Greek Billionaire's Forbidden Lover (The Rosso Family Series Book 2) (3 page)

Alexandra knew the game was not only up, but the recriminations were coming. And she simply couldn’t face it.

Dareios was about to treat her like she was still a kid and tagging after him and Antonio. He was going to lecture her, and she’d go from feeling like a goddess to feeling like a mouse. She couldn’t stand it. And she saw only one chance to escape the disaster this evening had become.

Maybe if he didn’t see her face, maybe he’d doubt that she’d really been here. Maybe…just maybe, she could make him think he’d been wrong. She wasn’t certain she could pull this off, but she had to try.

She stepped up and slapped him—hard. Glaring at him, she put up her chin and moved away. “What kind of game are you playing—calling me another woman’s name?” While Dareios was nursing his reddening face, she headed for the door. She got out and hurried down the hall. She could hear Dareios calling for her to wait.

Seconds later, she burst back into the throng of people inside Club Senza. The noise hit her like a fist. The faint echo of Dareios’ steps behind her disappeared, and she wove her way onto the dance floor. The smell of sweat, booze and perfumes wrapped around her and left her head swimming.

She had to get out. She would lose Dareios in the mass of people dancing floor to a popular rock song, and then she’d bail on this mess. She darted around one couple, ducked under an outstretched arm, and ran smack into her vampire.

He grinned. He had one arm wrapped around a girl dressed as a fairy and one around her now. “I see you’ve changed your mind.” He pulled her against his chest. The fairy giggled.

Alexandra used both hands to shove against his chest. She wanted to smack him as she had Dareios but her hand was already stinging. She glanced over his shoulder and saw Dareios searching for her. Her throat tightened.

She simply couldn’t face him—it was too…too humiliating. What had she been thinking? That one kiss and Dareios would see her in a different light? Well, they’d had their kiss…and nothing had changed. For a few seconds, she’d been in his arms, and everything had been perfect. Better than perfect. Dareios’ kisses were magic. She’d melted under the touch of his lips—he’d tasted like heaven. And then…somehow, he’d recognized her. She wanted to cry. Or to hit someone.

The music was an upbeat number and she pushed against the vampire one more time. “Give me a little room to move if you really want to dance with me.”

The vampire grinned, took a slight step away. He twirled the fairy who smiled at Alexandra and gave her a wink. Stomach tightening, Alexandra wondered if this night could get any weirder or worse.

***

Dareios searched the crowded dance floor. He was almost positive his Greek goddess was Alexandra Rosso, but was she? She’d darted away from—she’d slapped him. But she hadn’t taken off her mask. And where the hell was she now? Who was she? Had he gotten it wrong? But how could he have—he’d known from the first instant he’d seen her that she looked familiar.

Oh, hell, what if she just looked a lot like Alexandra? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been attracted to a girl because she looked like…no, no, he wasn’t going there with that thought. Alexandra was his best friend’s sister—end of story. And he was going to drag her out of this club and read her the riot act for pulling a joke on him like this.

He headed for the main entrance. Brian was there, talking to the doorman, and from there Dareios knew he’d also be able to see the back exit opposite the front doors.

“Where did your goddess run off to?” Brian asked. He scanned the bar as if she expected the woman in question to magically appear. “Problems?”

Dareios shrugged. He’d lost his cape and now he pulled off his hat and masks. He was damn tired of costumes. “Do you have a copy of the guest list for this evening?”

“Sure. Weren’t you successful in getting her name?” Brian nodded to the doorman, who offered up his clipboard.

Dareios scanned the list. “No. Although, I think I know who she is.” He stabbed a finger at one name. “A. Rosso. Did Antonio make a donation?”

Brian nodded. “I don’t know. We haven’t gone over all the checks yet. But I know he’s usually good for a few hundred thousand. That’s why I sent him an invitation.”

“Well, his sister took you up on the invite.” Dareios turned his attention back to the crowded dance floor. The music changed to a slow, romantic tune. The mass of people diminished, with some leaving to find refreshments and others wrapping themselves around each other, leaving lots of open space.

The dim lighting wasn’t helping, but a flash of gold caught his eye. He pushed the clipboard back at the doorman. “Excuse me. I have an unmasking to attend.” He headed for that flash of gold. As he got closer, he could see the vampire had his hands on two women. Dareios clenched his hands at his side. He was going to punch out that damn vampire.

She’s not yours and never will be.

