The Greek's Pregnant Lover
Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“I don’t think I got the memo.” She gave a pale version of her usual teasing smile, but at least she wasno longer on the verge of tears.

He hoped. “We agreed this morning.”

“That was not agreement, that was you saying it did no good.”

“I am right.”

“You have what can be an annoying tendency to think you are.” But she nuzzled his neck and he wasnot too worried.

“What can I say? I usually am.”

She pulled back and gave him a gloating glare. “Ah, so you admit to at least some small level ofinfallibility.”

“Naturally.”

“You’re so darn arrogant.” She shook her head in bemusement. “Why do I replace that charming again?”

“You tell me.”

“I plead the Fifth.”

“We are in Greece,” Zephyr pointed out, “not the U.S. The Fifth Amendment does not apply here.”

“I bet the Greek constitution has some similar guarantee against having to testify against themselvesfor their citizens.”

“We are getting off topic here.”

“You’re right.” Piper gathered her thoughts. “Why, if you trust friendship so much, do you think amarriage based on it would fail?”

“I did not say I believed a marriage between us would fail utterly, but it would fail to make you happy.”And ultimately, that had decided him against the prospect.

“Why? Would you plan to sleep around after?”

“No. I could give you fidelity.” Of that, he had no doubts. “However, I could not give you somethingyou’ve made clear is of equal importance to you.” Long before their discussion of love at dinner theother night, he had known she was still waiting for her fairy-tale ending complete with love ever afterand Prince Charming.

He was a former street rat, no prince, and love was not, and never would be, on his agenda.

“You’re talking about love again, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Can you honestly say you would have considered a marriage proposal without it?”

She bit her lip and looked away, shaking her head once in negation.

“As I thought.”

“So, where does that leave us?”

“I do not know.” If she was pregnant with his child, he would try to convince her to accept his proposal,regardless of her finer feelings.

He knew his inner ruthlessness would show itself and he could not even be sorry about that. If shecarried his baby, neither of their dreams took precedence. They would do what was best for their child.

He would never allow a child of his to be anything but absolutely certain of its place in his life. Unlikeboth his mother and father, Zephyr Nikos would consider his role as parent the most important one hewould ever hold.

He did not know how to be a father, but he and Neo had self-educated themselves in business and thathad been an eminently successful endeavor. With the same work and dedication, he could learn how tobe a dad as well. Unlike when he was a teenager, he did not have to rely on used books, and firsthandexperience at ground level.

He could afford to consult the most eminent minds in the field of child development, read the bestbooks on the subject and do whatever else was necessary to be the best parent possible.

Zephyr had never done things by halves and becoming a parent would be no exception.

“I don’t want to take an over-the-counter pregnancy test,” Piper said after several quiet moments of herhead resting on his shoulder again.

“So, we will wait until we return to Seattle and make an appointment with your doctor. We are onlyscheduled to be here three days.”

“They’ll feel like an eternity.”

He could not disagree.

The contractor arrived the next morning and between the four of them, they kept extremely busy layingthe groundwork for preliminary plans to be drawn up. Jean-René flirted shamelessly with Piper, makingher smile when that worried expression slid into her eyes.

Zephyr did not worry about the other man, knowing he adored his French wife and would neverconsider betraying her. Besides, Zephyr had made it patently clear that he and Piper were together.

On their last night, they climbed the stairs after a lively postdinner discussion over whether or not toplace the main resort near the current villa, or nearer the accessible beach on the northern shore of theisland. Piper was in favor of the beach, but the contractor liked the idea of taking advantage of alreadyexisting power and water access.

Jean-René had played devil’s advocate, arguing both for and against each of the locations.

Zephyr had made the final decision, going with the beachfront scenario. Guests would appreciate theeasy access to the ocean and while the view might not be quite as majestic, it was still magnificent.Besides, it would give him and Neo and their future families privacy when they were on the island.