Page 65 of The Kiss that Captured a Billionaire
His gaze softened as he studied Rose. She was leaning toward the steward, discussing something with that bright, animatedsmile that still caught him off guard. The cabin light caught the glint of red in her hair and the warmth in her eyes, and for a moment, he just… let himself watch her.
Two weeks ago, they’d learned she wasn’t pregnant. He’d been surprised by his own disappointment, and he’d sensed she felt the same. But as he’d told her—quietly, honestly—it gave him more time to get things right.
A soft ping drew his attention to his phone. A message from Nikos.
Everything going alright?
Theo smirked and tapped back:More than alright. We’re on our way to Athens.
It surprised him to hear from his friend. Nikos had been distracted ever since his so-called ‘blind’ date a week ago, a detail Theo fully intended to press him about later.
Before he could pocket the phone, another message came in. This one from his father.
Will you handle the meeting in Athens, or should I or Alexandros take care of it?
Theo’s jaw flexed. He’d been evasive with his family over the past month, deliberately so.
I’ll attend the meeting,he typed back. Then, after a moment’s hesitation:And I’ll be visiting Syros. I have someone I would like you and mother to meet.
He left it at that. He would explain who Rose was in person. Rose had asked for the same caution—she didn’t want her grandparents knowing about their relationship yet. Over the lastthree weeks, she’d spoken with them often via video calls. At first, she’d been nervous, hesitant. But now… now she seemed almost eager to meet them.
He looked up to find her studying him.
“Everything alright?” he asked.
She nodded and smiled. “Yes, everything’s good. It feels strange not being in the van.”
He chuckled. “It’s not much different,” he teased. “I wanted to let you know—we’ll be going to my family’s home on Syros. I would like to introduce you to them. I’ll need to fly to Athens during the day for meetings, but I’ll be home each evening.”
Her brow furrowed slightly. “Wouldn’t it be easier to stay in Athens until your meetings are over?”
“It would,” he admitted, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “But I thought you’d be more comfortable at the villa on the island.”
She considered that, then smiled faintly. “Maybe after you’re finished. But… I’d really like to see Athens first.”
He chuckled and inclined his head. “Athens it is.”
They hadn’t talked about it yet, but his plan was already set. Whether in Athens or Syros, it didn’t matter.
Soon,he promised himself.
Dinner was as flawless as it was intimate, a quiet cocoon of good food, low conversation, and glances that lingered longer than they should have. By the time they retired to rest, Theo’s mind was no longer on meetings, villas, or even the long miles behind them.
It was on the moment, in just a few days’ time, when he would ask her the only question that mattered.
Three days in Athens and she was already running on fumes.
Her days were spent roaming the city—temples, markets, museums—while Theo was locked in back-to-back meetings. Then, as soon as evening hit, it was one social event after another. Charity galas, gallery openings, and cocktail hours with people whose teeth were suspiciously perfect and whose smiles didn’t reach their eyes.
By the time they staggered back to his apartment each night, she was exhausted. She didn’t know how Theo kept up. Work all day, socialize half the night, fend off the paparazzi—who buzzed around them like over-caffeinated mosquitoes—and still wake up looking like he’d stepped out of a GQ spread.
She was ready to crawl back into her van; quiet mornings of oatmeal, questionable coffee, and long aimless drives sounded like paradise. She missed the way they’d fallen asleep to the sound of the wind and woken to sun spilling across the dashboard and birds singing at an ungodly hour.
She’d bailed on the scheduled event for the evening, pleading fatigue. As she returned to the apartment in the late afternoon, she was glad.
She keyed in the door code, stepped inside?—
—and froze.
