Speaking of her best friend, Kyra could really use some advice right now. If anyone could make sense of this very odd opportunity, it would be Sofia. Once the last suite on the floor had been put to rights, Kyra paused next to the large window overlooking the private cove. She pulled out her phone. Her fingers moved rapidly over the screen.
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Hey, you’re never going to believe this. I met someone.
She just couldn’t bring herself to admit that she’d been proposed to by a stranger, only to learn later it was their boss. Somehow, it sounded desperate on his part. And she felt sorry for Cristo.
Seconds turned into a minute, then two, and still no response. Where was Sofia? Probably still cleaning the exclusive bungalows that lined the beach. But Sofia always had her phone close at hand.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): As in a guy?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Yes.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): What? But how? You swore off guys.
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): I know. But he found me.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): And it was love at first sight?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Not quite. More like a business deal.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): He offered to pay you to be his girlfriend?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Yep. A bundle.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): You can’t be serious. Is this a joke?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): No joke.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): Is he cute?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Very.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): Is he rich?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Very.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): And you accepted?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Not yet.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): Why not?
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): You think I should really consider this idea?
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): Sure. It’s not like you have anything better waiting in the wings.
Mop&Glow007 (Kyra): Thx for making me sound so pathetic.
MaidintheShade347 (Sofia): Oops! My bad. Go for it. Gotta run. Talk soon.
Kyra blinked and read Sofia’s last message again. Go for it. Was she serious? Then again, ever since Sofia had caught her boyfriend in bed with another woman, Sofia’s attitude had changed drastically. When it came to men, she didn’t trust them and she refused to get serious, but she was open to having a good time. Kyra was happy that Sofia had regained her spirit and was getting out there and trying different things. But should Kyra do the same? Then again, wasn’t that part of the reason for this trip to Greece? Trying something different?
Maybe it was time she quit living life so conservatively. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to color outside the lines, just a little. Mr. Kiriakas’s tanned, chiseled face formed in her mind. It certainly wouldn’t be so bad being his fiancée for a night or two. She had enjoyed talking to him the other day, and when he smiled, it made her stomach quiver. Sofia was right. She had nothing to lose. It might actually be fun.
Before she could chicken out, she turned in her supplies and rushed to the small apartment she shared with Sofia in the employee housing. Once she had showered and changed into yellow capris and a pink cotton top, she rushed to his suite. She didn’t have any idea if he’d still be there.
Her knuckles rapped on the door. She hadn’t been this nervous since she came home from school with a below average grade on her report card. She didn’t know why she was so jittery. Cristo certainly was nice enough. Besides, this whole thing was his idea.
The door swung open and there before her stood her almost-fiancé, all six foot plus of toned muscle. She tilted her chin upward in order to meet his gaze. “I...I thought over what you said earlier, and I have a few questions for you.”
He hesitated and then swung the door open. “Come in.”
She glanced around, making sure they were alone. As she did so, she took in the difference in decor between this suite and the other units. For one thing, the standard black upholstered furniture was leather in this suite. The art on the walls consisted of prints in the other suites, but in here everything was original, one-of-a-kind paintings. And lastly, the suite definitely had a lived-in feel—a sense of hominess to it.
Behind her, she could hear the door snick shut. It was just the two of them, alone. Suddenly Kyra didn’t feel quite so confident, so ready to strike a business deal. Right now, even the memory of Sofia’s encouraging words sounded foolish. After all, she didn’t go out on limbs and take big risks. She liked to play it safe.
Cristo cleared his throat. “Should I take your presence to mean you’ve changed your mind about my offer?”
She forced her gaze to meet his. “It depends on your answers to my questions.”
“What would you like to know?”
Comfortable that she’d left herself an out, should she need it, she leveled her shoulders. “The pretense of being your fiancée, it would only be a show for others, right? You don’t want me to, um...sleep with you?”
“No. No. Nothing like that.”
She breathed a little easier. “And how long would I have to pretend to be your fiancée?”
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure.”
“So this is going to take longer than a day or two?”
He hesitated. “Yes, it will. But only until my business deal is concluded. It could be a few weeks or as long as a couple of months—”
“Months?” Kyra shook her head. No way. He was simply asking too much of her. “That’s not possible. I can’t pretend to be your fiancée for that long.”
“Are you planning to return to the States before then?”
The easiest way out of this mess was to say yes, but in truth she wasn’t leaving Greece until she had a chance to track down her father’s family. And since she didn’t have a starting point, she didn’t know how long that would take her. “No. I’m not leaving yet. I...I have things to do here.”
“Anything I can help you with?” When she cast him a skeptical look, he rushed to add, “There are no strings attached to that offer. I like you. You make me smile, and it’s been a while since anyone did that. Whether you agree to this plan or not, I’d like to help you out, if I can.”
Now, why did he have to go and do that? It would have been so much easier to say no to a man who was pushy and arrogant. None of those descriptions quite fit Cristo Kiriakas. He was more like a really hot, Grecian...gentleman.
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you. But not necessary.”
“It may not be necessary, but I’d like to help. What has you here in Greece?”
His eyes told her that he was serious. He was really interested in her. So what would it hurt to open up and share a little with him?
“I’m here to find my extended family, or what’s left of it.” Cristo’s brows rose with surprise, encouraging her to continue. “My father passed away a little more than a year ago. He’d always wondered about his extended family and had promised one day we’d take a trip here to see what we could learn. Now that he can’t finish our research, I’m taking up where he left off.”
“It sounds important.”
“It