The Renegade Billionaire (5 page)

“You're reading my mind again.”

This was the first ferry of the day leaving for Keramoti. If Darren wanted to get off the island as fast as possible, this would be the one to take.

After parking the Jeep, he paid the fee and they walked on board, following the line of passengers. Since it was a Saturday of full-on summer, crowds of tourists slowed the lines down. He saw two police officers working the line.

Those people with cars had parked them end to end along the sides of the open air hold.

While everyone else went up on the deck to watch their departure, Stavros and Andrea inspected the interiors of each vehicle. All were empty. There were several small trucks. They eyed each other before he looked in the back of the first one. It was filled with lawn mower equipment.

Andrea moved forward to look inside the back of the next truck parked farther down. Stavros knew she'd found something when she came running toward him. “Quick,” she whispered. “There's a tarp covering something. I thought I saw movement and I don't dare lift it off without you.”

He grasped her upper arms. Their mouths were only centimeters apart. It was a miracle he restrained himself from kissing her senseless. “You stay here.”

Her breathing sounded shallow. “I won't let you do this alone.”

Stavros inhaled sharply. “Then stay behind me.” After letting her go with reluctance, he walked to the pickup truck in question and took a look for himself. In the next instant, he climbed over the tailgate. Reaching down, he removed the tarp. Sure enough, a body dressed in jeans and tennis shoes was wedged between several packing boxes. A pair of brown eyes stared up at him in shock. His head was resting on his backpack.

“Darren Lewis.” Stavros spoke in English, standing over him. “Stay where you are.” He pulled out his cell phone and called the police lieutenant.

After a moment the other man answered. “Kyrie Konstantinos? I wish I had better news for you.”

“Our worries are over. We've found the missing teenager on board the ferry in Thassos town. He's hiding in the back of a white pickup truck.”

“My men said they searched every car.”

“This teen has been elusive. Contact the ferry captain and tell him not to leave shore yet. Despinis Linford and I will detain the Lewis boy until you arrive.”

“I'll be there in ten minutes.”

Stavros helped Andrea up over the tailgate. She thanked him and sat down on one of the packing boxes. By this time, the teen was sitting up, but he didn't try to get away.

“Darren? I'm Andrea Linford from PanHellenic Tours. This is Mr. Konstantinos, the managing director of the Konstantinos Marble Corporation.” Not anymore. “We've been looking for you since you disappeared yesterday.”

He averted his eyes.

“Your tour director, Georgios, and your teacher, Mrs. Shapiro, have been frantic. Your parents were notified of your disappearance and are on their way here.”

The boy went a sickly ashen color. “My mom and dad are coming?”

She nodded. “That's right. The police will take you to them in Thessaloniki.”

“I'm eighteen and don't have to see them if I don't want to.”

So
that
was
what this was about. “Nevertheless, they want to see you,” Stavros stated. “Whatever is wrong, nothing can be resolved by running away.”

“I hate my father. I never want to see him again.”

The pain in his declaration wasn't lost on Stavros or Andrea. “Then you have the legal right to be on your own,” he said. “But you're in a foreign country and have broken the law by stowing away in a truck that isn't yours. You have some explaining to do to the police and they'll insist on speaking to you and your parents.”

Darren was fighting tears. “I don't want to talk to them.”

“I'm afraid you don't have a choice while you're still on Greek soil.”

Andrea got on the phone to her boss to tell him the good news. Before long, everyone, including the tour bus group, would know that the crisis had been averted. But the boy's nightmare was just beginning. From past experience, Stavros knew what it was like to be at loggerheads with his own father and had some compassion for Darren, whatever the problem.

“If you're hungry or thirsty, I'll get you something,” Andrea volunteered after hanging up. She had a sweetness in her that wasn't lost on Stavros.

“I don't want anything.”

“You must have had a bad night. Tell us how you got away from the quarry, Darren.”

“I hid underneath someone's truck. When the police walked off, I got inside the back.” Andrea and Stavros exchanged glances. “After it stopped at a village, I jumped out and walked down here during the night. While the cars were lined up to board the ferry, I got underneath another truck.”

