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  “Why don’t we say after breakfast at nine. It shouldn’t take us long.”

  He could tell she was trying to have as little to do with him as possible. Yet again the nerve throbbing wildly at her throat gave him hope. “I’ll plan on nine.”

  “Once it’s done, you’ll be able to fly to Hellenia. As Nico told you, the helicopter is at your disposal to get you to the airport.”

  Except that Alex didn’t plan to go anywhere yet. Zikos would be running the timetable for him. For all he knew, their next meeting might not take place in Loria for several days. Right now he needed to be here with the woman he would marry no matter how long it took for her to believe in him.

  After taking a long drink of the steaming liquid, he darted her a glance. “Your brother is one of the most intelligent and generous men I’ve ever known. I can see why he’s always been your rock.”

  “I’ve been blessed with a wonderful brother.”

  “I’m glad you’ve put him on a pedestal. He is probably part of the reason you haven’t married yet. The men in your family would be impossible for another man to measure up to. I realize that I don’t, not after deceiving you all this time.

  “That deception was meant to keep you safe. It’s my prayer that if you’ll give me time to show you who I really am, maybe a miracle will occur one day, and you’ll agree to be my bride.”

  “Let’s not talk about that right now.” He thought he heard a little moan come out of her before she turned away from him. “I’m going to bed. If there’s anything you need, just pick up the phone by the bed and Anna will answer.”

  “I’ll do that. Sleep well, Giannina.”

  She rushed out of the dining room, putting distance between them. But he smiled because she would be only as far away as her phone. Once he’d finished his coffee, he turned off the kitchen light and went down the hallway to his bedroom. She was somewhere in the villa, but he hadn’t asked her where she slept.

  Before long he climbed under the covers, but his adrenaline would keep him awake for a while. Feeling adventurous, he picked up the cell phone and called her. She answered on the second ring.

  “Alex?” She sounded anxious. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing that a little conversation with you won’t cure.”

  A sound of frustration escaped. “So...after the coffee, you’re wide awake.”

  He grinned. “Guilty as charged.”

  “In that case, let’s do your story now. Give me a minute to get my tablet and we’ll work on it. After we’re through, you can sleep in. Tomorrow when you leave, I’ll take a picture of you...maybe of you getting in the helicopter. Nothing posed, of course. I know you don’t like that.”

  Giannina... Even though she pretended otherwise, he sensed in his gut she still loved him and there was no question she knew him better than any woman alive.

  “The headline will read, ‘Prince Alexandros of Hellenia comes out of hiding after fourteen years.’ An action photo will make fascinating copy. What do you think?”

  Why not? Except that he didn’t plan to leave the villa anytime soon. “I love the way you think.”

  “Give me a second.”

  “I’ve got all the time in the world.” Wishing she were right here wrapped against him, he turned on his side and waited.

  “I’m back,” she informed him, “and I’ve been thinking about what will be the most important thing for the readers. This will be the very first piece of news on you.

  “Naturally hundreds of articles in papers and magazines, not to mention live television interviews, will follow. But this story will stand out forever in people’s minds around the world, so it needs to capture the very essence of you from a young teen to a man.”

  His brilliant Giannina knew how to lay out a story and make it appeal. “What do you want to know first?”

  “Some of my questions will be painful, Alex.”

  “I’ve lived with the pain for years.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  Despite her anger, her compassion moved him. He had to clear his throat. “Go ahead.”

  “How soon after you were taken to safety did you know what happened to your parents?”

  “Three men came into my bedroom at the palace around four in the morning, waking me from sleep. One of them was Zikos, who told me a tragedy had happened and I needed to go with them immediately. I had to leave in my pajamas. They hurried me out to a service truck at the back of the palace. In their haste, my dog, Achilles, had to be left behind.”

  “Oh, no! Your darling dog. How heartbreaking for you.”

  She really did understand since she’d played with his dog too. “To this day I don’t know what happened to him. We drove to the port and left in a cruiser for Kavala, Greece, where we flew to Dubrovnik, Croatia, on a private plane.

  “During the flight Zikos told me my parents had been stabbed and murdered in their beds. He assured me he’d made my father a promise. If anything happened to my family, he’d raise me as his own.”

  “Which he did!” she cried. Again he was thankful she’d met Zikos.

  “He’s a saint who had to endure putting up with me. I went through a difficult couple of years complete with counseling to help my depression.”

  “I can’t even imagine it.”

  “I was in hell for a long time. My family had been so happy. The change from day to night turned me into a different person. I had no siblings, no living relatives. Through Zikos, plus a lot of help, I learned to live with my fear and face an uncertain future with new resolve to get on with my life.”

  Following his revelation, a long period of silence ensued. “I don’t know how you lived through that. Thank heaven for Zikos.” Her words touched his heart.

  “Amen.”

  “I’m not going to print any of those details. Only that Zikos Novak, the closest friend to your father, took you to safety where he kept you hidden and raised you as if you were his son. From him you learned that your parents had been murdered and their killers were hunting for you.

