Stay With Me

  Who was I kidding? Thano was stuck in the past and I was walking around reading books about the Greek culture and trying like hell to figure out why his grandmother spit on me three times. I finally got the answer today in the book I had bought at Barnes and Noble.

  “You’re lost in thought.”

  Making myself smile, I shook my head. “Sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind with projects and such.”

  We quickly got lost in an easy conversation. I had to admit, Dale would be easy to date and he was probably good in bed. Not as good as Thano, but I’m sure he would be okay.

  Looking away, I closed my eyes. Jesus. Am I really now settling for some guy so I can forget Thano?

  My breath caught in my throat and I opened my eyes. His green eyes pierced mine almost immediately.

  “Thano,” I whispered.

  He was standing with his best friend Gus and two women.

  Placing my hand on my stomach, I tried to keep down the sick feeling I had growing.

  He’s on a date.

  He’s moved on.

  When he glanced over and looked at Dale, his eyes turned angry. Was he really going to be upset that I was out with someone when he had some bleach blonde on his arm?

  Fuck that.

  Looking away, I focused back on Dale. “So, how often to you come to Colorado Springs?”

  Taking a drink of his wine, he placed it back on the table. My heart was racing as I felt Thano’s eyes on me. That’s why it felt like someone was watching me. Thano had seen us walk in.

  “I try to come at least once a week to help my father. This family cabin is important to him. Family is actually important to him. He wants a place we can all get together and spend holidays and such with.”

  Smiling, I tried like hell to ignore the burning feeling my body felt from Thano’s stare. I took a chance and glanced back over to them. They were still standing; it appeared Gus’s date had spilled her wine. I hope it got all over Thano’s stupid tan pants that looked so damn good on him.

  When he smiled at me, I looked back to Dale.

  “Well, I hope that we can make it a place your family will feel at home in.”

  “Oh, I don’t doubt it. I’ve seen your work. I’m really impressed, especially since you really haven’t been in business for all that long.”

  Reaching for the wine, I tried like hell to keep my hand from shaking.

  “Are you okay, Kilyn?” Dale asked with a concerned look on his face.

  “Um, yes. I think I need to use the ladies room though for a minute, if you’ll excuse me.”

  He stood when I stood and I couldn’t help think that was very sweet of him. I took the long way around to the restrooms so I wouldn’t have to walk near Thano and his date.

  Once I made it into the restroom, I sucked in a few deep breaths. My phone buzzed in my purse.

  Pulling it out, my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw Thano’s name.

  Thano: Who is the guy you’re with?

  My eyes widened and I was positive my jaw hit the ground.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? How dare he!”

  Tapping angrily on my phone, I replied back to his text.

  Me: A client. Who’s the bleach blonde? Your latest ladybug?

  After I hit send, I covered my mouth. “Oh, God,” I whispered. “Why did I say that?”

  I waited for ten minutes and Thano never replied back. I couldn’t blame him. What I said was cruel and I knew it.

  With a frustrated moan, I dropped my phone back into my purse and covered my face with my hands. Screaming into them, I dropped them back to my side and counted to twenty.

  Opening my eyes, I decided it was time to cut this dinner short. Dale would be upset, but I’d tell him I was not feeling well all of a sudden. After all, I’d been locked away for ten minutes in the restroom.

  I reached for the bathroom door and walked out, only to be grabbed by the arm and dragged down the hall by Thano. He slammed me up against the wall and looked into my eyes.

  My chest was heaving as I tried like hell to pull in air. He was piercing my gaze with his dark angry eyes, and holy hell was it turning me on.

  “What in the fuck did that mean?”

  I knew what he was talking about, but for some reason, I egged him on. “What did what mean?”

  “My latest ladybug? Do you really think I go around picking up women and having sex with them?”

  Lifting my chin, I replied, “I don’t know. Do you? For all I know you’ve already whispered in her ear in Greek. Maybe telling her how beautiful she is.”

