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“The poor man.”
“He’s already sitting up, kyria, and has likely broken his nose, nothing else.”
“I—I shouldn’t have told him to drive so fast.” Shock was setting in, causing her to chatter. “I was afraid I’d miss the f-ferry for Ithaca.”
“Was someone going to meet you when you arrived?”
“No, it’s just I was on a tight schedule and there won’t be another one until tomorrow. But it doesn’t matter now because the driver is hurt. He needs help.”
“He’ll be fine. Just try to relax.”
At that moment she heard a siren and the paramedics arrived. They appeared to recognize the stranger immediately. He spoke to them briefly, then moved aside so one of them could talk to her in English. The medic checked her vital signs while the taxi driver received help and was transported to the ambulance.
Determining that she seemed to be all right, the medic helped her out of the taxi. All that time, the stranger stayed beside her. Zoe hadn’t realized he was so tall, at least six feet two inches of male virility. Maybe the accident had affected her sight, because to her eyes he looked like a Greek god come to life. Her legs felt like mush.
The medic took her information and said he would summon another taxi for her. Before she could answer him, the stranger said, “I’ll drive her to her destination.”
“Efkaristo, Kyrie Gavras.”
Gavras? She’d passed the entrance of a hotel downtown called Gavras House, Patras, many times. Was he that Gavras? Zoe had also seen the name in the news and everywhere she’d been in western Greece during her time here.
“You and I haven’t been officially introduced, Kyria Perkins.” The mention of her name meant he’d heard the information she’d given to the medic. “My name is Andreas Gavras. If you’ll allow me, I’ll take you where you need to go. My limo is waiting.”
“Thank you, but you don’t owe me anything.”
“My driver was right behind the truck that collided with your taxi. I’m the one who called for assistance and would like to be of help. Wouldn’t you do the same for me if our positions were reversed? Where can I take you?”
Think, Zoe. “Maybe back to my apartment. It’s only a few blocks away.”
He reached inside for her purse and handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She’d forgotten she’d left it on the seat.
“The limo is parked just over there.” He cupped her elbow to steady her as they walked through the stalled cars and he helped her into the back of the elegant black limo. “Do you feel ill?”
“Not sick, just shaken.”
“Of course. What you need is a drink.” He said something in Greek to his driver through a speaker, and the limo began to move. The next thing she knew they’d rounded a corner and pulled up in front of a sidewalk café.
“Stay right here, kyria. I’ll be back.”
In a lithe male movement, he got out of the limo and went inside. Before long he came back out with two drinks in paper cups. “This is lemonade.”
Her hand trembled as she took the cup from him. “Thank you so much,” she said before drinking thirstily. When she’d drained all of it, he took the cup from her and put it in a receptacle. He’d finished his drink, as well.
“I’ve never tasted anything so good.”
“I’m glad it appealed. Feel a little better now?” he asked solicitously.
“Much.” He was the proverbial white knight, but dressed in a stunning modern silk suit, who’d come out of nowhere to save her.
“Forgive me for a minute while I call my office, then we’ll find a pleasant place to have lunch.”
“You’ve been very kind, but you look like you’re on your way to an important meeting. Please don’t let me keep you.”
He slanted her a heart-stopping glance. “I’m glad you’re the reason I can’t make the board meeting I usually sleep through.” She didn’t believe that for a second. “Besides, I have to eat since I didn’t stop for breakfast this morning. Did you?”
“Actually I didn’t. I thought I’d eat on the ferry.”
“Well, I know a place where the food will be much better. Just give me a minute.”
By the time he’d gotten off the phone, she felt her more normal self. Once again the limo joined the mainstream of traffic and drove them out of the city to the coast ten miles away.
“I’m in the mood for fish. How about you?”
“That sounds wonderful.” But she didn’t feel hungry.
“When we get there, shall I order for you?”
“Please. I haven’t mastered your menus yet.”
He spoke to his driver again and they pulled up to one of those seaside places you read about in a brochure for this century’s jet set, exclusive and expensive. The restaurant was full, but a table had been reserved for them. He must have called ahead when he’d bought the lemonade.
Zoe knew she wasn’t dreaming, but it felt like she was in one. He helped her to her seat and sat across from her at the cloth-covered table with flowers. After the waiter took their order, his black eyes studied her features.
“Why were you going to Ithaca?”
“Since January, I’ve been doing research in Greece on the life of George Gordon Noel Byron, the Sixth Baron Byron, known as Lord Byron. I’ve visited many places and been to many sites, but there are still regions I have yet to see and learn about.”
To her surprise, his expression grew more animated. “Why him particularly?”
“He spent some time in and around Ithaca. I want to go there and talk to some of the local historians who will give me their insights about him.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
“I’m studying for my doctorate at UCLA, and I teach classes on the romance writers of the early nineteenth century. Last Christmas a famous female movie director in Hollywood named Magda Collier started making her most important film to date and chose Lord Byron for the subject. She needed new eyes for fresh research to make the script authentic.”
“And you were picked?”
“Two other women from Stanford and San Jose State University, Ginger and Abby, plus myself, were chosen to gather material. Magda’s idea was to show him as a genius whose spiritual side had so much to give the world and emphasize the greatness in him. I applauded her dream and was thrilled to be part of her team.”
“That’s quite an honor.”
“In a way, it is. Before Christmas we met in Los Angeles for a week with the screenwriters and learned from her what she wanted. I’ve been sending information to her for months, as have my friends. But the time is coming when I’ll have to return to the US, so I’m trying to make the most of it.”
“It sounds like you were an expert on him to begin with.”
“I’ve studied his works for years and have learned incredible things about his life while he spent time here in Greece.”
“How long have you been in Patras?”
“About six weeks.”
Their food came and it looked delicious, whetting her appetite. She ended up feasting on a plate of all sorts of fish and rice in a divine cream sauce.
“This is delicious, but I feel guilty that the poor taxi driver is probably at the hospital in pain. If he has a family, they must be so upset this happened.”
“Your compassion is commendab
le.”
“I’m sure you’d feel the same way. Do you think it was his fault?”
“I’m not sure, but I can find out what hospital he was taken to. Maybe then we might learn details.”
“Would you do that? If I could, I’d like to tell him how sorry I am for what happened. I’ve relied on taxis all through Greece. The drivers have always been wonderful and I’ve been so lucky. It astounds me how well they speak English. If I had to drive a Greek person around, I wouldn’t be able to communicate. It’s shameful that I only know a few words after all these months.”
“Not everyone is as appreciative as you. I’m impressed, kyria, and I’ll see what I can do on our way back to Patras.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you care for dessert?”
“I couldn’t manage one, but please order for yourself if you want to.”
“I’d rather drive you back to Patras while we find out about your taxi driver so you can relax.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. An accident that was out of your hands would unnerve anyone.”
He summoned the waiter and they left the restaurant for the limo. They sat across from each other as they’d done before. On the way into town he got on his cell phone and made a series of calls. Zoe knew that if anyone could pull strings to find out private information, he would be the one.
“I have good news,” he said after hanging up on his last call. “The driver received a cut on his eyebrow that was stitched up. He’s already been released from the hospital.”
“That’s a great relief to me. I’m glad it wasn’t his nose.”
Her knight chuckled. “The driver of the truck wasn’t injured. He was given the citation for not being careful.”
“I can’t thank you enough for finding out that information for me. I’ll sleep much better tonight.”
By this time the limo had pulled up in front of her apartment without needing directions. When the stranger had heard her give the police her information, he’d clearly remembered the address.
