Rebecca Winters - Double Trouble - Newborn Twins

She laughed. “That beats the neighborhood park.” Andreas’s backyard was unlike any other. “Every time you show me a new place, I think it’s the most fabulous spot around. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for this tour. I’m very lucky.”

He cast her a sideward glance. “Seeing everything through your eyes has taken me back to happier days and times. I’m the one indebted to you, so let’s agree we’re even.”

Once again she sensed he was brooding. If he’d heard from Leon, he would have told her. His change in demeanor had everything to do with his brother.

Gabi knew most men stuck in this unique situation would have left her to her own devices while she waited for word from his brother. Not Andreas. His unselfishness meant he’d put his own needs aside, but it was wearing on him. She wouldn’t allow this to happen again.

For the next while they lazed on deck and played with the babies. To convince him he wasn’t the sole meaning of her existence she phoned her mother to let her know she and the children were fine. She hoped that if she played it breezy in front of him, he wouldn’t suspect how on fire she still was for him.

Her mom was delighted to learn the boys had slept through the night. In front of Andreas she raved about her sightseeing trip and his kindness, then promised to phone again when she knew more about Leon’s plans. He could prob-ably see through her attempt to keep everything light and above board, but she had to try.

By the time she hung up, they were coming into port at Apollonia. Since Andreas was still having fun with the babies, she excused herself and went below to pack up the few things in her cabin. She found Stavros and thanked him.

Within a half hour Andreas had driven them back to the house. While he helped her and the twins inside, she sensed he had other matters on his mind. As he was bringing in the last bag, she met him at the door.

“Stop right there. You’ve done enough.” She took the bag from him. “I had the time of my life. Now go. I know you’ll get back to me when you have any news.”

Gabi felt his gaze travel over her, turning her body feverish. He seemed reluctant to leave. “Promise me you’ll phone if you need anything.”

His entreaty spoken in that husky tone sent a weakness to her legs. She rubbed her palms against her hips nervously. “You know I will. Now I’ve got to take care of the babies.”

“Before you do that, I need this.” In the next breath he pulled her into his arms and started kissing her again. Caught off guard, she was helpless to stop him. Gabi had been dying for his touch since last night. Without conscious thought she slid her hands up his chest and encircled his neck, needing to get closer to him.

He was such a gorgeous man. With every caress her senses spiraled. The heat he created was like a fever in her blood. Another minute and she would beg him to stay. Through sheer strength of will she wrenched her mouth from his and eased away from him, breathing in gulps of air.

“I’ll be back. Miss me a little.” With another hard kiss to her trembling mouth, he strode off. She shut the door and fell against it while she waited for him to drive away.

As soon as she couldn’t hear the car motor any longer, she made fresh bottles of formula, then put the twins in their stroller and headed out the door for a long walk. If her life depended on it, she couldn’t have stayed in the house another second, not when she was feeling this kind of pent-up energy. She didn’t plan to come back until she’d visited every shop in the village and had worn herself out.

At noon the next day Gabi left the house again, this time taking the twins with her to enjoy lunch in a delightful little restaurant she’d passed last evening. It was a good thing Andreas hadn’t come back.

She blushed to realize how wantonly she’d responded to him at the door. Twice now she’d been playing with fire, but only she was going to get burned if she continued to let it happen every time he got near her.

During the delicious meal, the babies created a minor sensation with customers and staff alike. On her way out the door several tourists asked if they could take their picture because they thought the boys were so angelic.

Gabi supposed it didn’t matter as long as no one knew they were the sons of Leonides Simonides. In that case their pictures would show up in the newspaper and on television.

Before long she reached the path to the house. As she was about to open the door she heard a female voice call to her. She turned around to see the manager come hurrying up to her. “I’m glad you’re back. You have a visitor who’s been waiting for a while. She’s in the office.”

“Who is it?”

“Mrs. Simonides.”

Her heart pounded an extra beat. Deline? Was it possible? Where was Leon? Or maybe it was Andreas’s mother. Had he dropped her off with the intention of coming by for her later? She could hardly breathe at the thought of seeing him again.

“While I take the children inside, would you please show her over here, Lena?”

“Of course.” She rushed off.

Gabi looked down at the children. “Come on, you cute little things. Someone has come to see you. I want you to look your very best.”

After wheeling them inside, she brought out the big quilt and put it on the living-room floor where they could stretch out while she changed them. With that accomplished she put them in their white and yellow stretchy suits. The colors brought out the warm tone of their olive complexions. She kissed their necks. “Umm, you smell sweet.”

When she heard the knock, she jumped up and darted over to the door to open it. The tall, slender brunette beauty on the other side couldn’t be much older than Gabi’s twenty-five years. She’d worn makeup but it didn’t disguise the telltale signs of pain. Gabi detected a distinct pallor and her eyelids were swollen from too much crying.

“You must be Deline.” She spoke first. Her heart ached for the other woman who’d found the courage to come and at least see the children.

“Yes. I understand you’re Thea Paulos’s half sister Gabriella.”

“That’s right. Please come in.” She had a dozen questions, but didn’t ask one. This was too significant a moment to intrude on Deline’s personal agony. She followed her into the living room where the twins were lying on their backs making infant sounds. Their compact bodies were in constant motion.

Gabi’s lungs constricted while she waited for a reaction from Leon’s wife. It wasn’t long in coming.

A pained cry escaped her lips and she sank into one end of the sofa as if her legs could no longer support her. Tears gushed down her cheeks. “They look exactly like him, but they should have been our children,” came her tortured whisper.

By now moisture had bathed Gabi’s face. “I’m so sorry, Deline. I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me for contacting Andreas. When I went to his office, I thought h-he was their father,” she stammered.

“Andreas told me everything.” Deline shook her head. “But a situation like this would never have happened to him. Unlike Leon, he doesn’t lose his head when he’s down or upset. That’s why he was made the head of the company over Leon after their father suffered his heart attack.”

“I didn’t realize.” Gabi knew so little really.

“When Andreas is married, his wife will be able to trust him to the death.”

The blood pounded in her ears. “Is he getting married soon?”

“Irena’s expecting a proposal any day now. She’s his girlfriend and my best friend. Her family owns one of the major newspapers here in Greece. She heads the travel section department.”

All of a sudden Gabi had to reach for the nearest chair and sit down. Swallowing hard, she said, “Will they be married soon?”