Tall Dark Handsome Lycan Read online

  “I was just telling Sam,” Maria offered heartily, “how lucky we were to have her last night.”

  “Indeed we were,” Leo commented slowly, giving Sam another guarded look. Wary, she met his gaze and braced herself for the sardonic comment that was sure to follow, but none came. Instead, he returned his attention to Maria. “You are certain you have time to cook dinner for my parents’ visit tonight? Would you rather stay at the hospital with Nitsa?”

  Sam stifled a moan. His parents? For dinner tonight? Her stomach dropped at the thought of meeting more of the Stefanos clan.

  “It is no problem, Leo.” Maria said. “I am going to fix something very special for your mother and father. I will come back for a couple of hours this afternoon to cook.”

  Sam knew Maria’s schedule was full with Nitsa and there was no way the older woman would rather be cooking than staying with her daughter. Sam wanted to help. Surely Maria wouldn’t object if Sam offered to cook dinner?

  “Very well,” Leo said deeply. “And you, Sam? How will you spend the day?”

  She struggled to find her voice. “I’m going down to the beach.”

  “Enjoy your day,” he said, giving her a slight, mocking bow before he left.

  When he was gone, she almost sighed with relief. She may not have been able to read his cards or see his aura, but his energy was palpable and it stirred her senses.

  “I think Leo is impressed with you.”

  Sam almost laughed at the thought. “He doesn’t even like me,” she replied without thinking, and immediately bit her lip, giving the older woman a rueful look. “I’m sorry, Maria. I shouldn’t have said that. I know how much you respect him. It’s just that Leo and I…we…we don’t get along.”

  “I noticed nothing of the kind.” Maria sighed as she stared at the door Leo had taken. “Don’t blame him, koritsimou, for his proud manner. He has changed so much since that terrible woman. He does not trust his heart anymore.”

  Sam frowned. “What woman?”

  “Catherine. He was engaged to her two hun—” She gasped and coughed, Maria’s hand rising sharply to her chest. Sam rose abruptly, concerned the woman was going to choke.

  “Let me get you some water!”

  “No. No. I am fine,” Maria said, waving a hand in the air. She turned to butter the toast. “As I was saying, he was engaged to a woman who changed his life, and not for the better. She make him not believe in true love.”

  “What happened?” She couldn’t picture Leo as an impressionable man. All Sam could see was his arrogance and pride. Actually, after last night, Sam had seen a bit more than that. He’d displayed compassion and kindness, she admitted reluctantly. Hadn’t he taken her dinner tray up to her room?

  “He was in love, or he thought he was,” Maria explained. “Until one day, Leo found out she was sleeping with another man, a man with as much power as Leo. So Leo ended the relationship. He became very hard and suspicious with the matters of the heart. He lost faith in love.”

  Sam couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. “How awful for him.”

  “Yes, but it worked out for the best. It was better he found out her true character before they got married.”

  “I don’t understand. How could she sleep with another man if she had L—” Sam coughed and sputtered. Mortified, she lifted her coffee cup to her mouth to hide her embarrassment. She couldn’t believe what she was about to voice out loud. Her lack of sleep had given her a loose tongue, and she dared a look at Maria. The older woman regarded her with approval.

  “Catherine knew how to manipulate a man. She was a very bad woman with no heart. A…a witch, some say.”

  “I suppose only a witch could have that kind of power of Leo,” Sam said, laughing softly. She saw Maria’s expression shift, as though she was pleased.

  “He lost his head with her beauty. I believe she put him under a spell.”

  “Was she American?” Sam asked, ignoring the comment about spells. Maria looked like she almost believed it.

  “Yes, but do not compare yourself to her. You are a beautiful woman inside and out.”

  “I’m not… I wasn’t—” Sam sputtered her incoherent thought. Had she been comparing herself to Catherine? Did Leo dislike her so much because she was an American? “I was just wondering why he’s always so… Why he doesn’t…” she trailed off, unable to reason her jumbled thoughts.

