Secrets Under the Sun, page 8
As Xander raced off to ask his mom, Dean watched the family unit. He felt blessed to be included in some of their home time. They’d never made him feel like an outsider or that he was in the way.
The boy was back in a flash, nodding like a bobblehead. “She said yes, but only as long as you’re here. If you have to leave, I need to come in.”
Dean waved to Eleni, who was reaching for another taco. Knowing her, she’d most likely been attending to some other chore that needed to be done while the rest of the family had started eating.
“Send Thea out, too, if she wants, when she’s done.”
The girl munched on her taco while petting Cuddles in her lap. Eleni sent him a grateful smile. He’d do anything for her if she looked at him that way.
Xander grabbed the basketball and started dribbling under the hoop. It sat next to the street on the border of their yard and the generous neighbor who let them use it.
“Have you ever been in the military, Mr. Dean?”
Where had that comment come from? He took a few steps over to Xander. “See how I don’t always walk straight. I had an accident when I was little, and it made one leg a tiny bit shorter than the other. That’s something that makes it hard to be in the military.”
Xander cocked his head. “My Uncle Thaddeus is in the army. His legs are the same size, I guess.”
“Do you see him often?” How was he related to them? Or was this someone they only called uncle but was more a friend of Eleni’s?
“Not really. He comes here sometimes at Christmas, but I wish he was here more. To help Mom because my dad isn’t here to help her.”
“Your mom seems very self-sufficient to me. I’ll be she can do most of the stuff a guy might do.”
Xander’s eyes gazed at the darkening sky. “I guess, but I’m not big enough to do some of this stuff, and Uncle Thaddeus isn’t here.”
“Is he your mom’s brother or your dad’s brother?” Eleni hadn’t mentioned getting any help from her late husband’s family.
“Mom’s brother and Yia Yia’s other kid. She has a boy and girl also, but not twins like me and Thea. Uncle Thaddeus is younger than mom. Since my dad died, I’m the man of the house, but I don’t know how to do that and sometimes things scare me.”
“Your mom is a capable lady. I’m sure she can take care of most things.”
The anxious eyes that stared at him made Dean want to pull the boy into his arms. “What about if something happens to Mom? I heard her tell Yia Yia about the peanuts at work the other day. That’s why you brought her a new medicine pen, right? If she got sick, I’d have to take care of everything.”
Dean caught the ball Xander had been dribbling and lowered himself to the child’s level. “You’re only eight, Xander. No one expects you to take over the family. If something did happen to your mom, your grandmother would be around. Even if she can’t hear, she’s still a smart lady and would know who to contact to get help.”
Xander bit his lip and dropped his head. “Would you help us, Mr. Dean? I mean, if Mom got sick or needed help.”
No child should have to worry about this stuff. “If you ever need help, all you have to do is ask. Or let me know if you’re upset about something. Okay?”
The boy’s shoulders relaxed, and his face brightened. “Really? Thanks. Do you think you could help teach me some stuff that a dad would help a kid do?”
“Like what?”
Xander shrugged and stared at the ground again. “Just father and son stuff.” He kicked a stone on the street and watched as it skittered away.
Father and son? Xander was looking for a father figure. Someone to look up to and lean on and learn from. Dean had never seen himself in that role, for good reason. Now, he wondered if he had it in him to be a good role model for a kid.
Patting Xander on the shoulders, he said, “That might be kind of fun. I don’t have any kids of my own, so I haven’t done anything like that. But if you think I might be okay at it, then I’m happy to step in.”
“You’ll be great at it,” Xander yelled. “You already play basketball and hang out sometimes. This’ll be really cool. Thanks.”
Dean was almost knocked over as Xander launched himself into his arms. The way he clung so tightly to his waist, Dean had a feeling this had been eating away at the boy for a while. What would Eleni think of him stepping in to do dad stuff? And would she want him to step up and take over some of the duties her deceased husband had done? He didn’t even know what to think about that possibility.
