“You’re coming with us?” Alexandra blinked and stared at Eva. They’d had dinner, and had packed their suitcases. Alexandra had just finished dragging her case to the front door of the penthouse when Eva came out of her bedroom with a smile on her face and her luggage.

Eva rolled her eyes. “Well, of course I’m coming. Dareios invited us both. I don’t think he wants to be alone with you.”

Alexandra flopped down into a chair. “I know he doesn’t. And I should have known he had some plan in mind when he invited me…I mean us to sail with him.”

Coming over to her, Eva put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out of the picture soon enough. I’ve got to get back soon because I said I’d help out at a children’s grief camp from the fifth through the tenth.”

Alexandra straightened. “You do know it’s the first today.”

Eva’s smile fell away. “What? No, it can’t be. That means it’s starting right away.”

“Can’t they get a replacement for you?” Alexandra said. “I mean, if you’re not coming, Dareios might just send me home on a plane.”

“I have to go. The camp helps children come to terms with the loss of a parent or sibling, and they use a lot of art in their program. I’m one of the resident artists for the first week. Besides, I don’t want to cancel, and there’s no way we’ll reach Athens in time for me to fly back to the camp. Maybe I should just fly home tomorrow.”

“No!” Alexandra stood and grabbed her hands. “I might want some one-on-one time with Dareios, but if I show up without you, he’s going to bail on this whole idea. I just know it. Where is the camp?”

“Methoni Communal. I haven’t been there since we went there to visit the castle, but from what I remember, it’s the perfect peaceful setting for these kids.”

Alexandra nodded. She knew Methoni Castle was one of the largest in the Mediterranean, and built right on the shore. It had a smaller structure joined by a stone road that had once served as a prison during the Turkish Wars, but these days the beaches made it a favorite haunt of tourists, and the city was lovely. She took Eva’s hand. “That’s perfect. If Dareios sails across the Ionian Sea, and then goes south, he could dock at Methoni in plenty of time for you to make it to the camp.”

“What if Dareios doesn’t want to head there? He gets to order the captain around since it’s his boat. Besides, without me there, you can have more fun with Dareios.”

Alexandra let out a sigh. “Will I? Or is he just going to send me home and use you not coming as the perfect excuse to get rid of me? Eva, you have to go with us…at least for the first few days. You love being on the water, and this will give us some time together, too...and, and—”

“And what? Just what are you planning now, sis?”

Alexandra shrugged. “I was just so looking forward to spending a few more days with you is all.”

Eva shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve been your sister long enough to know when you’ve got some scheme in mind. You didn’t just happen to run into Dareios last night. You planned this trip for the sole purpose of meeting him. And now you have more in mind for him. Just how serious are you about him?”

Alexandra shook her head. “Don’t change the topic. You need to come with us.”

“Alexandra, tell me what happened at that nightclub?” Eva sat down on the sofa. “You do know I was waiting up for you. And waiting. And then Dareios brought you back, and today you two were so weird with each other. Are you sure you’re not going to end up just trashing your friendship with him?”

“Nothing happened—that’s the problem. Nothing ever happens between us. But…well, he did kiss me.” Alexandra could feel the heat spreading from her chest into her neck and cheeks.

“What kind of kiss? We’re not talking peck on the cheek, are we?”

“No…more like toe curling, sizzling, makes you want more kiss. But that was before he figured out who I was. And then it was back to him acting like I really am his sister. He’s driving me nuts. I can’t get him to think of me, but all I do is think of him. Our friendship is already on the rocks and if we don’t work this out of our systems…well, I don’t expect you to understand.”

“What? I’m too young? I’m the product of an all-girls school?” Eva sat up. “You went to the same school, and…well, okay maybe it does leave you a little clueless about boys. Your seduction of Dareios kind of flopped, didn’t it?”

“More than kind of.” Getting up, Alexandra headed to the phone. “I’m calling for room service—for ice cream and gelato and anything chocolate.”

Leaning over the back of the sofa, Eva grinned. “That’s not going to solve your Dareios problem.”

“No, but it will make me forget it for a time. And if you’re flying back to Athens tomorrow, I’m just going to throw in the towel and go with you.”

Getting up, Eva walked over and hugged her sister. “No, I’ll go with you, instead. A couple days on the water does sound good. I’ll even play matchmaker while we’re on the Kairos. Even the name is a good sign—it means you should seize the moment. And I’ve always thought Dareios would make a nice addition to the family, and since he’s way too old for me, he might as well marry you.”

“Whoa!” Alexandra backed up a step. “Who said anything about marriage? We’re talking fling here. And that’s with a capital ‘F’ for fun. Dareios has more than made it clear—not just with what he’s said but with how he’s acted—that he’s a party guy. He wants…he likes…good time girls. I just want to show him I can be that. We’ll have a great time and I’ll get this…this itch for him out of my system. And then we can go back to being friends.”

“Can you honestly tell me you haven’t thought about it?” Eva asked. She tipped her head to the side. “Marriage? Kids? Daddy always told us he wanted us to be happy. Is just a fling going to be enough for you?”

Alexandra picked up the hotel phone. She wasn’t about to admit to anyone that she’d once had fantasies about a forever after kind of love. She’d pictured Dareios kissing her, realizing she was the only one for him, and giving her his heart. She’d also day dreamed that he’d ride up on a motorcycle and whisk her away to another life. Or she’d jet set with him around the world.

She let out a breath. She was going to have more luck eating a ton of ice cream and not gaining a pound from it. That was the world where those dreams belonged—in the impossible place. She shook her head and punched in the room service number. “No. And you have to promise me not to talk like that when he’s around. He has issues—and who wouldn’t given his family.”

Eva nodded. “Yeah, I’ve heard bits and pieces, and I know his mom lives in London and his dad in Greece—and isn’t his dad on like mistress number ten.”

“Try eleven. But he does leave all of them smiling, at least according to the gossip magazines. And that’s how I intend to leave Dareios—with both of us smiling. Right now, it’s all frustration and…and I’m going to explode if I can’t make him notice me as more than his friend’s sister.”

Eva kissed Alexandra on the cheek. “Have fun planning how you’re going to storm Castle Dareios. I’m heading to bed.”

Alexandra watched her sister retreat. She went ahead with her order for ice cream—chocolate and black cherry. Then she spent the time waiting for it debating whether or not she should give Dareios a head’s up that Eva wasn’t going to be accompanying them home. The ice cream arrived. She signed for it and for a tip and sat down with the treat.

After weighing the possible outcomes, she decided to keep silent until the last possible moment. She’d wait until it was impossible for Dareios to do anything but sail the Mediterranean with her.

She headed to bed, the ice cream a poor substitute for Dareios’ kisses. As she drifted off to sleep, she touched her lips and wondered how long it was going to take to get him to kiss her again. Or do even more.