Page 81 of Love Among the Ruins
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
DOMINIC
Eleni was sleeping on his sofa when he got back from work in the evening, earlier than usual.
For a few moments, Dominic watched her. Her foot was elevated on a cushion, and by her side lay a book which she’d taken from his bookcase.
Not wanting to rouse her, he started to move away, pulling the loosened tie from around his neck, when she turned to her side then made a moaning sound. Her eyelids fluttered open. Large brown eyes stared back at him. Then they flew wide open and she bolted upright, as her senses seemed to return. “Oww!” She cried out in pain, reaching for her ankle.
“You okay?” He stared at the swelling which seemed to have gone down somewhat.
“I forgot about my ankle.”
“Sleep will have that effect on you.” He removed his jacket and laid it on a chair before removing his cufflinks. She watched his every move, her eyes glazed and in that dream like state between sleep and wakefulness. She stared at his forearms as he slowly rolled up his sleeves,
“Is that a man’s equivalent of taking off a bra?” she asked, yawning.
“Excuse me?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. “Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”
“You okay?” he asked, wondering if she might also have a bout of concussion.
“Great.” She placed a hand on her mouth as she yawned and stretched some more. “How long was I out for?”
“I don’t know. I just got back. I wasn’t watching you on CCTV the entire time.”
“You were what?” Alarm filled her eyes.
“I’m joking. I haven’t looked at the camera footage. That’s not my job. I’m not a creep, Eleni.”
“I should make a move.” She stared down at her feet, as if she were assessing how much pain and effort it would take.
“You’re not supposed to walk today.”
“I can’t stay here.”
“You can.”
The easy familiarity that they’d had on the phone earlier hung precariously in the air between them. She seemed guarded as she slowly tried to lift her injured foot and set it on the floor. The look of pain on her face told him all he needed to know.
“This is a big enough house, Eleni. I don’t need all ten bedrooms.”
Her jaw hung open. “Ten bedrooms. You live here all alone?”
He could imagine the thoughts going through her mind. He knew. It was insane. They barely used it, and even then, only one or two of them, whoever was over for the summer or for work. “It’s the family residence here in Athens, so whenever my brother or my father ...”
“In Athens? You mean you have other homes?”
Would she crucify him if he told her the truth, that he had many, and not just in Greece, but all over the world? Real estate never failed as an investment. “Yes.”
Wide eyes stared back at him. Eyes filled with trepidation. He tried to gauge her thoughts.
Fear? Was she wondering if he had ulterior motives for making her stay here? Because he didn’t. He wanted to help her, but he wasn’t after anything.
Even if his manhood begged to differ. An uneasiness seeped into his skin at the thought. He was seeing her differently, thinking of her differently, and though he had tried to battle against this unseemly attraction with all his might, it was becoming impossible.
Eleni’s appearance had been easy enough to ignore and dismiss because he’d experienced enough drama with airheads who were beautiful but had nothing else to them. There was so much more to her. She had a heart and knowing what he did about the tragedy she had suffered, he found himself drawn to her despite trying to stay away.