Dareios shook his head. Great, now she had him totally confused. But he was going to rip off her mask, and if it was Alexandra, he was hauling her ass out of here. He didn’t want to think what he would do if it wasn’t
his
Alex.

The vampire just wouldn’t shut up. The fairy giggled at ever suggestion of a three some and how much fun it could be, but Alexandra was just disgusted with his vulgar invitations. She pulled away from him but he caught her wrist. Eyes narrowed, she stared at him. “You’re about to get your fangs pulled. Let me go. Now!”

The vampire smiled. A large arm reached over Alexandra’s shoulder and a hand wrapped around the vampire’s throat. “I believe the lady asked you to remove your hands from her person.”

The vampire gasped and released her.

Alexandra turned around. She knew who she would see. Dareios had pulled off his mask and his hat. His face had hardened. He didn’t look like the easy-going party guy she knew. He looked dangerous. Hands up, the vampire backed off and headed into the crowd.

The fairy watched him, and turned back to give Dareios a warm smile. “Some muscles you’ve got.”

Alexandra wanted to punch the fairy now. Instead, Dareios stepped in front of her and swept out a gesture. “Join me back in the booth.”

It wasn’t a question, and Alexandra didn’t feel like she had any choice. She could see the entrance, but Dareios was between her and it, and he wasn’t looking in any kind of mood to let her go. As if he knew what she was thinking, he stepped close and said, “Don’t even think about it, Alexandra. We are going to talk and then I will decide if I’m going to call Antonio.”

Alexandra’s shoulders slumped, but she crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine. But remember, I am an adult and I make my own decisions.”

“Fair enough.” Dareios extending an arm again toward the booth they had occupied earlier.

Alexandra headed that way. She wished she still felt like a goddess, but this was probably how Athena had felt when Zeus came down on her. She slid into the booth. Dareios slid into the other side, opposite her.
Darn it!
He’s already trying to put distance between us!

She scooted closer toward him.

He put his hands on the table and stared at her for several long moments. She met his stare and refused to back down. Instead, she tried to see all the imperfections—his slightly crooked nose from a skiing accident when he and Antonio were in the early teens, the tiny mole near his left ear, his hair sticking up. None of it was helping. Her pulse still quickened. She was still too aware of the glimpse of chest she could see under the black silk shirt. And his eyes were far too blue—and blazing hot.

“Okay, talk to me. What are you doing in Milan? And will you take off that damn mask?”

Alexandra put her chin up. She didn’t take off the mask, but she licked her lips and tried to come up with something to say that would justify her presence in Club Senza. “Eva and I—”

“Eva?” Dareios swore and looked around the nightclub. “Where is she? I can’t believe you brought your sister—”

“Relax.” Alexandra reached across the table and laid a hand on his forearm. “I would never bring Eva in here. She’s back at the hotel.”

Dareios pulled away. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why Milan? And why did you try to make me think you weren’t who you are. And will you please take off that mask?”

Slowly, she reached up and undid her mask. In truth, it felt good to get it off. She also pulled off the wig. She fluffed her sweat-matted hair and shook it out. “Eva wants to go to art school. We came over to check out some universities.”

Dareios gave a snort. “Is that what you told Antonio?” His expression relaxed and he gave a laugh, a real one. “Of course you did. He’s so caught up in Claire and being a new husband, he didn’t even think about your trip. I don’t suppose he remembered to tell Eva her acceptance letter came from the
École des Beaux-Arts
in Paris.”

“What?” Alexandra sat up. “Really? Eva has always loved Paris. To go to school there would be amazing!” She shook her head. “Uhm…well, I do see one problem with her going there. She doesn’t speak French.”

“So she’ll learn. Now let’s get back to this evening. Why the act? Is this some kind of joke? A bet?”

Alexandra nodded and then shrugged. She stared out at the dance floor. She could still feel Dareios’ hands on her, and she could still smell his scent. How could she explain that she’d wanted to turn the spark between them into a bonfire—if she could. How could she tell him that she’d felt a failure when he’d recognized her.
What a mess!

“Alexandra?” he said. His voice had softened. She swallowed hard and looked at him. He relaxed and let his hands fall to his side. “What brought you to Club Senza tonight?”

“The fundraiser. Antonio made a sizable donation.”

“Uh-huh. That’s about half of it. What’s the other half? Antonio donates to a lot of charities and you don’t go rushing off to party with the other donors.”

She fanned her face. “It’s gotten hot in here.”

