The Renegade Billionaire
Stavros Konstantinos instilled such confidence in her, Andrea had no doubts he could do anything. She was alarmed by her thoughts about him—considering he was a stranger, she shouldn’t have been thinking about him at all. “You’ll need his description and a picture. I can email the information in his file to your phone right now.”
He pulled out his cell and gave her his number. Within a minute, he’d received it. She watched him study the dark blond boy’s passport photo. “He’s nice looking with that Marine cut. It says he’s five-eleven with brown eyes. He’ll be easy enough to recognize.”
“Unless he was carrying a disguise in his pack. Maybe turn himself into a woman?”
He flicked her another searching glance that sent a curl of physical awareness through her. “That would definitely throw anyone looking for him off the scent. I’ll pass your idea on to the lieutenant in case he hadn’t thought of it. You never know.
“Perhaps you noticed Darren’s birth date on the passport. He turned eighteen yesterday, which makes him an adult.”
“I didn’t catch that.” This man’s mind was a steel trap.
“What else do I need to know about him?”
She sucked in her breath. “My boss found out Darren comes from a well-to-do Connecticut family, so he probably has enough money on him to last for a while. Maybe he planned this before leaving the States, possibly with someone else who’s waiting for him at another destination.”
“Anything’s possible.”
“My guess is he’ll try to leave the island by boat rather than ferry. I’ve been studying my map of Thassos. There are dozens of harbors. How hard would it be for him to pay a fisherman to take him somewhere else and escape under the radar, so to speak?”
His eyes narrowed on her features. “It sounds like you’ve had experience with this kind of thing before.”
“Some,” she admitted. But not while she’d been working for the tour company.
“If he tries to get away in a boat, the harbor police will be onto him. In the meantime, I’ll head back to my house to change and go after him. As I recall, your tour brochure mentioned the Dragon Cave near Panagia.”
“Yes. They would have toured it this morning.”
“Then he might have decided to go there to hide for the night.”
“You’re right.” She hadn’t thought of that. “You’d make an excellent detective if you hadn’t been born a Konstantinos.” The comment had slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it. What in heaven’s name was wrong with her?
After a pause his lips twitched. “There’s a thought.” His amused tone played havoc with her breathing.
Andrea had visited the Dragon Cave months ago. It contained amazing stalactites and stalagmites. She’d seen the stalactite shaped like a dragon. “The literature says the cave hasn’t been fully explored.” Fear clutched her heart to think Darren might be foolish enough to penetrate a danger zone.
“I’ll check there first. There’s no time to waste.”
“Kyrie Konstantinos—” She thought he was about to walk away and wanted to stop him. He eyed her with such a penetrating gray gaze, she felt he could see right through her. This important man was ready to drop everything to look for a boy he didn’t know. With the police already doing a search, he didn’t have to do it and no one would expect it of him.
On top of his overwhelming male attributes, there was a goodness in him she could feel. The combination startled Andrea. She felt drawn to him in ways she couldn’t explain and would have to analyze later. “I’d like to go with you and help.”
He looked stunned. “Why would you want to get involved?”
“Because in a sense this is my fault. I’m the one who asked the quarry manager if we could bring our tours here. These quarries have been worked for a thousand years, yet many tourists still aren’t aware of their existence. I find them fascinating and convinced my boss to agree to the idea of a tour here in the first place.”
His head reared back in surprise. “Your idea?”
“Yes. I can only imagine how much you wish your quarry manager had said no to me. I realize everything is a risk, but you could have no idea how responsible I feel now that this has happened on your company’s property. And to be honest, there’s another reason...”
She felt his gaze travel over her. “What would that be?”
“Eighteen months ago I lost my fiancé. He was a mountain-climbing guide who’d gone up on Mont Blanc with some other climbers. They were caught in a terrible storm. When it was discovered he was missing, I was told I couldn’t assist in the search because it would be too dangerous.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Immediately, his eyes softened with compassion. She could feel it.
