His Forbidden Bride (12 page)

handkerchief from his pocket, and shook it out, offering her a corner to hold.

'You see?' His smile was ironic. 'We do not even have to touch.' He paused.

'Now, there is a pattern of steps to be repeated. Watch what Soula does,

and fol ow.'

Zoe obeyed mutely, staring down at the other girl's feet in their white

stockings and flat-heeled black shoes. Stumbling a little at first, she began

to copy what she was doing, listening to the insistent beat of the music—so

much steadier than the thudding of her own heart—and gradual y relaxing

into it Laughing as she found herself twirled one way, and then another.

Gasping as the lead male dancer leapt high into the air before performing a

series of amazing high kicks and even somersaults.

But, al the time, conscious of the man beside her holding the other end of

the handkerchief. Joined to her, yet at a distance.

She was almost sorry when the music ended and the smiling, breathless

line dispersed.

Somehow, she found herself back at her table. The stained cloth had

already been cleared, she saw incredulously, and more wine had appeared,

with clean glasses, and tiny cups of thick black coffee, very strong and

sweet. And Andreas was sitting beside her. As, she thought shakily, he'd

undoubtedly planned al along…

'So,
matia mou
,' he said softly. 'You have been lying to me.'

'Lying?' Her heart skipped a beat He knew, she thought, who she was, and

why she had come to Thania. And she wasn't prepared for this kind of

confrontation—at least, not with him. 'I—I don't understand.'

'You told me you could not dance.'

'Oh,' she said. 'Oh—that.'

'Yes—
that
.' There was a note of faint mockery in his voice. 'What else could it be?' He paused. 'A little more practice, and you wil be perfect.'

At dancing, she wondered, or lying?

She tried for a cool note. 'Is it necessary that I should be?'

'Why, yes,' he said. 'If you still plan to live at the Vil a Danaë. Or have you

had second thoughts, perhaps?'

She shrugged. 'It will all depend on how negotiations go with your employer.'

She paused. 'Tel me about him—this Steve Dragos.'

He drank some coffee, his expression meditative. 'What do you wish to

know?'

She hesitated. 'Wel —how old is he, for one thing?'
And did he ever know a

girl called Gina who came here once, for another
?

'He is no longer young,' Andreas said. He gave a soft laugh. 'Although he

would not thank me for saying so. And he is stil of an age to be susceptible

to a smile from a beautiful girl, if that is what you want to know,' he added

drily.

Zoe flushed. 'It's not what I meant at al ,' she disclaimed hastily. 'You—you

seem very fond of him.'

It was his turn to shrug. 'He has been good to me over the years—in his

way.'

'So he's bought your loyalty.' And for a lot of money, she thought. Because

as wel as the beautiful y worked gold chain at his throat, he was wearing a

watch that looked like a Rolex, except that it couldn't be. More likely, she

told herself, it was one of those cheap imitations—wasn't it?

Andreas had straightened, the dark eyes sparking at her, his mouth

suddenly hardening into coldness. 'You think, perhaps, that I am for sale?'

His tone was quiet—dangerous. 'Then, you are quite wrong. I belong to no

one but myself.'

Zoe lifted her chin. 'You take his money,' she pointed out.

'I earn what I am paid,' he said softly. 'Do not doubt it, Zoe
mou
.'

'And is scaring people witless one of your duties?' she asked baldly.

For a moment his brows snapped together, then his face relaxed into a grin.

'Who am I supposed to have frightened?' he asked lightly. 'You,
pedhi mou
?

Surely not.'

'I saw the effect you had on those stupid boys today,' she said. 'And when

you walked in tonight, everyone— stopped.'

'Did they,
matia mou
?' he said, with a touch of mockery. 'I did not notice. I could see only you.'

She swal owed. 'That—is so not true.'

'Yet here I am,' he said. 'With you, and no other.'

'Why?' Her breathing had quickened uncontrol ably. 'Because I walked away

from you today, and you needed to re-establish your ascendancy? In case

word got round and you—lost face?'

