Papaioannou 01 - Ever Fallen in Love Read online

  He grinned. “Did I not mention that?”

  “No. No, you didn’t.”

  “It must have slipped my mind.”

  “Uh-huh. Right, how much do I need to get in on this action?” I asked Richard.

  He smiled, and wet his pencil. “I’m afraid that right now only Anne is backing you. If you wish to join forces with her, Melanie and I have eighty dollars on Theo.”

  “I’m so going to take that bet.” I was incensed, and only in time remembered I didn’t have any money since Misha had my purse. I looked at Theo. “Can you stake me?”

  “I thought you didn’t want my money?” he asked, his eyebrows raised in a show of innocence.

  “As a loan. I’ll pay you back when I get a new bank card. Can you match Anne’s thirty dollars for me?”

  He nodded, and Richard wrote down the bet.

  “I am above such things,” Theo said loftily, “but my son is not. Put him down for fifty. I’ll make good the amount.”

  “On?” Richard asked, pencil poised.

  “Me.”

  “Smug bastard,” I murmured, smiling to myself.

  “What was that?” Theo asked.

  “Hmm? Nothing.”

  It took a couple of tries before we worked out a method of starting that was fair, and after deciding that three laps was a close approximation of fifteen hundred meters, we stood ready and poised.

  “If you think you’re going to let me win just because I’m a woman, I will never forgive you,” I whispered to Theo as I took my starting position, butt in the air, hands dangling right above the ground.

  “Would I do that?” he asked.

  Richard held up his phone, and let the starter app countdown run. As soon as the whistle starting the race hit the air, I was off, not putting my full speed into the hill, since there was a nice flat stretch on the top where I planned to accelerate.

  Theo passed me almost immediately, his long legs positively eating up the ground. I kept my eyes on the path, not wanting to stumble on any untoward rock, inhaling over the course of three steps, and exhaling for two, finding my rhythm almost automatically as I crested the top. He was about twenty feet ahead of me, and opening up ground between us. I let him, seeing his arms pumping harder than they needed to be. The rat was showing off, obviously wanting to impress me with his speed.

  By the time he hit the turning point, I had closed the space until he was about fifteen feet ahead of me. He grinned as he passed me heading back toward the bench.

  I put on a little speed on the way back to the bench since I was out of his view, and I caught a glimpse of surprise on his face when he turned and saw me on his heel. He powered past me up the hill, and I took the time to wave at the Darts, who were all yelling and cheering. I saw him glancing back as he hit the flat part of the spine. Thirty feet now stood between us, and I knew he was going to relax at the sight of it. He turned and headed back down the path, saying as he did so, “Getting tired, sweetheart?”

  “Cocky, very cocky,” I yelled at him, and decided enough was enough. I’d had my fun.

  I let my pace pick up, my breath coming shorter, but still matching the stride, my arms relaxed and helping my feet push me forward. I caught Theo just as he was about to turn at the bench, touched it, and was three strides ahead of him before he could even turn. Anne cheered loudly. I kept my eyes on the path, feeling the familiar sense of euphoria that came from a run, hearing Theo behind me. I dug deep, pulling out memories of years of track meets, mentally shifting my legs into a higher gear. The sheep, the scrubby shrubs that dotted the spine of the island, and the black faces of angular rock that broke through the earth to reach to the sky all blurred past me. I touched the turning-point rock, and headed back on the last half of the lap. Theo touched the rock and turned, his breathing started to get ragged. I mentally shook my head at him and shifted gears one last time, wanting to throw my arms in the air and laugh with the sheer joy of it all.

  Theo conceded when he crested the hill down to the bench, and saw me sitting there, waiting for him.

  He slowly came down the path, his big chest heaving, sweat making his face shine. “Bloody ... hell ... what ... are ... you ... bionic?” he asked between panting gasps for air.

  I wasn’t gasping, but my breath was definitely on the short side, and it took me a minute before I could answer. “Three-time collegiate champion in the mile.”