“I had to wait ten agonizing days until they found his body on a ledge. When I think of this boy’s parents hearing the news that their son is missing, I can’t stand by and do nothing.” Her eyes smarted with unshed tears. “Even if I’m not able to do any good, I want to help in the search for him.”
She heard him inhale sharply. “You can add me to that list of people who feel responsible because I’m the person Gus appealed to for permission to allow tours here.”
A small cry escaped her lips. “I knew he would have to go through channels. What a surprise to find out it was you.” Incredible.
“I’d say today has brought several surprises. But I don’t regret giving permission, not even under these circumstances.”
She took an unsteady breath. “Neither do I. Hundreds of students and teachers have benefited from what they’ve learned here.”
“That’s been my hope too.”
His words warmed her. She sensed he was a man she could trust. It was her own unexpected attraction to him she didn’t trust. “Whatever the outcome, please don’t worry that you’ll be liable. The tour company will take full responsibility.”
In the silence that followed, she took it to mean he was thinking about a possible lawsuit from the boy’s family once their attorney found out the Konstantinos family’s worth was in the millions. She wouldn’t blame this man for having no use for today’s litigious society. It was also apparent he wasn’t keen on her help.
Disappointed that she couldn’t be of help, she started to walk around his car to get to hers.
“Despinis Linford?”
Andrea whirled around.
“You’re welcome to come with me. But we could be out all night.”
All night alone with him? Her heart thudded for no good reason—except that wasn’t true. She knew exactly why it was thudding. She wanted to be with him. “I don’t care about that. If we can find Darren, that’s all I ask.”
“Then we’ll have to go back to my house for a few provisions.”
“Thank you. I’ll follow you.”
She got back in the rental car. En route, she called her boss and told him what was going on. Then she phoned Georgios and explained that she was going to help in the search for Darren and would keep in close touch. He thanked her in a shaken voice before they hung up.
The fact that Darren was now eighteen meant he was no longer a minor. Maybe his parents had given him this tour for a birthday present. To Andrea, his disappearance was more troubling than ever. As an adult, he could do what he wanted.
Andrea didn’t think she could handle it if anything happened to him before he was reunited with his parents. It hadn’t been that long since Ferrante’s death. Being hired by PanHellenic Tours had saved her life and she was doing better these days. But Darren’s disappearance triggered remembered pain from that terrible ten days when she’d waited for word.
CHAPTER TWO
THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR, Stavros watched the rental car following him to the house. Andrea Linford had come as a complete surprise in so many ways; he was still in mild shock. Her Greek was amazing, but there was a lot more to her than her linguistic ability.
When he’d first laid eyes on her, he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. To his chagrin, the first words to come out of his mouth had been accusatory. But she’d turned the tables on him with that very maturity he’d thought had been lacking. Over the course of a few minutes, he’d found himself utterly overwhelmed by the unexpected strength of his feelings for her.
The fact that she wanted to help find a boy she’d never met revealed a depth of character that appealed to him. For her to confide her agonized feelings to Stavros over the death of her fiancé—to have felt so helpless while she’d waited for word of him—it had torn him up inside.
The shocks kept coming. Since she’d been the one to plan an itinerary that included a tour of the quarry, she must be a person who thought outside the box. He found that intriguing.
As for her physical attributes, those long legs and the way she moved her shapely body had branded her an American. She was a natural, honey-blonde beauty with deep, sky-blue eyes who needed no makeup to be attractive.
No wonder Gus hadn’t been able to turn her down when she’d approached him on behalf of PanHellenic Tours. She’d probably had that same effect on her boss, who couldn’t help but hire her.
Hell. She’d had that effect on him or he wouldn’t have agreed to let her come along to search for the boy. Talk about a day like no other!
When he reached the house, he pulled around the back next to his Jeep. She parked on the other side of him. He tried not to stare, but he couldn’t help glancing sideways when she got out of her car. In an odd way, her sensible walking shoes only drew more attention to those beautiful legs of hers.
“Come in the house and freshen up in the guest bathroom while I gather a few items. I’ll pack some food and drinks so we can eat along the way.”
