The Alluring Love Collection Vol. 1: The Alluring Love Collection

By Angel Sefer

A collection of books 1, 2, and 3 in The Alluring Love Collection

Whispers in the Wind (The Alluring Love Collection Book 1)

Blackmailed by a ruthless mastermind, Emily Stone finds herself on the Greek Island of Alonnisos, impersonating the heiress of a luxury beach resort.

Captain Andreas Aliveris is torn between his irresistible attraction to the stunning imposter and his need to protect a loved one.

Can passion overcome suspicions and regrets in this game of danger, betrayal, and greed?

Deadly Paradise (The Alluring Love Collection Book 2)

The only safe harbor for Natasha Ioannou is her grandfather and his seafront taverna on Naxos. But now, deadly secrets cast a heavy shadow on this Greek Island paradise.

When Angelos Dimitriou—a prominent attorney from Athens—finds Natasha unconscious on the steep rocks of a remote beach, he is caught in a web of conspiracy, extortion, and greed. But the feisty and brave young woman with the emerald eyes captivates his soul, and Angelos throws caution to the wind in order to protect her.

Naxos is a blissful paradise, but inside it lurks the malicious intent of a ruthless enemy. Caught in the eye of the storm, Natasha finds it hard to trust anyone. Will she ever open up to Angelos? And will he be able to save the blonde beauty from the threat hovering over her?

Rekindled Passion (The Alluring Love Collection Book 3)

Christina Sergiani was devastated when the love of her life walked out on her without saying goodbye. Four and a half years later, Alexandros Zafiriou comes back to Ithaca—the awe-inspiring, mythical island of Odysseus—claiming Christina back. Her heart is yearning for him, but her mind tells her otherwise. He lied to her once…why should she trust him now?

Alexandros came back to Ithaca to lick his wounds and try to put the shattered pieces of his life back together. But he is not alone now; he has a four-year-old little girl to take care of.

How can Alexandros explain to Christina what has happened? And if he did, would she believe and forgive him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Panagiota Kalofolia
• Release date: Apr 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386618102

Angel Sefer

Multiple award-winning, bestselling author Angel Sefer was born in Athens, Greece and has studied and worked on both sides of the Atlantic. She holds a degree in Economics and divides her time between the corporate world and her true passion: writing mystery, thriller, and suspense romances where passion flares and danger lurks around every corner. Angel lives in Athens, Greece, with the two loves of her life—her son and her husband—and is a member of several writers groups. The Greek islands—alluring destinations that cast a spell on the visitor from the very first moment—are among her favorite settings. She has written a series of standalone mystery romance novels—The Greek Isles Series—each taking place on a different island. In this series, dark mysteries mingle with sizzling romances while the exquisite beauty of the enchanting Greek Islands will steal the reader’s heart away. Angel has also started a new collection of novellas full of passion, danger, and intrigue—The Alluring Love Collection.

Book preview

Whispers in the Wind

Whispers

in the Wind

A novella of

The Alluring Love Collection

Angel Sefer

Chapter One

Emily Stone glanced out the window as the airplane flew over sparkling sapphire waters and a stunning necklace of islands. The pilot’s announcement they were approaching the Athens International Airport made her stomach churn. What am I doing? I can’t believe I’m going through with this.

She drew a deep breath and wiped her sweaty hands on her pants. Under different circumstances, Emily would be thrilled to spend three weeks in Greece—a country of natural beauty and rich history she always dreamed of visiting. But this was no vacation...

Her thoughts flew back to the emotional roller-coaster of the last two weeks. Until then, her life was simple.

For a little over a year, Emily had been lucky to stay rent-free at the apartment of a college classmate, Natasha Aliveris, in Atlanta, Georgia. Working as a waitress at a local deli didn’t pay enough. So leaving with Natasha, until she got her Degree in Marketing from Georgia State University, was a great deal. Emily and Natasha had agreed that Estella Beavers—Natasha’s wealthy mother—would pay the rent and Emily would do all the housework. And that arrangement had worked out so far.

But two weeks ago, Natasha shocked her with an outrageous demand. She wanted Emily to visit her grandmother on the Greek island of Alonnisos, pretending to be Natasha. And when Emily refused, Natasha blackmailed her, threatening to reveal her long-buried secret...

A light bump as the plane landed brought Emily back to reality. She gathered her purse and carry-on bag and disembarked. Walking through customs, she spotted a young man holding a sign with Natasha’s name on it. Emily felt the urge to flee, but her feet were rooted to the floor. Who is that guy?

Panic-stricken, Emily realized that the rest of the passengers had moved away, and she was standing alone facing the young man.

His eyes rested on her. Are you Miss Aliveris? he asked in English.

Yes, that’s me, Emily lied.

Welcome to Greece. I’m George, the taxi driver to take you to Koropi.

Emily let out the breath she’d been holding. Thank you.

Following the man outside, she sank into the back seat of a yellow Mercedes cab. The man put her luggage in the trunk and climbed into the driver’s seat.

So where in Athens is Koropi?