The worst part of working the overnight shifts wasn’t how tired Dean was. It wasn’t even that he got to witness spoiled vacationers, ones who could afford the luxury suites at this resort, acting like idiots from too much drink or a desire to be young again. Mostly, it was that Eleni wasn’t here.
In the last two months, he’d come to expect her generous smile and kind words asking how he was. The lunch she often brought to share wasn’t expected, but the fact she usually ate it with him was nice. He’d never stopped working to eat before. Often, Maggie warmed something up for him and brought it to his office, leaving it on his side table because he was embroiled in some urgent matter.
He laughed, remembering how ridiculous his schedule was, how he thought the entire company would fall apart if he didn’t put in twelve-hour days. Since he’d been here, he’d relied on his department heads far more than he ever had. Surprisingly, none of them had complained one bit. A few had actually thanked him for allowing them more autonomy and trusting them to do their jobs. Why he hadn’t before, he didn’t have a clue.
Okay, maybe he did. He was a bit of a control freak and hadn’t wanted to let go of the reins in case the job wasn’t done correctly. While here, he’d had to rely on his staff more than ever. They’d stepped up to the plate and taken their responsibilities seriously and with confidence and skill.
As he pushed his cart down the hallway, his biggest staff hiring regret strolled down the hallway in his direction. Hugh, and he didn’t look happy.
The man narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms as Dean approached, hoping to simply pass on by. No such luck.
“I know it was you who tattled to corporate about the peanut incident.”
Dean didn’t have the energy to deal with a temper tantrum at the moment. Taking a deep breath, he replied, “Right, because I’m in tight with the Petrakis brothers. That’s why I’m cleaning up sand and vomit from the floors.”
The words were disrespectfully said, and Dean would have dressed down any employee who spoke to him that way. Yet Hugh’s less than stellar performance in his job had Dean making an exception.
Hugh’s jaw tightened. “I’ll be keeping my eye on you, Peters. I may have to dig a little and see why you got ousted from the Cape Cod resort, but if I find any kind of dirt, you may find yourself in need of new employment.”
Dean merely stared at Hugh, a tiny smile on his face. The man wouldn’t find any dirt, hidden or otherwise. Maggie had set up his background impeccably with the Cape resort.
With Dean’s silence, Hugh’s face turned redder. “Listen, you don’t want to tick me off. You’ll find yourself pulling night duty for the next six months. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Dean kept his tone respectful when he wanted to fire the man on the spot.
“I’m leaving at eleven tonight, but I’ll be checking on your progress to make sure you finished everything on your list.”
Everything on Dean’s lists always got done. Hugh knew that as well as he did, so the threat was ridiculous. “If that’s all, sir, I’ll get working on that list.”
“You do that.” Hugh threw him another glare, then sauntered to the registration desk where two pretty young ladies stood helping guests.
Being Friday night, the desk would stay busy for a while as people came in and out, needing last minute items they’d forgotten or requesting special services. Room service stayed open until two, and often Dean was asked to retrieve the trays outside the rooms after the guests were done. The food waste he saw made him sick when he thought of Eleni and her family and how frugally they lived.
Dean kept his eye on Hugh as the man flirted with each of the women at the desk. Both had to be at least fifteen years younger than the assistant manager, yet they flirted right back, batting their eyelashes and swinging their hair over their shoulders. Fortunately, the man kept his hands to himself, because Dean couldn’t overlook something that disgusting.
Once Hugh left, Dean set a course for behind the desk to empty the trash. The blonde—Ashley, he thought her name was—waved and smiled. The other one, Monica, sat on her stool and looked bored.
“Gets tiring at night, huh?”
Monica rolled her eyes but remained quiet. Guess the maintenance guy wasn’t powerful enough or paid enough to merit preferential treatment.
“The assistant manager seems to like you both. There must be perks to that.”
