Page 28 of Walking the Bird

18

Eleni jolted awake, the sharp pain in her neck eliciting an oath from her dry mouth. Rubbing her sore muscles, she surveyed her surroundings, finding the screen of the computer she’d been using now black from lack of activity. During her call with Autumn, Eleni couldn't recall the details inside Abernathy’s file, so she had logged on to check. Once inside, she’d migrated to her email, which led to replying and ultimately falling asleep at the keyboard.

Reaching for her cell, frustration set in as she found the battery dead, tossing the useless piece of plastic to the table, she tapped the spacebar of the computer, a second oath leaving her lips as she read the time in the corner.

Jumping to her feet, Eleni snatched her phone off the table, running for the door and out into the hall. She had no idea how she’d managed to sleep so long, perhaps it was the familiarity of being behind a computer and doing what she loved best.

Making her way toward the spa, she considered running back to her room to shower and change, but she’s already an hour late as it is. Quickening her steps, Eleni shifted her gaze to large windows to her left, her attention lost to the view of paradise, as she crashed into something hard.

“I’m so sorry,” she stumbled back, her phone crashing to the floor and breaking into several pieces.

“Eleni?”

Her skin prickled at the sound of his voice, breath hitching in her throat. “Derek.” His name falling from her lips felt more wrong than the swear words she’d set free earlier. Her dreams from yesterday were a warning from her subconscious of crossing a line there was no avenue of return. Being unfaithful to Alex wasn't something she could do; it wasn't who she was.

“Are you all right, Mrs. Nakos?”

Shifting her focus to Ms. Stuart, Eleni nodded her head. “I am, thank you.” Bending over to retrieve her broken phone, her hand collided with Derek’s.

“Here, allow me—”

“I’ve got it,” Eleni snapped, jerking her hand back as if his touch were molten lava, in a sense it was. She’d played with fire long enough and soon she’d have to come clean with Alex. “If you’ll excuse me, I'm late for an appointment.”

Derek watched with confused eyes as the Greek beauty fled down the hall.

“What in the world was that about?”

Standing to his full height, “Eleni was an unfortunate victim of last night's intruder. I'm sure she is still in shock.”

“Shall I send her something as an apology from the resort?” Melinda could relate to the anxiety Eleni exhibited; she too felt an enormous wave of it when Derek interrupted her date with Cade to share the news of the intruder.

Derek pondered Melinda’s question for the briefest of moments, he’d developed deep-seated feelings for Eleni, feelings he’d every intention of acting on. “No need, Melinda. I’ve already taken care of it.”

Jordan foundit impossible to relax, despite the skilled hands of the masseuse attempting to work the kinks out of her shoulders. With her wedding a day away, she was running out of time to bring Alex and Eleni back together. Her first idea of parading Eleni around half-naked in front of Alex was foiled by Kennedy and her reeling in the wrong kind of fish. Had Jordan known there were drugs floating around in the ocean, she’d have planned something else.

“I’m so sorry I'm late.”

Jordan pulled her attention from the plan formulating in her mind, to the disheveled Eleni skidding into the room.

“Elenitsa Nakos,” Harper snapped Eleni’s full name. “Where in the world have you been and why are you in the same clothes from last night?”

Tossing her body into the empty chair closest her, Eleni leveled her stare in Harper’s direction. “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

“Try me,” Harper challenged. She’d had enough of the silent tears and nights spent apart between Eleni and Alex. Pointing to the empty bed beside her, “Get comfortable, Eleni. We’ve got shit to talk about.”

Waving off her masseuse, Jordan pulled the sheet around her naked body as she moved into a sitting position, Kennedy and Rayne following suit.

Too tired to argue, but with a mind full of defiance, Eleni remained in the seat she’d chosen. “Such as?”

“Such as what the fuck is going on between you and Alex?”

Eleni considered telling Harper it was none of her business. Over the years being married to Alex, she’d learned the closeness their men shared bled into the relationship between the wives. She could choose to remain silent, get up and walk out, but she was tired of running away.

“Alex is having an affair.”

“Funny, that’s what he says about you.”

“What?” Eleni screeched, jolting out of her chair. “Who in the hell told you that?”

---