Page 15 of Slightly Married
After several minutes of silence, I tucked a braid behind my ear and ventured, “Who lives here besides you?”
“My mother, Domna, lives in the east wing.” He gestured toward one side of the sprawling Mediterranean villa. “My brothers Aristides and Dimitrios and I are in the main house, along with Aristides’ son Santo.”
“You are fond of Santo,” I observed, noting how his voice softened.
For the first time, a genuine smile transformed his face. “He’s twenty-three, and a spoiled little shit.” Affection warmed his voice. “You’ll like him. Everyone does.”
I nodded, unsurprised by the multigenerational living arrangement. I lived with my parents until my marriage, and Simone still lived with daddy.
“My father’s sister, Irida, also resides here.”
As we pulled up to the grand entrance, I asked, “Anyone else?”
“My aunt’s son, Matthaios. He usually lives here too, but he’s currently abroad.” Something I couldn’t interpret flickered across his face. The car came to a stop before I could probe further.
“Ready to meet the family?” Konstantin asked.
I squared my shoulders and nodded.
6
The car door opened, and I stepped out first, offering my hand to Kayla. She hesitated briefly before accepting it.
A curious sensation traveled from our point of contact up my arm, settling somewhere beneath my ribcage. I found myself suddenly aware of a thin silver ring on her right index finger and the geometric pattern of her short nails painted in a deep burgundy.
I escorted her up the marble steps and towards the receiving room . My hand hovered near the small of her back without quite touching her.
The receiving room’s high ceilings and antique furnishings created a dramatic backdrop for the family members waiting inside. I had texted them ahead of our arrival.
“Welcome home, Kostas,” my mother said, stepping forward first. Her silver-streaked dark hair was styled impeccably, as always.
“Mother,” I replied, “may I present Kayla Athanasiou.”
Mother’s hands outstretched to grasp Kayla’s. “Welcome,” she said warmly in Greek. “You are beautiful.”
She pulled Kayla into an embrace, catching my new wife off guard.
“Thank you for your welcome,” Kayla replied in perfect Greek, earning a pleased smile from my mother.
“I am Domna,” she continued, still holding Kayla’s hands. “And these are my sons, Aristides, and Dimitrios.”
Aristides stepped forward, offering a brief, correct bow of his head. “Welcome to our family,” he said. “I trust your journey was comfortable.”
“As comfortable as sharing a flight with my husband’s fiancée could be,” Kayla replied evenly.
My eldest brother’s eyebrow lifted as his gaze shifted to me. “I see.”
Dimitrios broke the tension with a warm laugh, stepping forward to kiss Kayla’s cheeks. “I like her already,” he announced. “Finally, someone who might keep you on your toes, Kostas.” He winked at Kayla.
Kayla smiled, her posture relaxing. The transformation was remarkable. Her smile revealed a dimple in her left cheek I hadn’t noticed before.
Something in me wanted to see that smile again, directed at me rather than my brother. The thought was irritating.
Finally, my father’s sister approached, her posture rigid. Her eyes assessed Kayla with unmistakable coolness.
“Michail’s daughter,” she said. “How interesting that after all these years, our families should be joined.”
Kayla met her gaze directly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
