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“I can take you,” Lena said, nodding. “It doesn’t appear my translation services will be needed anymore today, and honestly, I could use a swim myself.”
“Why don’t you come too, Grumpy Pants?” Raegan asked Mick, her eyes twinkling. “I think we could use a few hours of relaxation. Let’s go have some fun. Seriously, sitting here staring at computers with no new emails and phones that aren’t ringing does nothing for us.”
Mick hesitated, glancing at Lena, but she was already up and heading for her room. “I’ll change and grab towels,” she called over her shoulder.
“What’s with you?!” Raegan demanded under her breath, narrowing her eyes at him as soon as they were alone.
“What do you mean?” he asked, frowning.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh please. You’ve got it for her so bad it’s practically oozing out of you.”
He made a face at her. “I’m grateful for her help, but there’s nothing between us.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” she chuckled. “But you should come to the beach with us anyway. What else is there to do but worry?”
“All right, let me change and grab a couple of beach chairs. Why don’t you get some water bottles and the cooler and we’ll carry it all down.”
6
The afternoon was actually pleasant. Raegan kept up a steady stream of conversation when it was warranted and quieted when all three of them began dozing in the afternoon sun. His only moment of discomfort had been when Lena had taken off her wrap, revealing the lean, slender body he distinctly remembered. She was stunning, with golden bronzed skin, long legs and those round, shapely breasts that still haunted his dreams. Seeing her now, in a white bikini that accentuated her tiny waist and the curve of her hips, nearly took his breath away. He uttered a silent curse at the way she still affected him after so long, but he refused to dwell on it, closing his eyes and sticking his ear buds in.
The next time he opened his eyes, he was alone on the beach and he spotted Lena and Raegan’s heads bobbing in the water quite a way out. They’d gone fairly far, he thought, sitting up and sticking his phone and ear buds in his bag before heading out to join them. It was hot enough to fry a scorpion on the sand and he needed to cool off, even if it meant interacting with Lena. Raegan was there so he could manage polite conversation. Besides, Lena had been perfectly pleasant today, if not more reserved than he remembered.
“You’re awake!” Raegan called out as he swam to them.
“It’s hotter than hell,” he muttered, ducking his head and then shaking the water out of his eyes when he came back up.
“That’s why so many Greeks sleep in the afternoon,” Lena reasoned, her green eyes meeting his ones. “It’s too hot to do almost anything else, so napping is better for everyone.”
“I can’t get used to it,” Raegan complained. “I’ve tried but I just lay there and stare at the ceiling.”
“I got out of the habit when I lived in the U.S.,” Lena admitted. “So now I read or watch TV during siesta time. I enjoy the down time, but rarely actually sleep.”
“We did today!” Raegan laughed.
“The heat and the salt water play a part in that,” Mick said. “I’m always ready for a nap after a day at the beach.”
“You’re really red,” Lena said, squinting at him. “Make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen when we get out. And after you’ve showered later, I’ve got some pure aloe you can use so it’s not too painful.”
Her thoughtfulness caught him off guard so he merely nodded, murmuring a quiet “thank you.” Why did she still make him want her? He wasn’t sure he could take much more. At some point they needed to clear the air and he was going to make it happen. Soon. Walking on eggshells around her was already getting old and he needed closure, if nothing else. He’d tried to be polite and patient but that wasn’t getting him anywhere. The next step was being blunt, which would make him look like a jerk. He had to do something, though, or he was in danger of losing his mind.
Monday morning started early for all of them. Lena left before anyone else had gotten going, hoping to get a jump on the replacement permits. Raegan spent a few hours sorting through dozens of emails that had come in over the weekend and Mick had gone straight to the site after his daily run. The courier arrived with the blueprints just before noon, Lena walked in with the permits a few minutes later and now the only thing left was waiting to see what the insurance adjuster could get out of the investigators. With a little luck construction would resume within a week. There were no guarantees but things were looking up.
When someone knocked on the door early in the afternoon, Raegan got up thinking it was the insurance adjuster. She threw open the door and her smile fell slightly as she stared at Lena’s sister and her little boy.
“Um, hi.” She paused. “Do you want to come in?”
“Yes, thank you.” Sophia tugged a small suitcase behind her with one hand while she clutched Mihalis’ with the other. “I’m sorry to disturb you—is Lena here?”
“Lena!” Raegan called out just as Mick and Lena came in from the call they’d taken in the other room.
“Sophia!” Lena hurried towards her, her eyes wide with concern. “What are you doing here?”
Sophia gazed at her with a strange look on her face, speaking in Greek. “It’s time, Lena.”
“For what?”
The sisters stared at each other briefly before Sophia knelt and hugged Mihalis close, whispering, “My love, I’m going on a little trip and you’re going to stay here with Aunt Lena, okay?”