  “I won’t say anything about your disguise or your identity as Philip Dimas. Until this day I’ll indicate that you’ve lived with Zikos without mentioning the location. I’ll say that he has been in touch with the parliament organized by your father and is standing ready to form a new government. How does that sound?”

  “I told you in London you have all the right editorial instincts. It’s perfect.” She was perfect.

  “Thank you,” came her quiet response. “In a few words, will you tell me what your overall thought has been during these years of exile?”

  “My mission has been to remove General Ruiz and his regime from power, thus avenging the murder of my parents and making Hellenia free once more.”

  “Is there anything else you want to add as a final thought?”

  “That the goodness in a patriot like Zikos Novak always prevails and takes away the sting of a tyrant like General Ruiz and his ilk. I owe him everything, including my life.”

  Again it took her a minute to respond. “Do you want me to mention anything about your future?”

  “Yes. That soon I plan to be married to Giannina Angelis, the love of my life, if she’ll say yes. There’s a small summerhouse in the woods behind the palace. I’m looking forward to secret picnics with her there and the dog we’ll buy. If we’re lucky, children will come.”

  “Dogs and children.” She sounded amused. “How many are you imagining?”

  “Maybe three or four.”

  “That many?”

  He grinned. “I never had siblings and don’t want that fate for our little princes and princesses.”

  “I think we’re getting way off track.”

  “You’re right. That would be putting the cart before the proverbial horse. I told you it’s up to you if I accept the throne.”


  “That’s not fair. I wouldn’t want that responsibility, and now I think we’re done. I’ll run off the story and give it to you tomorrow to study and revise as necessary.”

  “Excellent. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

  “I think we’d better make it lunch to give you time to sleep in.”

  Sleep was the last thing on his mind. “How about a swim in the ocean after we eat?”

  “Do you have a swimming costume in your luggage?”

  “If I don’t, I’ll wear a towel.”

  “Alex—”

  Laughter poured out of him. He hung up before he said something that would embarrass her. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. He’d detected a slight thawing. Maybe she was breaking out of that layer of steel until she came running into his arms.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  LAST NIGHT IT had felt good and right to have finished Alex’s story. This morning she woke up still remembering a dream about a dog and a boat that made little sense. Remnants of her interview with Alex had obviously stayed with her. She feared the heartbreaking details he’d told her about that horrific night and early years would haunt her for a long time.

  The fact that he’d known at fourteen he was being hunted by his parents’ assassins caused her to ponder what he’d told her. He’d been so young and vulnerable. He’d survived a tragedy of epic proportions. On top of it, he realized he had a target on his back and evil men were looking for him. From that point on, Alex had been forced to get through his life and try to stay alive.

  When he’d first tried to explain why he’d kept the truth from her, she’d been too angry and hurt over too many things and had refused to listen. But last night on the phone she finally understood why he couldn’t reveal his true identity. He’d had to take on a totally different one. From the moment he’d met her in London, he’d wanted to protect her from being killed.

  For the first time since he’d come to Salonica, she understood why he hadn’t asked her to marry him in London. He hadn’t yet found the people responsible for eliminating his family and knew his life was in constant danger. After his experience as a young teen, he hadn’t dared put her in danger. That knowledge changed her entire perspective on his reason for secrecy.

  Her thoughts expanded as she thought of his years as a journalist while he hunted for the men hunting him. She shuddered at the horror he’d been living through since being taken to safety, never to see his parents again.

  She relived his story as she got in the shower and washed her hair. While it dried, she opened her bag and put on shorts and a blouse. Anna rang to let her know lunch was ready on the patio off the kitchen.

  Giannina went to Nico’s office and printed the story she’d written. With that accomplished she hurried through the villa to the patio. A hot sun blazed from a blue sky. Such fabulous summer weather should have put her in a vacation mood. But Alex’s revelations last night weighed on her heart. To be constantly watching and waiting for something dreadful to happen wasn’t a life she could comprehend.

  She sat beneath the umbrella shading the table and looked over the story she’d written. So much she’d left out because the details were too private, yet he’d trusted her with the full story.

  Since he hadn’t come out to the patio yet, no doubt he was still asleep. Anna had poured lemonade for both of them. Giannina drank hers slowly while the older woman brought out fish salad and rolls for them. No sooner had she gone back to the kitchen than he suddenly appeared wearing a fresh shirt and swimming trunks. It took everything not to gasp. He had the build and features of an Adonis.

  He sat down opposite her looking more rested than she’d ever seen him. His dazzling smile played havoc with her insides. “Good morning. You look good enough to eat.”

  She almost told him he did too. “Every woman enjoys hearing that. Have you heard from Zikos yet?”

  “Yes. He’s been meeting with members of the parliament who’ve been waiting for this day.”

  “It’s a wonderful one, Alex. What a great moment for you and your country. It’s finally happening.”

  His eyes held a new light. “Soon he’ll phone for me to fly to Loria.”