“Even wearing your backpack?” Andrea marveled aloud.

“Yeah. People do it all the time in the movies. When the man parked his truck and left, I climbed in the back and hid under the tarp.”

“You were very resourceful.” Stavros would give him that. Six miles wasn't so great a distance. Obviously the boy had handled it without problem.

“Thanks.”

Thanks? Even though he was caught? Stavros saw a little of himself in the boy, who was hungry for approbation. Maybe even from his father? He sat down on one of the other packing boxes. “While we're waiting for the lieutenant to come, why don't you tell us why you hate your father so much?”

“He's got my whole life planned out—what he wants me to be, where he wants me to go to college.”

Stavros understood Darren better than the teen knew. “What does he want you to be?”

“An attorney like he is and go into politics.”

Stavros bowed his head. “And what do you want to be?”

“I don't know yet! One day I'll figure it out.”

“Do you have siblings?”

“No. I'm the golden child.”

That made the boy's journey much harder. “Now that you're eighteen, you can choose the life you want to live.”

Darren looked up at him, imploring him to understand. “Dad just doesn't get it, so I ran away. I wasn't going to stay away a long time.”

“You were hoping he'd suffer enough to see the light.” Stavros got it. “I have an idea. Go with the police and meet with your parents. Tell them the honest truth. If your father still can't be persuaded, then you'll have to decide whether you can stand to alienate him and go your own way.”

Darren nodded. “I can stand it. I don't want to be an attorney.”

“But you still love him, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then stick to your guns, but don't shut him out. In time I'm sure things will work out.”

“You think?”

“I do.”

Tears filled the boy's eyes.

“Here comes the lieutenant. I'll talk to him.”

“You will?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks for listening.” He looked at Andrea. “Thanks for being so nice.”

“You're welcome, Darren. Remember how lucky you are to have two parents who care so much. My dad had to raise me because my mom died when I was born. He loved me to death the way I'm sure your parents love you. Try to remain calm when you talk to them. When they see how rational you are, they'll be more receptive.”

“I doubt it,” he muttered.

Stavros jumped out, then helped Andrea down. “Come on.” He turned to Darren, who got to his feet and climbed down the tailgate with his backpack.

While two officers started talking to him, Stavros took the lieutenant aside and told him about the boy's fears. “He's having problems with his father about what he wants to do with his life.”

“I had the same problem with my father at that age.”

Yup. “I know he's not violent or dangerous. Just unhappy. We've talked and he's promised to go willingly to Thessaloniki and have a talk with his parents. Let me know what happens.”

“Of course. Congratulations on finding him so quickly. This is a great relief for everyone.”

“He might not have been caught without the help of Despinis Linford.”

The lieutenant turned to shake her hand before following his officers, who escorted Darren off the ferry to the police van. The teen waved to them. They waved back.

Stavros looked at Andrea and glimpsed tears in her fabulous blue eyes. She was equally anxious for Darren to reconcile with his father. “Let's go home, Andrea.”

They left the ferry and hurried to the Jeep. When they got inside, she buried her face in her hands. It took all his control not to pull her into his arms. “I'm so thankful we found him.”

He turned on the engine and drove out of the parking area. “You're not alone.”

She finally lifted her head. “Because of the problems you've had with your father, you were wonderful with him. It touched my heart. You gave him hope and the direction he needed. I'm in awe of the way you handled a very difficult situation.”

Moved by her words, he glanced at her. “The lieutenant will fill me in after they release him to his parents. In the meantime, all we can do is hope this means the beginning of some kind of reconciliation, but it's not our problem.”

She wiped her eyes. “No. Thank heaven he's no longer missing. That's because of you. I couldn't have done the search for him I wanted without your help.”

Satisfied he could concentrate on her from now on, he lounged back in the seat. “We worked well together. After our fine piece of detective work, we deserve the best lunch I can make for us after we reach the house.”

“Only if you let me help.”

“Do you like to cook?”

“If I have the time.”

