Page 23 of Loving the Greek Billionaire

“Always,” Nefeli said. “The stable man won’t let us ride without one.”

“Good.” Rose silently blessed the stable man.

They wandered through the rescue center for nearly an hour, and since the day hadn’t grown too hot yet, the children were allowed to walk one donkey each.

Rose took several pictures so Mr. P could see them, but she loved the look on their faces, especially Adonis’s. He beamed with pride, showing the dimple in his left cheek.

“I’m hot,” Nefeli said.

“Then I think we should go for a swim,” Rose said.

They piled into the car, and Plutus drove them to their next scheduled destination.

“That isn’t the hotel.” Adonis pointed at the sign by the entrance. “I thought we were going to swim.”

Rose ruffled his hair. “We are, but not at the hotel.”

They clambered from the car, not waiting for Plutus to get the door. He removed a bag from the trunk and handed it to Rose.

“Thank you, Plutus.”

“Where are we?” Adonis looked up at her.

“Aqualand,” Rose said.

“Aqualand!” Adonis jumped up and down and repeated the name over and over.

Rose quickly calmed him, and they entered the water park.

A staff member led them to their daybed under a large umbrella providing plenty of shade. After a quick trip to the bathroom and changing area, Rose slathered them all in sunscreen.

“Where do you want to start?” she asked the children.

“The slide,” they chorused.

Rose followed the children around the play area. They went down the slide, more times than she could count, and got dunked by the water barrel. She learned every inch of the pirates’ cove.

Under protest, she pulled the children from the play area to feed them and reapply sunscreen before they plunged back into the water activities. Rose would’ve liked a float along the lazy river, but the children were too young.

They stayed until closing. Plutus picked them up and returned them to the hotel.

“Shall we have food brought to the room and watch a movie?” Rose asked. This way she could get the children bathed and in their pajamas instead of dressing them in clothes to eat at one of the areas in the hotel.

“Can we have a picnic?” Nefeli asked.

Personally, Rose was all done with the sun, but the children’s happiness came first. She thought of a compromise. “Why don’t we eat at the outdoor café?” They could all go in their suits and then get clean and ready for bed. “You can pick out my dinner again.” She hoped, by sweetening the deal, to avoid taking picnic supplies to the beach.

“Okay.”

For dinner, the children ordered herpastissada. Rose enjoyed the hearty red-wine stew served with pasta, but thought it would’ve been better to eat in winter instead of on a hot summer day. She would’ve liked to try the fishbianco. She’d get another chance.

After dinner, they all got cleaned up. As Rose was reading Adonis his bedtime story and having him sound out a few words, a knock came at the door.

She opened the door, and Stavros and Mr. P entered.

Rose didn’t realize how much she’d missed seeing Stavros until he stood before her. She was struck again by his handsome features.

“We came to say goodnight,” Mr. P said. “Sorry we missed having dinner with you. Work ran long.”

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