Ashley laughed and made a face, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “The guy’s a pig, but if we don’t giggle and make him feel important, he gets all sulky. Since he schedules our hours, it’s best to make him happy.”
Dean scowled as he tied up the bag of trash. “Have you ever thought of letting the manager know? Or going to corporate with your complaints?”
“Right,” Ashley said. “Because Hugh wouldn’t find out who it was and either fire us or make our lives miserable. It’s easier to flirt and make him think he’s all that.”
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to put up with it.”
Monica rolled her eyes again. “Whatever. He lets us come back and use the pool sometimes if it isn’t busy.”
Dean mulled that over as he went about the rest of his duties that night. It wasn’t a bad incentive to working here, but did they want over a hundred employees using the pool at all times?
Once two o’clock had come and gone, Dean rolled his cart and parked it next to the employee bathroom near the main office. Letting himself into the outer room where Eleni worked, he glanced back to make sure no one was paying any attention. The place was as quiet as a library during spring break.
Not that he had to worry too much. People really didn’t notice him and what he was doing. It was like he blended in with the wallpaper.
He quickly perused Aarya’s desk for any signs she wasn’t the loyal employee she appeared to be. Everything was in tip top shape and super organized. Hugh’s desk was another matter. Sticky notes littered the surface, which would have been great, except many of them were from Eleni or Aarya reminding him of jobs he needed to do. Ones Dean knew he hadn’t done yet. Once his reconnaissance here was finished, he and Trey would have to have a good long chat with Hugh about his future with the company.
Aside from Dean’s fake file resting on the side of Hugh’s desk, there wasn’t anything suspicious there. Honestly, Hugh was so lackadaisical at his job, Dean wondered if he’d have the energy to acquire the marketing information and sell it.
In the guise of straightening up and dusting, Dean checked out the business office, the marketing office, and then both Chet and Reva’s offices which were next to each other on the main floor.
He’d been in Reva’s office before, but if it was during the day, she usually kicked the barrel toward him and said, “Here, take it.”
Tonight, he spent a little more time examining the items placed on the many surfaces in the room. Quite a few of them were pictures of her and Trey. On a boat. Near the pool. Drinking at the beach snack shack. All of them made it seem like she and Trey were tight. Romantic. In love.
The poor sap actually thought Trey would settle down with her at some point. Sleeping with him any time he wanted was hardly the way to get his attention. His brother had a lady, or two or three, in every port. If Reva was holding out hope that Demitrius Petrakis would get down on one knee and pledge his everlasting love, she was in for a big surprise.
Chapter Nine
Eleni clapped her hands and got the attention of the kids sitting at the table. “Livy, Kandra, your mom just pulled up. Start getting your stuff together. Xander and Thea, please make sure to clean up the mess in the living room.”
Livy tipped her head. “We should help clean that up, too. Ms. Eleni. Thea and Xander didn’t make it all by themselves and shouldn’t have to do it all.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Livy. I’ll go outside and chat with your mom until you finish up.”
The kids all grinned. It was their way of getting a bit more time to play together while the moms got some adult conversation.
Nadine relaxed in one of the chairs in the yard as Eleni came out with two cups of tea. She knew the drill. “What kind of a mess did they leave today?”
Eleni shook her head. “You don’t even want to know. The science project they did required every Lego and block we owned. It could be a while.”
Nadine laughed and sipped her tea. Both women let out a deep sigh.
“Don’t forget about the barbecue this weekend. I know you have to work Friday and Saturday, but I was hoping you could come even for a little while. Get your mother out of the house, too.”
“Oh, Mom is absolutely looking forward to it. Once she heard Vlad was planning to bring some of his tasty treats, she started rifling through her wardrobe for a suitable outfit.”
“Georgie is so darned cute. She and Vlad are great together. Have they admitted to being more than friends yet?”
Eleni rolled her eyes. “Not to me. And since we’re usually around the house, they certainly haven’t had a chance to be more than that.”
“What about you?”
