Page 43 of Loving the Greek Billionaire

Leo held her, rubbing her back to soothe her, and grieved with her.

“I didn’t get to say I love you to him one last time.” Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

“I’m sure he knew you loved him.”

“I didn’t get to say goodbye or even raise our child.” Anger tinged her grief.

His shirt was soaked with her tears, and he didn’t care. “You’ve been carrying this grief, this burden, a long time.”

She nodded. “I haven’t cried about my husband or the baby since after the last funeral. I’m afraid it’s all coming out now. I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry, Rose. I’m honored you’ve entrusted me with such a tender moment in your life. I can tell very few people know the tale.” He kissed the top of her head. The lost child was what had been missing from her facts. He’d known she was a widow, but not about this. “Is it hard for you to nanny for other people’s children?” My children, he wondered.

“For the most part, no. There are moments when I see something in a little boy or girl and I wonder if my son would’ve worn that same expression or asked the same questions, like ‘Why is the sky blue?’ But nannying mostly fills my soul with joy to spend time with their precious spirits.” She pulled away from his chest and untangled her arms.

Their faces were so close he could smell the tang of the after-dinner mint on her lips. Leo could easily kiss her, wanted to kiss her, but a part of him held back, sensing that, in this moment of vulnerability and sharing, he might come off as having taken advantage of her. He didn’t ever want her to think ill of him. He listened to the wiser part of his brain telling him to wait and ignored the clamor of his hormones.

With his hands still around her waist, he said, “You’ll make an amazing mother.”

She brushed at her eyes, slightly smearing the mascara under her lower lashes. “You think so?”

“I know it.”

He applied slight pressure to her back, and she rested her head against his chest. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“Of course.”

Leo held her in his arms until after the sun completely set.

With a sigh, Rose stirred. “I’m sorry for ruining our first date. I think there’s a rule somewhere that says not to spill the most difficult things about your past.”

“There’s no need for apologies. I’m honored you felt comfortable to share so much. Please let me know if there’s any way I can help ease your burdens.”

She took his hand and twined their fingers. “You already have—just by listening with an open mind and heart.”

He kissed the back of her hand.

Leo led her to the hotel, grateful to have shared a heart-to-heart moment that would elevate their relationship in a more intimate way than a first kiss. Though he still anticipated that their first kiss would change their relationship in unexpected ways.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Crete

Rose fidgeted with her ring. Ever since her oversharing on their first date, she didn’t know how to act around Stavros. She spilled a pile of personal information on him—definitely outside the bounds of first-date etiquette.

Yet she felt a closeness to Stavros she hadn’t experienced since her marriage. The sensation was both surprising and pleasant. She also wondered what it meant for her future. Their future?

Rose tucked her shoes into the bottom of the suitcase and then folded her clothes and put them in. She needed only a few minutes to finish. The children were with Mr. P and Stavros, taking a quick walk on the beach to give Rose time to finish up unimpeded.

The children. Her heart gave a tug. She loved all the children she nannied for in between film shoots. Though she usually kept a little distance in her heart at the same time, knowing the situation was temporary. Yet somehow, Nefeli and Adonis had crossed her protective barrier, and she instinctively knew that leaving them would have a lasting effect on her. If she were totally honest with herself, she had imagined herself and Stavros forming a family unit with the children. A ridiculous thought at best. Mr. P was their father, not Stavros.

Rose shook her head to clear away such foolish notions and refocused on the task at hand.

Yet she couldn’t shake away the mental picture of herself with a husband and two children.

She’d been lonely for too long, and her heart craved love, companionship, and laughter.

She twisted her wedding band. What would Robert want?

---