  “You ... you ...” He fell to his knees, laughing and mopping his face with his shirt.

  The Darts swarmed us, helping Theo to his feet, holding out bottles of water, one of which I sipped gratefully. “I am so out of shape,” I told Anne when she congratulated me for the third time. “Even given that this wasn’t run on a track, my time is disgraceful.”

  “Later,” Theo said, looking like he wanted to fall down again. “Later I will have cutting things to say to you about women who hide their status as college champion—”

  “Three times, evidently,” Anne said.

  I grinned at her.

  “Three times,” Theo amended, glaring at me. “But now I’m going to allow Richard to assist my broken and aching body back to the house, while those of you who are superhuman monsters can bring my child.”

  I blew him a kiss, watching Anne divide up our winnings while Melanie wheeled Peter after the men.

  I waited until they were out of sight before plopping myself down on the grass with less elegance than a drunk hippo. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I thought he’d never leave.” I lay back and stared up at the sky, finally giving in to the burn of my calves and thighs. “I never want to do that again. I thought I was going to die the last little bit down to the bench.”

  Anne laughed so hard she startled a pair of terns who were sunning themselves.

  The following morning, I was so stiff I could hardly walk.

  “You move like an elderly badger that’s been run over a few times,” Theo commented when I hobbled to the bathroom.

  He had just emerged from the shower and stood upright, one extremely gorgeous naked man, with his sleek skin, and rippling muscles. I hated his body at that moment, all strong and supple and evidently not in the least bit affected by the race.

  I snarled something rude at him and headed for the toilet. Theo stood before the mirror shaving, something that fascinated me, but I tried not to stare while brushing my teeth. He finished and dropped his towel, striding out of the bathroom like the Greek god he was. I glared at his tempting butt, picking up his towel and hanging it before returning to the bedroom to pick out something to wear. He must have thought I was still in the bathroom, because he limped over to one of the closets containing his suits, making soft little moaning noises while trying to flex first his feet and calves, then his back.

  “If the elderly badger fits... ” I said from the door, and grinned when he frowned at me.

  “My next wife isn’t going to be a bloody gazelle,” he called after me as I slipped on a pair of leggings and a tee and went to get Peter up. “She’s going to be a sloth. Do you hear me? A sloth!”

  I was engaged in convincing the baby to try a little minced pear with his yogurt when Theo emerged from the bedroom clad in the pair of shorts he referred to as being lucky.

  “I thought you were going to your office today?” I asked, confused.

  “I am.” He waved a hand down his torso. “I lost the bet. Would you like to tousle my hair yourself, or would sticking my head out of the window of the helicopter be enough to mess it up?”

  I looked at the knee-length, stained, faded shorts, and walked around behind him. A hole the size of an orange gaped, revealing his black underwear and exposing the sweet curve of one of his magnificent butt cheeks. I returned to face him, my eyes narrowing on the formfitting tank top that clung to every muscle of his chest and belly. Dammit, I could see his six-pack through it.

  “I changed my mind,” I said, my eyes on his chest and bare arms. “Wear your suit. Maybe two. Can you fit three on at the same time?�
��

  He laughed, kissing me hard and fast, a promise in his eyes when he returned to the bedroom to change. He no longer walked like a badger.

  “I hate to say this to you, because the man is your father, but there are times when he’s just a big ole poopy-head. No more pear? Would you like to try this bit of banana? I’ll put a tiny bit of peanut butter on it since you didn’t have an adverse reaction to it yesterday.”

  Peter accepted the quartered slice of banana, spreading it between his fingers before eventually conveying it to his mouth.

  “I’m having new bank cards for you couriered out today.” Theo emerged from the bedroom clad in a black suit with a thin gray stripe running through it. “In case you want to do any shopping.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “Online shopping,” he said, cocking his head when the sound of the helicopter could be heard over the surf.

  “We don’t have Internet,” I pointed out.

  “Which is why I’ve provided you with a limitless data plan. You know how to use a tablet, don’t you?” he asked, nodding to the table where the tablet computer sat.