Dareios kept his eyes fixed on her. “It’s going to get even hotter for you if you don’t come clean about this.”

She stiffened. “I’m not twelve!”

“You could fool me the way you’ve been acting. You used Eva as an excuse to travel to Milan. And then you show up here. Why? Were you looking for trouble? Or just…oh, hell, I don’t even know what.”

Alexandra debated with herself for several minutes. Sighing, she decided to just lay her cards out on the table and see what happened. She bit her lip. It couldn’t get any worse than it already was. “I came here because I knew you would be here.”

Dareios sat back. His mouth dropped open.

She wondered if kissing her had been as amazing for him as it had been for her. This attraction between them had been growing—it was going to be even harder to ignore now that she knew what he tasted like.

He shook his head. “So you knew who I was when I rescued you from that cut-rate vampire? You planned this whole thing out?”

“What choice did you give me? Oh, come on, Dareios. You’ve been noticing me and I’ve been noticing you notice me. I wanted—I want to…we need to get this out of our systems.”

Dareios shook his head. “Your brother would kill me.”

“Would he? I’m not a child. Maybe five years ago he would have been protective, but I’m twenty-two. I know what I want.”

“No, you don’t. You’ve only dated a few—”

“I dated a lot of boys at university.”

“Yeah, and I heard about Carl. That jerk was not a great choice. He was out for your money.”

“At least he wanted something from me!”

Dareios shook his head. “What do I do with you now?”

Alexandra rolled her eyes. “You liked that kiss.”

“I liked it when I didn’t know I was kissing someone who is just about my little sister.”

“Oh, come on. I’m not related to you—not even close. And are we going to go on just watching the other person—wanting and never having?” She leaned over the table. She saw his eyes dip to her breasts and she smiled. “You want me. You know you do.”

“What I know is that Antonio is expecting you to find a good boy and settle down.”

“He’s not papa—Antonio is not demanding I start having babies.” She saw the blush on his cheeks and knew he was thinking about the ways to make babies. “You take every girl you meet into your bed, except me. Why? What’s wrong with me?”

“That’s why you wanted to be a different girl?” He touched her mask. “That’s why this and the wig? You thought if I didn’t know who you were I’d—”

“You did kiss me. And you liked it.”

He sat straighter. “I’m not the kind of man you should marry.”

“Who’s talking about marriage?”

“You are!” He waved a hand at her. “And Antonio would be talking weddings if he found out we were—” He cut off the words but waved a hand between them. “So we won’t.”

She smiled. “What if he finds out you kissed me? You devoured me in fact. What if he learns that you and I were here—in a private back room?”

Eyes narrowing, he stared at her. “You wouldn’t.”

“I won’t…if you agree to take me back to Athens with you on your yacht. I know you’re having the
Kairos
brought to Taranto. So I’ll sail back with you.”

“That is blackmail.”

“No…I think it’s extortion. Come on, Dareios. It’s a good plan. A couple of weeks sailing in beautiful weather. We’ll have some fun.”

“It’s impossible!”

She let her smile widen. “We’ll find out if we’re right for each other.”

He shook his head. “We’re not—I’m not right for any woman. It’s why they all leave me—or why we have a fun time and then part friends.”

“That’s all I’m asking. A fun time and then we can be friends again. And Antonio never has to know anything else. Dareios, this thing between us—if we let it go on and on and keep building, it’s going to explode. You know that—you know that because of how you kissed me. You’ll keep thinking about that kiss. I will, too. We’ll dream about what it would be like with you and me in bed together. We’ll make the fantasy so amazing that we have to act on it. And then it will blow up in our faces. We’ll resist until we give in—and Antonio will catch us. Or Eva will. And then we’ll have to marry, and—”

“We’ll make each other miserable.”

Alexandra smiled. She heard defeat in his voice, she saw his shoulders slump. He was seeing what she saw now. “We should give into this attraction. That kiss proved there is more here—a lot more. If we get this out of our systems, we can go back to being good friends. And we’ll have great memories.” Under the table, she crossed her fingers. She wasn’t sure if he was going to buy into her logic, but if she kept at him, maybe she could wear him down.

Dareios shook his head. “I think this is all a mistake, but I’ll…maybe you’re right.” He held up a finger. “I’m not saying you are, but…well, I’ll take you back to your hotel tonight, and back to Athens as well. And I’ll think about it.”

With a nod, Alexandra grabbed her wig and mask. And she started to plan how to drive Dareios wild over the next two weeks.