered it with truth. “I’ve got a lot going on in my head right now. I guess I haven’t quite made the transition to vacation mode yet.”