  “Of course.”

  “Good. I’ll get another mobile phone for you, as well—”

  His phone rang as he spoke. He glanced at it, a little frown on his brow as he answered it with a curt, “Yes?”

  “I believe a little shopping for you is in order today, sir,” I told Peter while I wiped up his face before setting him down. “Some sort of a waterproof swimsuit to go over your diaper would do nicely.”

  I glanced at Theo, going to ask him what he would think of the ladybug outfit, but the words dried up on my lips as I caught sight of his body language. He’d turned so his back was to me, his shoulders hunched up, the one hand holding his laptop case white with strain.

  I gave Peter a toy and silently moved over to Theo.

  “—will warn you that I will not tolerate you harassing my wife in any way,” he said in a low voice, ugly with threat.

  Fear washed over me, leaching all the pleasure out of the morning. I moved around to Theo’s side, holding his arm.

  He tried to turn away from me, the fury on his face almost as frightening as the thoughts that were twisting and tumbling through my head.

  “I’ve said all that I’m going to say,” he spat out, and hung up on the caller.

  “Oh, God, my phone,” I said, the image of Mikhail’s face red with anger fresh in my mind. “I forgot to cancel it yesterday.”

  “I didn’t.” Theo’s jaw was so tight, I was amazed he could talk. “I left it on hoping he’d call. I wanted to tell him what I’d do to him if he even thought about contacting you again.”

  Part of my brain, the part that still remembered the bad times, urged me to run from Theo. He was angrier than I’d ever seen him, and angry men were dangerous. I felt sick to my stomach as I put my hand on his arm again. “I’m sorry,” was all I could say.

  His furious blue eyes turned to me. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Three men will be arriving today. Richard will meet them at the helipad. If they do not show him the proper documents, he will ensure they get back on the copter and return to Auckland.”

  “What three men?” I asked, shrinking back from the look in his eyes.

  He blinked and looked down at his arm where I’d withdrawn my hand. Carefully setting down his laptop bag, he took me by the arms, and looked into my eyes. “I’m not mad at you, wife. I will never be mad at you.” He made a face. “Well, when you beat me so easily at a race I was fatheaded enough to think I could win, then I might be a tiny bit irritated, but ninety-nine percent of that was directed at myself, not you.”

  I tried to summon a smile, but couldn’t. “I should have told you, so that you could have given it your best shot.”

  He gave a short bark of laughter, his expression returning to one I knew and loved. He pulled me into his arms for a kiss so hot, it just about made my toenails steam. “My love, I was giving it my best shot. More than that. I was trying with every aching atom of my body when you loped past me like I was standing still.”

  “What three men?” I asked again.

  “Security team,” he said, releasing me and picking up his laptop bag. “Richard will see them first. Don’t go up to the helipad until he tells you it’s all right.”

  “Do we need security men on the island?” I asked, worry gripping me again with its icy fingers.

  “No, but it will mean I can work in Auckland without giving myself an ulcer.” He patted my cheek, kissed Peter, and was out the door before I could catch my breath.

  “I have to do something,” I told Peter when I took him out on the patio to watch Theo’s copter disappear to the west. “I refuse to let him get hurt. I refuse to let you get hurt. Maybe if I find whatever it is that Mikhail wants, he’ll leave us be.”

  “No no no no no.” Peter pointed to a bird.

  “A flash drive,” I said, shaking my head. I certainly didn’t have anything like that, but with nothing else I could do, I took Peter in to play in the bedroom while I pulled out my duffel bag, laying out all my clothing. Peter happily disregarded his toys in favor of crawling into the bag, talking to himself as he pulled several T-shirts in with him.

  “I’ve worn all of these in the nine months since I left Misha,” I told him, examining each shirt carefully. I didn’t know how small a flash drive could be made, and had no idea how one could get into my seams, but I felt each one, then turned my attention to my jeans and leggings, socks, underwear, even the underwire on my bra. The soles of my shoes were intact, and once I wrestled Peter out of the bag, I went over it inch by inch, but it, too, was clean of any USB devices.

