After some deliberation, she chose the most expensive dress on the rack. It was a simple princess style, but the floor-length veil of Alençon lace gave it elegance. It cost a fortune, but she didn’t care. He’d accused her of using him for his money.
So be it.
She turned to the clerk. “If you have this one in stock, I’ll take it. In America I’m a size 4.” Of course, Stephanie wouldn’t be that size much longer, but she figured she could squeeze into it once she’d worn off her meal.
The clerk looked taken back. “I believe we do.”
“Then please ring it up for me. My
fiancé
will carry it out to our car. Thank you.”
Once the clerk went into the back room, Stephanie glanced at Nikos, who was leaning against the counter, his face implacable. No doubt he was feeling some pain, but he’d hate it if she drew attention to it. Maybe she could give him an out.
“Do you still want to stop by the clinic before we go back to the yacht? We could go there tomorrow instead.”
His black eyes had taken on that glittery cast. “There’s still time this afternoon, unless you’re not feeling well.”
She wasn’t. Not exactly. But for once it had nothing to do with nausea. She sensed he still didn’t trust her, and could cry her eyes out after the lovely meal at the restaurant, where he’d been more like...like Dev. “I’m fine.”
Stephanie turned her back while he dealt with the saleswoman, then they left the shop.
He laid the dress and veil on top of the other packages before they left for the clinic, which appeared to be closer to the port.
When they went inside to Reception, they learned that Dr. Panos was operating and wouldn’t be available. Not to be thwarted, Nikos made an appointment for her for September 1, a full workup.
With that accomplished, they drove to the parking area at the dock. He let her take a few bags, but he carried the rest, along with her wedding finery. Nikos should have brought his cane and let her do more to help, but that infernal pride of his got in the way.
Odd how she hadn’t seen it manifest itself when they’d been on vacation. He’d been so mellow and easygoing then. She longed for that time to come back, but it never would.
Once he’d carried everything to her bedroom, he told her he’d be on the phone in the lounge if she needed him. For the next little while Stephanie removed the tags from her purchases and put them away in the closet and dresser.
She checked her watch. It was going on five o’clock. By this time tomorrow they would have been married an hour already.
She supposed she should try on her wedding dress, but for the moment she was too tired, and she’d need a shower first. Emotional fatigue had set in. Maybe later, after she got ready for bed, she’d take it out of the plastic cover and see how it looked on her.
With a sigh she removed her jeans, which were too tight, and lay down on the bed for a minute. She turned on her side, while her hand went automatically to the little bulge, which was definitely getting bigger. Tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes.
“All this is for you, my darling. Are you a little Alex who will be impossibly handsome like your father and turn the head of every girl? Or are you a beautiful little Melitta with flashing black eyes and hair like your daddy? Maybe by my next appointment, or the next, I’ll know what to call you.”
CHAPTER SIX
W
HEN
IT
GOT
to be seven, Nikos hung up the phone with the florist who would bring some flowers to the church tomorrow. All he had left to do was buy a ring. He’d do it in the morning, after Yannis came on board and Nikos had done his exercises.
Now that he’d taken care of everything he could, he got up and walked down the corridor to Stephanie’s bedroom. He knocked, but couldn’t hear any noise. Since he would have noticed if she’d gone up on deck, he knocked again.
Was she sick? She’d eaten more at lunch than he’d expected. Though he was relieved to see she had an appetite, he worried. Being very quiet, he turned the handle and opened the door a crack.
What he saw made his heart fail. Stephanie had removed her jeans and left them on the floor where she’d stepped out of them. Could he hope it was because they were too tight?
She was out for the count, with her long gorgeous legs uncovered. Jet lag had caught up to her. Her gilt-blond hair splayed out on the pillow. He’d seen this sight before, when she hadn’t been wearing any clothes.
The memories came rushing back, increasing the ache for her that had never gone away. Before he lost control, he closed the door and went to the galley to fix himself a cup of coffee and throw a salad together. Anything to keep busy. When she awakened, he assumed she’d want some dinner.
Nikos had just added the feta cheese when she appeared in the doorway. He shot her a glance. She was wearing a new pair of jeans and one of the flowered print blouses she’d picked out, this one in aqua and white. He noticed that she’d brushed her hair. Beneath the light it shone a silvery-gold, and given those dazzling blue eyes of hers, he’d never seen a woman with such fabulous coloring.
“At last.”
“I didn’t mean to sleep so long.”
“You’re still catching up. Are you hungry?”
“I am, if you can believe it. I just took another pill to make sure I stay feeling good.”
“It seems to be working. Come all the way in and join me.”
He’d already set the galley table with fresh fruit and rolls, plus apple juice and water for her. After serving the salad, he poured himself coffee and sat down opposite her. She reached for the water first and drank a full glass before eating a roll.
“The hot weather this time of year will get to you if you don’t stay hydrated.”
“So I’ve noticed. I’ll start carrying a bottle around with me. Thank you for fixing dinner, but I hope you know I don’t expect to be waited on.”