He gave her a long, steady look, making her meet his gaze. 'Is that truly

what you think, Zoe mou-that I have something to prove?'

She bit her lip. 'No,' she admitted reluctantly, at last. 'No, I don't. But I stil don't understand why people seem so in awe of you.'

He was still watching her, his expression unreadable. 'Perhaps I simply

benefit from the respect they give my employer.'

'Is he real y so powerful—even from a distance?'

'You must judge that for yourself,
pedhi mou
, when you meet him.'

'Yes,' Zoe said without enthusiasm. 'I suppose so.' She glanced at him

under her lashes. 'Do you know yet when that wil be?'

'As soon as his doctors permit.' He was silent for a moment. 'If you are so

impatient,
matia mou
, maybe I should introduce you to my friend Dimitrios.

He deals in real estate, and could find you another property which would suit

you just as wel .'

'Oh, no,' Zoe said too quickly, and his brows drew together.

'You mean it must be the Vil a Danaë, or nothing? Why?'

She was on dangerous ground, but she managed to summon up a careless

smile. 'Oh, we have a saying in the UK about property buying—location,

location, location. And the Vil a Danaë is just perfect in that respect. I would

never find anywhere that measured up to it.'

She paused. 'And it's never been lived in—al owed to achieve its fal

potential. I find that—tragic.'

'Ah,' he said softly. 'But even a paradise like Thania can have its share of

tragedies, Zoe
mou
. And perhaps it is unwise to fix your heart on this

particular house. My—boss has agreed to see you, nothing more.'

For a moment, she was tempted to confide in him—to tel him why she had

come to Thania and ask for his help.

Then common sense reasserted itself, tel ing her to do no such stupid thing.

Andreas was Steve Dragos' man. He'd made that perfectly clear. So, was it

likely that he'd get involved in anything that might be contrary to the interests

of such a powerful employer?

He'd get in touch with him immediately, she thought. Warn him. Because

the potential loss of such an expensive and beautiful house was bound to

matter.

Whatever might have happened in the past—whatever promises could have

been made, time had moved on, and there was no guarantee that Mr

Dragos would let Vil a Danaë go without a struggle.

And, no matter how many legal-sounding documents she could produce,

he'd be able to hire any number of high-powered international lawyers to

range against her.

Besides, instinct told her that any help she might acquire from Andreas

Stephanos might wel cost her more than she could afford to give.

It was better by far to keep her own counsel, she thought, swallowing, and

catch Steve Dragos off guard. If that was possible.

She smiled at him, drank some wine. 'Wel ,' she said. 'I'l just have to keep

my fingers crossed.'

'And if that doesn't work—if you don't get the house— you wil leave?'

She hunched a shoulder. 'That's the plan.'

He leaned back in his chair, watching her through half-closed eyes. Paying

lingering attention, she realised, to her blonde hair, piled in a loose knot on

top of her head. To the low neckline of the black dress and the way it

skimmed the top of her breasts. Dwel ing meditatively on her mouth.

Making her know simply by a glance what it would be like to be touched—to

be kissed by him, she thought in shaken bewilderment.

He smiled, as if he was perfectly aware what was on her mind.

'Then I shal have to find some way to persuade you to change your mind,

agapi mou
,' he drawled.

'Ah,' she said, snatching at her control. 'But perhaps I'm like you.'

'Like me?' He frowned slightly.

'You said you belonged to no-one,' she reminded him cool y. 'Wel , neither

do I. And I do just as I please.'

'But there may come a time,' he suggested softly, 'when you may also wish

to—please me.'

There was a swift, taut silence, then Zoe shrugged. It seems to me that

there are quite enough people doing that already,' she told him lightly. She

managed, somehow, not to glance at the table across the room, and the

sullen looks being directed at them by the Greek beauty.

His mouth twisted in wry acknowledgement 'Maybe you have been sent to

Thania to teach me the error of my ways.'

'I think that would take far more time than I have to spare,' she dismissed.

