Secrets Under the Sun, page 6
“That’s nice, sweetie, but you aren’t old enough to go for a walk by yourself.”
She had a point. The islanders all looked out for each other, but with so many tourists coming and going, you could never be too careful.
“How old do I need to be to walk the dog by myself?”
“Older than you are now. But I sure could use to walk off that pie. I’m stuffed. Anyone want to go with me?”
Eleni stood and started cleaning up the dishes. Dean helped and brought them inside and filled her sink with soap and hot water. He’d been inside a few times, though never past the living room or kitchen. The house was small yet tidy and felt like home.
“Let them soak. Did you want to come for a walk with us? We’ll go slow.”
He tipped his head. “Because I’m so old?”
She bent over laughing, then held onto his arm. “No, so we can enjoy the beautiful night. I’m not much younger than you, and my mother is definitely older.”
He patted her hand and stepped closer. “I think Georgina is younger than all of us.”
She took a deep breath and focused her dark eyes on him. “You could be right.”
She didn’t move, and he wasn’t sure he was able to either. This woman mesmerized him in ways he didn’t understand. Lifting his hand, he touched her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin.
“Mom, are you coming?” Xander yelled from the front door.
Eleni shook her head like she’d just woken up. He knew exactly how she felt.
“I’d love to take a walk, if you don’t mind keeping the speed down for the old guy.” Mostly, he wanted more time with Eleni. Georgie and the kids were a bonus.
He held his arm out formally and said, “Madame, your escort awaits.”
She curled her hand around his elbow and did a slight curtsy. “Thank you, kind sir.”
As they strolled out and to the sidewalk to catch up to the kids, he knew kindness had nothing to do with it.
Chapter Six
Once they hit the sidewalk, Eleni released Dean’s arm. Touching him like that got her heart racing, and she’d be out of breath in no time if she continued to hold his arm.
“The pie was delicious, Eleni. I won’t fit in my uniform much longer if I continue to have dessert with you.”
Slowing down so he could catch up, she gazed at his handsome face. “I’ve seen how hard you work around The Pearl. I don’t think you need to worry.” Every ounce of the man was perfection. She shouldn’t even admit how often she simply watched him do his job. Her office had a great view of the garden patio, and she always seemed to need something in the filing cabinet near the window whenever he was working out there. Especially when he was on a stepladder hanging something. His shoulders bunched so nicely, and she couldn’t help but stare.
“Hmm. So does that mean I could get another piece of pie at some point?” His mischievous expression made her stomach flip. He’d come out of his shell so much from those first weeks at the resort. It was lovely to see. He still remained distant from many at work, but around her and her family, he seemed to come alive.
“I might be persuaded to bring some in my lunch box tomorrow at work.”
He shoved his hands into his back pockets, which only showcased his well developed chest. “What kind of persuasion are we talking about? Is it going to cost me much?”
What would he do if she said the payment was a kiss? Of course, she’d never been that bold in her life. She wasn’t about to start now.
“We might be able to make a deal.”
They walked in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the kids chattering together up ahead.
“I hope the kids aren’t too rambunctious for you. Do you have lots of family?” Okay, maybe that wasn’t the most discreet of inquiries, but she’d been dying to know more about this man.
“Not much. My mom died when I was a teen and my father about ten years ago. I have one younger brother. I haven’t seen him in a while, though we talk or text often enough. He’s a bit of a playboy and isn’t married or have any kids.”
“Have you ever been married? Had kids?” He could be married now, but she highly doubted he’d visit every night if there was a wife at home.
His face tensed, and she regretted her question immediately. She grabbed his arm and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Forget it.”
He placed his hand on hers and returned the pressure. “No, it’s fine. I’ve never been married or had any kids. I had an accident when I was younger and can’t have them.”
How terrible. Eleni couldn’t imagine not having her children. They were her life.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Is that why you come over?” She’d been hoping it might be her.
His eyes strayed up ahead to where her mother held the twins’ hands as they skipped along.
“No, I usually try and avoid children if I can. But yours…”
She snorted. “Are so adorable you can’t help yourself, right?”
He paused in his step and stared down at her. “Actually, they are. So is their mother.” His gaze swung away, and Eleni could have sworn his face got redder. “And their grandmother,” he added quickly.
A shiver ran down her spine with his admission, but she wasn’t ready for any kind of personal discussion, not with her kids so close.
“So, it’s not just my baking skills,” she teased.
A grin popped up as he cocked his head. “Well, that, too.”
His thumb ran back and forth over the skin on her hand, and she became aware she hadn’t let go of his arm yet. But she didn’t want to.
Thea darted back to where she and Dean were, breathless. “Mom, we’re gonna run back to the house. Me and Xander need to get our supplies ready for when Miss Nadine takes us tomorrow. Yia Yia said take your time, and if you go by the market, to stop and get more bread. There isn’t much left.”
“Okay, be good for your grandmother. I’ll be back in a bit.”
As the kids ran off, with her mom skipping behind them, Eleni faced Dean. “The corner market is a few streets over, near the marina. If you want to head back—”
“I’ll go with you. It’s a nice night for a walk. I’m not used to it being this balmy in mid-October. New England tends to chill up real fast once the sun goes down.”
