Doorstep Twins / The Cowboy's Adopted Daughter. Rebecca Winters

earthshaking had happened to him. Already he felt a changed man. Right or wrong, his desire to be with Gabi was so profound, he realized he had to break it off with Irena.

      To feel this way about another woman wasn’t fair to her. He hadn’t planned for this to happen. It just did…

      Maybe Andreas’s feelings for Gabi would die a quick death, but until that eventuality he had to explore them because he’d never known this kind of excitement over a woman in his life. Somewhere in his gut he knew these feelings weren’t all on his side. Gabi wouldn’t have asked him if he was married if her emotions weren’t involved, too.

      Tonight, when they were outside the consulate, it was all he could do not to pull her in his arms and kiss them both into oblivion.

      After his shower he hitched a towel around his hips and reached for his cell. It rang until Irena’s voice mail came on. Frustrated because this wasn’t something he wanted to do by phone anyway, he started to click off when he heard her speak.

      “Andreas—don’t hang up. I was in the other room and had almost given up on hearing from you tonight. I’ve missed you.”

      Guilt smote him. The last time they’d talked had been Friday. Now it was Tuesday night. In that short amount of time he hadn’t missed her at all. Another woman had filled his thoughts to the exclusion of everything else. How could that be?

      “Irena? Forgive me.”

      “You know I do.”

      Yes, he knew.

      “Something’s definitely wrong. You sound so different.”

      Heaven knew his world had changed. “I’m not sure how to say this except to come straight to the point because you deserve my total honesty. Up until last Friday you’ve been the only woman in my life.”

      A long pause ensued. “And now you’re telling me there’s someone else?”

      He bowed his head. “Let’s just say I met someone.” Andreas couldn’t believe he’d admitted it to the woman he’d loved and had been planning to ask to marry him. It meant Gabi had a hold on him more profound than even he had realized. “I swear this was the last thing I ever expected to be saying to you.”

      More silence. “Does she feel the same way?” Irena finally asked in a subdued voice. There were never any tantrums with her. She wasn’t like that. He wished she would rage at him. Instead there was this condemning quiet that underlined her pain.

      “I sense she’s not indifferent to me, but I haven’t acted on my feelings yet.”

      “But you want to?”

      He drew in a ragged breath. “I would never hurt you purposely, Irena, but until I explore what’s going on inside of me, being with you right now wouldn’t be fair to you. That’s why I’m calling.”

      More silence. “Won’t you at least come to the house so we can talk about this?”

      “I will when I’m back in Athens.”

      “Where are you?”

      His hand tightened on the receiver. “I’m on Crete and can’t leave.” He was in a hotel, wondering how he would be able to wait until morning when he saw Gabi again.

      “Does she know about us?”

      There’s no us. Not anymore. “No.”

      “Who is she?”

      Irena deserved that much. “An American who came to my office because of a life and death situation. She had business with me no one else could help her with. I’m still helping her solve a very serious problem before she returns to the States.”

      “I see,” she whispered.

      Except she didn’t see. How could she? Andreas wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn’t until he knew what Leon was going to do. Irena was best friends with Deline. The whole situation was more complicated than anyone knew.

      He clutched the phone tighter. “I know I’ve hurt you, Irena, but to be less than honest with you at this point would be unconscionable.”

      “Your father told me your courage is one of your most remarkable traits. After this conversation I have to say I agree with him. I love you, Andreas. I know you did love me in your own way. But you were never in love with me, otherwise—” She broke off talking. He knew what she was going to say, that otherwise they would have married months ago. “I’m going to hang up now.” The line went dead.

      Horrible as he felt for hurting her, relief swept through him that from here on out he wouldn’t be lying to her or Gabi.

      Before he let any more time pass, he had a second call to make to Leon, who was vacationing for the next two weeks on Milos with Deline and the rest of the family. With Gabi sequestered in Apollonia on the north end of the island nine kilometers from the Simonides villa, the timing and proximity couldn’t be better.

      In anticipation of her falling in with his plan, he’d made all the arrangements ahead of time. Now there was nothing left to do but inform his brother, who’d known this call was coming.

      As soon as they spoke he’d never heard Leon sound so upset. He hadn’t told Deline the truth yet, but knew he had to.

      After encouraging him not to wait any longer, Andreas hung up to wait for Gabi’s phone call. If she chose to fly back to the States in the morning, then he’d take her and the twins home in the company jet.

      Gabi’s father patted the side of the bed and stared at her with solemn eyes. “When did Thea tell you about Leon Simonides?”

      With that question she realized it was going to be a long night. She sat down next to him. “Right before she died.” After clearing her throat she said, “All along Thea thought the man she’d made love with was Andreas. That’s why I went to his office.”

      Her parents listened intently as she explained what had happened to Thea. “When she swore me to secrecy, I intended to honor my promise to her. But after she died, I kept looking at the babies and thinking how terrible it would be if they never knew their father, either. I realized I couldn’t go through life with that kind of a secret.”

      “Of course you couldn’t.” Her father pulled her into his arms. “I love you more than ever for what you’ve done.”

      “So do I,” her mother cried. “It took tremendous courage, darling.”

      “I’m sorry to have lied about my reason for going to Athens on Friday, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to get in to see Andreas.”

      “Thank heaven you did. Honestly, when he walked in the salon, it was like looking at the children all grown up.”

      Her dad shook his head. “I’m still amazed by what we’ve learned. He’s a very remarkable man. A good one. No wonder he’s at the head of the Simonides empire.”

      “You should see him with the boys, Dad. The way he responds, you’d think he was their father.” Her voice shook.

      Her mother reached over to press her arm. “What’s Leon like?”

      “I can’t tell yet. He was in shock on Saturday and hardly spoke, but the fact that he came at all speaks of his character.” She wiped her eyes.

      “Seeing those two brothers together will really be something,” her mom said. “That’s how it’s going to be for Kris and Nikos.”

      Gabi nodded. “Thea was so beautiful, and they’re so handsome already. When they’ve become men, they’ll be as spectacular as Andreas—I mean Leon.”

      “Does he know Kris will have to undergo a series of surgeries in the future?”

      “Not yet, Mom,” she mumbled.

      “Why didn’t you tell him?”

      “Because