  “And why would he hide it in my stuff, then get mad at me for having it?” I knee-walked over to the nightstand where I’d placed the four books I’d taken away with me, all paperbacks, none of them looking like anything but a book. “Hmm.”

  I eyed the narrow rectangular wooden tray that sat on Theo’s dresser, getting up to look at it. I’d collected sand for it the previous night, filling the Zen garden tray before placing my five rocks on it and using the tiny wooden rake to make a pleasing swirly pattern. “It’s just a Zen garden. How can you hide anything in rocks? Oh, this is hopeless.”

  “Hello? Kiera? Richard wanted me to tell you that some men will be arriving in fifteen minutes, and that you should stay in the house until he checks them out. Hello, Peter. Are you hiding? Are we going to play peekaboo?” Anne knelt down as she entered the bedroom, tickling Peter’s stomach when he poked his head out of the duffel bag. He chuckled and offered her a couple of slobbery fingers. She told him he was too charming for his own good, and looked over to where I sat on my heels. “What do you have there? Oh, one of those meditation gardens.”

  “Yes. Swami Betelbaum recommended it. He said it’s good for us to see what patterns have meaning to us each day, but to be honest ...” I looked down to where I was holding the tray, and carefully set it back on the dresser, next to a picture of a woman who Theo said was his sister, and another of his brother and sister-in-law. “My mind is so confused, I don’t think there’s a meaning at all.”

  “I know things seem bleak now, but I think you’ll find that Theo is immovable about some things, and keeping you and Peter safe is definitely one of those things.”

  “Yes, but who’s going to keep him safe?” I wanted to cry, but knew that was an irrational action.

  She patted my arm, but had nothing else to offer other than I had to have faith in Theo.

  Faith in him wasn’t my problem, but I decided I’d gone around that particular circuitous thought pattern enough already. “Are the three security men going to stay on the island?”

  “Yes, in the guesthouse. Richard said that we can take two of them with us when we go to the mainland.”

  I made a face.

  She laughed. “I know you don’t want to go there now, but when you’re ready to do a little shopping, we’ll take the bodyguards, and
I promise we won’t let you be kidnapped again.”

  “I could use some new clothes, but I think I’ll wait for a time when Theo can take me himself.”

  Richard brought the three men down to meet me a half hour later, introducing them as George, Paul, and John.

  “I’m sorry,” I told the three men, giving them all apologetic smiles. “I don’t want to do this, but I kind of have to. No Ringo?”

  They made the polite sort of smiles that said they’d heard the quip many times before. George, who was a tall Maori man with lovely tribal tattoos on his neck and an even lovelier Australian accent, said, “I’m afraid we had to leave him behind. I understand from Mr. Papaioannou and Mr. Dart here that you’ve been having a bit of trouble with an unwelcome ex-suitor.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” I had Peter on my hip, rubbing his back, since he was getting sleepy, and I wanted to put him down for a nap before it got too late.

  “You don’t have anything to worry about with us here,” Paul said. He was almost as big as George, but blond with a crew cut and a thick New York accent.

  “You just let us know when you want to go to the mainland, and we’ll detail an escort for you,” George added.

  “Did Mr. Papaioannou talk to you about your bugout bag?” George asked.

  “My what, now?”

  He explained that I needed to make a small bag with those items necessary to a stay of a few days away from home, as well as one for Peter.

  “OK, but ...” I glanced at Anne. “I don’t really have any clothes I can spare to put in it.”

  George raised an eyebrow at me. I decided he didn’t need to hear about my weird quirks. “I advise you to get your bag together as soon as you can.”

  I promised him I would, thanked them all, and let Richard and Anne escort them off to the guesthouse, which sat higher on the cliff. Peter and I settled down for a nap together on Theo’s big bed, my mind alternating between worrying about Theo, wondering where the flash drive was that had Misha so worked up, and thinking about going to the mainland to get some much needed clothing.

  I didn’t hear the noise until Richard shouted my name.