Chapter 10

10

P aige merely watched, wondering how she fit in here. She understood why they kept switching back to Greek, but not knowing what they were saying made her uncomfortable. They were undoubtedly talking about her, whether it was intentional or not, and she hated being left out. This was what she was afraid of if she somehow decided to stay with him—her heart had already made a decision but she knew she had to listen to her head as well .

" Paige ?"

She started, glancing up guiltily. "Sorry, I let my mind wander ."

"We're going to dinner with my family at 2:30," Apollo said. "But I was thinking we'd go to the beach for a couple hours. It will give us a chance to talk ."

She nodded. "Sure. Whatever you want ."

"You okay, honey?" He looked at her closely .

"Just a little nervous. I'll be fine ."

He made a strange face but nodded and rose to gather coffee cups .

M elina and Dimitri left a few minutes later and Paige went upstairs to slip on her bathing suit and put her hair up. Going to the beach sounded like a great idea; a place she could relax, think, and prepare herself to meet his family. Things had gotten far more complicated than she'd anticipated when she'd agreed to stay, and part of her desperately wanted to go home. If only that didn't mean leaving Apollo. It was crazy, but loving him felt natural and as she'd sat there listening to him and his father, she'd realized just how connected they were. Marriage, in the legal sense of the word, was nothing more than a piece of paper. One signature on those papers at his office would terminate it and technically it would be like nothing had changed in her life. Except being with Apollo again had essentially changed everything in her life .

Going back to her life in Las Vegas seemed so foreign after just four days in Greece, and she couldn't explain it. The idea of going out with Tom ever again was laughable. Even though she enjoyed her job, it didn't tug her to go home. She wanted to give notice and leave in good standing, but if the choice was between her job and Apollo, there was no question which she would pick. Her family and friends were another story, though. She was close to her parents and sister, and she couldn't even imagine living 7,000 miles away from Raegan. Not to mention learning a new language, new customs, and a whole new city to find her way around. Would she work? Stay home? Would being with him compensate for so many potential problems? She wanted to say yes, but her brain told her to slow down; this was such a big decision to make for a man she'd technically known less than a week .

"What were you thinking with such a serious face?" he asked her when they were finally settled on two chairs on the beach .

"About this. Us ."

"Which part?" he chuckled .

She smiled wanly. "How we can possibly be together ."

"Is it so difficult for you to think about living here? With me?" He didn't look at her, his heart pounding as he waited for her answer .

"No more difficult than it would be for you to think about living in Las Vegas with me. Remember, I have a family too. Friends. A job. Granted, I don't make the money you do and I don't own my own business, but I have a life there ."

"I know." He squeezed her hand. "But for us to be together, one of us would have to make that sacrifice ."

"And it would most likely have to be me because you make a lot more money ."

"It might be difficult for me to make the kind of living I make here over there ."

"I know ."

"But the other side to this is that my father has hurt me professionally here in Greece. I might actually have to think about working in the U.S ."

"That would work for me, but I don't think it will for you," she said slowly. "You have a bigger family and, despite what's happened with this deal, this is still your family business and your legacy. Your father will eventually pass away and it will be up to you to take over ."

"That might not be for 30 or 40 more years," he pointed out. "My father is only 48 ."

"It's just so complicated ."

"After what we've shared in just a few days, do you believe you'll be able to simply walk away from what we have?" he asked. "Because I'm having a hard time imagining my life without you in it now that you're here ."

"Me, too." She looked up and shook her head. "Is this real, Apollo? Are we really trying to decide if we want to stay together ?"

"I don't know what you're doing," he said levelly, still not looking at her for fear she would see the vulnerability in his eyes that he hoped was hidden in his voice. "But I've regretted walking away from you for more than three years and I plan to do everything in my power to convince you to stay with me ."

"What happens if things don't work out?" she asked, realizing she needed to be honest. Their relationship was still new and their time together limited; she couldn't keep things to herself because the clock was ticking .

"What do you mean ?"

"I mean, if I uproot my life to stay here with you and you find someone else or a year down the road you figure out that you're not happy…or something. I'm afraid, Apollo ."

Their eyes met and he gripped her hand so he could bring her fingers to his lips. "If you're concerned that things might not work out between us, leaving you stranded in a foreign country, that's a fair concern. I can't think of any reason you would ever be in a situation like that—we're married, which means you would have access to everything I own. My home, my bank accounts, almost everything. If we decided to separate at some point, I couldn't give you part of the business—Lakkas, International belongs solely to my parents until they're both gone—but you would have your own money and half of everything we bought together ."

"It's not about money," she protested. "It's about a safety net. If you and I have a fight, who can I talk to? I would only have you. If your mother hates me, every meal, every holiday, everything will be about me being stressed and dreading it, with nowhere to go ."

