For the Greek Tycoon's Pleasure: The Greek's Pregnant Lover. Lucy Gordon
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day. I’ve taken way more time off than I should have.”
“Do you think Brandi will relocate to the island with Cerulean Designs?”
“I’d like to ask her, but I don’t know if I can continue to pay her salary once I cut back on my client list.” Piper decided to begin undressing and remind Zephyr why he’d carried her in here to begin with. “I don’t want to work anywhere near full-time if I don’t have to.”
Chocolate-dark eyes ate her alive as she peeled off her comfort jeans and T-shirt. “I am very pleased to hear that. We will work something out regarding Brandi.”
“You mean you’re going to offer to pay her.” She paused in the act of unhooking her bra.
He could try to deny it, but she knew him. And his expression said he was already busy trying to come up with a compelling reason for doing so, given enough time.
“Why did you name your company Cerulean Designs?” he asked in an obvious bid to change the subject.
“Nice feint, but don’t think I’ve forgotten this discussion.”
“You haven’t forgotten we were about to make love, either, have you?”
“I’m not the one still completely dressed.”
“I can fix that quickly enough.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“DO IT.”
Zephyr kicked off his designer loafers with two audible thumps as they landed somewhere on the carpet.
“After everything went down with my ex, I didn’t have a lot to smile about, much less laugh,” Piper said, answering his previous question. “I was watching a gay romance movie when the guy planning the wedding started yelling at his fabric supplier. The wedding planner was incensed that the supplier didn’t know what cerulean was, much less how to spell it. I realized I didn’t know what cerulean was, either, and I was an interior designer. I learned later it was the same shade of blue as my eyes, which I thought was sort of prophetic. Anyway, I started laughing at the movie, really amused, for the first time in too long. I named my company Cerulean Designs to remind myself that no matter what was going on in my life, there was always a reason to laugh.”
Zephyr stopped undressing and stared down at her. “That’s a great story.”
“It’s a good memory. It doesn’t hurt to have the everyday reminder that I don’t know all there is to know about design, either.”
“Keeping you humble and positive at the same time. That’s a lot of mileage for one business name.” He pulled off his unbuttoned shirt and suit jacket in one go.
“Your turn.”
“I’m already undressing.”
“I mean to answer a question.”
“Oh, okay. What?”
“Why Stamos and Nikos Enterprises as opposed to the other way around?”
“It was nothing so meaning-driven,” he said as he pushed his slacks and boxers down his legs with impatient speed.
“What was it?”
“We flipped a coin for it. Neo won the toss.”
She was still laughing when he came down over her completely, deliciously, wonderfully naked, and kissed the joy right from her lips. It tasted good, better than good—it was perfect.
“So, it doesn’t bother you that we’re getting married so close to you and Neo?” Piper asked Cass the next day when the other woman called to congratulate her.
“Not at all. I think it’s fantastic you two want to get married in Greece. As you know, we’re going to be there on our honeymoon, anyway.”
“Zephyr’s flying my parents and sibs to Athens for the ceremony.” She’d been happy when they had all promised to attend. Of course, a paid-for vacation to Greece was nothing to sneeze at. And didn’t that make her sound as cynical about money as her groom-to-be?
“Neo said Zephyr’s inviting his own family,” Cass said, unaware of Piper’s cynical thoughts. “Neither of us even knew he was still in touch with them.”
“His relationship with his mom is pretty complicated.” Zephyr had taken Neo out to lunch and told his best friend the truth of his past, so Piper didn’t have to sidestep the issue, but she didn’t want to get into it too deeply, either.
Cass whistled softly. “You can say that again. I’m not sure, but I think Neo might have been better off losing his mom to an overdose than to a better life. That had to do a real number of Zephyr’s ability to trust.”
To love, as well, but Piper wasn’t getting into that. “Between our two families, there will be less than two dozen guests. You’ll be okay with that, won’t you?”
“I am.” The satisfaction and shy pride in Cass’s voice was a truly lovely sound. “My agoraphobia is so much better now. I’m not about to book a concert tour, but my new agent isn’t pressing for one, either.”
Piper laughed.
Then silence fell for several seconds. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but she felt like she wasn’t supposed to break it.
“I wanted to offer to play at your wedding, if you’d like.”
“Are you serious? I thought you didn’t perform anymore.”
“It’s not a performance, it’s a gift. I’m…” Cass’s voice trailed off then she took an audible breath. “I’m working on a song for you both.”
“As in composing us a song?” Piper asked in shocked awe.
“Um…yes. Is that all right?”
“That’s fantastic. I don’t know what to say. Thank you seems so inadequate.”
“I’m really happy to do it. Zee helped Neo see what was important and stopped the stubborn idiot from breaking my heart.”
“Zephyr did?” Piper asked in even more shock.
“Oh, yes. I think men are just smarter about other people’s relationships than their own.”
“Maybe not all men.”
“But definitely our men,” Cass said emphatically.
Piper wasn’t sure she considered Zephyr hers even though they were getting married. “Is Neo smarter about others then?”
“He knew you were special to Zee the minute he told us he was bringing you to dinner. It took Zephyr considerably longer than a single comment to figure out you were special to him.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
“Are things okay with you two?” Cass asked delicately.
“Better than. He may not love me, but he wants me and really wants me to be the mother of his children.”
“You do love him, though.”
“So much.”
“That’s good. I think Zee deserves lots of love and a very special woman like you. Maybe he’ll learn to trust in love by living with it and the positive results of it on a daily basis.”
Piper was certainly hoping that was the case. “Thank you. Ditto Neo about the love of a special woman, even though I’ve just recently become convinced he’s human.”
Cass’s laugh was sweet and light. “Don’t worry. He just figured that out himself recently.”
“You’re awfully good for him.”
“And you’re fabulous for Zee.”
“I’ll try to be,” Piper