Greek’s Temporary “I Do” (The Greek Groom Swap #2)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Eleven years ago...

H ELENA WIPED HER damp palm on the silky material of the black dress her best friend had picked out especially for this moment. She wanted it to be just right, which was why she and Kate had talked about it non-stop since Helena had got back to boarding school in September from the summer holidays.

Spending Christmas on the Liassidis private island, just off the coast of Greece, was the best present her parents could have given her. Getting to see Leo and Leander in between the summers she and her parents spent here in Greece? A Christmas miracle!

Helena checked herself in the reflection of the mirror in the hallway outside Leo’s bedroom. She’d put her hair up in a fancy bun and even made an effort with her make-up. Her mother had raised a critical eyebrow and deemed it unsuitable with a single word that had cut like a knife. But her father had patted her on the shoulder and told her she looked beautiful— ‘very grown-up’ —salving the dull ache her mother had caused.

But that was what she’d wanted, right? To look grown-up. She was fifteen now, not the little kid that Leander and Leo always joked about her being. She pressed her lips together. She knew why she didn’t want them, want Leo , to see her as a ‘little kid’. And she wasn’t stupid either. She knew he had a girlfriend, that he would never be interested in her in that way. But there it was...that little candleflame flicker of hope that wouldn’t quit, no matter what she told herself.

Her fingers clenched reflexively and accidentally crinkled the carefully wrapped present she’d spent ages choosing and personalising. She pressed a hand to her chest to soothe the funny, turning twist it did at the thought of giving it to Leo, reminding herself to breathe.

She looked up and saw the boughs of rich green foliage Cora had decorated the house with just for her. Helena knew that in Greece they didn’t traditionally decorate their homes with holly and mistletoe in the same way that they did in the UK, but that Mrs Liassidis had done that—for her—touched her deeply. Helena loved the Liassidis house with its incredible view over the Aegean that she couldn’t get enough of.

But really, the best thing about it was Leonidas and Leander. The twin brothers might have been six years older than her, but they made her feel like family. Leander made her laugh and laugh and laugh, but Leo...

‘Helena, really. Isn’t it time for you to stop being so foolish? Leo’s six years older than you.’

Helena felt a painful blush rise to her cheeks. Despite her mother’s words, she wasn’t actually stupid enough to think that she’d marry him like her father and Uncle Giorgos joked about. Giorgos Liassidis wasn’t really her uncle but her dad’s business partner. Only he felt like an uncle and Helena loved the way he was with his wife, Cora, the easy affection between them. And she liked how her parents were when they were here. Because when they were back in England she didn’t really see much of them.

Helena shook off the thought and focused instead on the Christmas present she’d bought Leo. It was completely different to the one that she’d bought Leander, which she knew he’d like, but...the one for Leo was different. It meant something.

He’d been so different since arguing with Leander a few years back and starting work at Liassidis Shipping. She’d wanted to make him happy and had thought that her present for him might at least make him smile again.

She got to the landing outside his room, her heart pounding in her chest and her palms a little damp again. Nervous. Why was she nervous? She smiled at herself for being silly and went to knock on the door, but...

‘It’s fine, I don’t know what you’re worrying about,’ she heard Leo say in a tone Helena didn’t recognise. It was joking...but patient?

‘I just want to make a good impression.’

Helena scowled at the whining tone she recognised.

‘Mina, you’ve met them loads of times before.’

‘But this is different. It’s Christmas .’

Helena leaned closer to the door and realised that it was open a sliver. Her heart shuddered as she saw Leo pull his girlfriend into his arms and she willed back the hurt. She was being stupid again. Of course, Leo would be with his girlfriend.

‘I suppose that she’ll be here. Helena.’

For the first time, Helena almost regretted learning Greek. A part of her wished she couldn’t understand the conversation, but she couldn’t make herself turn around and leave either. The bitterness that Mina had spoken with had cut Helena. But not as deeply as realising that Leo didn’t come to her defence.

‘Of course she’ll be here. My father invited her parents.’

‘She’s such a brat.’

‘Mina, she’s harmless.’

Helena’s throat was thick with hurt and her cheeks hot from a painful flush.

Harmless.

‘I’ve seen the way she looks at you. That’s not harmless. I know, I was that age once.’

The present crumpled in her hands as Helena clutched it tighter, shame burning into her skin.

‘She follows Leander and me around like a puppy,’ Leo dismissed.

‘Then train her better,’ Mina’s voice snapped out.

‘Mina, she’s just a child.’

‘Trust me, that’s something you have to nip in the bud. And it’s really unfair of you to lead her on.’

‘Lead her on?’ Leo asked, the confusion in his tone clear. ‘Mina, I think you’ve misunderstood. She’s nothing to me. Just the daughter of my father’s business partner. That’s all.’

Unable to see past the tears in her eyes, Helena spun away from the door and down the corridor. She pulled up short at the top of the stairs.

She’s just a child. She’s nothing to me.

She clenched her jaw so hard her teeth started to ache, and furiously wiped at the tears in her eyes. How could her heart hurt and pound so much at the same time? She took a shuddering breath but it did nothing to ease the pressure in her chest. Another tear fell down her cheek and she wondered why it felt as if a rope tying her to shore had been cut. As if she were a boat drifting out to a stormy sea without an anchor.

She looked down at the present in her hands, the box slightly crumpled, and knew she couldn’t give it to Leo. Not now. Humiliation crept across Helena’s skin and settled into her stomach.

She thought of the cubbyhole that Leander, she and Leo sometimes used to leave silly notes or treats for each other. It was hidden behind a small painting just down the hall. With a numbness creeping over her, she went to the painting and shoved the present into the hiding cubbyhole, hoping that no one would find it for a very long time.

Her throat thick with hurt, she forged that feeling into resolve. Mina had nothing to worry about. Helena wouldn’t look, or think twice, about Leonidas Liassidis ever again.

But as she wiped her eyes and made her way downstairs she didn’t see Leander step out from the shadows, concern and sadness flicking between Helena and the door to his brother’s room. He shook his head, before slowly following Helena down to where the rest of their families were gathered.