The Renegade Billionaire

“Yes. For being so nice, I’ve brought you another present.” She pulled a packet of playing cards out of her jeans pocket. “How about a game of diloti?”

“You know how to play that?”

“Casino is the game of choice in every country where I’ve lived. Diloti is the Greek version of virtually the same thing. Are you up for a few rounds?”

“Watch me,” he said with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.

“But we won’t play for money.”

“I’m way ahead of you.”

Her adrenaline surged. “I bet you are, but since I intend to win, I’m not going to worry about it. We’ll play until one o’clock.”

“What happens then?”

“Lunch. I bought some fresh spanakopitas.” She loved cheese pies more than about anything.

“I’ll set my watch alarm so we have to quit at the same time.”

“That’s fair.”

“So be it.” She glimpsed fire in his eyes. “You’re on!”

The race was all about winning the most points. She got lucky and made a sweep early. Then luck was on his side and he made one. As the pressure began to build, Andrea started to eat her candy. Stavros had already devoured his.

Cards had always been serious business for her. Naturally he was good. What Greek man worth his salt wasn’t! So good, in fact, she feared she might lose. Andrea kept looking at her watch. Time was almost up. “I can hear your awesome brain doing calculations, Stavros. You’re making me nervous.”

That deep chuckle of his permeated her bones just as the alarm sounded. He checked her last play. “You can’t build upon a four-join with an ace on the board and a five in your hand. I win!”

“You don’t have to sound so gleeful about it.” She gathered up the cards and put them back in the pack. “It’s time for your pills.” She handed him the water.

His smile taunted her before he swallowed his medicine. “What’s the matter? You have nothing to fear from me. I’m pretty much incapacitated.”

Stavros wasn’t the problem. She was. “Come on. I’ll help you to the bathroom on the condition that you behave.”

A glimmer of a smile hovered on his lips. “I don’t know how to do that.”

Her temper flared. “Do you want help or not?”

“I do, but then I want to eat on the patio. The lounger out there is as good as this bed.”

She knew he was going stir-crazy. “You’re right.”

Andrea offered her support and in a few minutes they reached the patio. She fixed the lounger so it lay flat. That way he could stretch out on his side. “Don’t get any ideas about pulling me down with you or we’ll both end up with a broken back.”

His chuckle followed her as she left for the kitchen. Before long, she brought out the pies and iced tea he’d liked before. After she put his drink on the stone flooring and handed him a couple of pies, she pulled one of the chairs over and sat by him to eat.

“Uh-oh. You’re facing the wrong way and can’t see the coast.”

“I’ll be looking at it for the rest of my life, but you won’t be here after a few more days, so I’d rather look at you.” Stavros knew how to press on a sore wound.

“If the heat gets too much for you, tell me and I’ll help you back in the house.”

“Why is it you always change the subject when I mention your leaving?”

Because I’m in pain and don’t want to be separated from you. “I didn’t realize I did that.”

He eyed her over his glass. “Where will you be living in Brazil?”