Double Trouble: Newborn Twins

“Thank you. I didn’t realize I was thirsty until now.”

His eyes, a solid metal-gray at the moment, met hers over the rim of his drink. “I know what you mean.” An odd nuance in his low voice caused her to believe he was referring to something else. Memories of the two of them communicating in the most elemental of ways on that beach never left her mind. Trembling, she looked away.

“What do you recall about my receptionist?”

The question was so strange, she thought she hadn’t heard him right, but Andreas never said or did anything without a reason. “I suppose I thought she was firm, but fair…even kind in her own way.”

“An excellent description,” he murmured. “Anna’s going to be seventy on her next birthday. She worked for my father forty-five years and never married.”

“They must have been a perfect match for her to stay in his employ that long.” Gabi imagined the woman had been madly in love with the senior Simonides. If he had a tenth of his son’s brilliance and vitality, it all made perfect sense.

“When he stepped down, I kept her on with the intention of asking her to train a new receptionist before I let her go. However, after one day of working with her, I realized what a treasure she was and I refused to consider breaking in anyone else.”

Gabi swallowed the rest of her drink. “If it hadn’t been for her, the twins would still be without their father. For that alone, I like her without really knowing her.”

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Being a receptionist is only one of Anna’s jobs. In a word, she’s the keeper of the flame. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I think so,” Gabi said with conviction. “She’s a paragon of the virtues you admire most.”

He nodded gravely. “But she needs to retire and get the knee replacement she’s been putting off.”

“I noticed her limping.”

“It’s getting worse every day. The trouble is, I’ve despaired of finding anyone else like her. Then I met you.” His piercing glance rested on her, reminding her of something he’d said to her a week ago.

If you were looking for a job, I’d hire you as my personal assistant on your integrity and discretion alone.

The worst nightmare she could conceive of was upon her. She knew exactly where this conversation was going and shook her head.

“Before you refuse me outright,” he said, “I’m only suggesting that I could use your help while I look around the company for the right person to replace her. It could take me several months. You’ll be given your own furnished apartment on the floor below my office. There’s a restaurant on the next floor down for the staff.”

“Andreas—” she blurted almost angrily. “What’s this really about?”

“I don’t want you to leave Greece until we know Kris’s heart operation is successful. If there are complications, you’ll want to be here.”

She didn’t want to be reminded of that possibility. “I’m praying everything will go well, but if it doesn’t, I’ll fly over on the spot.”

“That’s not good enough.”

What was going on inside him? She knew his request couldn’t be for personal reasons. Besides his girlfriend, there were legions of women who’d love a fling with him. “Why?”

He seemed fascinated by the pulse throbbing in her throat. “I just came from being with the family. The babies were out of control. We both know they were looking for you.” They were? “Let’s be honest. With the operation coming up, Leon’s going to need you. I know it in my gut.”

Gabi bowed her head. “They’ll get over the separation in a few days and cling to him.”

“I don’t believe that, and neither do you.” Andreas leaned closer to her. “These things take time. I know how much you love the boys. Admit you’re dying inside after having to give them up.”

“Of course I am.” The tears started spurting. Too late she covered her face with her hands.

“Gabi…” Andreas whispered in a compassionate voice.

“When Thea asked me to find a couple who would adopt the boys, it killed me because I wanted to be the one to take over. She didn’t know that by then I was prepared to give up my career for them. But the law forced me to come to you.”

“Thank God it did!” In a sinuous movement Andreas pulled her into his arms. At first she remained stiff, but his gentle rocking broke down every defense and she ended up sobbing against his broad shoulder.

“I know how much you love them,” he murmured into her silky curls. “That’s why I don’t want you to leave. Stay and work for me until Kris has recovered fully from his operation. You and I can visit the twins after work every few days. That way everyone will be happy and it won’t interfere with the bonding going on between them and their father.”

When she realized she’d be content to stay like this forever, she eased away from him and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

Eventually she glanced at him, never having realized gray eyes could be so warm. His love of the twins produced that translucent glow. “When you put it that way, you manage to exorcize all the demons. Only Andreas Simonides can make everything sound so simple and reasonable, even if it isn’t.”

“That’s all I needed to hear. The matter’s settled.”

No. It’s not. “Nothing’s settled. First I have to talk to my boss and determine if that promotion will still be waiting for me if I get back at a later date.”

“After knowing you a week, I can guarantee he’ll move mountains to accommodate you in order to get you in the end.”

Andreas said whatever needed to be said in order to accomplish his objective. That was why he was the head of the family business. There was just one problem. She couldn’t figure out his objective. She knew he loved the twins, but he was after something more.

“Tell me the real reason you’re asking me to temp for you. By your answer, I’ll know if you’re telling me the truth or not.”

“You’re not just anyone. You’re the twins’ aunt. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to peek in on them from time to time. That’s hard to do from across the ocean.” A compelling smile broke out on his striking face. “I want to peek with you.”

Andreas…

She averted her eyes. “That’s the wrong answer.”

“It’s the only one I have,” he answered with enviable calm.

“You mean the only one you’re willing to offer me. Without knowing the truth, I can’t stay in Greece even if my boss were willing to give me more time away.”

His smile faded. “I didn’t know there was more truth to tell unless it’s my guilt.”

She blinked. “About what?”

He eyed her intently. “About everything. It’s my fault my brother’s marriage is in trouble again. If I’d left everything alone after you walked out of my office, they wouldn’t be headed for divorce and the twins would be in Virginia leading perfectly contented lives with you.”

“Except that I couldn’t have adopted them.”

“They’d have still been yours, Gabi.”

“And after they grew up and demanded to know about their father, what then? If I admitted that I’d known his name all along, they might never forgive me.”

A strange sound came out of his throat. “You’ve just put your finger on my greatest nightmare. If I’d kept the secret of the twins over the years knowing Leon and his wife could never have children, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself for playing god with my brother’s life.”

It was Gabi’s turn to moan.

He reached out and grasped her hands. “The truth is, you and I are up to our necks in this mess together. Leon needs our help for a little while longer.”

She sucked in her breath. “But you don’t really need an assistant.”

“Actually I do. Anna’s got to get that knee operated on right away.”

“You could hire any number of secretaries in your company to replace her.”

“I could, but I thought one of the reasons you were leaving Crete was so your parents could get back to the lives they were leading before Thea became ill.”

“You’re right,” she confessed quietly.

“By the time you leave my employ, I’ll be hiring a permanent assistant.” He kissed the back of her hands before letting them go. A tingling sensation coursed through Gabi’s sensitized body and lingered for the rest of the trip to Heraklion.

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