'And I think you are right,
agapi mou
.' He grinned lazily at her. It would probably take a lifetime. And in the meantime, I shal teach you to dance. A

much easier thing.' He got to his feet. 'Come.'

'Wel , it was one thing she could agree to, Zoe thought with an inward sigh

as she rose and fol owed him. Probably the only thing. And she sighed

again.

It was an unforgettable evening, a breathless, exhilarating whirl of sound

and rhythm, allowing her no time to think, or question the wisdom of her

actions. Her head was spinning. She felt as if she were flying.

And Andreas was at her side throughout, joined to her always by that

square, of white linen, whispering encouragement, the dark eyes intent on

her flushed, happy face.

'No more,' she protested laughingly, at last, leaning against one of the

wooden posts that supported the overhead vine, a hand pressed to her side.

'But the night is only just beginning.'

Zoe shook her head. 'Not for me,' she said: 'I need to get some rest. As it is,

I probably shan't be able to walk in the morning. My feet will be too sore.'

'Then ride instead.' His voice was quiet, but insistent. 'I wil bring the Jeep to the hotel at ten o'clock, and show you my island.'

Zoe hesitated. Dancing with him, surrounded by a crowd of other people,

was one thing. Spending a whole day together on their own was a different

matter entirely.

Her throat tightened. She said, uncertainly, 'Andreas…'

'Zoe
mou
,' he returned softly. He studied her for a moment. 'Are you truly so scared to be alone with me?'

'No,' she said. 'Of course not.'

He grinned at her. 'Little liar.' He paused, his face becoming serious again.

'But I swear you have nothing to fear. You honour me with your company,

nothing more.'

He added softly, 'Besides, I shal never ask anything of you,
agapi mou
, that you do not wish to give.' He put one hand under her chin, tilting up her face,

making her look at him. 'Now wil you come with me?'

She heard herself say, 'Why not?' And could immediately think of a

thousand sane and sensible reasons to refuse. But she'd committed herself

now, and she would not go back on her word. Her pride would not al ow it.

She felt his thumb stroke the line of her jaw, gentle as a feather from the

breast of a dove, and smothered an instinctive gasp as she felt her nipples

harden instinctively against the soft fabric of her dress.

She took a hasty step backwards, jerking her chin away, and the abrupt

movement proved the last straw for her already dishevel ed hair, which

came tumbling down onto her shoulders.

'Damn.' She made a dive for the clasp which had fal en to the floor, but

Andreas was too quick for her, straightening with the worked silver clip in his

hand.

'Leave it,' he advised, the dark eyes warm and slumbrous as they observed

her. 'Your hair is better like that. Beautiful. And it wil soon be spread across

a pil ow anyway,' he added softly.

Heat rose in her face. The image was too personal—too intimate, and she

needed to distance herself, and fast before, dear God, that

too-knowledgeable gaze of his observed her state of arousal.

She held out her hand. 'May I have my clip back, please?'

'Tomorrow,' he said, and slipped it into his trouser pocket. 'After you have

seen Thania with me.'

Zoe bit her lip. She said, coldly, 'Perhaps I'l decide it isn't worth the trouble, after all.'

'Then it wil stay with me,' he said, unabashed. 'A cherished memento of

you, Zoe
mou
.'

'You have an answer for everything, don't you?' she said bitterly.

'Not yet,' he said. 'But I live in hope.' He allowed her to digest that, then

inclined his head, cool y and courteously. '
Kalinichta, agapi mou
. Until

tomorrow.'

She said in a stifled voice, 'Goodnight,' and walked away, threading her way

between the tables, hardly aware any more of the curious and speculative

glances coming her way.

Once in her room, she kicked off her sandals and fel , face down, across the

bed, burying her face on her folded arms.

And I'm going to spend the day with him tomorrow, she groaned inwardly. I

must be crazy.

She tried to comfort herself with the reflection that it would give her the

opportunity to explore Thania with someone who knew the island and loved

it. But it was still a high-risk situation, and she knew it.