“I enjoyed fixing our prenuptial meal.”
She ate some of her salad, then rested her fork on the plate. “Speaking of our wedding, I’d like to explain about today. I didn’t want to leave the impression that the white sundress wasn’t good enough to wear at the church.”
“You owe me no explanation.”
“Yes, I do.” She wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “The clerk at the boutique mirrored my surprise, but she shouldn’t have said anything.”
“It’s fortunate she did. As I understand it, the wedding day is for the bride.”
Defeated by his attitude, she said, “You’re right. Women are hopeless romantics in that department, but for me it’s more than that. I know you wanted to keep the marriage simple, and I would have been perfectly happy with that if I wasn’t pregnant, and our situation was different.”
“What do you mean, different?” His question came out sounding like ripping silk, alarming her.
“We’re not marrying for the normal reason and I’ve been thinking about the baby. When it’s old enough, our child will want to see pictures of the wedding. Blame it on me for wanting to give it everything I was denied.
“I’m sure there are wedding pictures at your parents’ home, of them in their finery. A child wants to see what its mother and father looked like on that special day, the way they wore their hair, what they were wearing. The moment I opened the closet in the extra bedroom, I could envision you in the navy blue uniform.”
She leaned toward him excitedly. “Think what it would mean to our child to see you in it on your wedding day. He or she will know about your injury and why you had to leave the service earlier than you’d planned. It’ll be preserving a piece of history.
“I have no history from my father, but you can leave some for our child. That’s why I chose the dress in the bridal shop with the long lace veil. I know it was expensive, but the sundress wouldn’t do justice to your uniform. There’s nothing like a handsome man in his dress blues. Any woman would tell you the same thing.”
“Stephanie—”
She took a quick breath. “Don’t deny it. You
are
exceptional, Nikos. My friends on the island never did get over you. The girl in the bridal shop couldn’t take her eyes off you, either. Our son or daughter will be so proud of you and the honorable way you served your country.”
Nikos jumped up from the table, too full of conflicting emotions to sit there any longer. He’d leaped to the wrong conclusion after she’d chosen the most expensive gown in the shop. How easily his trust had worn thin. But he’d been remembering the conversation with his father.
You’ve never looked at Natasa or any woman the way you’re looking at this female viper. I admit she’s devilishly ravishing in that American way, but she’s a mercenary viper nonetheless, one who knows your monetary worth and has come to trap you.
“Don’t make me out to be a hero, Stephanie.”
“Any man or woman who serves in the military is a hero, Nikos. I’ll make two albums to preserve our wedding day. One for our child and one for your parents. Maybe Yannis will take pictures for us.” After a pause, she added, “And perhaps the day will come when you’ll tell me what they did to you that was so terrible you don’t want them at the wedding.”
Without looking at her he said, “My reasons run fathoms deep, but they have nothing to do with you.” He doubted he could ever talk about it.
“Still, they
are
your parents and our baby’s grandparents. I know an album of our wedding day will mean everything to them, too. Please tell me you’ll wear the uniform.”
“I’ll think about it,” he muttered. “I have to go ashore again. When I leave, I’ll set the security system. If it goes off, the harbor police will be alerted and a signal will be sent to my cell phone. You’ll be perfectly safe while I’m gone.”
“Where are you going?”
“If you must know, to visit a friend.”
“Tassos? Have you told him about the baby?”
“No one knows except Yannis. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He left the boat and took off for the cemetery. It would be his first visit to Kon’s grave. Nikos had been in the hospital when his buddy had been buried in the Gregerov family plot. They’d always talked over everything important....
* * *
At three-thirty the next afternoon, Nikos waited at the car, ready to take pictures that he knew were so essential to Stephanie’s happiness. After breakfast he’d gone into town to purchase her ring. When he returned, he’d discussed the details of the wedding ritual with her. Now it was time to go.
In a moment she stepped off the yacht. With Yannis’s help she started walking along the dock in her wedding dress. He doubted there’d ever been a sight like her before, and he started clicking frame after frame.
The few people around the port watching her would think they were seeing a heavenly vision of femininity in flowing white silk. Angel hair glinted silver and gold through the lace in the late afternoon sun. His throat swelled with emotion to realize this bride was going to be his.
In his gut he wanted the child she was carrying to be his. If it wasn’t...
After seeing those jeans lying on the floor at the side of her bed last evening, he was convinced she was pregnant. He couldn’t let any more doubts ruin today, which would never come again.
Stephanie’s urgent plea had gotten to him and he’d put on his dress blue uniform. With nothing more than a few clues, she’d come all the way from Florida to find him, so he would know he was going to be a father. The least he could do was accede to her desires on this issue. He’d told Kon as much.
Nikos had been thinking a lot about Stephanie’s father. Maybe he could be found through the help of a good private investigator. It was worth looking into, but that would have to wait until another day.
