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It wasn’t a stingy emotion and it didn’t die just because she’d been separated from her beloved.
Ariston had said on her first trip to New York that this was their second chance and she realized she wanted to take it, all the way.
“Yes.”
He pulled her into a mind-blowing kiss, which was awfully romantic, no matter what he claimed to the contrary.
When they came up for air, she said, “No wonder you didn’t take me to that gorgeous apartment you set up for me.”
“I thought you would sleep better in our bed. You never seemed to have any trouble before.”
They’d spent the night in his Manhattan townhouse, their home while they’d been married. Sleeping in the master bed with him had felt strange, but in retrospect she could see that once his mind had been made up, she’d become his wife again without her even knowing it.
She wasn’t about to tell him that it wasn’t the comfort or lack thereof of her bed in Oregon that had kept her awake. It didn’t matter now. “Having sex had more to do with my long and restful sleep than the comfort of the mattress, Ariston. You tired me out.”
He looked quite pleased with that pronouncement.
She ignored his satisfaction and asked. “Are all of my things in the house, then?”
“Your art supplies and personal items, yes. Your furniture is in storage until you decide what you want to do with it.”
He really had never intended for her to live in the gorgeous apartment. At least not once his plans for them getting remarried had come into play. She wondered at what point he’d changed his mind on that, and decided to ask.
“After the third phone call in which you put off leaving for New York another day,” he replied to her question with more candor than she’d expected.
Maybe more honesty than he’d intended, too, by the look on his handsome face.
He’d been uncertain of her and decided to take measures not to feel that way again. She’d been right. The wedding wasn’t just about making her feel secure—it was about making him feel it, too.
CHAPTER TEN
CHLOE felt truly lovely for the first time in forever as she stared at her image in the full-length mirror in their bedroom.
She’d donned the champagne cocktail dress Ariston had had altered to fit her perfectly for their courthouse nuptials and brushed her wavy hair until it shone.
The small amount of makeup she’d applied made her green eyes stand out and her bow-shaped lips look kissable.
She was looking forward to Ariston’s reaction to that.
Opening the door into the upstairs hall, she heard her husband-to-be’s voice mixed with tones she recognized but would never have expected to hear in this venue. Not ever.
Takis Spiridakou had flown over from Greece to see them wed. She knew it.
Flying down the stairs, she yelled his name. “Takis!”
He spun to face her and put his arms out. “Pappous, child. How many times must I tell you? I am your pappous.”
She threw herself against him, though still mindful of what she knew about his health.
He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back, moisture gathering in her eyes. “It is so good to see you. Ariston didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“It was my surprise to both of you.” Takis kissed both her cheeks in greeting before grinning at her, his face lined but still handsome like his grandson. “I am determined to witness this civil ceremony. I did not the last time and look what happened.”
Chloe choked on her laughter, but she didn’t tell him his being at the other wedding wouldn’t have mattered. Takis would not only be offended, but he absolutely wouldn’t believe her.
Ariston had come by his arrogance honestly.
The doorbell rang before any more could be said. Seconds later, the sounds of Rhea’s, Samuel’s and Chloe’s father’s voices could be heard.
“Takis! I did not know you would be here,” Eber Dioletis said with an expansive smile.
The elder Spiridakou did not return it. “You think I am a deaf fool living my life in our home country, Eber? Heh?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Chloe’s father replied cautiously, looking much older than when she’d last seen him.
“You don’t, heh? So, it was some other blind fool who tried to marry my grandson’s wife off to another man?”
“Now, Takis—” Eber started.
But Takis was having none of it. He pointed a slightly trembling finger at the other retired businessman. “You listen to me, that girl is my family. You try to undermine that again, it will be more than a few contracts you lose.”
Takis might suffer a fine tremor in his limbs, but he wasn’t the least bit stooped with age and made a hugely imposing figure.