  “You want to know why he seems harsh with you.” Maria smiled kindly. “Do not confuse Leo’s fear of you with hate. He has closed himself from feeling anything for so long, he does not understand the emotions you are bringing up in him. You have a kind soul, Sam, and you are much more beautiful than Catherine ever was, or even Katina. I suppose you heard the rumour he will announce his engagement to her soon? Well, now that you are here, I am not so sure about that.”

  Mortified, Sam quickly interjected, “You’ve misunderstood the nature of mine and Leo’s relationship, Maria. He doesn’t even like me.”

  “You are mistaken. I see the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching him. And every time you are near, I see the way he stiffens.”

  Sam shook her head. “He’s only keeping an eye on me to make sure I don’t run off with the family silver.”

  Maria laughed. “There is fire between you two. It is good. I have not seen anyone bring fire into Leo’s eyes for a very long time. I am pleased Katina will soon see she has met her match in you. Hmph. I never liked her. She is too jealous and possessive. A very cold woman.” Maria placed a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice next to Sam’s coffee and smiled. “You must eat now. We have plenty of time to talk later.”

  How was Sam going to convince Maria she had absolutely nothing going on with Leo? She saw the older woman stare at the clock again and worry settled on her kind features.

  “Maria, go to the hospital and come back at dinner time. I’ll return from the beach at two o’clock to make dinner and set the table.”

  Maria looked aghast. “Oh, no. You cannot do that. You are a guest.”

  “I’m a friend. And friends help each other. Besides, I love cooking and I promise to make something special Leo’s parents will enjoy,” she offered, smiling.

  “No. You cannot. It would be too much to ask of you.”

  “It will be my pleasure to help you. You’ve been so nice to me since I arrived and I want to repay your kindness. Please.”

  Maria seemed hesitant. “Are you sure? It will help me so much.”

  “I’m positive.”

  Maria’s hesitation melted away and she gave Sam a grateful look. “Thank you so much, koritsimou. That will help me a lot.”

  * * * *

  Sam was happy the beach wasn’t full of bathers when she arrived. She strolled around, trying to find a good spot and settled for a quiet area, placing her colourfully patterned beach blanket on the white sand. It was only ten thirty and the sun hadn’t reached its peak yet, but she could tell it was going to be a very hot day.

  She removed her shorts and T-shirt, folding them neatly before putting them in her tote bag. Sam grabbed her sunscreen and applied it liberally over her body. Her bikini didn’t offer much protection, and she wondered if buying it for this trip had been a smart move. A one piece might have been a better choice if she wanted to avoid sunburn. She was thankful, however, she wasn’t like most redheads who freckled.

  As she lathered the sun screen over her stomach and semi-exposed breasts, she glanced at the other people on the beach. She saw a few families, some couples, and a young boy of about sixteen not too far from her, wearing scruffy jeans and a worn T-shirt. He was sitting directly on the sand, bent over a dog-eared sketchpad, drawing what she guessed was the seascape because he kept looking up and squinting directly at the ocean.

  Sam smiled. A future artist in the making, she mused. She thought about the art class she had organized back home at Somerset’s orphanage and a surge of excitement coursed through her veins. She couldn’t wait to return home an
d work with the kids. Sam looked at her watch and tried to figure out the time difference in Somerset. It was late night at the orphanage now and Elizabeth was asleep.

  Sam’s heart swelled with love for the little girl. God, how she missed her. How she missed them all.

  For a long time, Sam’s mother had suggested Sam could adopt Elizabeth, and Sam had contemplated it, but how would it work? She was always at her shop, at the orphanage, or giving readings for her fast growing clientele. How could she care for a little girl? Would she have the time? Did she even have what it took to be a single parent?

  She lay on her blanket and closed her eyes, dreading the day Elizabeth was adopted by someone else.

  She sighed wearily. She wanted it all. A husband and children, but with no prospects for husband material in her life, the subject was pretty much moot. An image of Leo’s face swam before her and she slowly opened her eyes. Wasn’t she being a tad presumptuous thinking about Leo in a husbandly way? He told her he wanted to kiss her, not marry her, she thought.

