Ultimate Romance Collection. Rebecca Winters

night I showed him my ring.”

      Takis’s eyes glittered with amusement. “It’s the best thing that could have happened to him. He took one look at you and fell hard. I feel sorry for him because there’s only one of you.”

      “Speaking of problems, maybe I should go alone to the paint store next time.”

      “Why?”

      She laughed. “You do that so well.”

      “What?” He stared at her.

      “Pretend you don’t know that woman can’t wait to see you again.”

      His mouth curved sensuously. “You noticed.”

      “Even blind, I would have been able to tell.”

      “Now you know what I put up with whenever you’re with me. We both know Giorgos is already a lost cause. As for Basil, I’ve done business with him from time to time and have never known him to give anything away. But he was so besotted with my fiancée and her violet eyes, he lost his head.”

      She scoffed. “I thought he did it because he cares for you. More and more I’m convinced that’s the way Nassos felt about you upon a first meeting, not to mention the manager, who was so impressed, he introduced you to Nassos twelve years ago.”

      He sucked in his breath. “Why do I feel I’m being set up for something?”

      “Why don’t you believe you’re a wonderful son worth loving?”

      They finished eating in silence before he started to clean up. “Thank you for bringing lunch.” She felt his eyes on her. “We should leave for my parents’ in a few minutes. If you need to freshen up, the water is on now. Don’t worry. I cleaned the downstairs bathroom. This house has stood vacant for a long time.”

      “I thought as much.”

      She got up and discovered it next to the area for a washer and dryer down the little hall off the kitchen. There was a lot of work to be done, but Lys found she couldn’t wait to help.

      When she came out, he stood in the kitchen waiting for her. The realization of what they were about to do frightened her. “Takis? What if they can’t accept me?”

      “We’ve been over this before—they will adore you. Are you saying you want to back out?” His voice sounded too quiet.

      “No, but I’m nervous.”

      His hands reached out and he drew her against him. “Perhaps now would be the best time to put the seal on our relationship.” When his compelling mouth closed over hers, she’d been halfway out of breath in anticipation. The shocking hunger in his kiss robbed her of the rest and she clung to him in a wine-dark rapture.

      There was no thought of holding back on her part. Her desire for him was so great, she had no idea how long they stood there clinging to each other, trying without success to satisfy wants and needs that had been kept in check until now.

      “I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you,” he murmured, kissing every inch of her face and throat. “The desire we feel for each other is real. Don’t tell me it isn’t.”

      “I won’t,” she whispered, incapable of saying anything else.

      Again he swept her away in another kiss that went on and on. His mouth was doing miraculous things to her. She couldn’t bear the thought of this moment ending, but Takis had more control than she did and finally lifted his mouth from hers. His breathing had grown shallow too. “Much as I’m enjoying this, we’re going to be late if we don’t leave now.”

      She couldn’t think, let alone talk, and was embarrassed for him to witness the state of her intoxication. Needing to do something concrete, she pulled out of his arms and reached for the vase of flowers. After grabbing her purse, she headed for the living room.

      He opened the front door and helped her out to his car. She hid her flushed face from him as much as she could for the short drive to the Manolis hotel. To her surprise he drove down an alley behind the buildings, parked by his parents’ truck and came around to help her out.

      “Are you ready?” he murmured.

      She clung to the vase. What a question when her legs were wobbling! His kiss had changed her concept of what went on between a man and a woman now that she was so deeply in love with this fantastic man.

      Of course she’d been kissed before and had enjoyed it, but she’d never gone to bed with the men she’d dated. During Nassos’s talks with her about men and marriage, she’d learned that he expected her to wait until her wedding night. Maybe if she’d fallen in love with one of those men, she might not have been able to resist. But it hadn’t happened and now she knew why after Takis had aroused her passion.

      Suddenly the back door opened. Lys recognized his mother, who’d passed on her reddish dark-blond hair to Lukios. She cried Takis’s name and reached out to hug him. But it was his same startling hazel eyes that fastened on Lys.

      “Mama? This is my fiancée, Lys Theron. She’s the light of my life.” The words came out smooth as silk and sounded so truthful, it shook her to the foundations.

      Lys looked for signs that she was upset or disappointed, but instead she let go of Takis to hug her, flowers and all. They were both the same medium height. “This is a great day. Welcome to the family.”

      The unexpected warmth brought tears to Lys’s eyes. “Thank you, Hestia. Takis has talked about his angel mama so much, I feel I know you already.” In that moment Lys shared an unexpected glance with Takis. From the intense look in his eyes, she’d said the right thing to his mother.

      “She’s brought you flowers. Shall we go inside and unwrap them?”

      Hestia wiped her eyes. “Come on. Your father is in the living room waiting for you.”

      Nikanor Manolis. The man for whom this charade was all about.

      Takis grasped her hand and took her through the kitchen to the living room.

      Lys saw immediately that he took after his father in height and features. The older man with salt-and-pepper hair stood in front of the fireplace dressed in dark pants and a white shirt.

      “Baba? I would like you to meet the woman I’m going to marry.” Hearing those words almost gave her a heart attack. “Lys Theron, this is my father, Nikanor.”

      She shook his hand. “How do you do, Kyrie Manolis. It’s an honor.”

      He gave her a speculative glance. “Lukios tells us you two met in Italy.”

      “Yes. I was on a short vacation.”

      “You love my son?”

      After everything Takis had told her about his father, she guessed she wasn’t surprised he would ask a blunt question like that. But Lys could hardly think for the blood pounding in her ears. “From the first moment I met him, I couldn’t help it.” She didn’t dare look at Takis right then. To her surprise his father kissed her on both cheeks, putting his stamp of approval on the news.

      “Look what she brought us!” Hestia came in the room carrying the vase of pink roses and lavender daisies, breaking the tension. “They are so beautiful!” She set them on the coffee table.

      “I’m glad you like them. Those colors are perfect together.”

      “I think so too. Sit down. I’ve made tea.”

      Takis led her over to the couch and squeezed her hand, revealing his emotions. In a minute his mother came back with a tray of tea and kourambiedes to serve everyone.

      “What are your plans?” his father asked.

      “We’ve set the date for June fourth, provided that’s a convenient time for you and Mama. It’s not a holiday. The engagement announcement is ready to be given to the newspaper.”