Yannis, acting in the place of her father, who would probably have given her away if he’d known of her existence, had worn his best white suit for the occasion. Nikos suspected the older seaman was enjoying this. He and Stephanie seemed to be getting along well already. Yannis was an old softie beneath his gruff looking exterior. It was clear she had already charmed him.
Nikos kept taking pictures until they reached the car. Her eyes, so solemn, met his for an instant before Yannis took over, asking them to pose together before they got inside. After some careful maneuvering to protect her dress, they helped her into the backseat, and Nikos sat in front while Yannis drove.
“Oh, Nikos!” she cried softly when they’d traveled a distance up the hillside. The small domed gray-and-white church of Agios Dionysios stood overlooking the sea. “How beautiful! I can’t believe we’re going to be married here.”
“My wife and I were married in that same church forty years ago,” Yannis said over his shoulder.
“Were you childhood sweethearts?”
“How did you know?”
Her gentle chuckle found new areas inside Nikos’s body to warm. “Do you have children?”
“Two married sons and six grandchildren. They’re fishermen and live here.”
“You’re a very lucky man.”
“It was a lucky day when Nikos met you.”
Well, well. Stephanie’s takeover of Yannis was now complete.
“Thank you, Yannis.”
The next few minutes were a blur as they pulled up to the church’s parking area, where the Gregerov family was waiting
en masse
to greet them. Nikos introduced her to Tassos’s parents, Castor and Tiana Gregerov, and his pretty wife, Elianna, who had dark blond hair. The other women were various shades of brunette. More pictures were taken. Nikos had hired a professional photographer to film everything.
In the rush he noticed Tassos reach for Stephanie and press something in her hand. Nikos was curious to know what it was, but he would have to wait. He saw her eyes glisten with tears before she kissed him on the cheek.
After embracing Tassos’s mother, Nikos reached for Stephanie and they proceeded inside the church. He cupped her elbow, taking care with her veil, and walked to the front, where a dozen sprays of flowers filled the nave with perfume. He’d made certain there were some gardenias among the arrangements.
He had the distinct impression Stephanie was pacing herself carefully in deference to him not being able to move quite so fast. Small courtesies seemed to come naturally to her, another trait he couldn’t help but admire.
Father Kerykes chatted with them before asking Tassos and Yannis to take their places on either side of the couple. The others sat in a group. For Stephanie’s sake he presided in English, promising to keep it as short as possible. But as Nikos had explained to Stephanie earlier, there was no such thing as a short Greek wedding.
First came the service of the betrothal with the rings. Nikos had bought her a diamond ring, and a gold band for her to give to him, but she produced a ring he immediately recognized as Kon’s. Nikos was so moved by Tassos’s gesture, he choked up during the marriage sacrament.
It was followed by the crowning and ceremonial walk. Three times around the priest, who at the end removed their flowers. After they kissed the Bible, he pronounced his blessing on them.
“For better or worse, you’re Mrs. Vassalos now,” Nikos whispered as they walked down the aisle holding hands. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I—I’m fine.” Her voice faltered. “Just thirsty.”
“There’s water in the vestibule, where we’ll sign the documents. Then we’ll go outside for more pictures.”
By the time she emerged from the church with her bouquet, her cheeks looked flushed. Nikos urged everyone to hurry with the well-wishing and the pictures, but all of them were pressing for the bridal kiss. He did it swiftly, noticing Stephanie was fading fast. No wonder there was little response.
“Are you going to be sick?” he asked as he helped her into the car.
“No,” she replied, but her voice trembled. “I’m just feeling weak and overheated. I’ll be all right in a minute.”
“In this weather a wedding like ours is brutal, but it’s over now. The taverna will be cool. It’s only a mile away. Drive fast, Yannis.”
“I feel a fraud, Nikos. I’m a hot weather girl and don’t know what happened to me in there.”
“You’re pregnant and have been through an arduous marriage ritual.”
She lay back in the corner with her eyes closed. “Once was enough. I fought so hard not to faint in front of you.”
“You made it. I’m very proud of you.”
Stephanie started laughing. “I had no idea it would be an endurance test.”
“Why do you think I put it off all these years?” he teased.
“Sorry. You must be stifling in your uniform. In hindsight I can see why you wanted me to wear the sundress.” She let out a little moan. “I shouldn’t have tried to find you in the first place. It forced you to have to go through all this.”
With those words he felt as if he’d been rammed in the chest. She had no idea what was going through his mind.
“Don’t ever say that again.”
* * *
Stephanie groaned. She’d said the wrong thing and had upset him, but it was the truth.
She might not have forced him with a sniper’s rifle, like the ones in his closet. But the chance that this baby
could
be his had served as the ultimate weapon. Stephanie wasn’t a fool. She knew he had doubts about its true paternity and wouldn’t be satisfied until a DNA test was done, thus the reason for bringing up the possibility of divorce.
Over the last three months her heart had been hardened against him for his desertion of her, only to be softened after he’d insisted on either keeping her as his mistress or marrying her for the sake of their unborn child.