"We'll argue," he said softly. "But we'll never fight . There's a difference and I make that promise to you now ."

"My friend Nina in high school was Greek and her parents fought all the time, with everyone—each other, the kids, the rest of the family, neighbors. One time I got so uncomfortable her mother pulled me aside and told me it's a Greek thing—they fight as passionately as they love, it's just their way. Is your family different ?"

He paused. "Yes and no. We don't fight like that regularly. We did a lot more before my father's stroke, but since then we've had to learn to stay calmer and talk more, instead of yelling. Sophia and her husband do a lot of yelling, but I think that's more because they shouldn't be together. He's a prick. I can't stand him and neither can Melina or my father. My mother tolerates him because his family has money and she thinks that's important, that Sophia be taken care of, especially in these difficult economic times .

"Personally, I was never a big yeller. Yeah, sometimes—I guess it is in my blood to some extent," he chuckled. "But not in an ugly way. And living in the U.S. for five years showed me a lot. I didn't come home at Christmas; I went home with my best friend and roommate, Mick. His family showed me that you don't have to yell all the time, that you can get your point across with class and well-chosen words. Don't get me wrong, my family isn't like some Greek families who scream and yell and hit each other. Greek men have been known to smack their wives around, but my father never did and I certainly never would…" His voice trailed off. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that our marriage—our relationship—would be a mixture of both cultures .

"I love being Greek. We're a strong, proud people with history and passion and, to be honest, the best food in the world ."

She chuckled. "I will absolutely agree with that ."

"But I also loved living in the U.S. There's so much of everything, and the idea of the American Dream is still alive and well. Some of the people I met are still what I consider friends for life; Mick is as close to me now as he was when we lived together. Texts, email, the occasional video chat—hell, we still bet on football games every Sunday! So there is nothing keeping me from potentially living in the U.S. It's just…" He sighed .

"The business is here, and no matter how angry or hurt you are now, or how much you bluster at your dad—you still want it to be yours ."

He looked away. "Sort of. I also think that maybe a few years away would make a difference. Maybe I could get a job in a similar industry in the U.S. and learn from someone else. Someone who isn't my father. You know? Maybe this is a sign that it's time for me to make changes ."

Their fingers were still linked between them and she used her thumb to stroke his forefinger. "I would love having you come to Vegas with me, but you probably wouldn't find a job in the shipping industry there ."

He shook his head. "No. Most likely I would need to be in L.A., San Francisco or New York ."

"Lots of sports teams in those cities," she reasoned. "I'm sure I could get a job. Those are really expensive places to live, though. Like 10 times more expensive than Vegas ."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's just focus on us right now, okay? We have to be sure that we want to be together before we upset both of our lives. If you move here, it's going to be a huge change for you, and even though I've lived in the U.S. before, it would be totally different this time. Finding a job, getting a green card, and both of us in a new city. I'm sure moving away from Vegas would be stressful for you no matter where you go ."

She nodded. "Probably. But being with you…well, I think it would be a lot easier ."

He smiled, leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes. "Honey, I did the pros and cons in my head last night and the pros definitely outweigh the cons. We just have to make a decision, but I think it's too soon for that. Let's enjoy the morning and I'll try to prepare you for meeting my family ."

She groaned. "There went my relaxing morning at the beach ."

"Lena's on our side and my father promised he would try to get my mother on board, at least to give you a chance ."

"I guess that's all I can hope for ."

" A re you sure it's okay to wear this dress?" Paige asked Apollo three hours later as she got dressed .

"It's beautiful," he said, pressing a light kiss on her bare shoulder. She was wearing the same white dress she'd worn the day she'd first come to the office to see him, and he loved it. She was much darker now that they'd spent almost every day outdoors, and the stark contrast of her darker skin against the white of the dress was stunning. "You're beautiful ."

She smiled. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to hearing that ."

He frowned. "Didn't Tom ever tell you he thought you were beautiful ?"

She shook her head. "Pretty, cute—he'd call me sexy when we were in bed, but it seemed forced, as though he had to say that because we were having sex ."

He scowled. "He sounds like a douche—I don't care who you are or who the woman is, when you give a compliment, especially during sex, mean it. Beauty is subjective, so if I say it, it's because I think you're absolutely gorgeous. And frankly, I don't give a damn if anyone agrees with me, because you're mine and I'm the only one who has to think so ."

This time her smile lit up her whole face as she stepped into sandals and held out her hand to him. "So, are we ready ?"

"Honestly—no." He laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "But it's going to be okay. I promise ."

She arched a brow. "You have absolutely no way of promising me any such thing !"

He lightly kissed her. "I can do my damnedest, though !"

