Adonis in Athens - Page 49
“So you’re really going to move to the U.S.?” Xristos asked him when Paige and Melina went to the ladies’ room.
“Why not?” Apollo asked, leaning back in his chair. “She’s amazing and I love her. It might be a little crazy, but we only have one life to live—why not have as many adventures as possible?”
“Are you sure about her?” Thanos asked quietly.
Apollo frowned. “You mean, am I sure she’s not after my money or that she won’t slice my throat while I sleep?”
Thanos chuckled. “Perhaps. I just meant, are you sure she, and the U.S., are what you want?”
“I want her, no doubt about that.”
“And the U.S.?”
Apollo sighed. “My father did something really unnecessary and although I think I could work past it, it feels like this was a sign that it’s time for me to do something new. Paige is nervous about moving here, and I understand that. She’s a woman and she would be here all alone. No job, no money of her own, and she doesn’t even speak the language. I not only speak English, I have degrees from a prestigious university I have my own money, and friends I could turn to in case anything ever happened. It’s a lot scarier for her. If we can do this in the U.S. for a couple of years, it will give me time to boost my professional résumé and reputation, teach her some Greek, and give her time to truly trust me. I think it’s a fair trade.”
Thanos nodded. “You’re right—I hadn’t thought about it from her perspective. If it was my sister, I’d be dead set against it.”
“Exactly.” Apollo took a sip of coffee. “I’m going to miss you guys, though. My family…the beach.”
“You never see the beach,” Xristos said dryly. “All you do is work. Maybe America will be good for you.”
“You’ll work even more in America,” Thanos interjected. “They don’t get much vacation there, not like we do here.”
“I haven’t had more than a few weeks’ vacation in two years,” Apollo shrugged. “We own the company and my father hasn’t been able to work so there was no way for me to leave.”
“Just make sure she’s the one,” Thanos said quietly. “She seems lovely—beautiful, educated, smart, and very sweet. But is that enough?”
“Is there anything else?” Apollo asked curiously.
“Compatibility beyond the bedroom?”
Apollo just smiled. “I think I’ve got this under control.”
It was late when they got home and even later when they finished making love, but Paige couldn’t sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts about leaving Las Vegas, actually living life as a married woman—as Apollo’s wife, no less—and moving him thousands of miles from his family. Intellectually, she knew one of them had to make the move but she couldn’t help the guilt she felt that it would be him. Technically, he had the better job, owned a home and had more money, but she would be taking the bigger risk. However, the latest development with his father had changed the plan and it was eating at her.
Sliding out of bed, she slipped from the room and down to his office. It was 3:30 here, which meant it was 5:30 in the afternoon in Las Vegas and her mother would most likely be home getting dinner ready. She walked out onto the balcony and sank into one of the chairs as the phone rang.
“Hello?” Her mother’s cheerful voice made her smile.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Paige!” Angela Carter sounded pleased to hear from her older daughter. “Goodness, I’ve been a little worried! You went off to Greece and then said you were staying longer… Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Paige sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned back. “I have so much to tell you, Mom.”
“You met a man.” Her mother’s voice practically crackled with amusement.
“I met him three years ago. He’s the reason I came to Greece.”
“Really.” Her mother sound perfectly calm.
“Why don’t you sound surprised?” Paige asked suspiciously.
“Because although I didn’t know when, where or who, I had a feeling the reason you could never truly get excited about Tom was because there was someone else.”
“I couldn’t get excited about Tom because he’s not exciting,” Paige grunted. “And he doesn’t understand adventure.”
“I didn’t realize you were so adventurous.”
