Page 34 of Loving the Greek Billionaire

He let go with a trace of reluctance.

Rose blinked. What had happened? What was happening between them? Was she developing amorous feelings for a co-worker? And the head of security for a billionaire at that. Certainly a relationship between her and Stavros wouldn’t sit well with Mr. P. Not only that, but she wasn’t intended to be here long, only until her sister healed and could take her place or a permanent nanny could be found in the meantime.

Flustered by her body’s response and the thoughts swirling in her brain, Rose turned her focus on the children. A safe area. Her goal there was to love them and help them learn. Clear parameters. No temptation to get lost in deep brown eyes there.

“Are you okay, Rose?” Adonis asked.

“Yes, thank you.” She brushed sand off her legs. “With the turtle finished, how about we go for a swim?”

Adonis raced toward the water before she finished the wordswim, with Nefeli right behind him.

Rose chased after them and didn’t look back to see if Stavros followed. She wasn’t sure she could ever look in those eyes again and not be lost to Stavros’s charms.

♥ ♥ ♥

Leo was in trouble. And he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to get out of it.

He paced the length of his grand villa, up and down, up and down. An early morning run would give him the air and space he needed. He jogged down the steps to the sand and continued at a steady pace along the surf and shoreline. He knew Stavros would follow him. That man instinctively knew when Leo needed breathing room and when he needed a sounding board.

Leo hadn’t slept much. After spending the afternoon on the beach with the children and Rose, he’d still put in several hours of work after the kids went to bed. When he lay down to sleep, dreams of Rose filled his brain. Particularly one in which he helped Rose from the sand, and she fell against his chest. Then he dipped his head and captured her tantalizing lips in his. The intense ardor he felt between them had him reeling. He hadn’t felt this way since he met his wife. No woman since had captured him the way Rose did.

Birds circled overhead, squawking in the morning sun, which glittered on the bay, momentarily pulling him from his thoughts. He took the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the sunrise, the sounds of the morning, and the feel of the waves against his ankles as he splashed through them.

Inevitably, his mind returned to Rose. He admired the way she cared for his children—her patience and desire to teach them and to learn from them. Nefeli and Adonis were learning French from her, and in turn they taught her Greek. Her Greek was coming along. He probably should’ve started tutoring the children in another language a couple of years ago. The earlier they started, the more proficient they’d be.

A sharp piece of shell struck the bottom of his foot. “Ow!” He hopped on one foot and moved from the water. Flopping down on the sand, he examined the pad below his big toe. No blood, though the area might be tender for a day or two. From the corner of his eye, he saw Stavros watching with an inquisitive eyebrow raised. Leo waved him off.

He stood, tested the injury, and commenced jogging with little inconvenience.

He couldn’t develop amorous feelings for Rose. He was her employer, even if she didn’t know that. Actually he didn’t want her to know. Leo feared it would change the relationship between them. He needed to change her point of view about the wealthy first. Maybe then she’d be more accepting of his status and his feelings for her.

Leo shook his head and redirected his course back toward the villa. What was he thinking? Moments ago he’d reminded himself why he couldn’t be in a relationship with Rose, and here he was hoping to contemplate a future with her.

He should probably put some physical distance between them, but that was impossible with the children coming to visit the olive grove. Of course, he could give Rose the day off . . . but he wanted her to see the grove and learn about his business and why he was so passionate about olive oil production.

Before approaching the villa, he paused to stretch his muscles.

Stavros appeared at his side with a water bottle. “A good jog.”

“How many miles?” Leo took the bottle and downed half the contents.

“Three.”

“Three? We’re getting soft.”

“Speak for yourself.” A brief smile graced Stavros’s face. He looked over the bay. “You like her.”

Leo scowled. “How do you know?”

“I’ve been watching you together. I saw what happened yesterday.”

“And?”

“It’s my job to observe you and keep you safe from all harm, internal or external.”

“You sound like the military handbook.” Leo switched to push-ups, still too much pent up energy sizzling under his skin.

“It’s what you pay me to do.”

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