“If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d love the company. I sit at my desk all day, so it feels good to get up and move. Oh, and thank you for the chair with the lumbar support. Where did you get that?”
Dean shrugged. “It was in one of the back storage rooms. I remembered you said that was your dearest wish.”
“Does this mean you’re my fairy godmother now?”
“Your wish is my command.”
She hugged his arm tighter. “Ooh, I’ll have to come up with a really good wish for the next one. If I’d known it would come true, I wouldn’t have wasted it on a chair.”
As they got closer to the shore, the sound of waves carried to them, and she sighed.
“You okay?” He peered down at her.
“Mmhmm. I love the ocean and all that goes with it.”
“Guess that’s why you live on an island.”
They arrived at the market, and Dean held the door open for her. As she picked out a loaf of bread that was far more than she wanted to pay, Dean wandered down the aisle.
When she’d finished her purchase, she found him staring at the cases of beer. Clenching her jaw, she asked, “Did you need something?”
His head snapped up, and he narrowed his eyes. Had she sounded that bad?
“No, I’m ready to go.” He held the door open for her again, and they exited the store. When they got to the path that led to the shore, she stopped as a shiver overtook her.
Dean stepped closer and touched her shoulder. “Are you all right? You seem a little off.”
Did she tell him what was bothering her? He’d shared about his inability to have kids earlier. Perhaps a bit of her background was in order.
“That path down there is where my husband died.”
“What? I never asked what happened?”
Holding the bread in one hand, she linked her other arm with his elbow and began walking.
“My husband, Sean, was a very good man. Kind to everyone and always ready to help if someone needed it. But he was an alcoholic. He never drank while at work or if he was driving, but he drank. Every single day. A lot.”
Dean’s gaze heated her skin, even in the cooler evening air. “Did he ever hurt you or the kids?”
“No, he wasn’t a violent or angry drunk. Just a stupid drunk. He sat at home, watching or listening to sports, and he drank. Usually until he passed out. Or fell on the floor, which sometimes woke him up. Sometimes, it didn’t. He typically didn’t start until I put the kids to bed, fortunately. Often, I went to bed, too, so I didn’t have to watch him as he got more and more pathetic.”
“I’m sorry, Eleni. He died from an accident?”
Taking a deep breath, she continued. Maybe it was time to vent a little. She’d never wanted anyone who knew him to think poorly of him, so she’d kept it all in.
“I begged him, a lot, to stop drinking. Or at least not to drink quite so much. It worked for a day or two, but then he’d sit down and hammer them back. He couldn’t stop. Once he had a sip, he kept going. I threatened to leave him if he didn’t slow down. He promised me he would. And for a while, he didn’t bring any alcohol into the house.”
Their steps were slow as they traversed the streets back to her house. Dean held her arm close to his body but let her talk.
“After a while, I realized he was still drinking. He was an electrician and often had jobs off-island. He’d call and tell me he was running late on a job. Then, later, once I was in bed, he’d stumble in reeking of alcohol.”
“He was driving while drunk?” Dean’s tone was low and rough.
“No, he’d go to the bar at the marina, park there, then walk home. But one day, he was so plastered, he staggered out of the bar and wandered too close to the shore. He stumbled, hit his head on a rock, and fell in the water. He drowned.” She had to stop before the tears welling in her eyes spilled over. She hadn’t cried for Sean Griffin in years.
Dean slipped his hand out of hers and wrapped it around her shoulder. God, that felt good. How long had it been since a man gave her comfort like this? Probably since before Sean died.
“I’m so sorry, Eleni. You didn’t deserve that.”
“No. The kids didn’t either. And because he couldn’t control his drinking, they get to grow up without a father and lots of other things, because I sure can’t bring in the kind of money he did. If it weren’t for my mother and her pension, doubtful we could stay on the island.”
“He didn’t have any kind of savings or insurance policy?” Dean sounded like he was almost growling.
“There was a small insurance policy that paid for his funeral, and I managed to pay off half the mortgage, which made my monthly payment smaller. But it’s tough to make ends meet. I don’t need to tell you about struggling financially. It’s tough on everyone, especially when the island gets quiet in the winter. Not as many tourists.”
Dean hugged her tighter against him and pressed his lips to her hair. Could she tip her head up and demand one for her lips?
“I’m so sorry,” Dean said again. “If there’s anything I can do...”
“Thank you. That’s sweet. But it was five years ago. We’ve managed until now, and we’ll manage in the future.”
“I’m sure it still hurts.”
“I can forgive him for drinking, and I can forgive him for dying. But the one thing I hate more than anything is that he lied to me. He told me he’d stop. Then, he didn’t, but he pretended he did. It’s the one thing he had control over.”
Dean’s arm slipped off her shoulder, and she wanted to cry. But soon he took her hand in his as they strolled. The remainder of the journey was quiet, but he held her hand the entire way.
Entering the administration offices, the first thing Dean saw was Eleni bent over to reach inside a filing cabinet. She swiveled at the sound of the door, and a huge smile grew on her face. The one he’d gotten used to seeing almost every day. If one of them wasn’t working, he’d make it a point to take his evening stroll past her house. One of the family always invited him to have dessert with them.