Eleni cocked her head. “What do you mean me?”
“Have you had a chance to be more than friends with anyone lately?”
Her laugh rang across the yard. “When would I have time for that?”
“Maybe not yet, but why don’t you start by inviting that handsome man from work to the party Friday night?”
“Handsome man from work? Where did you get that idea?” She had a feeling she knew who’d tattled on Dean’s visits.
“Your children have mentioned a gentleman who stops by for dessert at times. Someone you work with.”
Eleni huffed. “It’s just dessert. He lives around the corner, and I think he gets lonely at times. He comes over and plays basketball with the kids and has dessert.”
“According to the kids, it’s almost every night. What’s going on between you two?”
Hiding behind her teacup, Eleni gave herself a moment to figure out what to say. “Nothing that I know of. I’m nice to him, and he’s nice to me and the kids and Mom. He’s only been on the island a few months. He doesn’t really know many people.”
“Then, bring him to the party. It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce him to others.”
Would Dean want that? “I don’t know. He’s kind of reserved and quiet. I’m not sure if it’s shyness or just a desire to not get involved. It took a while before I got him to say more than a few words to me at a time.”
Nadine smirked. “Maybe he just doesn’t know anyone. What better way to introduce him to the neighborhood?”
Eleni pictured Nadine and Marek’s house across the street from the ocean. “We don’t live in your neighborhood.”
Waving her hand, Nadine snorted. “The island isn’t that big. I consider everyone here a neighbor.”
“Okay, I’ll ask him. Or better yet, I’ll have the kids ask him. He seems to be unable to say no to them.”
“But he can say no to you?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t really asked him for much. Except a chair with better lumbar support. He found one for me.”
“Your charm is working already. I’d love to meet him. And once we get him acquainted with a few others, we can start doing some couples stuff.”
“Couples stuff? We aren’t a couple, Nadine. I’m not sure what we are, but there hasn’t been anything romantic between us.” Unless she counted holding his hand.
“Yet. We’ll get you there. Then, we can have a few nights and hang out at either J Roger or listen to the singers at Sundown.”
It had been forever since Eleni had gone to listen to people play their guitars and sing at the restaurant near the pier. She liked Sundown, because it wasn’t the kind of bar where the sole purpose of going there was to drink. Since she’d realized Sean was an alcoholic, she’d stopped having alcohol of any kind.
“Xander wants me to bring brownies to your party. I hope that’s okay. Unless there’s something else you need.”
“Brownies are good. Mostly, I just want my friends there. And friends of friends. So bring Dean. That’s his name, right?”
“Yes, Dean Peters. I’ll ask him and see what he says, but I won’t force him. I’ll gently encourage him.”
“Tell him you’re bringing your brownies, and if he wants dessert Friday night, that’s where they’ll be. A little subterfuge is never a bad thing. Or use guilt. You provide him with dessert most nights. The least he can do is escort you to a friend’s house for a few hours.”
Nadine tipped her head, her lips curling up in a grin. She reached for her tea and finished off the cup just as the kids exploded from the house into the yard.
“Hey, Mom, we made the coolest habitats for some of the island animals today,” Kandra said.
Nadine eyed Eleni. “The blocks?”
“Mmhmm. Lots of blocks. Are they all picked up and put away?” Eleni addressed the children.
“Yep,” the four of them yelled together.
“Great.” Nadine rose to her feet and pointed at the school bags on the ground. “Make sure you have everything you need and let’s get going. I hope your father already got supper cooking. I’m starving.”
As Nadine and the girls got in the car and drove off, Eleni thought how nice it was that Nadine had a husband who got dinner ready. Not that she could complain. Her mom often had the food ready to go by the time Eleni returned from work.
An image of Dean standing at the stove with an apron around his trim hips appeared in her mind. She bit her lip to keep from laughing. But if they ever got to the point where Dean was making dinner for them, she knew she wouldn’t be laughing. She’d be down on her knees giving thanks.