He liked the sound of that since he had plans for them for the rest of the weekend. When they reached the villa, he walked her to the guest room. “I'm sure you'd prefer a shower before we eat. I need one myself and a shave. There's a robe and toiletries in the en suite bathroom for the use of guests. Bring your clothes to the kitchen and we'll get them washed while we eat.”

She looked away, but he caught the flush on her cheeks. “I couldn't impose on you.”

Stavros had been waiting for that response. “I'm afraid you don't have any say in the matter. We camped out in the forest all night. You helped a teacher and tour guide hold on to their jobs and saved your company and mine from notoriety we don't need. When you get to know me better, you'll find out I'm prepared to indulge you endlessly.”

Before she had time to argue, he walked away from her.

CHAPTER THREE

A
NDREA
HUNG
ON
to the handle after she'd shut the door to the bedroom. Had he said
endlessly
?

She knew he was grateful that both their companies had been spared making headlines in the media. But his comment had indicated something more personal. For a man like Stavros Konstantinos to be interested in a foreigner working for a tour company when he could have any woman he wanted didn't make sense.

After removing her clothes, she went into the bathroom and stood under the shower, but she couldn't get him off her mind. While they'd been talking last night, she'd inferred he was allergic to marriage, but he'd admitted to having girlfriends. Naturally he did. With his kind of potent male charisma, what woman in her right mind would resist him?

Her thoughts flicked to Ferrante, who had attracted her for other reasons, particularly his happy nature. You couldn't compare him to Stavros, who was more brooding. They were in different leagues. Andrea couldn't think of another man who measured up to the dynamic member of the Konstantinos family. Though she knew he was powerful when necessary, she admired the kind way he'd handled Darren when he'd found him.

Intuition told her he was the real force behind the corporation's success. He was a man who lit his own fires in spite of his father's heavy hand. Who wouldn't admire him for the courage of his beliefs? Last night he'd told her they'd find Darren and she'd believed him.

In the light of day she realized it was amazing she'd trusted him enough to spend the night alone with him. He'd had that effect on her. Such a complete effect, in fact, she was taking a shower in his villa before joining him for lunch.

Andrea shut off the water and stepped out on the bath mat surrounded by a floor of gleaming white Thassos marble. A white toweling robe hung on a hook on the back of the door, but she stopped short of walking around his home in it.

Just remembering that moment on the ferry when he'd grasped her arms to keep her from danger made her breath catch. His lips had come too close to hers. Here they'd been looking for Darren, yet she'd wanted him to kiss her.

You need to go home, Andrea.

When she got back to her apartment she would wash her clothes.

After reaching for a towel to dry off, she brushed her teeth and then went back to the bedroom to put on her blouse and skirt. A thorough brushing of her hair, a coat of lipstick, and she was ready to face her host for a meal before she left for Thessaloniki.

Her stomach growled as she walked on stunning stone-and-marble floors on her way to the kitchen. Everywhere she looked she saw the ancient blue-and-white Greek pattern, whether it was on the tufted cushion of a couch or a vase of flowers. During her rare shopping jaunts, she'd learned its geometric elegance was thought to resemble the waves of the sea and shapes of labyrinths, a symbol for infinity.

When she reached the kitchen, she found Stavros putting a salad together and hoped he hadn't heard her hunger pains. While they'd been apart, he'd showered and shaved. Andrea could smell the soap he'd used. It was impossible not to stare at the way the white collared polo and khaki trousers fit his incredible physique.

His gaze played over her, but he made no comment that she wasn't wearing the robe. “Except for a dip in the ocean, there's nothing as refreshing as a shower. I've got lunch ready and thought we'd eat out on the patio.”

“What can I do to help?”

His black brows lifted. “Not a thing except to join me.”

“Do you know I'm getting more indebted to you by the minute?”

“What if I told you I like the odds?”

Avoiding those penetrating gray eyes, she said, “Well, as you can see, I'm not complaining.”

She followed him through an alcove to the patio with a lattice covering and was greeted with a breathtaking view of the Aegean. They sat down to a glass-topped round table. He'd provided iced tea and rolls, along with a salad of olives, feta cheese, tomatoes and chunks of succulent chicken.

