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“Most of the time.”
“Except when it comes to the wealthy,” he said.
She removed her hand as old wounds reared their ugly heads. “You don’t understand.”
“I’d like to.”
She ran a hand across her eyes. “I’m too tired to explain.” True, but it sounded like a weak excuse.
“Another time, perhaps. We’ll head back.” He reversed direction.
Rose kept her eyes on her toes as she walked through the sand and water. She didn’t look forward to explaining her past encounters and why they’d left a bad taste in her mouth when it came to the wealthy. Stavros might think less of her afterward. She’d tried in her heart to forgive her husband’s family. Apparently she still needed to make progress.
CHAPTER FIVE
Delphi
Leo missed the children . . . and Rose. He checked the time on his phone again and leaned his head against the leather car seat. Only two minutes since he last checked, and only five minutes before he’d be reunited with Nefeli, Adonis, and Rose.
“Anything I can do for you?” the real Stavros asked.
“Stavros, you can do many impossible things, but speeding up time isn’t one of them.” He flipped his phone in his hands and shifted under Stavros’s study.
“You’re always happy to see the children, but you’re anticipating seeing Rose.” He gave a small smirk.
Leo sometimes wished his head of security and closest friend wasn’t so observant and astute. “Yes,” he confessed. As much as he loved the olive groves—touching the waxy leaves and smelling the olives being pressed—olives couldn’t compete with his family. And he was already grouping Rose in with the children—something he hadn’t done with the previous nanny who’d been with him since Adonis was born. He’d been surprised when she announced her elopement and resignation, but had wished her well.
Rose had been with them a week, and her effect on him was earthshaking.
“How long before you tell her who you really are?” Stavros asked.
Leo flipped the phone over and over. “I don’t know. I want to understand her better before she learns who I really am. I don’t want her to shut me out when she learns I’m a billionaire.”
“You should tell her sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be, the worse she’ll take it.”
Leo frowned. “You didn’t see her face that first day when she spoke about the wealthy. There was revulsion and deep disgust. I want to know what happened to form her opinion. Once I know her past, I can work to change her opinion of me in the present.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” Stavros warned. “I still think you should’ve been honest with her from the start and explained why we perform this charade of you as security and me as Mr. Papadakis. Tula didn’t have a problem with it.”
“Tula was there from the beginning. I think a stranger would find my reasons ludicrous.”
Stavros shrugged. “You could come out of the mysterious reclusive shadows to take your place in the world.”
“I won’t risk the children. I can barely hang on to my own sanity when the gold diggers come calling. You saw what happened after . . .” My wife died. He left the last three words unspoken.
“I remember,” Stavros said. “I’m surprised Rose didn’t figure out your true identity after the children called you Papa. Whatdidyou tell her?”
“That it’s short for Papadakis.”
Stavros shook his head. “The gray area between truth and lies.”
The car pulled to a stop.
“We’re here.” Leo exited and held the door open for Stavros.
Stavros stood and straightened his jacket, and they entered the hotel in Delphi.
Upon entering the suite, Leo was unprepared for the lurch his heart gave at seeing Rose. She looked even lovelier than two days ago, if that was possible. Her hair was damp from a recent shower, and the waves were starting to curl.