Chapter 3


    However, the man was knee-deep in wedding preparations right now. Cass might not want a big


    production, but Neo wanted their small wedding to be perfect in every way. Hell, Zephyr was surprised


    his friend hadn’t insisted on designing and building a venue just for the event.


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    A group of newly arrived travelers surged toward the luggage carousel, bringing Zephyr’s thoughts


    firmly to the present. He scanned the crowd for Piper’s beautiful blond head. There she was, her


    attention caught by a small boy talking animatedly to his mother. The signature blue skirt-suit Piper


    wore highlighted her curves deliciously, while managing a im to elegance. Yet, he doubted it was a


    designerbel.


    Piper’s business was still operating on too fine a line for her to splurge on clothes, or even an


    apartment much bigger than a closet. He’d offered her a job that would have made it possible for her to


    live at a higher standard, but she’d turned him down. Twice. Damn, the woman was stubborn. And


    independent.


    He wondered if she would turn down a shopping spree in Athens’s fashion district?


    She looked up and their gazes met. Eyes the color of a robin’s egg filled with warmth and pleasure as


    theynded on him, her bow-shaped lips curved in a gorgeous smile. That look struck him like a blow


    to the chest.


    He felt a grin take over his mouth without his permission, a more honest smile than anything that


    usually masked his features. Not that he had to hide that he was pleased to see her. They’d hit it off


    when he hired her to update the main offices for Stamos & Nikos Enterprises a little over two years


    ago. Their friendship had only grown since. The addition of phenomenal sex to their rtionship had


    only improved the situation as far as he was concerned.


    In fact, Piper had been the reason Zephyr had encouraged Neo so strongly to develop interests outside


    theirpany, and to pursue his friendship with Cassandra Baker, the famous recluse master pianist.


    That had worked out better for Neo than Zephyr could have imagined. And Zephyr was happy for him.


    He really was.


    However, it boggled his mind, to tell the truth. Neo in love. Zephyr shook his head. Sex and friendship


    were one thing, love something else altogether.


    Piper’s delicate brows drew together in a frown and she gave him a questioning look.


    “It’s nothing,” he mouthed.


    When she reached him, he pulled her into a tight hug. Her soft curves felt so good against him, the low-


    level arousal he’d experienced since waking that morning and realizing he would be seeing Piper today


    went critical. Just that fast.


    Damn.


    “I guess you really missed me.” She leaned back, a sensual chuckle purring from her throat, her eyes


    glinting with teasing humor.


    Chagrin washed over him. He wasn’t some untried adolescent. Nevertheless, heughed and admitted,


    “Yes.”


    “When is our first meeting with the architect?”


    “The day after tomorrow.”


    “But you told me I needed to be here today.”


    “You needed a break.”


    “Building a new business is always consuming.”


    He shrugged because he couldn’t disagree. For the first ten years when he and Neo had been building


    their fortune, they had worked weekends and long hours during the week and hadn’t taken so much as


    an afternoon off. Things had gotten a little better after that, though they were both too much of


    overachievers to develop much of a life outside theirpany.


    After meeting Piper, Zephyr had started leaving the office around six instead of eight, but he still wasn’t


    great about taking time off. However, Piper had sounded exhausted thest time they’d spoken on the


    phone, and he’d determined she would take a break, one way or another.


    “Agreed, but I did not think you would begrudge an extra couple of days in Athens.”


    Her eyes lit up. “You mean I actually get to do some sightseeing before submersing myself in the job?”


    “Exactly. I’d hoped you’d consider the next couple of days as information-gathering time as well as our


    time on the ind. We want the resort to fit into the ind’s ambiance, but also reflect Greek culture.”


    “Ambiance? I thought it was a private ind. Empty.”


    “The family leased outnd for a small fishing vige and a few farms for local produce, as well as


    having their own fruit orchards and olive groves.”


    “Oh, that’s perfect for what you are wanting to do.”


    “I thought so.” But he enjoyed how in-tune with his vision she was.


    “I’m d I’ll have time to really get to know the area then. I like to try and make my designs reflect the


    local setting’s positive attributes.”


    “I know and I’m sure you’ve done a lot of research on Greek culture already.” Heck, she’d researched it


    when they’d first met, telling him she wanted to understand him and Neo better as clients. He didn’t


    know how much it had helped her, considering he and Neo had left Greece behind so many years ago.


    But there was no denying Piper got him in a way no one else did. And her design updates in their


    offices had been perfect. “Nothing can rece experiencing an environment in person though.”