Santorini until literally hours before we were supposed to leave.
It’s Lars’s birthday and I dropped a ton of money almost a year ago to get just the right spot to celebrate.
And the private plane ride to the Greek Isles is as awkward as can be. Silent. Angry. Full of her annoyed sighs.
But now… we’re here. And we’re not alone. Lars, Finn, Kalindi, and Pippa now stand between me and Nika, thankfully letting some of the tension out of the situation.
“Oh…” Lars says as he climbs the ramp and steps onto the gleaming white deck of the palatial estate I’ve rented in the Greek isles for the weekend.
Our mansion is made of perfectly sun-bleached white stone and topped with a brilliant copper dome. Heat snakes up from the perfect sapphire and cerulean water as it glistens all around us. A servant appears, taking our small party’s bags into the house.
“Man, this is seriously swanky,” Lars says, looking out at the small village of sun-bleached white buildings and rounded copper roofs.
He looks back at me, his grin bright. “You organized this for my birthday?”
I can’t scowl, which is the only thing I feel like doing. So I keep my expression neutral. “I did.”
I planned this almost a year ago, back when I was still Stellan’s private secretary. Back before I realized that dragging a very uncomfortable Annika on this overnight trip would be so… tense.
To put it mildly.
I slide my gaze over to Annika now. She catches my gaze and whirls away, her cheeks turning a dusky rose color.
The color looks good on her. But it’s also been her only reaction to me for days and I’m really starting to wonder just how far over the line I took things the other day.
I could’ve easily taken it so much further… just thinking about it makes my body harden.
Pippa tosses her red hair, looking stately. “Annika, Kalindi, do you want to go sun ourselves on the front deck?” She points to where she means, but Annika already has an answer.
“Yes!” Annika says. She glances at me, flushing prettily, and then hurries away.
Kalindi casts a dour look at me and follows her friend. Pippa looks around at Lars, Finn, and I. She shrugs and then moves off after them.
Oblivious to the tension simmering between Annika and me, Lars claps me on the back and points to the house. “I think I see a bar set up just inside the window there. Let’s go check it out.”
He takes off. Finn follows, always the darkest, quietest one of the Løve siblings. I don’t think of Finn very often or really ask him to things. I’m not even sure who invited to this trip, but I’m glad he’s here. One more person between me and Annika can’t hurt anything.
Then again, you could put a whole country between us, and somehow things would still be stifling. With a sigh on my lips, I start heading after them.
The second we step into what appears to be a rather extravagant library, a servant hurries to pour us each a glass of bourbon.
“Thank you,” I murmur. The servant bows his head. I turn to Lars, toasting. “To Lars, the reason for this little getaway.”
Finn merely cocks his dark head and raises his glass. “Hear, hear.”
We all sip what I am sure is remarkably fine bourbon, wandering back out onto the broad terrace. I look down at the private dock, which is only probably a hundred feet down from where I’m standing.
It’s beautiful outside today with azure waves and little white peaks as far as the eye can see. There isn’t a cloud in the sky either.
If I wanted to be here, it would be perfect weather for sailing. I look at the all-white power boats bobbing at their docks, calling to me.
Lars looks at the boats too, turning toward me. “We’re going to race those, right?”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “I was only waiting for you to suggest it.”
Finn chuckles and Lars grins, sipping his whiskey.
I love boat racing. Actually, I love any kind of adrenaline-pumping, action-packed sport. The idea of taking one of those boats out and pushing it full throttle excites me beyond reason.
Finn finishes his tumbler of bourbon first. “I’m ready. I should get the girls, ja?”
Lars laughs. “Definitely at least offer to take one of them in the boat with me. I don’t know if any of you have seen Pippa or Kalindi in a bikini, but the idea of having one of them clinging to my arm