They both ate with a healthy appetite. “This is delicious.”

“Again, I can't take the credit.”

Andrea put down her fork. “You're talking about your housekeeper.”

He nodded. “Raisa.”

“Does she live with you?”

“No. She and her husband live in Panagia. She comes twice a week to clean the house and keep my fridge stocked.”

“You're an interesting man, Stavros. Every time I want to talk about you, you somehow change the subject, but this time it won't work. There
is
something for which you can take full credit.”

His eyes swerved to hers. “What's that?”

“When you discovered Darren lying there between the boxes, you could have come down hard on him with every right, yet the opposite happened. Maybe if his own father treated him the gentle, reasonable way you did, the two of them wouldn't have a problem. One day, you're going to make a terrific father.”

Something seemed to flicker in those pewter depths. “I was just about to pay you a similar compliment. Instead of berating him, you asked if he needed food or water. Under the circumstances, your compassion was refreshing.”

“Surely not. Anyone could see he was just a teenager, even if he'd just turned eighteen. You could tell he was frightened.”

“Not everyone would have responded the way you did.”

Her mouth curved into an impish smile. “Then that must make both of us exceptional human beings.”

Except for his smiling eyes, she didn't know how Stavros would have reacted because a female voice had called out from the interior of the villa. In the next instant, he got to his feet in time for an attractive woman with silver in her cap of black hair to appear at the patio entrance. She looked maybe early sixties and was stylishly dressed in a summer suit.

“
Mama—
I didn't hear the helicopter.” He walked over and gave her a kiss on both cheeks. “Why didn't you call to tell me you were coming?”

“I didn't want you to know,
o gios mou
. When I heard the news yesterday that you've left the company, my heart failed me.”

Andrea was stunned. Stavros had left the Konstantinos Corporation?

“I've been planning it for a long time. You know that.”

“I never believed it would really happen.” She shook her head. “When I couldn't find you at your condo, I decided to pay an unannounced visit to the island to find out what has possessed you to do this. You've caused an explosion in the family that has shaken it to the very foundation.”

“It'll run smoothly without me.”

That was Stavros's modesty talking. Andrea was still trying to comprehend it.

“Why have you done this?” his mother cried. “I don't understand. Neither does your father. He's livid that you chose the board meeting to make an announcement that has hurt him to the core.”

“He'll live.”

At his response, Andrea's hand gripped her glass tighter.

“How can you be so cold?”

“I've always gone my own way. This is nothing new.”

“When you talk like this, I can't believe you're our son. What has happ—?” His mother suddenly stopped midsentence because she'd just spotted Andrea seated at the table. Her cool brown gaze took swift inventory as she moved toward her. “But I'm interrupting and can see you have a guest. No wonder you didn't hear the helicopter arriving.”

“I'd like you to meet Despinis
Linford.”

Andrea stood up and shook the older woman's hand. She admired Stavros's aplomb in handling what had turned into a painful confrontation. A lesser man wouldn't be able to brush his mother's concerns aside with such diplomacy. But it was obvious Stavros had the strength to swim against the tide when necessary.

She hadn't truly understood some of the dynamics of his family until this moment. More than ever, she knew the Konstantinos Corporation would suffer with him gone. But she sensed there was something that went even deeper for his mother to show up like this.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Kyria Konstantinos.”

“Would you like some iced tea, Mama?”

“Please.” She sat down on one of the chairs near the railing. He poured a glass and walked it over to her. His mother took a sip before she regarded Andrea. “I had no idea my son wasn't alone.” She looked at him. “Are you going to enlighten me?”

Stavros lounged against the railing, the urbane host. “Andrea works at the headquarters of PanHellenic Tours in Thessaloniki. An incident at the quarry developed yesterday, and she came to investigate.” Without hesitation he explained what had happened, but left out certain details his mother didn't need to know. “The teen was found today and returned to his parents. We've been having a celebratory lunch.”

She frowned. “Maybe now you'll understand why allowing tour groups at the quarry isn't a good idea. You should have listened to your father.”