“Let me help.”
Once inside the rear entrance, he showed her where to go before he loaded up a food hamper in the kitchen. With that done, he walked through the house to the bedroom to change into jeans and a crew-neck shirt.
After checking with the police lieutenant, who had no good news to report yet, Stavros pulled on his hiking boots, then drew some parkas and sweaters from his closet. On the way back to the kitchen, he stopped in the storage room for his large flashlight and extra batteries. A smaller flashlight was in the Jeep.
His soft top was loaded with everything else they might need: blankets, a small tent, a bedroll, a couple of fold-up camp chairs and extra petrol. He was always prepared in these mountains. Whether they found Darren tonight or not, they’d be comfortable.
Stavros had never taken a woman camping with him. It was going to be a novel experience. He realized he was looking forward to being with her. When he’d walked out of the board meeting for the last time earlier in the day, little had he dreamed that by nightfall he’d be searching for a runaway teen with this lovely woman.
When Andrea saw him coming, she relieved him of the coats and sweaters so he could carry everything else. They left the house and hurried out to the Jeep. By the time they were packed up and ready to go, twilight had fallen over the lush landscape.
He started down the road toward another one that would lead to the Dragon Cave. “Did you talk to your boss?”
“Yes. He’s already informed Darren’s parents. They’ll be on the next plane to Thessaloniki.”
“Could they shed any light concerning their son?”
“No. He’s a scholar who’ll be attending Yale in the fall. They’re baffled and in agony.
“Sakis told me not to come back to work without the boy. That’s how anxious he is.”
“We’ll find him.”
“Since this is your backyard, I believe you.”
Her faith in him was humbling. “How about digging in that hamper for a couple of sandwiches. My housekeeper makes them up for me.”
“Sure.”
She turned around on her knees and reached in the hamper behind his seat. Her movement sent a faint flowery scent wafting past his nostrils, igniting his senses, which had been in a deep sleep for longer than he cared to remember. After handing him one and taking one for herself, she pulled out two ice-cold bottles of water.
They rode for a few more minutes before she asked, “How high up are we?”
“About four thousand feet.”
“That’s high for an island. Have you climbed to the top of Mount Ypsarion?”
“Many times.” He darted her a glance. “Have you ever climbed a mountain?”
“Yes. Mount Kilimanjaro.”
At her unexpected answer, Stavros let out a whistle. “That’s over nineteen thousand feet high.”
“I found that out when I needed to stay on the oxygen above fourteen thousand feet. My dad took me up while he was working in Tanzania.”
Fascinated, he said, “Does he still work there?”
“No. From there he was sent to French Guiana for two years, then India for three. Later he spent two years in Paraguay and another two in Venezuela. From there he was sent to the Brusson area of northwestern Italy for three years. Then he came to northern Greece. We live in Thessaloniki, where I got my degree in history and archaeology from Aristotle University.”
Stavros marveled. “What does your father do?”
“He works for W.B. Smythe, an American engineering company in Denver, Colorado, where I was born. Gold practically built the state. His company designs and fabricates modular plants and equipment for the extraction of gold and silver. As of this year, they’ve established a global presence in twenty-four countries. From the time I was born, I’ve lived with my father wherever he was sent.” He’d be going to Indonesia next.
“How many languages do you speak?”
She let out a sigh. “Besides the obvious, I’m fluent in Italian and French, and speak some Hindi, Afrikaans, Swahili, Spanish and Guarani. It’s no great thing. You have to learn a country’s language while you’re there if you hope to survive. Lucky for Darren, a lot of your countrymen speak English.”
“Amen.” He cleared his throat. “What about your mother?”
“She died giving birth to me.”
He smothered a moan. No mother...
“Dad and I have been nomads, traveling the globe. He was the one who taught me about the white marble quarries here.”
The feminine fountain of knowledge sitting next to him was blowing him away. Everything about her had already gotten under his skin. “What exactly did he tell you?”
