The Renegade Billionaire

Andrea could see her darling Stavros still needed confirmation. She walked up to him and put her arms around his neck. “Life-and-death serious.” Her voice throbbed. “After everything we’ve been through, do you really think I could leave you? Dad saw what a wreck I was the minute he walked in our apartment. He knew his daughter had lost her heart to another man. A great man. That’s you.”

Stavros could feel himself coming back to life.

“He was so sweet about it, Stavros. He said that two weeks wasn’t nearly long enough for two people who’ve fallen madly in love to be torn apart. We need time to find out all the wonderful things that are still waiting for us. So I have an idea. Why don’t we take a moonlight ride in the Jeep? There’s this beautiful church in Panagia I want to show you.”

“I’m way ahead of you, but before we do anything else, I want to do this.” He wrapped her in his powerful arms and covered her mouth with his own. The urgency of his possessive kiss sent thrill after thrill through her body.

“I love you, Andrea. I love you. Don’t ever leave me.” He covered her face and throat with kisses.

“Stavros—don’t you know by now I worship the ground you walk on.”

“Knock, knock,” sounded a male voice. “If this is a private party, I don’t apologize because I’m too happy for you.”

Stavros lifted his head, smiling broadly. “Theo—you’re the first person to know Andrea and I are going to be married in a month.” He sounded exultant, just the way she felt.

“Congratulations! Zander and I have had a bet on to see how long it would take you to propose. He thought it might be another week, but I figured sooner. I won, but then I’m a married man and know the look of a man under the spell of woman magic.”

“My wife-to-be has it in spades.”

CHAPTER NINE

“READY, HONEY?”

“I’ve been ready for this a long time.” Andrea stood there outfitted in white silk, carrying gardenias. A lace mantilla covered her hair.

“You look like your mom did on our wedding day. Absolutely gorgeous.”

“You’re going to make me cry, Dad.”

“We can’t have that. Stavros is waiting for you at the front of the church. I like him, honey.”

“I love him so much.”

She put her hand on his arm, proud of her attractive father as they walked down the aisle of the Virgin Mary Church in Panagia. Her eyes fastened on Stavros. He looked so dark and splendid in his black dress suit, she couldn’t see anyone else. But she knew the whole Konstantinos family and all of their close friends were there, with the exception of Stavros’s father. Stavros didn’t have hope that he’d come, but Andrea prayed he would.

Stavros had talked to the priest, expressing his desire that they have a simple ceremony. Over the past month Andrea had come to know him better and recognized his need for understatement, even in his religious vows. He truly was a modest man.

Her father led her to the front of the church and took her bouquet. Stavros reached for her hand and squeezed it. His gray eyes had a glow she’d never seen before. It ignited the flame that burned inside her. This was no longer a fairy tale, but blissful reality.

The priest nodded to them. “Andrea and Stavros, let us pray.”

Their ceremony didn’t take long. Rings were exchanged. She was so excited to be married to him, she could hardly wait for the part to come where the priest pronounced them husband and wife.

The second the words were spoken, Stavros drew her into his arms. “You could have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this moment,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her. For a little while, she forgot the world and kissed him back, unable to believe he was now her husband.

“Come on, you two,” Leon murmured. “You’re taking forever. Dad wants to be the first to congratulate you. He and Mom are waiting.”

They both heard what Leon said. Andrea stopped kissing her husband. “Your father came,” she whispered against his lips. Joy filled her heart. “Oh, darling—”

Stavros lifted his head. In that instant, she saw a light in those beautiful gray eyes she’d never seen before.

“I can see him. Except for silver in his hair, he’s a cross between you and Leon.”

Her husband crushed her to him. She knew what this moment meant to him. When he’d gotten hold of his emotions, he grasped her hand and walked her down the aisle to the vestibule to greet the two people who’d brought her beloved Stavros into the world.

While Stavros’s father reached for him, his mother hugged Andrea. “You’ve made my son very happy,” she said in a voice filled with tears. “I saw it in his face at the villa.”

Andrea was so thrilled, she hugged her harder. “I’m going to try to make him happy forever. My mother died when I was born. I want us to be friends.” By now, both of them were crying.