The Greek's Long-Lost Son by Rebecca Winters Page A

it now.
    Fritz came forward and gave her a kiss on both cheeks. “Stella Athas. It’s been a few years. Nikos didn’t tell me you’d grown into such a raving beauty.”
    She’d never cared for his brash manner and didn’t like the way he was checking her out. “How are you, Fritz? Let me introduce you to Ari’s father, Theo Pantheras. Theo? Fritz here took the bronze for Switzerland in the slalom a few years ago.”
    “Hello.” Theo shook his hand without saying anything else. Most people fawned over Fritz and Nikos, but she knew Theo wasn’t as easily impressed.
    Ari walked over to stand next to Theo who put his arms around him and hugged him close in a protective gesture. It thrilled Stella. Her son now had his own dad, thank heaven. Nikos couldn’t say or do anything about it.
    Her brother trained his eyes on her and came closer. They glittered in that icy way they did when his anger was truly kindled. “Well, well, well. A day of golf for my little sister.”
    Nikos didn’t even pretend to acknowledge Theo. Six years had done nothing to teach her brother a thing about human decency. His behavior now reminded her of one time in New York when he’d humiliated Rachel so thoroughly, Stella had thought she’d lost her best friend for good. He’d called her a fat, orange-haired, American military brat in her hearing. Stella had never forgiven him for hurting her friend.
    “Who would have imagined finding you on the world’s newest and most celebrated golf course?”
    “I was about to say the same thing,” she said, daring to speak her mind again. It was cathartic to be able to. “Where’s Renate?”
    “With Rachel,” he muttered. “Since you left Andros so fast, I think it’s time you and I had a little talk to catch up. If the rest of you will excuse us for a few minutes.”
    “Maybe another time,” Theo interjected smoothly. “We don’t want to be late for our tee-off time.”
    Nothing would have enraged Nikos more than to be snubbed in front of Fritz like that, by Theo no less. She could feel her brother seething. Theo on the other hand seemed to care less.
    He put his other arm around Stella’s shoulders. “Come on, everyone—Dax—” he urged the boy hauling the other golf bag. Together the four of them headed for the first tee.
    “Stella? I’m waiting.” Nikos said coldly.
    In order to prevent a contretemps, she decided to talk to him, but Theo stopped her from moving. “I’m afraid you’ll be waiting a long time. It appears the two of you will have to have one of your family chats another time. She and the boys are with me and we’re busy.”
    Her brother came closer. “I could have you thrownoff this resort for talking to me that way,” he snarled at Theo. “One word to the owner from me and that’s that.”
    “Stop it, Nikos,” Stella muttered, mortified and infuriated by his behavior. He was out of control. Even with the boys around, he didn’t care what they thought of him.
    “I will, after we’ve had our talk.” He wouldn’t let this go. It was unbelievable.
    She felt Theo remove his arm and pull out his cell phone. Whatever he said was short and to the point. Almost immediately she saw Theo’s bodyguard and another man coming toward them from the clubhouse at full speed.
    “Boris? If you would see that these two gentlemen leave the course, we’d be grateful.”
    Nikos was a skier, not a body builder. The two men could take care of him with no problem. Part of her was thrilled to see him thwarted, but another part grieved for him. He was her brother and she loved him, but it had been years since she’d liked him. She had to search back in her memory when he was a preteen to remember anything good.
    “Who in the hell do you think you are?” Nikos demanded.
    “Nikos,” Stella cried, “what’s the matter with you?”
    “It’s all right,” Theo assured her. “He’s just surprised to see me with you again after all these years, aren’t you, Nikos. Better