“Besides the fact that the quartz crystalline structure resembles freshly fallen snow and is only quarried on this island?”
“Besides that.”
“He passed on a piece of trivia I found interesting. The visual effects team working on the American films of the Twilight saga used very fine pure white Thassos marble dust, which they added to the face paint. That’s why there’s this incredible sparkling effect when sunlight touches the vampires’ skin! Trust my dad to know details like that. He’s the smartest man I ever met.”
Stavros filed the information away. “Have you told him that lately?”
“All the time.”
“Lucky man.” Since Stavros’s father already believed he was the smartest man living, Stavros had never paid him such a compliment.
“I’m the lucky one to have a father like him.”
“You know what I think?”
She flicked him a curious glance.
“Despinis Linford is the smartest woman I ever met.”
“Hardly.” Another troubled sigh passed her lips. “Please. Call me Andrea.”
“Then I insist you call me Stavros.”
“The sign of the cross. A holy name.”
“My parents regret giving it to me. I’m afraid I’m the apololos provato of their brood.”
She turned her head to look at him. “You? The black sheep of the Konstantinos family? Why would you say such a thing?”
“Maybe because I choose to do things other than live up to my father’s dreams for me.”
“It sounds like you have dreams of your own and think for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that. You ought to wear it as a badge of courage rather than a curse.”
A curse. That was exactly what it had been like, but she made it sound like something to be proud of. A different way to look at himself? How did she manage to do that without even being aware of her power? The thought was daunting because he realized he could really care about her. That was a complication he didn’t need right now.
“You’re fortunate to have a father who approves of you.”
“You mean yours really doesn’t?”
“Afraid not.” His voice grated. “Your incredulity tells me how different our fathers are. In my whole life, we’ve rarely seen eye to eye on anything. Unless it’s his way, it isn’t right.”
“But you’re obviously successful!”
“Not in his eyes.”
“That’s horrible.” Her voice shook. “How painful for you.”
“I’m used to it.”
“Even so, I can hear the hurt in your voice deep down.” Her keen perception astounded him. She studied him for a minute. “For what it’s worth, I approve of you.”
“Why?”
“When we first met, you were ready to give me a full interrogation at the quarry. But after I introduced myself, you listened, and in your unique way, you apologized and let me look for Darren with you. I find that admirable and think I like you much better now.”
Andrea Linford, where did you come from?
Little did she know he already liked her to the point he was ready to carry her off to an unknown location where they could get to know each other for as long as they wanted, undisturbed by anything or one. It shocked him that he would entertain such a thought when he’d only just met her.
They’d neared the trail that led to the cave. It was getting too dark for tourists to be out. Stavros had been watching for anyone walking along the winding stone road bordered by heavy underbrush.
He pulled to a stop. “We’ll have to go on foot from here. Grab one of the parkas. I know it’ll drown you, but it will also keep you warm. The temperature inside the cave is always cooler, especially at night. Darren might not be here. If he isn’t, then let’s whisper once we get inside while we wait and turn off the flashlights. In case he does show up, we don’t want our voices and lights to scare him off before we approach him.”
“Understood.”
Andrea understood about a lot more things than he could have imagined.
They both got out and put on a coat. She reached for two bottles of water she could carry in the pockets of her parka.
He handed her the smaller flashlight, making sure it worked, then turned on the big one. After throwing a blanket over his shoulder, he locked the Jeep. Before he knew it, she’d gone down the path ahead of him. Because of the overgrowth of mountain foliage, it grew so narrow in spots that they had to proceed single file. So far, they hadn’t seen anyone.
Soon, they came to the large mouth of the cave. It looked like a dark hole. He moved past her, flashing his light around the interior for any sign of the teen. They went deeper, until the shaft of light lit up the dragon-like stalactite. Though it was always dark in the cave, the night gave it added menace.
If Darren intended to hide in here, Stavros doubted he’d go much farther for fear of getting lost. He turned to Andrea and put his lips close to her ear. Again, he was assailed by the delicious scent of her. Maybe it was the shampoo from her wavy dark blond hair, which fell loose to her neck. “Let’s sit here awhile and see if he comes.”
