Her smile made my heart skip a beat. “See ya at ten,” she softly replied.
Turning on my heels, I walked over to my car, trying like hell to figure out what in the hell I was doing. I wasn’t ready for a relationship, but I was so drawn to Kilyn, I had to have her.
All of her.
“What do you mean you’re not coming over for dinner tonight?”
Slipping the T-shirt over my head, I put the phone back up to my ear. “Thad and Nicholaus will be there, Mama. You won’t even know I’m gone.”
“Why do you assume such things? I will know. Your cousins are in town. I’m making a huge dinner.”
Running my hand through my hair, I attempted to get it to dry faster. “I’ve got plans I can’t cancel.”
The silence on the other end of the phone told me her head was spinning. “A girl?”
“No,” I lied.
“You’re lying to me, Athanasios.”
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the cologne and did a quick spray. Kilyn mentioned how good I smelled in the cooking class Gus and I went to. That night I went and bought another bottle of Creed. The shit isn’t cheap, but the way it made her eyes flare was enough for me to drop a few hundred dollars for an extra bottle.
“Mama, why do you think I’m lying?”
She huffed into the phone. “I don’t think, Athanasios Adrax Drivas, I know you’re lying. What is her name?”
“It is not a girl. It’s business.”
“Why don’t you want to tell me? She isn’t Greek, is she? Please tell me it isn’t serious.”
I could imagine my mother now. Leaning against the counter, pinching the bridge of her nose as she cursed in Greek. She thought it was okay to curse in Greek, even though all of her children spoke it and knew exactly what she was saying.
“I don’t understand why you boys can’t settle down with a good Greek girl. I’m not getting any younger. I need grandchildren.”
I nearly choked on my own spit. “Grandchildren?”
She started rattling off in Greek how her sister’s kids were all married and why her three boys were so selfish.
“You should talk to Thaddeus, Mama. He’s been dating a girl for almost three months now.”
My mother gasped.
I shook my head and sighed. I threw my older brother under the bus, and for what? So I’d get my mother off my own back. I should have felt guilty about it, yet I didn’t. I was somewhat amused knowing Thaddeus would have the wrath of our mother on him tonight.
“Why has he not told me?”
“You’ll have to ask him, Mama. I really need to get going. I have a business meeting at ten.”
It wasn’t really a lie. Okay, it was, but whatever. I’d make it up to her and go and spend the entire day with her tomorrow.
“You call me tonight so I can hear your voice, Athanasios. I worry about you. It’s been too long. It’s time to move on.”
My heart ached in my chest. I’d never be able to move on from the loss of Savannah. She was the only love I’d ever known.
“Love you, Mama. I’ll try and call tonight. Bye.”
“Bye, darling. Love you back.”
The phone went dead and I couldn’t help but start laughing. If I knew my mother, she was dialing up Thaddeus right now.
My hand shook slightly as I reached up to ring Kilyn’s doorbell. What in the hell is wrong with me?
Before I even hit it, the door flew up, causing me to jump.
“Hey! You’re right on time. The doorman let me know you were on your way up!”
I took in the sight before me and smiled. Kilyn was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that said I Love This Life—LOCASH.
Man, it really was her favorite song. The pink Converse shoes tied it all together. Of course, the ponytail finished off the look. She looked so fucking adorable, I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss the living shit out of her.
Pulling her lip between her teeth, she grinned while she watched me ogle her. I don’t think I’d ever seen someone as breathtaking. Her smile had my heart racing and my stomach jumping.
“Am I underdressed? I thought we were just heading up to your cabin. I figured you wouldn’t mind if I got comfy.”
Why does that sound hot as hell?
“No. I think you look adorable.”
She frowned and then smiled bigger. “You’re easy to please, Mr. Drivas.”
Focusing in on those soft lips, I imagined them moving across my body. “Oh, I think you’ll find I’m not that easy to please, Ms. O’Kelly. I tend to like things . . . my way.”
Her smile grew bigger and more crooked as those green eyes lit up. “Really? Is that a challenge?”
“It could be.”
I had to admit I liked the flirting thing we had going on. Kilyn’s personality was contagious. She was so damn chipper all the time.