  Thano hit the wall next to my head, causing me to let out a small scream. I’d never seen him so angry. The funny thing was, I wasn’t the least bit afraid because I knew he would never hurt me. If anything, I was the one who hurt him with my comment.

  “Do you have any idea how torn apart I’ve been, Kilyn?”

  Searching his face, I looked back into his eyes. “No. If you were so torn apart, why haven’t you . . .”

  I looked away.

  “Why haven’t I what?”

  Peering back at him, my voice was angry. “Called me, Thano. Reached out in some way to let me know you were so torn apart. For all I know, you’ve been completely fine. I mean, you’re on a date, so you must not be that torn apart.”

  “It’s Gus’ sister.”

  Pinching my eyebrows together, I asked, “What?”

  “The girl I’m with, it’s Gus’s sister. Both of them are his sisters. They just got into town and Gus asked if I wanted to come along. I’ve known them since they were little.”

  Oh, hell.

  “Well, that doesn’t matter because you have done nothing to reach out to me so—there!”

  He pulled his head back. “So there? What are we, in middle school, Kilyn?”

  I sunk my teeth into my lip and tried like hell to come back with one of those witty replies that always seem to escape until twenty minutes later when it hits me.

  Lifting his hand, he pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “I’ve missed you so much, ladybug.”

  My eyes closed and I fought like hell to keep my tears back.

  His lips moved across my neck, causing my entire body to tremble. “I miss you in my arms, Kilyn.”

  I slowly shook my head.

  “Even if you haven’t missed me, please say you have. I think it would kill me if you told me something else.”

  Opening my mouth, I tried to force myself to talk, but my throat burned as I tried to keep my emotions at bay.

  When his lips moved up and pressed against my ear, my knees went weak. I reached for his arms and held on with all my might.

  “I’ve missed your laugh, ladybug. The way you make me feel like I’m the only person in the room when you talk to me. I need to feel your lips pressed against mine or I may go crazy.”

  The small hallway was beginning to spin. “Please tell me you’ll give me another chance. I want to show you how much I love you so badly.”

  A small sob slipped from my lips as I pulled my head back and searched his face. “Wh-what?”

  “Let me make love to you tonight. Please.”

  Oh, dear God, yes.

  What happens to me when this man is near me? I’m left defenseless when I’m in his arms.

  “But, what about Savannah?”

  Cupping my face within his hands, he stared at me with such intensity I held my breath waiting for his words. “Look into my eyes, Kilyn.”

  I did what he asked. His green eyes were bright as the sun. The sadness and darkness I saw in them before was now gone.

  “She is my past and you are my future. We both have scars, Kilyn, but I know they will fade in time if we’re together.”

  He grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest. “You’re the only woman who has ever truly been here. Right here in my heart. Without you, I’m nothing. With you, I’m hundred percent complete. You have moved me out of the darkness and into the light and, I swear, I will spend the r
est of my life showing you how much I adore and love you.”

  Every nerve ending in my body tingled as my heart rate quickened. With a soft expression, I whispered, “If you say something to me in Greek I’m pretty sure you will be guaranteed to have me in your bed tonight.”

  The smile that spread across his face caused me to giggle.

  Leaning over, he brushed his lips lightly over mine and whispered, “Se agapó.”

  My lower stomach pulled with desire. “Wh-what did you say?” I asked against his lips.

  He slowly kissed along my jaw until I felt his hot breath against my neck. When he nipped at my earlobe, I moaned. There was never a moment in my life where I was so turned on.

  “I said . . . I love you.”

  KILYN PRACTICALLY MELTED into my body when I whispered in her ear that I loved her. Her body shook as she gazed lovingly into my eyes.

  With a beautiful smile, she softly said, “I hope you know you just changed the whole game.”

  With a chuckle, I winked. “And you know I’m playing for keeps, right?”

  Her eyes sparkled and practically lit up the dark hallway. “What about me not being Greek? I still haven’t perfected that damn honey cake thing your mother said was your favorite.”