* * *
Andrea nodded and edged away in order to counteract the feel of his warm breath against her skin. He hadn’t touched her, but he didn’t have to for her to be intensely aware of him. After he spread out the blanket, she sat down cross-legged. In the next moment he’d taken the same position facing her.
The last thing she saw before they turned off their lights was the bone structure of his striking eastern Macedonian features. He was fiercely male, all of him.
Just thinking about all of him made her swallow hard. She felt the cool darkness enshroud them. If she was nervous and disturbed, it wasn’t because they were in a cave that was black as pitch. Something had happened to her from the moment Stavros Konstantinos had alighted from his car looking like a Greek statue come to life. It was so strange because she hadn’t been interested in any man since Ferrante.
“Do you know what a rare creature you are?” His whisper came out of the darkness.
Her body trembled in reaction. “Why do you say that?” she whispered back.
“Because your behavior is so perfect, you’ve forced me to break the silence in order to tell you so.”
Andrea couldn’t help but smile. “I learned early in life that most men don’t like chatter. Of course, my father isn’t like most men. I loved him and always wanted to go with him wherever he was sent.”
“Is he waiting for you in Thessaloniki?”
“No. He stays in a village near the Skouries mine for three weeks at a time. Then he comes to our furnished apartment in the city to see me for a week. While I’m at the office, he cooks up a storm for us. I take time off when he arrives so we can explore the sites together.”
“Your father never married again?”
“I once asked him that question because he’s had his share of girlfriends. He told me that because he has to move around the globe every so often, he decided it would be too difficult to be married. Plus, he said, I was the only child he wanted.”
“I can understand that. Both his reasons make perfect sense. Would you have liked a stepmother?”
No one had ever asked her that question. “I don’t know, since I never grew up with my own mother. To be honest, I didn’t care for some of his girlfriends and they didn’t care for me, so I’m glad he didn’t marry one of them.”
She could hear a change in his breathing. “How old are you, Andrea?”
“Twenty-six. And you?” she fired back, growing more curious to know everything about him.
“Thirty-two. Tell me about the man you were going to marry.”
He’d changed the subject fast.
“Ferrante was Italian-Swiss from Ticino. He came from a large family with five brothers and sisters of whom he was the eldest. I’ve never met anyone so happy and friendly. Some people have a sunny spirit. He was one of them.”
In the silence that followed, a warm hand reached out and found one of hers to squeeze. “I’m sorry you lost him.”
His sincerity reached the deepest part inside her, but Andrea wished he hadn’t touched her. Still, she didn’t pull away because she didn’t want to offend him when he was trying to give her comfort.
“I’m much better these days. What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?”
He removed the hand that had spread warmth through her body. “Like your father, I’ve had my share.”
“But so far you’ve stopped short of marriage.”
“Yes.”
“That yes sounded emphatic,” she observed. “With a last name like yours, I guess you can’t be too careful.”
“Your perceptiveness must be a gift you were born with.”
“I think it’s the influence of my rather cynical father.”
“So he does have one flaw...” His response sounded almost playful. “I was beginning to worry.”
“Why?”
“A perfect father is hard to live up to.”
“Are we talking about mine?”
She was waiting for his answer when she heard a faint noise. Andrea supposed it could be a rodent running around, but she hoped it was Darren and jumped to her feet. In the process, her body collided with Stavros, who was also standing, and he wrapped her in his strong arms.
“Don’t make a sound.” This time his lips brushed her cheek while he whispered. Instantly rivulets of desire coursed through her bloodstream.
While she stood there locked against his well-honed frame, there was more noise, a little louder than before. Whatever made the sound was getting closer to them. Stavros must have been holding his flashlight because he turned it on in time to see a ferret scurry away.
Andrea relaxed against him, but Stavros still held on to her. No longer whispering, he said, “It’s past eleven o’clock. If Darren had planned to come here tonight, he would have arrived by now, don’t you think?”