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Lea’s eyes widened. “Of course you do. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make a big deal of this.”
“Don’t diminish your feelings just because of me. You have a right to those feelings.”
“I just don’t know how my parents could look me in the face after what they’d done. And instead of apologizing, they said they’d done the right thing and that they would do it again. That wasn’t their decision to make. They acted like my relatives were a bunch of criminals. And nothing could be further from the truth.”
“Maybe your parents were afraid you would leave them.”
“That’s still no excuse. It didn’t have to be an either-or decision, but in the end they made it one. And now...now I don’t know if my baby, um, our baby will know its grandparents.”
“But I thought you were moving home.” Was there a chance she’d changed her mind? Was she considering making her life here in Greece—close to him?
Lea stopped just outside the door to their bungalow and turned to him. “I haven’t decided. Just because I return to the States doesn’t mean I’ll live near my parents. I could live in downtown Seattle, where I went to college. I still have friends from school there.”
He reached out and gently traced his finger down the side of her beautiful face. “Or you could stay here where you have friends that care about you. And you’ll have me.”
She lifted her chin until their gazes met. “Do you care about me?”
For a second, his heart stilled. She was calling him out—making him confess feelings that he hadn’t even admitted to himself. But if he wanted her to stay—to make a family with him—then he was going to have to take the biggest risk of his life.
He swallowed hard. “Yes. I care about you. And I want you to stay.”
She didn’t turn away. Her eyes widened with surprise. Had he kept his evolving feelings so far under wraps? For him, it felt like his heart had been hanging on his sleeve. It was a new feeling—a vulnerability that he’d never allowed himself to feel until now.
She continued to stare into his eyes as though searching for the truth of his words. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. He wasn’t sure how she would react.
At first, she stood unmoving, as though she were in shock by his admission. Maybe he was acting too swiftly. Perhaps he should slow this down and let her absorb what he’d said to her.
He started to pull back, but her hands moved with lightning speed. Her fingers clutched the lapels of his jacket, pulling him back to her. This time she took the lead. As her mouth opened to him, his tongue delved inside, tasting the sweetness of the champagne from the wedding reception.
But it was her kiss that was intoxicating. His hold on her waist tightened. Her curves fit so perfectly against his. As their kiss deepened, he realized he would never get enough of this—enough of Lea.
Hand in hand they stepped inside the bungalow. Not bothering with the lights, they headed straight for Lea’s bedroom.
With the moonlight filtering in through the window and illuminating them, Xander stared at Lea. She was so beautiful. He was the luckiest man in the world.
His heart raced and his need to pull her close mounted. But there was something he needed to say first. “Lea, is tonight what you want? What you really want?”
She nodded. Her gaze never strayed from his. “You are everything I’ve ever wanted.”
His head dipped, and he claimed her lips. No one had ever said those words to him or made him feel the way she did. He was falling hard for her.
Correction: he’d already fallen head over heels.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I CAN’T LEAVE NOW.”
Xander gripped the phone tightly as his sister insisted he drop everything and fly to Italy. Normally he would do anything for Stasia, but after spending the night with Lea in his arms, he felt torn between his brotherly responsibility and cementing this blossoming relationship with Lea.
“I don’t understand this,” his sister said. “What could possibly be more important than business? I swear it’s the only reason you get out of bed in the morning.”
Xander raked his fingers through his hair. He had yet to tell his sister about Lea and the baby. He still felt protective of the relationship and didn’t want to expose it to other peoples’ criticisms.
