They sipped their champagne. It was vintage Dom Perignon, but it burned like acid as it slid down Jake’s throat. Athena picked up on his body language and cocked her head a few degrees, subtly inquiring about his mood.

“Just tired,” Jake said, compounding his lies.

He was miserable, but Athena’s enthusiasm was unyielding, relentlessly prodding Jake until the mood in the room turned lively and even humorous, with the three of them exchanging playful barbs. Jake teased her about the overinsured tankers and even Giánnis piled on, chastising his daughter for not insuring the ships for even more. Athena would have none of it and put both men in their places by pointing out that it had taken a woman to figure out the agent’s treachery when none of them could.

By the end of the meal, Jake was grinning, making jokes, and feeling more at home than he had in years. It was the closest he’d felt to a family since he’d lost his parents.

They’d just finished dessert when Giánnis spoke up.

“It’s a warm night,” he said. “It would be a lovely evening for a walk on the beach.”

“We’d be happy to take you, Mr. Romanos,” said Jake.

“I would like nothing better,” he said, pausing for effect, “than to go to bed.”

“Then Jake and I will go,” said Athena. “I’ll walk you to your room, Father.”

She took his arm and looked at Jake. “Maybe you could bring the car around again?”

Jake squinted at her. He was still feeling playful.

“You don’t know how to drive a stick, do you?”

She scowled at him. “I can’t walk on the driveway in bare feet.”

“Or find a pair of shoes, apparently . . .”

Jake departed for the gravel driveway with a grin. Athena was waiting for him by the time he returned with the Land Rover. With the olive grove behind her, and silhouetted by the landscape lighting, she looked like an angel. He walked to the passenger side and held her door.

She brushed by him so close that he could smell her.

A warm breeze was blowing in off the night sea, and Jake left his jacket in the truck and rolled up his sleeves when they reached the beach. Athena wrapped her arm inside his and placed her other hand upon his bare forearm as they walked over the sand. The surf broke gently on shore.

“I don’t know if you noticed it,” she said softly, “but you frightened me when we first met.”

“You must be joking,” Jake said. “Is that why you threw me out of the house?”

“I suppose I’ve learned to attack before I get hurt.”

“I’ve been known to do that myself on occasion,” Jake said, although he wasn’t talking about his emotions.

“It was your eyes. I felt as if you were looking into my soul.”