  Laughing, I pressed my lips to hers. With her arms wrapping around my neck, we quickly got lost in each other.

  I barely heard a male’s voice clear his throat. Pressing myself into Kilyn, she moaned into my mouth and it took everything out of me not to take her right here.

  “Um . . . excuse me? Kilyn?”

  Breaking our kiss, she whipped her head to the side. “Dale. Oh, gosh, I totally forgot all about you.”

  Ouch. Not what any guy wants to hear under any circumstances.

  With a frown, Dale asked, “Am I interrupting something?”

  Not really knowing where this guy thought he was going to get with Kilyn, I decided to make a statement loud and clear.

  “Yes, me getting back together with my girlfriend.”

  Kilyn looked back at me, her mouth gaped open. We never really were officially dating so I’m sure my declaration came as a surprise, and I hoped like hell she didn’t get upset with me.

  When she slowly smiled, I knew I was in the clear.

  “I see. So does this mean our dinner is being cut short, Kilyn?”

  Cutting in before she could say something, I laughed. “Hell no. Why don’t the two of you join us? My friend Gus’s sisters are in town and I’m sure they would love for someone new to join our group.”

  Dale looked at Kilyn and then back to me. “Sure. Why not. I’m not ready to call it an evening yet.”

  Lacing my fingers with Kilyn’s, I lead them both over to our table. “Gus, Casandra, Lacy, this is Kilyn and one of her clients, Dale.”

  Casandra and Lacy both eye fucked the hell out of Dale and I knew he was no longer my problem. “Client?” Lucy asked.

  “I’m an interior designer. Dale’s father has a house in the mountains I’m decorating.”

  Casandra perked up and patted the seat between her and Lucy. Dale quickly took it.

  “Ah . . . I’ll grab our drinks,” Kilyn said as she watched Dale completely become engrossed with Gus’s sisters. Gus, of course, did a quick hello and focused back in on the girl at the next table.

  “I’ll help you,” I said, placing my hand on her lower back and following her over to the table. Grabbing Dale’s drink, I motioned to let the waitress know Kilyn and Dale were now joining our table.

  Kilyn chuckled as we made our way back. “I’m pretty sure we could drop the drinks off and slip right on out without anyone noticing we’re gone.”

  Wiggling my eyebrows, I asked, “Is your work with Dale done?”

  She flashed me a seductive smile. “Yep.”

  We set the drinks down and I grabbed a few twenty-dollar bills out of my wallet and tossed them onto the table.

  Taking Kilyn’s hand in mine, I practically dragged her out. “Did you drive here?”

  “No, my car is still at the office. Did you?”

  Reaching my hand, I waved for a taxi. “No, Gus drove.”

  I could practically feel the desire pooling off of Kilyn. The sooner I got her back to my place the better.

  Once the taxi pulled up, I held the door open for her as she slipped in. Giving him my address, I quickly pulled her over to me and pressed my lips to hers.

  When my phone started ringing, we both groaned. Pulling it out of my pocket, I rolled my eyes when I saw it was my mother.

  “It’s like she has hidden cameras everywhere.”

  Kilyn giggled as she settled in next to me. God it felt good having her with me.

  “Hey, Mama.”

  “Athanasios, your father needs you to come over and help him with this bookshelf.”

  “Now?”

  She made a tsking sound and said, “Yes, now. Thaddeus and Nicholaus are not answering their phones. You father is going to kill himself if you don’t come help.”

  I silently cursed my brothers. “I’m kind of in the middle of something; can I come over tomorrow and help him?”

  My mother started yelling at my father in Greek as Kilyn covered her mouth and laughed.

  “Tomorrow? Tomorrow I could be dead!”

  Oh, Lord. Now she sounds like Yiayia. “Mama, I seriously don’t think you’ll die before Dad gets the bookshelf up.”

  “You don’t know that, Athanasios. No one can predict these things. What are you doing that you are so busy you can’t come help your father?”

  I knew I was about open up Pandora’s Box, but what the hell.

