would make a difference—if he had time for her. In the meantime, she’d never been so conscious of their situation as now, when he was upstairs with the person she had come to Greece to see, and she was so close but still a floor away with no clear-cut way to meet Eleani.
Soon after the meal ended, Sara returned to the yacht. She watched the house for a while, the lights shining like a beacon on the hilltop. She couldn’t hear any sounds, but could imagine the talk and laughter. For the first time, she felt like an outsider. Eleani was her grandmother just like Spiros was Nikos’s grandfather. She had as much right to be there as he did. Yet no one knew that, and she doubted she’d be welcomed once the facts were revealed.
Waking early the next morning, Sara debated going swimming. With only one ship tied up, surely the water would be clean enough near the dock. Going around to the beach might be risky. She dressed in her swimsuit, pulled on shorts and a shirt and went topside to determine if she dare risk it.
“I was hoping you’d get up early,” Nikos said when she stepped out on the aft deck.
He sat in a chair near the rail, relaxed and wearing swim togs and a shirt.
“Want to go for a swim before breakfast?”
“Is the water clean enough here?” she asked. Had he been waiting for her?
“Sure, but I was thinking of a cove around the lee side of the island. It’s sheltered and has very colorful fish. We could snorkel until hunger drives us back.”
“Sounds great.”
He motioned her to the side and pointed down at a small runabout tied to the dock. “I had one of the men pull it out of the boathouse. Perfect for putting around the island.”
Sara was soon riding in the small boat, watching Nikos as he skillfully maneuvered it around the yacht and, keeping close to shore, began to go around the island. The sun was just above the horizon, not yet as burning hot as it would become later. The air was soft against her skin as they skimmed across the water.
When he turned into a small cove, Sara looked around with interest. Foliage grew to the water’s edge on most of the horseshoe-shaped cove, flowers blossomed in profusion. The tiny sandy beach, almost in the center of the cove, was pristine.
The water was crystal clear. She could see every aspect of the sandy bottom and the colorful fish that swam lazily around when the boat stopped and was carried forward by momentum. He lowered an anchor and soon they were stopped.
Nikos pulled snorkeling gear from the small locker. Sara took off her shirt and shorts and accepted the mask and breathing tube. Donning the mask and flippers, she stepped off the boat into the silken water. It was cooler than a bath, but not cold like the water off the English shore.
They swam for more than an hour, Nikos leading the way and pointing out things as they went. When they kept still, fish would swim within touching distance. A kick of a flipper would send them darting away.
Breaking the surface at last, Sara pushed her mask up on top of her head and shook off some of the water. Nikos surfaced beside her.
“This is a wonderful spot,” she said, treading water.
“My favorite on the island.”
“Can you get to it over land?” she asked, studying the unending greenery that lined the shore.
“There’s a path, if it hasn’t gotten overgrown. But it’s easier and cooler to come by boat.”
“Time for me to head back for breakfast?”
He glanced at his waterproof watch. “The kitchen staff will have it set out by now. We can eat on the terrace. I told the captain you were not going to cook this morning and that they should avail themselves of the house’s breakfast buffet.”
She nodded, suddenly aware that she and Nikos were in a similar situation to one before—when he’d kissed her in the sea. She felt anticipation rise with nerves and tension. Would he kiss her again?
Not wanting to tempt fate, she turned and began to swim to the boat. Nikos passed her and reached the craft first. He drew himself up and over the side with his strong arms, then turned to offer a hand to Sara, easily pulling her from the water in one swoop.
She stumbled a bit on the rocking boat and fell against Nikos. His skin was cool from the water, but warmed instantly where she pushed against him. Sara felt the water dripping down her back from her wet hair, felt the heat rise between them and wondered whimsically if there was steam evident from the heat she generated. But she would not be accused of flirting.
Had the trip been her subconscious at work? She loved the feel of the man, the energy and desire he evoked while kissing her. Just being near him was extraordinary. But she never wanted him to suspect. How horrible if he thought she came swimming just so they would end up kissing.
So much for her resistance. He followed her and drew her into his arms. Despite her own thoughts only seconds ago, she didn’t resist. When his mouth covered hers, she put her arms around him. Dimly aware she was being reckless, she didn’t let that stop her. She’d tried; her resistance wasn’t strong enough. There would be little likelihood of Nikos giving her the time of day after she revealed who she was and that she’d deliberately sought out a position at his resort in hopes of gaining access to the island. But until then, she wished every moment to be as special as this one.
He broke away a few moments later, resting his forehead against hers and staring into her eyes. “Hungry?”
For you, was the unbidden thought that popped into her mind. But she knew he meant food. “Yes. A bit.”
“Time for a quick shower before breakfast,” he said, stowing their gear and pulling in the small anchor. Once under way, Sara felt cool as the water evaporated from her skin. And itchy from the salt. She glanced at Nikos as he handled the boat with assurance. She didn’t get it. The more she was around him, the more he puzzled her. The scuttlebutt from the ship was that he was on the verge of getting engaged. He so did not act like a man almost committed to one special woman. He said he wasn’t engaged, but he’d never said he wouldn’t be one day.
From what her mother had told her about the wealthy families of Greece, Nikos didn’t fit the mould. Granted, if he proceeded with a business marriage, it would be similar to her mother’s situation. Yet the antagonism she expected against such a man and arrangement vanished. For a few moments she wished she had the chance of an arranged marriage—if the groom was Nikos.
“So we all eat up at the house this morning?” she asked.
He nodded. “It’s buffet style, to allow for different times people wish to eat. Lunch will be at one and dinner at seven. But breakfast is from eight until ten.”
“Sounds like a hotel,” she commented, wondering how many people were around to need such a big window of time for the first meal.
He shrugged.
“Your grandparents are well?” she asked a few minutes later. So far she wasn’t sure how to proceed. She couldn’t just march in and demand her grandmother’s presence.
“In top form. Today I’m going with my grandfather to see the new boat he’s buying. To appease my father.”
“Why can’t your father check it out?” Sara asked. If Nikos’s father was so concerned, shouldn’t he be the one here?
“Business before family,” Nikos said. He chuckled mirthlessly. “Speaking of which, much as I have deplored my father’s focus on business, I find I follow in his path. With my absence from the resort last week for the cruise and now being here for a few days, I’m going to have to work when I return from the boat shopping expedition.”
“On the Cassandra?” she asked.
“I have an office in the main house that ties directly into the one at the resort.”
Sara thought he worked hard enough, but didn’t feel she could