By the time they returned to the Athena Honey was convinced that even if she had fallen in love with Nick, it didn’t matter. She quite literally could not afford to fall in love with a penniless man. When she felt herself weaken, all she had to do was think of her father and her resolve strengthened.
She knew, however, that nothing she would ever experience for the rest of her life would be as fulfilling as her time with Nick, but it changed nothing. And even if she discovered that Apollo lived up to his name, that he was handsome and dashing, Honey feared that Nick had spoiled her for anyone else.
But what did it matter? She would do what she had to do: Marry Apollo Christophides, pay her father’s debts and become a faithful and dutiful wife.
Cosmos mended a sail, stitching a patch over a tear with a needle and heavy twine. He looked up occasionally and Nick felt his uncle’s gaze on him.
“You love her,” Cosmos stated in English.
Nick studied the cerulean water. “I don’t, but it wouldn’t matter if I did; she will marry someone else.”
Cosmos spat, and a long stream of tobacco sailed effortlessly over the deck and landed with a ping inside a metal spittoon. “She marries for money; I hear talk.”
“That’s what I understand,” he said simply.
Cosmos stopped working. “You,” he accused, pointing to Nick with a thick, tanned, calloused finger, “you have money. You tell her and she marry you, not some—” He struggled to find the word, and then finished, “Some mama boy.”
He said the words with such distaste, Nick had to smile. “If I’m not careful, she’ll find out soon enough.”
Cosmos grinned, his big teeth gleaming against his dark, leathery face. “Then she marries you.”
“She’s promised herself to Christophides, and he’s far richer than I am. It’s better that she doesn’t learn of my wealth at all.”
“Ohi!”
No.
Cosmos laced his thick fingers together. “You are like this, you two. You are like one person.” He drifted into his more comfortable Greek and continued. “It is like one soul was born between you and you now share it.”
“Nonsense,” Nick scoffed. “I’ll tire of her soon.”
Another stream of tobacco sailed through the air, hitting the spittoon in the dimming light. “You will lose her. I see how you look at her. You are impatient until you see her step onto the deck, then you relax, but you only take your eyes off her when you work. Otherwise you watch her, your face serene; your stance relaxed.”
He made a rumbling sound in his throat. “She might marry another man, but she looks at you the same way, like she wants to drink in your image and keep it inside her forever. She loves you. And you,” he said, pointing his finger at his nephew again, “love her.”
“You are a dreamy, rheumy old romantic with a poet’s soul, Uncle. What about you? I see how you watch the maid. You’re no better than I am.”
Cosmos shrugged. “I admit it. I have not found another woman to match her.”
“And what do you intend to do about it?” Nick was grateful the conversation was no longer about him.
Another shrug. “I don’t know yet. But if I loved a woman, I would let her know so she wouldn’t marry someone else.”
No, Nick thought, he didn’t love her. He craved her body, he took great pleasure in her company, he enjoyed watching her, and he loved to daydream about her. Her quick, clipped accent teased his ears. She was warm, funny, intelligent and sensual. She was an eager and willing partner during their lovemaking. He hated the thought of leaving her on Crete to face her bleak future, but he would. He would miss her like the very devil, but he would get over it.
When she’d kissed him the other day, he’d felt the electricity race through him as if he’d been struck by lightning, but that was purely physical. It wasn’t love. No, by God, it wasn’t love. Love was—what was it? He didn’t even know. He only knew that he could not and would not love her.
He did realize that he should have told her about his wealth, but it was too late now. She had assumed he made his living using the Athena for delivery and pick up. It would have sounded boisterous of him to tell her he only did it as a favor to the islanders, who needed transportation for their goods.
But later, as they sailed toward the tiny island of Folegandros to spend the night, Nick could only guess at Honey’s reaction when she realized what he had on Santorini and what he was planning to do there, and the amount of money it had cost him to do it.
Perhaps it was better not to let her see his holdings at all.
They stood at the railing and studied the night sky.
“We reach Santorini tomorrow?” Honey asked, tugging her shawl around her for warmth.
“Yes.” Nick put his arm around her.
She snuggled close; she needed his warmth and she wanted him near her. “What’s it like there?”
“It’s different from the other islands.”
“How is it different?” In the background she heard the mournful sound of Cosmos’ bouzouki. Somehow she knew that Effie was with him.
“Legend has it that Atlantis used to be part of Santorini, but it sunk into the sea during a violent volcano around 3500 B.C.”
She inhaled deeply, taking in the cool fresh night breeze. She heard Effie’s laughter on the other side of the boat. She wondered if love was simpler for them, if they freely admitted their feelings for one another.
“I always wondered if that legend was true. Is Santorini as lovely as the other islands we’ve visited?”
He paused, and then said, “It has a different kind of beauty, probably because of the unusually rich earth.”
“What makes it different?”
“For one thing, the beaches are black, because of the volcanic soil. But it’s a beautiful island. The whitewashed houses cling to steep cliffs that rise above a turquoise sea, and inland there are acres and acres of wonderful fertile soil, perfect for growing things, like grapes.”
He sounded more enamored with Santorini than he had the other islands; she was anxious to learn why. “For wine?”
He hesitated again. “Yes, for wine. Some of the best wine in Greece comes from Santorini.”
“But it sounds like a more rugged place,” she said, thinking of its volcanic history.
“In some ways it is. But it’s worth the trip. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the most perfect place on earth.”
Honey inhaled again, loving the tangy smell of the sea air. It amazed her that everything she did with Nick was pleasant. She enjoyed his company more than anyone else’s, even more than her Papa’s.
Her stomach ached a little; like she’d eaten something not quite fresh; she knew why. He was everything any sane woman would want in a man. He was perfect in so many ways. And if he was not quite a pauper, he virtually had no roots, therefore had no wealth. And as for his estate holdings, she thought ruefully, how could one call a ship a home?
She glanced at him; his expression had a rapt eagerness, a boyishness that melted her heart. “Tomorrow will you show me why?”
He didn’t return her gaze. “The cliffs are very steep and we will have to ride donkeys to get to the top.”
She laughed. “You’re kidding, of course.”
He turned toward her in the darkness. “Maybe you should stay aboard the Athena until I return from my errands. It’s a very difficult trip.”
She frowned, disappointed. For the first time since they had begun the voyage, he sounded like he didn’t want her with him. “You don’t want me to join you?”
“It’s up to you, of course; I’m just warning you that it’s a difficult trip to the top.”
His voice had the tone of dismissal. “Perhaps you’re right,” she agreed, affecting her coolest demeanor.
And no doubt that was best. The more time she spent with him, the more she realized how much she’d fallen in love with him. It wouldn’t do. No, it certainly wouldn’t do.