“Hi, Dean. How are you today?” She shuffled papers in her hands, then settled in her chair again. Even though she always inquired how people were, Eleni wasn’t the type to stop her work while she chatted. Did they have other employees at other locations who were as dedicated as she was? How could they find out? Something like this should be rewarded.
“There was a huge mess in one of the rooms this morning, so I had to give Maria a hand cleaning it up.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Did you give up your lunch break to catch up on your work?”
He shrugged. “Vlad gave me a few samples when I mopped the prep kitchen floor after the lunch crowd.”
“Something good, I hope.”
“From Vlad, it’s always good. I need to do trash. They in?”
“Hugh is in his office. Aarya is in a meeting with a vendor in the conference room.”
Dean gave a curt nod and quickly emptied the trash in the manager’s office. He was hoping Hugh would finish what he was working on and leave before he had to do that room.
No luck. The man was still there. But then he fiddled with some papers on his desk and stood as Dean opened the door.
Hugh shook something off the papers, then waved at the desk. “Clean that mess off my desk while you’re at it.” No please or thank you from the assistant manager. Ever.
When he moved closer, he saw the mess was a pile of peanut shells. Whipping his head around, Dean froze. Was he giving those papers to Eleni?
Panic hit him, and he dashed from the office just as Hugh was handing the files to Eleni. Grabbing them quickly, he sighed. She hadn’t actually touched them.
Two sets of eyes stared at him like he was crazy.
“What in the world are you doing? Are you looking for a reason for me to fire you?” Hugh sputtered and attempted to rip the papers from his hands. Dean pulled them away.
“He’s been eating peanuts,” Dean said to Eleni, and her eyes widened. Was she frightened of the peanuts or because Hugh threatened to fire him?
“Thank you.” A timid smile flashed his way again.
Hugh cleared his throat, his expression livid. “What is going on?”
Eleni’s soft voice calmly said, “I have a peanut allergy. Even touching the oil can make me have a reaction. Dean was just being cautious.”
“How was I supposed to know this?” Hugh’s face turned red.
Eleni bit her lip, then said, “I’ve mentioned it a few times.”
Hugh’s head shook back and forth like he was trying to get water out of his ears. “I can’t remember everyone’s medical history. We’ve got over a hundred employees at this resort.”
Dean stepped closer to the desk. “Eleni works with you, right here in the same office. I’d think for her safety, you’d remember something as important as this.”
Hugh’s death glare would have disintegrated him if he didn’t own the entire resort. Dean carefully placed the papers on the table across from Eleni’s desk. “Don’t touch those. I’ll help you with them in a minute.”
Grabbing his spray bottle and a roll of paper towels from his cart, Dean went back into Hugh’s office, cleaned up the shells, then wiped down anything Eleni might have access to. He did the same thing in the outer office, making sure to get door handles and the knobs on the copier and coffee machine.
Once he’d tied the trash bag closed, Dean cocked his head at Hugh, who stood by the window staring at the pool. “I suggest you wash your hands with lots of soap to get any oil off before you touch anything.”
Focusing on Eleni again, he said, “I can help with whatever that is you need to type. I’ll read it off to you while you put it in the computer.”
Hugh whirled at this and spit flew from his mouth. “That’s hotel business and isn’t for any old eyes to see. Certainly not someone in the maintenance department.”
Dean held up the papers and thrust them at Hugh. “Then, here. You can read them to her.”
“I hardly have time to do that. This is her job, and if she can’t do it, then we can find someone who can. As for you, I can always find a new maintenance worker. Dime a dozen.”
Dean was tempted to say that was about all he made, then realized the company he ran set some of the pay rates. It would be one of the first things he’d fix once he was back being Konstantine Petrakis again. Maybe even before, once he managed a meeting with his financial officer brother.
Eleni stood, her expression anxious. She couldn’t afford to lose her job, but he’d never let that happen. Even if it meant not figuring out who the marketing thief culprit was, he’d make sure Eleni was fine.
“You’ll do nothing of the sort, Hugh.” Aarya stood in the open doorway, her arms crossed. How long had she been standing there?
Hugh’s finger jabbed in Dean’s direction. “I will not tolerate disrespect from an employee.”
“I didn’t see any disrespect. Not from Dean. Seems to me he was merely protecting Eleni. The last thing we’d ever want to do is harm any of the staff or guests, however accidentally.
Hugh’s eyes blazed, but he bit his tongue. It was the first smart thing he’d done all day. Dean had to bite his own with the reprimands and threats he had swirling around in his mind.
Aarya clicked across the room and took the papers. “I’ll give you a hand with these since you can’t safely touch them. Unless you want to redo them after washing your hands, Hugh?”
He looked down his nose at all of them, then huffed out of the office. Dean gathered his cleaning supplies and the bag of trash and cocked his head at the ladies. “Do you need me to do anything else in here?”
Aarya smiled at him. “No, thank you, Dean. I appreciate your quick thinking and actions with the peanuts. I would be horrified if my best employee got sick. I wouldn’t be able to run this place without her.”
