Page 35 of The Nicolaides Baby

“I should have told you.”

* * *

“Son.”

Leo glanced bleary-eyed up from his desk at the main office of The Nicolaides Group in Athens to see his father standing in the doorway. The other man looked at him about the same way he had for the past two months, with his brows drawn down and his gaze concerned. “Yes?”

“Why are you still here?” His father moved farther into the room and then grabbed hold of the back of one of his visitor’s chairs. He scowled. “It’s almost seven.”

Leo attempted a grin. “I could ask you the same thing.”

His father shrugged and pinned him with an earnest stare. “I know why I’m here. I got stuck on an overseas call. But you? You don’t need to—what’s the American expression? Oh yes, not burn so much of the midnight oil.” He gave him a small grin. “You’re not president here yet.”

Leo scrubbed his hands down his face as he leaned back in his chair but held in the groan he felt all the way to his bones. He was past the point of weariness and pushing into the realm of not being able to function. “I’m not staying because of business.”

His father nodded. “Ah. I see.” He let go of the chair and then went around it to sit down, his expression mild. “Any word then?”

Leo wasn’t buying his father’s seeming unconcern. “Perhaps,” he replied as he checked the time. His lead investigator had said he needed to speak with him but needed to verify one piece of information before contacting him. So, he’d stayed on the mainland in case some kind of immediate action had to be taken after the man’s report. “I’m expecting a call at any time.”

“You’ve had him and his team on this since hours after you found her gone.” His father grimaced. “It’s about time they had some kind of news.” Leo had a feeling he knew what was coming next as his father’s troubled gaze searched his face. “You need some rest.”

“I’m fine,bampás. You and Mother worry too much.” Even if they might be perfectly justified in doing so.

“We can’t help it. You are either at work, meeting with someone about Rowan’s whereabouts, or you’re on the phone following up on leads.” His father sat forward. “And the only time I see anything close to a smile from you is when you’re with Lukas.” He shook his head. “It can’t go on. You’re no good to him if you drive yourself into the ground.”

“I know.” And he did. But he couldn’t help himself. When he wasn’t working or with Lukas, his mind was consumed with finding his errant fiancée.

If he’d thought losing her the first time after only one night was bad, after being with her all those weeks—learning more about who she was as a person, making love with her, knowing she was truly his—it was a hundred times worse.

He missed her beyond measure.

He was also so angry with her it had at times rendered him speechless. Because while her note had said he would be furious as he read it, his angerthenwas nothing compared tonow.

Because none of it made sense.

Not her coming to him that night. Not the almost desperate way she’d made love to him. Not her whisperedI love you.

But more than anything, how she had not contacted anyone in the family to at least check on Lukas. She had been, for all intents and purposes, his mother. And Rowan was nothing if not the best of mothers.

Finally, of course, had been her ability to disappear without a trace. She’d had to have had help.

But who?

He’d even considered for a time that Gia might have had some hand in getting her off the island, but she’d assured him she was just as shocked as he was—and seemed sincere. Of course being Gia, she had attempted to help him forget thewayward Americanin the only way she knew how.

He hadn’t been interested—no matter how persistent she had been the past few weeks. She had even gone so far as to visit periodically in the guise of seeing Lukas. If she thoughtthatwould cause a spark of interest from him and reignite their relationship, she was sadly mistaken.

Whatever fire they had once shared had been completely snuffed out. Even if he never found Rowan, no other woman would be able to stand beside him in her place or be a mother to Lukas.

Only Rowan.

So he had to find her.

His father’s features hardened. “I understand how important she is to you. If your mother disappeared on me, I would be lost. But I refuse to lose another son because he’s grieved himself to death.” His eyes narrowed. “So you must let her go.”

Leo’s jaw clenched. “Father.” His father’s eyebrows rose at his tone and more formal address. “I understand you think you’re giving me some kind of truth.” He took a calming breath. His father was only looking out for his best interests. “But I’ll know when the time is right to give up.” He leaned forward. “But that time isn’t now.”

His father grimaced and then nodded before standing up. He let out a slight laugh and then met Leo’s gaze as he shook his head and his expression lightened. “You’re as stubborn as your mother. Who, by the way, agrees with you.” He started for the door but then paused before going out. “I’ll trust you. I’ll even give Rowan the benefit of the doubt. Because when all is said and done, I, like your mother, saw the love she had for you. So, I’ll hold judgment.”

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