Koropi is not in Athens. It’s a town not far from here, the man replied.

Emily’s jaw dropped. And why are we going there? My hotel is in Athens.

He glanced at her in the rear-view mirror as they were leaving the airport. I don’t understand. I was hired to drive you to the helicopter field in Koropi.

A helicopter field? Are you sure you got the right person?

You’re Miss Natasha Aliveris, flying in from Atlanta, right? He knitted his brows.

Yes, I am.

Then, you’re the right person. I’m supposed to take you to Koropi to board a helicopter to Alonnisos. Isn’t that where you’re going?

Yes, but I’m supposed to take the ferry tomorrow...

The driver glanced at her again.

Never mind, there must be a mix up with my reservations, Emily muttered and remained silent for the rest of the trip. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why Natasha had booked her on a helicopter flight.

Here we are, the man’s voice startled her.

The taxi stopped next to a chopper where a middle-aged pilot was waiting for them.

Miss Aliveris, welcome, he said as Emily climbed out of the car.

Thank you.

He helped her on board while the taxi driver stowed her luggage. Sit back and relax. We’ll be on Alonnisos in about half an hour.

Sinking into the comfortable seat, she fastened her seatbelt and swallowed hard. Natasha had reassured her that her grandmother, Anastasia, hadn’t seen her since she was a baby. And being tall and slim, with light brown hair and brown eyes, she resembled Natasha. Besides, they were about the same age, and Natasha didn’t speak Greek. So that was no problem either.

But how could she lie to that old lady? What if she figures out I’m an imposter? And what about Andreas Aliveris, Natasha’s cousin?

According to her roommate, Andreas was an arrogant and stubborn ship captain, who would inherit everything if Natasha didn’t visit her grandmother before she died.

Natasha had told Emily that he had visited Estella’s house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to persuade Natasha to come to Greece. But Natasha was in Atlanta at that time, so he never got to meet her.

Her roommate had probably shared that information to reassure Emily that she’d never met her cousin in person. However, Emily was puzzled. Why would he do that? It would seem to his advantage if Natasha didn’t come to Greece. Then again, what did she care about the mysterious captain’s motives? As long as he believed that Emily was his cousin Natasha, everything would be okay. But what if he didn’t?

Chapter Two

Here we are... The island in front of us is Alonnisos. The pilot’s voice startled Emily.

She swallowed hard, gazing at a paradise of golden sand beaches, whitewashed villages, and lush pine forests. Breathtaking! It was June, and the weather was sunny and warm. Is Natasha’s home close to the beach? Emily wondered. And what about Anastasia? Is she a sweet grandmother like I always dreamed of having? Or is she another dragon lady like Estella, bossing around, using, and abusing everyone?

The helicopter hovered over a clearing on a hill overlooking an endless sandy beach, and it landed smoothly.

As soon as the pilot cut off the engine, a silver Mercedes Jeep appeared from a country road and approached them.

The vehicle stopped next to them, and Emily held her breath as the best-looking man she’d ever laid eyes on climbed out of it. His tight fitting jeans and white T-shirt stretched enticingly over well-toned muscles while his chestnut brown hair was shining in the sun.

Here is Mr. Aliveris. The pilot said.

Oh, my God! This suntanned stranger with the handsome face and the body to die for was Natasha’s cousin? As if having to lie to these people wasn’t difficult enough. And now, her host appeared more delectable than any words could describe.

Emily climbed out of the chopper and stood next to him. He was tall, at least six inches taller than she, and at five feet eight inches, she was no shrimp.

Welcome to Alonnisos, Natasha, he said in English, with a slight foreign accent.

As his masculine voice sent ripples of desire throughout her body, she raised her head to face him. The man removed his sunglasses, and Emily drew a deep breath. He had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen—a perfect reflection of the sparkling sapphire waters of the Aegean Sea surrounding the island.

Thank you, she whispered, feeling a lump in her throat.

I’m Andreas Aliveris, your cousin, he introduced himself and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

Nice to meet you, Emily whispered, trying to ignore the electric sensation of his hand as his palm enveloped hers.

Come on. He opened the car door for her. Let’s take you home.

Home? That word sounded strange to Emily, who didn’t have a home. She was a guest at Natasha’s apartment, and her mother’s place hadn’t felt like home ever since she’d married Bob Daniels.  

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath to control her anger. The thought of her stepfather made her skin crawl. He was stupid and arrogant, not to mention that whenever her mother, Nadine, wasn’t around, he was all over her.

What a nightmare, she thought, recalling what she had to go through as a teenager, living in a house with a perverted stepfather.

She was furious with him, but she was even more furious with her roommate. She still couldn’t get over that when Natasha realized Emily was having second thoughts about coming to Greece, she blackmailed her, threatening to tell Nadine about Bob’s advances.

Emily regretted having told Natasha about her stepfather, but now she had no other choice than to go along with her plan. She couldn’t allow Natasha to reveal to Nadine Bob’s despicable actions. Her mother had enough problems already; Emily didn’t want to cause her any more pain.

