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

get used to it since the blood of our two families runs through Ari’s veins.
    “If you can learn to behave yourself, you’re welcome to golf here again another time when you’ve cooled down. My treat. I’m the owner. Now we really have to get cracking, don’t we Ari.”
    Her son smiled. “Yes. See ya, Uncle Nikos.” Whenthey’d walked a little distance, Ari looked up at him. “I didn’t know you owned this place.”
    “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, or me you. That’s why it’s so great we’re planning to spend as much time together as possible, don’t you think?”
    “Yes.” He was beaming. “Mom? I’ve never seen Uncle Nikos so mad.”
    She was still shivering. It was truth time. “Unfortunately I’ve seen him worse, honey. We’ll just stay away from him for a while until he apologizes.”
    “He doesn’t like me.”
    That was the first time Ari had admitted it aloud. All because of his father, who’d given him new confidence.
    “It’s me he doesn’t like, Ari,” Theo said softly.
    “How come?”
    “I come from a very poor family. Your uncle didn’t like me being with your mother or having anything to do with her.”
    “That’s stupid.”
    “I agree, but a lot of wealthy people like your uncle feel that way.”
    “Uncle Nikos isn’t wealthy. Uncle Stasi has to give him money when he runs out.”
    A gasp escaped Stella’s lips. Ari knew too much for his own good.
    “Well, let’s forget it and have ourselves a fun game. Who wants to go first?”
    “I do,” Stella volunteered. After the awful scene with Nikos, she needed to do something physical to channel all that negative energy in a different direction.
    “This is going to be an adventure,” Theo whispered against her neck. All her anxiety flew out the window as other sensations took over.
    He’d already put his arms around her to demonstrate how to do a golf swing. The weight of his hard body cocooning hers caused her to forget what she was doing. She felt him nibble her sun-warmed shoulder where the tie had slipped a little. It made her breathless.
    “How soon is it going to be our turn?” Ari stood next to Dax, resigned it might be a long wait.
    He’d asked it so seriously, she and Theo burst out laughing at the same time. It suddenly occurred to her she hadn’t been this happy in years. He’d brought joy to his son’s life. He’d slain a dragon for her today. A week ago she couldn’t have imagined any of it.
    Please, God. Don’t let the darkness come again. Make this happiness last.

CHAPTER SIX

    A T SIX that evening, Stella walked Dax out to his parents’ car. Ari and Theo followed with his suitcase and the games and stuff he’d brought with him. Everyone hugged. Dax gave Theo a super-duper hug.
    In front of Dax’s parents, Theo invited Ari’s friend to come to Salamis Island in a couple of weekends for a sleepover. The other man nodded his agreement of the idea. They chatted about the golf course for a few minutes.
    “I love you guys,” Dax said to Stella before giving her a hug. “I had an awesome time.”
    “It was a treat for us, too, honey,” she told him. With Theo around it couldn’t have been anything else.
    Elani stared at Theo before flashing Stella a private message. She could hear her friend asking where he’d come from. Not even Elani was immune. Dax would fill her in on some of the details. The rest would have to wait until Stella phoned her friend and confided in her.
    When the three of them went back into the house, Ari turned to her. “Now that Dax has gone home, can papa sleep in my room tonight? Please?”
    Stella should have seen it coming, but the thought of Theo staying over made her heart skip a couple of beats.
    “What do you say, Stella?” Theo teased gently.
    He probably sensed how much she wanted him to stay. Maybe it would be a good thing. Maybe they could really talk after Ari went to bed. She was finally in a mood to listen. “It’s all right with me, but