His mouth tightened into a white line. “Careful, Mama,
or you'll hurt Andrea's feelings. She's the one who approached our corporation in order to add it to the student itineraries. Like me, she's anxious to increase the public's education concerning one of Greece's greatest resources. I'm glad my grandfather thought it would be beneficial and backed me before he passed away.”

Andrea was subjected to another taste of his mother's disapproving scrutiny. “Where are you from?”

“I was born in Denver, Colorado, but I've lived in many places around the world with my father.”

“She's fluent in many languages besides English and Greek,” Stavros interjected. “It might interest you to know she received her degree from Aristotle University.”

Needing to stop the inquisition in the most polite way she knew how, Andrea got up from the table. “Stavros fixed our lunch, Kyria Konstantinos, so the least I can do is clear up. Since you came to talk with your son, I'll give you some privacy and do the dishes before I leave. Please excuse me.”

Whatever his reaction, Andrea avoided looking at him. After gathering up their plates and glasses, she headed for the kitchen. When she went back to get the salad bowl, she discovered the two of them had disappeared, which was a relief.

Once she'd restored the kitchen to order, she reached for her purse and went out to the patio to wait for him. The view was so heavenly, it almost didn't seem real. A few minutes later, he made an appearance alone and stood in front of her with his hands on his hips in a forbidding male stance. His fierce expression was so different from that of the relaxed host who'd made their lunch earlier. She could hardly believe she was looking at the same man.

“I apologize for my mother, Andrea.”

She shook her head. “Why? Among other things, I now know where you get your good looks.”

“Because she walked in on me when she knew better.” Andrea decided he hadn't even heard the compliment she'd paid him.

“She's your mom, and she was obviously so upset about the news she'd heard and was afraid you would remain unreachable.”

“That's no excuse for rude behavior. To be honest, she has never burst in on me before in my own home.” Andrea believed him. “She's normally quite gracious. I can promise you that my resignation from the company had little to do with her springing herself on me the way she did.”

Andrea didn't know the exact reason for his mother's reaction, but the sight of a strange woman with her son had set her off even more. There was more to that story, as he'd said, but it was none of her business.

“You don't owe me any explanation, Stavros. I need to get the car back to Thassos and catch the next ferry, but I waited so I could thank you for everything.”

His black brows furrowed. “Your boss won't be expecting you before Monday. Why are you in such a rush?”

Her heart pounded too hard in her chest. “I have work waiting at the office that must be done before next week.”

He cocked his handsome head. “I think you're trying to get away from me.”

The best way to handle this was to agree with him. She smiled. “I admit it. But if you remember, I asked if you would let me come with you to look for Darren. Since the crisis is over, it's time for me to get back to Thessaloniki.”

After a short silence, “What if I want you to stay?” His husky tone played havoc with her senses.

She took a fortifying breath. “Forgive me for being blunt, but I can't afford to stay.”
I'm far too attracted to you.

How could she feel this strongly about him when Ferrante hadn't died that long ago? She didn't want to know the pain of loving someone again and was shocked at the strength of her feelings for him already. A prominent man like Stavros Konstantinos could have his pick of any woman, but he could never be serious about her. It wasn't worth risking her heart to stay around any longer, especially when she'd be leaving the country with her father in the not-too-distant future.

“Thank you again for letting me play detective with you. I won't forget your generosity.”

Andrea walked past him and out the rear door of the house to her car. It was the longest walk of her life. Getting away from him now meant she'd escaped before it was too late. To remain here another minute would be putting herself in emotional jeopardy.

She'd had enough time to think about his mother's shock at finding her son with Andrea. Stavros had admitted this had nothing to do with his recent business decision, but it was all too much of a mystery for Andrea. She pressed on the gas as she made her way down the mountain.

As Andrea was finding out, Stavros was more complicated than she'd first realized. Not so Ferrante, who'd been open with her from the start. No mystery, no secrets. He'd asked Andrea to marry him. He'd wanted a life with her. Marriage, children. The whole thing. Why that fierce mountain blizzard had to come along and destroy their dream, she didn't know.