T hey drove to his parents' house in a neighborhood not far from his own. They'd bought it only 10 years ago, upgrading from the tiny home he'd grown up in. Though it had been clean and functional, it was small, just two bedrooms and one bathroom for two adults and three children. It had been close to the beach, though, and his parents had gotten good money for it. Then they'd bought this house, which cost a fortune and wasn't quite as close to the beach, but still just a ten-minute walk there. It was big, with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Everything was modern and sleek, with beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows in the main room and a balcony that wrapped all the way around the second floor, so each bedroom had access to it. He and Sophia had moved out, of course, so with his parents in one bedroom and Melina in the other, they now had a room for his grandmother, though she was always willing to give it up for guests and would sleep on the couch no matter how much anyone protested .

Pulling into the small driveway, he glanced at Paige who seemed pale suddenly. "You okay?" he asked, going around to open her door for her .

"Kinda." She made a face. "I might be a little nauseous ."

"We'll just tell my mother you're pregnant and the thought of grandchildren will make her forget all about how we got married ."

She snorted. "You're not helping !"

"Sorry." He kissed her, his lips claiming hers gently but insistently. "I'm really sorry I have to put you through this, but this is my family, you know? I don't care if my mother gets mad about how we did things; as long as you make an effort, that's enough for me ."

"I will," she whispered. "I just…what do I say when they ask if I'm moving to Greece? You know they're going to try and separate us today so they can size me up ."

He nodded. "You tell them we're trying to figure it out but that you're open to it. That'll hold them off until we make our decision ."

"Okay." She gripped his hand tighter than she intended but he didn't protest, guiding her through a pretty garden filled with roses and up to an ornate front door .

Apollo threw open the door and pulled her inside as he called out to his mother. "Mama? Pou ise ?" Where are you ?

" Etho! " Here .

Paige took a deep breath as they continued through what appeared to be a small den of some kind into a big open room at the back of the house. A large table was set in the center of the room, and there was a man sitting at it eating a piece of bread. He looked up and narrowed his eyes, nodding at Apollo and sliding his eyes up and down Paige's body without even trying to hide it. She felt the heat of embarrassment warm her cheeks at his blatant perusal of her chest but Apollo slid an arm around her waist and tugged her against his side .

"Paige, that's my brother-in-law, Giorgios. Giorgios, this is Paige. My wife ." He emphasized the word as the other man gave her a smarmy smile .

"Hi." Paige's voice was almost a squeak and she quickly averted her eyes, searching for anyone else she could focus on. She suddenly understood why Apollo didn't like his brother-in-law; he was a creep. Why on earth was Sophia married to someone like him ?

"Apollo." His mother came out of the kitchen with a smile for her son, ignoring Paige entirely .

"Mama." Apollo kissed her on each cheek and then pulled Paige forward. "This is Paige. Be nice or we're leaving ."

His mother scowled at him. "When have I ever been not nice to a guest?" She turned to Paige and switched to English. "Hello, Paige! I am Maria Lakkas—welcome to our home ."

"Thank you. What I've seen so far is lovely." Paige hoped she didn't sound like an idiot, but she felt like one right now .

"This is my daughter Sophia," Maria turned to someone who'd come in behind her and the surly-faced young woman arched a brow .

"I've heard so much about you," Paige said, holding out her hand .

Sophia ignored her gesture. "I wish I could say the same ."

"Sophia." Apollo's voice was barely a whisper but laced with an edge that got his sister's attention .

"What?" she asked, shrugging. "I don't know her ."

"That's why she's here. Behave or we'll leave ."

"Makes no difference to me," Sophia chuckled .

"It makes a difference to me!" Maria snapped in Greek, smacking her daughter in the arm. "Go get the salad ."

Sophia left the room after rolling her eyes and Maria held out a hand to Paige. "Come. Don't pay attention to Sophia—she is having the hormones." She said something to Apollo, who scowled, but turned to Paige .

"She's been unable to get pregnant again so she's taking all kinds of drugs to see if they'll help ."

"They can wreak havoc on your body," Paige said sympathetically .

"Yes, it has been difficult for her." Maria had a deep accent but seemed to have a better command of English than her husband did .

"Where is her little boy ?"

"Mihalis is with his other grandparents for today—we thought it better not to have him running around while we talked ."

They moved towards the table .

"How do you like Greece?" Maria asked as she motioned for Paige to sit .

"I love it!" Paige smiled. "Especially the food ."

"Be careful or you will be fat," Giorgios drawled, his eyes meeting hers .

"I keep busy," Paige replied lightly. She could feel Apollo stiffen beside her so she simply kept smiling. "With all the walking I've been doing, I think I'll be okay ."

Giorgios appeared as though he was going to say something else but the sliding glass doors opened and a tiny woman in black appeared with a broad smile on her face. She had short, curly gray hair, a time-weathered face and a fantastic tan. She wore a shabby black dress that fell below her knees, covering most of her skin, and it was her eyes that captivated Paige; emerald green like her son, grandson and younger granddaughter. Sophia, she'd noticed, had dark eyes like Maria .