Is everything all right? Andreas’ voice startled her.

Yes, she lied and took another deep breath.

Climbing into the Jeep, she sank into the soft leather seat and let her eyes wander over the luxurious interior and impressive dashboard.

Andreas put the luggage in the back and sat behind the wheel.

Emily swallowed hard and licked her lips at the sight of his handsome profile while his aftershave and manly scent rippled through her body like an aphrodisiac.

As the powerful engine came to life, he glanced at her, and the ocean blue of his gaze sent her pulse to overdrive. She lowered her eyes to his powerful hands with the long fingers holding steadily onto the wheel. Her breath caught in her throat as a jolt of desire shot right through her. What the hell is wrong with me? It’s probably due to an adrenaline rush caused by the fear of the unknown... It just can’t be him.

Swallowing hard, she turned her gaze to the oasis of green surrounding them as they headed downhill towards the beach. The road was shaded by rows of pine trees, mixed with fig, walnut, almond, plum, and other kinds of fruit trees, as well as flowering shrubbery in all shades.

A few minutes later, they drove through an olive grove that seemed to stretch all the way to the sapphire waters of the Aegean.

Emily’s eyes were glued to the window, astonished by the breathtaking beauty surrounding her.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it? he asked.

Yes, she agreed. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I feel the same way, he replied and gave her a sideways glance. The house is just around the corner.

Oh, so it’s close to the beach? The words slipped out of her mouth.

Andreas glanced at her again. Sunrise Estate is right on the beach.

Emily bit her lower lip. She should be more careful with her words from now on. Natasha hadn’t been on the island since she was a baby, but she had to know that her family home was on the waterfront. And what estate was he talking about? Why would he call their house an estate? Well, maybe it was some local tradition.

However, her question was answered a few minutes later when she first got a glimpse of the house.

Sunrise Estate was an impressive two-story colonial mansion, nestled among manicured gardens that rolled all the way down to a secluded cove.

Colorful bougainvillea and jasmine were climbing all the way to the second-floor balcony, creating a striking contrast against the white pillars, shining in the brilliant sunlight.

Stunned, Emily glanced at Andreas.

It’s magnificent, isn’t it? he asked.

Yes, it is. I knew our family home was beautiful but didn’t expect anything like this, she dared to say. Even Natasha would be stunned if she laid eyes on this estate.

Actually, this is not our family home, Andreas clarified. The house our fathers grew up in is farther down the road on the other side of our property. This house was built later.

I see, Emily said, wondering how much land they owned. Speaking with Natasha, she was under the impression that her family had a cottage on Alonnisos. She never expected anything like this.

Grandma is waiting for you. Andreas’ voice drew her from her thoughts.

Emily’s stomach made a summersault flip. She had dreaded that moment ever since Natasha first talked to her about her plan.

She’s very excited you decided to come. He glanced at her, knitting his brows.

He’s worried how my meeting with his grandmother will turn out. Well, that makes two of us. Emily swallowed hard. I’m excited too, she lied.

Seeing him squeezing the wheel agitated, a warm feeling of compassion washed over her. Even though he appeared tough, he seemed to have a soft spot for this elderly lady who wanted to see her long-lost granddaughter before she died.

Right at that moment, Emily decided she was going to do her best not to break the old lady’s heart. She didn’t know what Estella had to face while on the island and why she hated her late husband’s family so much. But Anastasia had done nothing to Natasha. All she wanted was to see her before it was too late...

Emily remained silent, but as they approached the mansion, she was taken aback by a weird sensation. It was as if she was leaving her past behind and moving on to a new chapter in her life. Why do I feel like this trip is going to change my life forever?

Chapter Three

The Jeep pulled up in front of the mansion, circled around a water fountain with two dolphins in the middle, and stopped.

Andreas jumped out of the vehicle and came around to open the door for Emily. Welcome home, he said.

Emily stepped out of the car, letting her eyes wander over the mansion and the lawns surrounding it. The alluring aroma of roses and gardenias tickled her nose, and she inhaled deeply. This place was paradise on earth.

The front door swung open, and an elderly lady dressed in black and supported by a cane stepped outside. A middle-aged woman wearing a white apron appeared behind her.

Emily stared at the tall, slim woman with the silver hair. This had to be Anastasia, Natasha’s grandmother. She seemed in her late seventies. However, Natasha had told her that she was a decade older than that.

Welcome home, my child, the lady muttered in a shivering voice. She spoke in English with the same distinct accent as her grandson.

Thank you, Emily replied and walked up to the front steps. She couldn’t bring herself to call the lady, grandma. It just didn’t feel right.

Come, the lady urged her. I’ve been waiting for this moment for such a long time.

Emily felt her knees going weak and stumbled on the first step.

Andreas was right next to her in a flash, supporting her with his hand.

They climbed the steps together and walked up to the two ladies waiting at the front door.

Anastasia’s blue eyes—a color similar to her grandson’s but lighter—were set on Emily’s face. I’m so glad you’re here, she said and pulled Emily into her arms, squeezing her tight.

Emily was taken aback by