  “I’m on a date.”

  Kilyn’s hands dropped to her lap while her mouth gaped open. “Thano!” she whispered.

  For the first time in a long time I did the unthinkable.

  I silenced my mother.

  “Did you say you were on a date? Dimitris! Your youngest son is on a date.”

  I could hear my father saying something in the background but I couldn’t make it out.

  “Praise the heavens above. Bring her to me.”

  My eyes about popped out of my head. “What?”

  “Now. Bring me this girl so I can see who has captured my son’s heart.”

  “Um . . .” Turning to Kilyn she wore a look of horror on her face.

  She slowly shook her head.

  “Um . . . Mama, we sort of had plans and I’m not sure we can change them.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  “No . . . I mean, yes! Yes, we ate.”

  Just then Kilyn’s stomach growled. She laughed and my mother heard her.

  “Awe! Your stomach tells the truth. I’ll put a little something on; it won’t take long. I’ll see you in about thirty minutes.”

  Feeling a sense of panic wash over me that I was losing control of this conversation, I called out, “Wait! We can’t, Mama! You’ve already met her!”

  Pulling the phone from my ear, I stared at it.

  “She hung up.”

  I turned to look at Kilyn. Her mouth was open as she stared at me. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

  “Same.”

  With a long drawn out moan, I dropped my head back against the seat. “I fucked up. Again.”

  “What happens if we don’t go?”

  “She will call my cell over and over as she drives to my apartment. If I’m not there I wouldn’t be surprised if she turns on the tracker. I’m almost positive she has one on each of her son’s phones.”

  Kilyn laughed while taking my hand in hers. “She’s going to find out sooner or later. We might as well get it over with.”

  She began looking over her body.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Seeing if I have anything I really love on before your mother or grandmother spits on me.”

  I stared at her for a few seconds before I lost it laughing. “What makes you think they’ll spit on you? And they don’t actually spit, anymore. T
hey just make the noise.”

  She lifted her eyebrow. “Says you. If either one of them compliments me, I get spit on. I’ve been reading up on Greek superstitions and all of that.”

  My heart jumped as I looked at her. “You have?”

  With a sweeter than sweet smile, she nodded. “I have.”

  Slipping my hand around her neck, I pulled her lips to mine and kissed them. When I pulled back some, I searched her face. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

  Without taking my eyes off of her, I told the taxi driver we had a change of plans and gave him my parents’ address.

  It didn’t matter if my parents loved or hated Kilyn. I had nothing to prove to them and, although I wanted their approval, I didn’t need it.

  Kilyn’s eyes dropped to my lips as she licked her own. “I have to be honest with you, Thano.”

  “Please always be honest with me, ladybug.”

  Lifting her eyes to mine, she scrunched her nose up in the most adorable way and said, “I’m scared to death for your parents to find out about me.”

  With a lighthearted laugh, I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. “Somehow, I think it’s going to be okay.”

  “How do you know?”

  I shrugged and said, “Because my mother already likes you.”

  “She doesn’t even know me.”

  “That’s not true. She has met you a few times. And that whole thing with her and her posse showing up at the Onion Creek Gardens, that was totally planned.”

  Kilyn pulled back some to look at me. “It was?”

  “Yep. I had told my mother about you. She started piecing things together and took it upon herself to go check you out.”

  Now it was her turn to let out a moan and drop her head back. “Oh, dear God. Thano, I made such a fool out of myself that day. I totally messed up the dishes and I dropped something and broke it. Oh, God! This is bad! This. Is. So. Bad.”

  My heart felt so full and I was surprised I wasn’t the least bit worried about the wrath of my mother. Pulling Kilyn onto my lap, I lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “This is not bad. This is you and I finding our way back to each other. I don’t think it was a coincidence you and I running into each other all those times. We were meant to be together. Even if I couldn’t see it at first, I’ve always known it in my heart. All we have to do is show up, eat some food, help my father with some bookshelf and then I’m taking you home and making love to you all night.”