Prologue
Flashback…the night of Eros’ accident…
Ugh. Theo silent groaned to himself. Does she ever shut up?! This blind date was so not working out for him. The woman who sat across from him was beautiful but she could out talk an auctioneer. Jesus was it too much to ask for a real woman?? He could see the airs his date was putting on a mile away. He should have turned around and went home but he was a gentleman through and through. He had never been stood up but he could only imagine how embarrassing that was.
His phone began ringing frantically in his pocket. He tried to get his date’s attention but to no avail. She was too invested in the conversation she was having with herself. He answered the phone, another nail in the woman’s coffin that she took no notice. “What??” His loud outburst finally got him the quiet he’d been waiting for. “Oh my God,” he whispered. The woman arched an eyebrow but it wasn’t out of concern. “Ok, ok Pop. I’m on my way. I’ll call the sibs too.” He quickly hung up and motioned for the bill.
“You know, Theo if you weren’t interested you could have just said so.” The woman rolled her perfectly made up eyes. “You didn’t have to stage a phone call to get out of this date.” Theo was taken aback.
“I’m sorry, what?” He took a minute to pay the check. “That was my father, sweetheart. And for your information, my brother Eros has been in a bad accident and I need to leave.” Again with the eye rolling. She huffed and grabbed her purse.
“Whatever. I knew you were low class the minute I heard ‘hockey player’. But you are hot so I agreed to go on this date.” Theo scrubbed his hand down his face.
“Listen, I’m sorry we are having to end the night but my brother is in critical condition. He had a fucking tree branch spear him through his lung. Now if you don’t mind, I’ll call you a cab because I’m headed to the airport.” She stomped her foot in a childish display of anger. Theo escorted her out of the restaurant and waited with her for the cab. He might not like her but he was not going to leave her to fend for herself. He was taught better manners than to leave a woman stranded.
He didn’t say a word as he tucked his date into the cab when it arrived. He paid the driver and dashed to his car, bypassing the valet. Once behind the wheel, he sped off toward the airport. He was on a plane shortly after. As the second eldest of seven children, his duty was to man the home front. There would be a frantic grandmother to console as well as panicked siblings. There were phone calls he would have to make and press releases he would have to field.
“Just be ok, Eros,” he whispered to himself. “Don’t die on me, bro.”
***
Sasha sighed heavily for the thousandth time. “Ugh!” she shouted, pulling at her thick dark hair. She angrily shoved her glasses up her nose and stomped into the kitchen. She was beyond frustrated. The new layout for Theo’s upcoming ad shoot for Gatorade sucked big ones and she was not happy with it at all. She fired off an email to the team she was working with, filled with criticism. She had worked hard to land the deal and she wasn’t going to have anything less than perfect for her favorite client.
Her phone rang just as she hit the send button. Seeing the caller ID, she smiled. It was Theo. “Hey, Theo what can I do for you?”
“Sash I need you to get me a plane ticket to Detroit like, right now.” Theo sounded breathless and upset.
“Ok, sweetie, tell me what’s going on.” Her fingers flew across her laptop as she booked a red eye. “I’ve got your ticket and sent it to your phone. Now, talk to me big man.” Theo took a deep breath.
“Eros has been in an accident. I’m trying not to lose my shit but it’s bad, sweetheart…real bad.” Sasha ignored the way her heart fluttered when he called her sweetheart.
“Concentrate on driving and I’ll meet you at the airport. Your flight leaves in 2 hours. That’s plenty of time to get you where you need to be, ok? I’m coming with you.” She dashed around her apartment, throwing things in a suitcase.
“No Sash you don’t have to do that.” Sasha rolled her eyes.
“Yes I do. You’re going to need my help so shut up and just say yes Sasha.” Theo chuckled softly.
“Ok ok…yes, Sasha.”
“That’s better. You have what you need at your dad’s, right? I don’t need to swing by your place and grab anything?” She stopped midway through her underwear drawer. “Oh wait! Never mind. I’ve got your ‘go bag’ right here. See? Told you it would come in handy! You can’t ever make fun of me for that again, Theodōros.”
“Just come to the airport. I’m parking.” Theo hated when anyone used his full first name. He would normally throw a fit but he never raised his voice with Sasha. She counted herself special to him because of that. He would chuckle and wink at her. That was partly why she loved using it.
“Got it boss! I’ll be there in thirty!” She hung up the phone and finished her packing. She placed her suitcase and Theo’s go bag next to the door. She hurriedly got ready, then tidied up her apartment. Locking the door behind her, she raced to the elevator and the waiting cab outside. On her way to the airport, she fired off a text to Theo’s coach and captain to let them know the circumstances.
Finally seated on the plane, Theo slumped back in exhaustion. He felt a soft hand on his forearm, squeezing gently in comfort. “He will be fine, big man,” Sasha said with a smile. “You Dakiedes’ are a tough bunch. Eros will pull through and be back to normal in no time.” Theo smiled and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Sasha inwardly squealed at the intimate gesture.
“Thanks, baby girl.” She could have come right there. He would never know how that nickname affected her. She only loved it coming from his plump and very kissable lips. “And thanks for coming with me. You’re right as usual. I do need you.”
Yes, you do you big hunk of gorgeous. Sasha settled in her seat, laying her head on Theo’s shoulder. She drifted off as the plane ascended. She could fall in love so hard with this man. She could spend the rest of her life making him happy and satisfied. There was only one thing wrong with that, in her mind. He was her boss and she never spread where she made her bread. Damn it. End flashback.Start writing here…