"This is my grandmother," Apollo said, getting up and hugging the older woman, laughing as she pinched both his cheeks and then slapped one of them lightly. Whatever she said to him made him laugh harder and he took her arm as he presented her to Paige. "This is Thespina Lakkas, my father's mother and the world's greatest grandmother ."

"Yes, I am special!" she laughed, reaching out to hug Paige and kiss both cheeks. Then she went off in Greek and Paige looked at Apollo helplessly .

"She said you're gorgeous and that we're going to have beautiful babies ."

Paige turned red but laughed too. " Efharisto! " she said, nodding at the older woman .

"Oh, please tell me you're not really trying to impress anyone with your Greek!" Sophia rolled her eyes, setting a huge bowl filled with Greek salad on the table with a thump .

"You don't have to be nice to her ," Apollo stage-whispered to Paige .

Paige simply turned, fixing a look on Sophia. "Two wrongs don't make a right, and anyway, I totally understand how she feels. If my sister married some guy and then brought him home three years later, I'd be a little put out too ."

Apollo gave her a small smile as they sat back down. His grandmother sat across from him and Paige, smiling and asking questions that Apollo had to translate. He didn't mind. He adored his grandmother and they were close. He didn't see her a lot these days, but she'd helped raise him and his sisters while his mother did everything she could to help Dimitri get the shipping company off the ground. They'd been young, just 18 when they married, 19 when Sophia was born, 21 when Melina came along and only 23 when Apollo was born. Three kids under the age of five had been a handful for Maria, so Thespina had stepped in and taken over, allowing Maria and Dimitri to work .

As he explained what it had been like growing up with his grandmother, Paige and his yaya exchanged smiles and looks that seemed to have more meaning than words and Apollo mentally thanked his grandmother for stepping in when he needed her. She always had, of course, but as the kids had gotten older, Maria had become more and more jealous, and when Apollo was 13 Thespina had left and gone to live with another one of her children, who lived a few hours north of Athens. She'd gotten sick while Apollo was away at Yale and Dimitri had put his foot down, bringing his mother back. She and Maria seemed to have made their peace, but it was obvious that Yaya still liked to make mischief, from the way she was happily accepting of Paige .

Maria and Sophia took turns asking Paige questions about her parents, her job and her life in Las Vegas. Yaya asked questions about what she'd seen while she'd been here in Greece. Giorgios essentially shoveled food in his mouth, his eyes drifting to Paige's chest every so often until Sophia would snap at him. Dimitri was mostly silent, watching his family alternately bicker and laugh, but refraining from joining in. Only Melina seemed relaxed, talking with Paige and Apollo as if they'd always been a couple and ignoring her mother, sister and brother-in-law completely. The meal was strained but polite until they were just about finished eating .

"Look, I don't know why we're dancing around the subject," Sophia said, putting down her fork and looking around the table. "That's the whole reason she's here, right? To find out what's going on?" She was speaking in English and looked right at Apollo. "So, tell us, little brother—what are you doing with her? She came here with divorce papers so she obviously has another man back in the U.S. Are you truly going to allow her to make you her final fling, or whatever she's doing, until she goes back to some other guy ?"

"Sophia!" Apollo slapped his hand down on the table so hard the dishes rattled and Melina jumped, her hand flying to her heart .

"Don't raise your voice to my wife!" Giorgios growled in Greek .

Apollo cut him a look. "Really? Because you never do?" He turned back to Sophia. "If I have to be nice to your asshole of a husband, you sure as hell will at least be respectful to my wife ."

"My husband and I are actually married!" she spat. "Living together, building a future! You and Paige didn't even bother to stay in touch and she came here to get a divorce! Do you not see what she's doing ?!"

"We were two scared kids who did something impulsive and then didn't know what to do about it!" he snapped. "She came here to see me in person before we signed those papers—otherwise she could have sent them by FedEx and been done with it ."

"So are you moving to Greece?" Sophia turned to Paige, switching back to English. "I mean, seriously, are you going to give up your life and move here to be with him ?"

"Maybe." Paige lifted her chin and knitted her brows together. "We're still sorting through the details, but it's definitely on the table ."

"Oh please!" Sophia rolled her eyes. "Girls like you don't pick up and move to another country! You're going to jerk my brother around so you can enjoy a little Greek cock, and then go on your merry way !"

"Sophia!" Maria felt snapped to attention, her dark eyes blazing. " Skase ! "

"Am I the only one worried about Apollo?!" Sophia protested, glaring at her mother. "Women don't just leave their whole lives behind and move halfway across the world for a guy they've known a week! And it's obvious he's crazy about her so he'll do anything she wants !"

"Just because you chose the guy who was comfortable instead of a guy you were in love with," Melina interjected softly, "doesn't mean all women would ."