Chapter 25


    They flew over the fishing vige, traditional white houses with red roofs showing where the year-round


    residents lived. The boats that bobbed in the water, moored to the long dock, looked picturesque in


    their simplicity. No fancy trawlers here.


    A tan circle painted with white directional lines about two hundred yards from arge vi set atop a cliff


    overlooking the sea had to be theirnding destination. Piper shouldn’t have been surprised that a


    family who at one time had the wherewithal to own an ind had installed a helipad on it. Only, she


    was. She would have expected anding strip for small nes and said as much to Zephyr on the walk


    to the vi.


    A young man who introduced himself as the housekeeper’s grandson insisted on carrying their luggage


    in a yard cart.


    “The patriarch preferred travel by sea, but his children insisted on faster transportation to the


    maind,” Zephyr replied in response to herment. “As to why it was a helicopter over a jet, I could


    not say. I think he balked at the excavation necessary for a t runway long enough to service a jet.”


    “We’ll be doing that excavation, won’t we? I mean guests are going to want to be able to fly in.”


    The young man leading the way with his cart looked back at her, his expression troubled.


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    Zephyr did not seem to notice, but he shook his head in negation. “The focus of the spa resort is going


    to be total rxation. It will start with a luxury yacht ride from the maind.”


    “I bet you’ll stick with helicopters.” But she would have enjoyed a decadent ride on a yacht.


    Zephyr shrugged. “I am not a prospective guest.”


    “Maybe you should be.”


    “Perhaps you should as well. We can attend the grand opening week together,” he said as he reached


    out to open the front door, only to have it swing inward before he touched it.


    An elderly Greek woman weed them inside before shooting rapid-fire instructions at her grandson,


    who took his cart around to the side of the vi.


    “The young, they forget the proprieties,” she said in perfect English, if ented charmingly. She shook


    her head. “Maybe that one should be a fisherman.”


    “There will be many jobs for those willing to work both building the resort and working there after it is


    completed.”


    “You will give first chance to locals?” the old woman asked with obvious hope.


    “Yes,” Zephyr said decisively. “We do not want the year-round residents to feel disconnected to the


    resort. Their participation in the venture is essential.”


    Her lined visage wreathed with a smile, the housekeeper led them into an oversized sitting room with a


    truly impressive view. The wall facing the sea had suchrge windows it felt like it was made of ss.


    “Would you like refreshments?” she asked.


    “Your former employer rhapsodized about the fresh lemonade made from local fruit.”


    Appearing pleased by the request, the housekeeper nodded. “I will send a girl with a tray.”


    “Thank you. Has Mr. Tilieu been told of our arrival?” Zephyr asked.


    “He has, though how anyone could miss the sound of anding helicopter, I do not know.”


    Piper stifled a grin, while Zephyr obviously bit back a smile.


    “I take it you prefer to travel by boat?” Piper asked.


    “I prefer not to travel at all, but how others can stand to ride in those noisy things is a mystery to me.”


    The gray-haired woman waved her hands in dismissal.


    “Sometimes needs must,” Zephyr said wryly.


    “As you say, Kyrie Nikos.” Then she left.


    He turned to Piper. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”


    “Absolutely gorgeous.” She didn’t even try to resist the lure of huge picture windows. “I could spend


    hours just looking out these windows.”


    He came to stand beside her, close but not touching. “It is mesmerizing. The sunset will be


    spectacr.”


    “Will we be able to watch it?”


    “If that is your desire.”


    “You’ve been very indulgent with me this trip.” Though since sharing his past with her, he had


    maintained a distance even his charm could not hide. Their discovery this morning had not altered that


    distance, despite other small changes in his behavior.


    “You deserve a little spoiling.”


    “I won’tin about you thinking so.”


    “Good.” He shifted beside her and she could feel his regard transferring to her from the view. “Speaking


    of being spoiled, do you want to attend the opening week with me?”


    “I have no doubt you’ll be here for the grand opening, but I sincerely doubt it will be for the rest and


    rxation the resort is going to offer.”