  Sam shifted uncomfortably on her towel. Her day on the beach was going to be futile if she kept thinking about him.

  Sam took a deep breath and concentrated on the soothing sounds around her. The waves rushing on the beach, the soft chirping of the birds, the happy voices of the children. She sighed and settled comfortably on her towel. Fifteen minutes later, she fell asleep.

  * * * *

  Sam stood in a swirling mist, alone and afraid. Her long, sheer nightgown swayed in the slight breeze and she wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. She couldn’t see anything except the cloudy haze of the mist. Sam shivered.

  “Do not be frightened. I am here now,” said a deep, familiar voice behind her.

  His strong arms circled her waist and drew her body close to his. She shivered again, but this time from the heady feeling his touch was stirring in her limbs. His lips grazed her neck and she sighed. His hands slid up her waist and slipped around the front to cup her breasts. Sam gasped.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said, his voice hoarse with desire.

  His hands glided up to her shoulders and he gently turned her around to face him.

  She drew her arms up and around his shoulders and lifted her face for a kiss, but as she waited with anticipation, she watched his face transform and change into a beast. Horror washed over her as she watched his jowls snap with rage.

  Sam screamed.

  * * * *

  “Kiria?”

  Sam stirred from her dream and opened her eyes, squinting at the young boy who had been drawing earlier. She sat up.

  He looked apologetic. “Signomi, Kiria. Thelo na ksero an borro—”

  Sam raised a hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t speak Greek.”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Miss, but I noticed you have a sketch pad sticking out of your bag. My…my pen ran out of ink and I was hoping you had one I could borrow.”

  It took her a few moments to collect her thoughts and to stop her heart from hammering in her throat. That dream! Sam knew the difference between having a regular dream and a special one. And this was a special one. Was it trying to tell her Leo was a monster—a rude, cold, arrogant, beast?

  The hairs at the back of her neck were up and her legs and arms tingled. She tried focusing on the young boy staring at her.

  “Miss, are you all right?”

  Sam attempted a smile. “Of course.” She turned and grabbed her tote bag. Quickly she rummaged through it. “Here. It’s charcoal. It’s better to use on what you’re trying to draw than a pen.”

  He took the charcoal pencil, his expression going from apologetic to interested in one second flat. “How do you know what I’m drawing?”

  Sam smiled, feeling more at ease. At least he was diverting her from thinking about that disconcerting dream and what it meant.

  She liked the young boy. His aura was sweet and genuine with gentle hues of blues and greens.

  “You kept drawing after you stared at the ocean. May I see it?” She gestured to the dog-eared sketch pad he carried.

  He shrugged. “Yeah, sure, but it’s not very good.”

  Sam took the pad with one hand and extended her other hand. “I’m Samantha Hope. Please call me Sam.”

  He smiled shyly. “I’m Alekos Karadimos, but everyone calls me Alek.”

  “Alek. What a nice name. You speak English so well.”

  He shrugged casually. “My mom was Canadian.”

  Sam waited, expecting him to say more, but when he remained silent, she looked down at his drawing and an immediate thread of excitement ran up her back. This kid was talented, she thought. He needed to hone his craft, but she could see a diamond in the rough. “It’s fabulous. You’ve done a great job capturing the froth where the waves come down. That’s very hard to do with a ballpoint pen. Alek, I’m really impressed,” she added, smiling up at him. She could tell he was pleased.

  “Thanks, but I’m having trouble with the edge of the water and the sky.” He pointed to the horizon. “See where they meet? It looks like a streak of silver, all shiny. It kind of glows and I can’t get that.” He must have mistaken Sam’s intent listening for disinterest because he shrugged self-consciously. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a stupid picture.”

  Sam shook her head quickly. “No, don’t say that. It’s lovely. Alek, I know what you’re trying to say. You want that shimmery look. I can help you. First, as talented as you are, that’s a tough thing to capture with a pen. The charcoal will help, but you’ll need to angle it properly.” She flipped his page to a blank one. “I’ll draw it here and you can use it as a guide. I don’t want to draw directly on your picture. You have a very distinct hand.”

