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She hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “I’m really sorry about your parents.”
He nodded.
“Please don’t let it color your view of life.”
He nodded again.
She saw in his face that he no longer wanted to talk about it. “Goodbye, Leon. Oh, and tomorrow, just in case you’d think you’re the reason – I won’t be at school. I don’t have classes to teach and I need to fly to Greece.” She hesitated. “Also, there may be reports coming out about me causing parents to withdraw their children from CU.”
Leon frowned as Mairi explained why. “That’s bullshit.”
“It will die down in time so...” She shrugged. “Anyway, I thought I should let you know because I’ve also been told by Dean Blanchard that the media may know about...you.”
Leon blinked. He hadn’t thought about how his actions would affect her in that way. “Fuck.”
The self-accusation in his face made her say quickly, “It’s not your fault.”
“No. I should have thought about that. I apologize, Professor.” He reached for the doorknob. “I’ll make sure no one in the class speaks about it to the media.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You have that much power in school?”
Leon only shrugged.
She was visibly impressed. “That’s so cool.”
“I didn’t say it to impress you,” he said irritably. Dammit, he didn’t like how the way she was looking at him made him feel good. “I’m going now.” He looked up at the CCTV again. “Take care of her, Leventis, or I’ll do more than kiss her next time.”
Mairi’s gasp made him feel really good about himself, allowing Leon to leave with a smirk.
Chapter 10
“You’re sure you’re all set?” Damen asked over the phone, his voice made sharp by worry. It was the first time his wife and daughter were traveling without him, and it didn’t feel right. At all.
Biting back a curse, Damen said, “I don’t think this is a good idea—-”
“Damen.” His wife’s extra-sweet voice cut him off.
Damen scowled. “You’re going to sweet talk me into not worrying, aren’t you?”
“Ne.”
His scowl worsened. “And of course, in Greek, too. Because you know I find it a fucking turn on.”
His wife answered with a soft laugh that traveled down the line like an invisible caress. “Since you know everything I’m planning, and you know how this is going to turn out...” She trailed off.
“What if I ask one of your devoted slaves to fly with you?”
Mairi cringed at the term, knowing her husband was referring to Stavros Manolis and Ioniko Vlahos. Both men had, once upon a time, certain feelings for her. “They no longer feel that way, Damen. You know that.”
“Maybe Stavros,” Damen allowed grudgingly. He had played matchmaker for his friend, and as far as he knew, that one resulted in sparks. “But Vlahos?”
She rolled her eyes at the animosity underlining her husband’s voice. “Seriously, stop that. We both know you don’t hate him anymore.”
He grunted. “You’re right. I don’t. But I’m not blind either. That man still has feelings for you.”
“Whatever.” The nanny entered then, Jane carrying Nala in her arms. “I have to go now. I’ve got to put on the carrier and then we need to get to the airport to make it on time.”
“You’re using my jet, matakia mou. Which means it’s on standby for your convenience.”
“I know that, but I still don’t feel good about making everyone wait. If I told them I’d be there at ten, then I’ll do everything I can to be there at ten.” Jane had reached her now, and with her uninjured hand, Mairi reached out to touch her little girl’s nose.
Nala’s eyes sparkled upon seeing her mother, and she began gurgling in laughter when Mairi started making faces.
Damen heard the sounds Nala was making and his face softened. “She’s up?”
“Yep. And I think she feels the same way I do.” Her voice lowered. “We both miss you a lot.”
Damen’s chest tightened. “As I with you two.” When a knock sounded on his office door, he knew it was time to end the call. “You will call me the moment you board?”
“I promise.”
“And you will text me every few minutes?”
“Promise.” She paused. “You haven’t asked about...the problem.”
“Is there something I must worry about?” he asked levelly.
“None,” she said quickly.
“Then that’s answer enough for me. I told you, matakia mou.” His voice became flat. “I will never doubt you again.” Memories struck him, a time when he hadn’t been as wise and he had accused Mairi of betrayal. A time when his cynicism and inability to understand the power of love made him believe in a stranger’s words over the woman he loved.
Mairi didn’t need Damen to say a word to realize where her husband’s thoughts had gone. Her heart squeezed painfully at the sudden strained silence between them, and she whispered, “Damen.”
One, two moments passed before he answered. “Yes?”
“The past is where it belongs already. Leave it there.”