  That meant he’d probably be leaving right away. She was happy for him. As for herself, she was a mass of emotions still needing to be examined. “I’m glad we did your story last night. Here it is to look over.” Giannina handed it to him.

  He drank his lemonade while he read. Eventually he said, “There’s only one statement missing. After you insert it, I’ll give it my seal of approval,” he stated in his deep voice.

  “I can’t believe I left anything out.”

  He put down his empty glass. “It’s the part where the prince plans to marry Giannina Angelis of Salonica as soon as possible.”

  She sucked in her breath. “Three years ago I was ready to marry Philip Dimas, the journalist who stole my heart. I’d have gone anywhere with him, done anything.”

  By now he’d tucked into the salad. “Will it help if I get into my disguise? I can do it in a half hour, and you’ll have Philip back. Don’t you know I’d do anything for you?”

  She stopped eating, unable to swallow another bite. “How can you joke about a situation like this?”

  His dark head reared. “It’s no joke. I’m deadly serious.”

  “Alex—it isn’t your looks. Blond or black haired, you’re still the same person I fell in love with. I realize that now. But my problem is that you’re heir to the throne of Hellenia.”

  He eyed her with intensity. “Before anything else, I want to be your husband and will do whatever it takes to live with you and have children. On the cruiser I asked you if you still loved me and you said you did. I’m asking you again. Knowing the truth, have you forgiven me enough to love me now?”

  “Of course I love you, but that doesn’t mean I can see us married. Are you honestly saying you’d give up the throne to marry me? Don’t you know the world has been waiting for the favorite son to appear at last and take his rightful place at the head of the country?”

  He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “But I don’t have to be king. What if that son would rather live his life with the woman he adores? What if all he wants is to make her happy?”

  She blinked. “But you said that all these years, your whole purpose—”

  “My whole purpose,” he cut her off, “has been to avenge the death of my parents and make Hellenia free again from a tyrant like General Ruiz. The free government will choose a ruler from the people. I never said I wanted to be king, only that I hoped to work for the government alongside Zikos.”

  Giannina shook her head. “That’s hard for me to believe.”

  “Why? When I met you in London, I fell hopelessly in love. So did you.”

  “I did,” she cried, “but how could you imagine I’d ever be happy knowing you’d give up the throne for me? I’ll never forget those news photos my aunt kept in the scrapbook of your family. You don’t belong anywhere else. Your parents wouldn’t want you to do anything but carry on their legacy and traditions.”

  His gaze fused with hers. “I don’t know that and neither do you. I’m not sure if my father even liked being king. As far as I know he felt he had to do his duty, but that doesn’t mean he was happy about it. Do you imagine I could be happy ruling the country without you at my side? I couldn’t do it.”

  “Alex... You don’t mean that.” She looked shocked.

  “But I do. While we were on the cruiser, I told you I planned to work in government. I could be a consultant for the new Hellenian monarchy. It would be a full-time job. We could find a villa there. The beauty of it would mean I’d be home in time for dinner every night with my wife and the children I want to have with you.”

  Heat filled her cheeks. “When we both know the palace is your home, you’re not making sense.”

  “I’m
trying to,” he said earnestly. “Admit you’d love it if we bought a home in Salonica near your family. I could commute by helicopter from Loria. It’s obvious you and your brother are close. You could go on being editor-in-chief of the newspaper if that’s what you want. Or you could spend more time with your parents and aunt. I know your father isn’t as well as he used to be. We’d make it work, darling.”

  “I can’t see you as anything but a royal,” she exclaimed.

  “Are you saying you won’t even try?”

  She sat back in the chair. “I’ve read stories about royals who dared to live a separate life. I’ve always felt sorry for them. They’ve suffered for it in many ways because of their decision.”

  “I’m not one of them, Giannina. For that matter I don’t have to work in government. Who knows where I’ll end up if I follow my own destiny.”

  “Or maybe you’ll become one of the greatest kings who ever lived,” she blurted.

  “That’s a thought,” he teased. “Come on. This glorious day is calling to me. Let’s go down to the beach and enjoy each other. What would we have given to fly here for a weekend when we were in London? To have each other and this weather and beach is more than I could ever have asked for.”

  Troubled because his arguments were getting to her, winning her around, she pushed herself away from the table and stood up. “A swim sounds heavenly.”

  “Good. I’m glad we agree on that subject anyway.” He got to his feet. “Let’s hope you brought a bikini with you. I’d hate to have to throw you in the ocean and ruin those shorts.”

  How differently this day was going. “Aren’t you waiting to hear from Zikos?”

  “Always, but I’ll take my phone with me. I’m counting to twenty. If you haven’t returned from your room by then, ready to swim, I’m coming after you.”

  The gleam in those black eyes assured her he meant every word. She dashed inside and down the hall to her room. Her old blue bikini would have to do. She put it on and grabbed a beach towel from the cupboard.

  “Eighteen,” she heard him say as she hurried barefooted into the kitchen. “A wife who doesn’t keep her husband waiting. What a blessing you’re going to be!”