  Surprise lit his young face. “Are you an artist?”

  It was Sam’s turn to shrug. “I sketch when I can. It’s a hobby. Come, sit next to me so you can see what I do,” she murmured as she began to draw.

  Alek sat next to her, and within a few swirls of her hand, a scene of the horizon appeared with the silvery look and feel of the light touching the water.

  “You did that in three minutes. You are an artist,” he said, his brown gaze glued to her picture.

  Sam laughed softly. “Hardly, but I love to draw.”

  Alek looked at her shyly. “Can…can you do that again so I can see exactly what you did?”

  “Sure. It would be my pleasure.”

  And for the next two hours she drew another four pictures for him of different aspects of the beach while Alek asked her tons of questions.

  “Hey, thanks,” he said again.

  “It’s wasn’t any trouble, Alek.” She reached into her bag and took out the two apples Maria had given her to bring to the beach. “Do you want an apple?” She handed him one without waiting for him to reply and she noticed how quickly he ate it. He seemed hungry, and Sam’s sixth sense started to rise. She took a closer look at him and noticed his dark hair hadn’t seen shampoo in a week and his hands were dirty. “Are you here alone, Alek?” She asked gently.

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you come to this beach often to draw?”

  “Only when I can get away.”

  She didn’t want to press him. “I’m here on vacation. I love Greece. The weather is remarkable.”

  He shrugged indifferently. “I guess.”

  “You must be hot in those jeans. You don’t like to swim?”

  “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

  Tread carefully, Sam told herself. “Your parents should get you one. I can’t imagine living near a beach like this and not owning a bathing suit.” Sam crossed her fingers and hoped he’d answer.

  He stared at the last picture she drew for him and said quietly, “I don’t have parents. I live in the orphanage on the hill.”

  “I’m sorry, Alek,” she said softly, but she had expected that. It was all crystal clear to her now, and she wondered why she hadn’t picked up on it when she had first seen him on the beach. The only explanation she
came up with was that she’d been thinking about Leo at the time. It disturbed her to realize how he affected her so much even when he wasn’t around. It bothered her even more that she hadn’t even been able to spot a troubled boy.

  “It’s no big deal,” Alek said. “I don’t need anyone.”

  He sounded like so many of the kids her parents had welcomed into their family as foster children, and of the children who came to Somerset’s orphanage.

  He rose abruptly. “I gotto go.”

  “All right, but promise you’ll come back tomorrow. I’ll pack us both a lunch and we can draw some more.”

  His face lit up at that prospect. “Okay.”

  “Promise?” She asked again as she rose and pulled her shorts and top out of her bag. Quickly, she slipped them on. Oh my God, she was running late and she’d promised Maria she had nothing to worry about.

  “I’ll be here tomorrow,” Alek said.

  She gathered all her things. “Great. If something happens and you can’t make it, I’m at the villa just a couple of miles up the road. You can’t miss it. Go down the private road across the street from the tavern with blue tables out front.”

  Alek nodded. “Okay.”

  She held out her hand. “Alek, it was a pleasure meeting you and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

  His face turned red, but he grinned for the first time. “Me too. Bye, Sam.”

  * * * *

  Most of the walk back to the house was uphill and the sun was beating down her face the entire way. By the time Sam reached the front door, she was exhausted. Her face was flushed, her T-shirt clung to her with perspiration, and she panted as she pushed the door open.

  “I can’t believe I didn’t pack a water bottle,” she muttered under her breath.

  She stepped into the great hall and nearly collided into Leo. A dark frown appeared above his brows as he took in her state.

  “Yes. Water would have been a wise choice,” he remarked, taking in her parched, dishevelled appearance. “I told you the Volvo was available any time you needed it.”

  Sam tried to smile, but she needed water, and she needed it fast. “Thank you. I think I’ll be using it next time.”