In Petrakis's Power (7 page)

‘I don’t know about that. I just thought you’d have been pleased to tell me where you came from.’

‘Why
is
that? So we might have exchanged personal anecdotes and stories about our shared heritage?’ Ludo heard a spike of irritation in his voice that he couldn’t hide because he’d been inadvertently pushed into a corner. He hadn’t spoken about his country of birth or what had happened to drive him away from it to anyone … not even trusted friends. If he wanted things to progress
with Natalie he was probably going to have to talk about it now, whether he liked it or not. ‘Sometimes a man in my position is apt to crave anonymity,’ he continued. ‘Whether that’s about where he comes from or who he is. Besides, do you really think our only point of connection is the fact that each of us has a parent who is Greek?’

‘Yesterday I might have thought so, if you’d admitted it.’ Hugging her arms across her chest, Natalie frowned. ‘But since then things have unfolded to connect us in a way I never could have imagined. When I walked into that room today and saw that it was you—the man I’d met on the train—I was lost for words. It was such a shock. Anyway, going back to yesterday, you helped me out by paying for my ticket and, whether you want me to or not, it matters to
me
that I pay you back.’

‘If that’s the case then perhaps you will start to see the sense in meeting me tonight after all?’ Ludo interjected smoothly.

‘I can’t.’

‘You mean you won’t?’

‘I mean I can’t. Why won’t you listen to what I’m saying?’

Pressing the pads of his fingertips against his brow, he lightly shook his head. ‘I’m listening, Natalie, but perhaps I’m not giving you the response you’re looking for because
you
are not giving me the one that
I
want.’

Her eyes flashed with irritation. ‘And no doubt you always get what you want?’

She released an exasperated sigh and her lithe figure moved purposefully back towards the door. His heart
thudding at the realisation that the opportunity to see her again might disappear from right under his nose unless he took action, Ludo thought fast. As an idea presented itself he mentally grabbed at it, as though it might vanish in the next instant unless he expressed it. The idea was perhaps a little preposterous, but it made a strange kind of sense. Ludo decided to take the plunge and go with it.

‘Perhaps you won’t be in such a hurry to leave if I tell you that I have a deal in mind that I’d like to talk to you about? A deal that would benefit your father as well as yourself,’ he asserted calmly.

Riveted, she immediately pulled her hand away from the brass doorknob and turned to face him. ‘What kind of a deal?’

Pacing a little, to help arrange his thoughts, Ludo took his time in answering. It had suddenly dawned on him that what he was about to propose would benefit
him
too. The concept didn’t seem at all preposterous any more. In fact it might potentially be the solution he’d secretly longed for—a way out that might bring him some peace at last.

He stopped pacing to settle his gaze on the beautiful, inquisitive face in front of him. ‘The deal I’m offering you is that I will increase what I paid for your father’s business by half the amount again if you agree to come with me to Greece and play the role of my fiancée.’

Natalie turned as still as a statue, her stunned expression suggesting she wasn’t entirely sure she’d heard him right. Her next words confirmed it. ‘Would you mind
repeating what you just said? I’m afraid I might have imagined it.’

‘You didn’t imagine it.’ Willingly, he repeated his proposition.

‘You really will increase the money you paid for the business if I travel to Greece with you and pretend to be your fiancée? Why would you want me to do such a bizarre thing?’

Shrugging a shoulder, Ludo sighed. ‘It will perhaps not be as bizarre as you might think when I tell you my reasons,’ he remarked.

‘Go on, then.’ Moistening her lips, she patiently waited for him to continue.

‘My parents—in particular my mother—have long hoped that I will bring someone home that I am serious about. Someone who will help give them hope that they might one day have a grandchild.’

Noting the brief flash of alarm in Natalie’s candid gaze, Ludo forced himself to press on regardless. He told himself she wouldn’t still be standing there listening if the idea was absolutely abhorrent to her.

‘Unfortunately I have not had a long-term relationship in a long time and, frankly, they are becoming despondent that I ever will. The situation has become sadly compounded by my only brother’s death three years ago in a boating accident. Now I am their only son and heir. Unfortunately I have not been home since the funeral. I did not want to return until I could give them hope that the future was brighter than they had perhaps envisaged. I know it is a pretence, Natalie, but the intention behind it is a kind one. I promise you that if you
can convincingly act the part of my fiancée while we are in Greece, when we return to the UK I will make sure you are richly rewarded.’

‘But even if I should agree to the pretence, how hurt will your parents be when they find out that the whole thing was a lie? They must be broken-hearted as it is to have lost their son. Nothing you can do for me or give me would make up for how terrible I’d feel about deceiving them.’

‘The fact that you care so much about that aspect of the deal assures me that you are the right woman to ask this favour of, Natalie. I will be forever in your debt if you do this for me.’

She looked to be thinking hard for a moment. ‘And how do I explain to my father that I am going away with you to Greece for—for how long?’

‘At least three to four weeks,
paidi mou
.’

The soft pink hue that tinted her cheeks at his use of the Greek endearment momentarily distracted him, because it brought a lustre to her eyes that was nothing less than magical and gave him an irresistible glimpse of how she might look if he were to try and seduce her … prettily flushed and aroused. A little buzz of pleasurable heat ricocheted through his insides. He suddenly became even more determined to have Natalie masquerade as his fiancée … Especially as—in the hope of convincing his parents—he fully intended to play the part of devoted fiancé to the hilt.

‘You can tell him that I have offered you the chance to learn the ropes of good financial dealing with an expert,’ he asserted with a teasing smile. ‘I am sure he will
see the benefits of such an opportunity. If you take it, and learn what I consider to be the essential skills for success in business, your father will need to have no worries about your financial future, because you will know exactly how to go about securing it.’

As he came to the end of this speech Natalie moved across the room to a burgundy-coloured wing-backed armchair and slowly sank down into it. When she glanced up again to meet his eyes, Ludo experienced a private moment of undeniable triumph and relief, because suddenly he knew she was giving the offer serious consideration.

W
AS SHE CRAZY
to consider Ludo’s incredible suggestion that she go with him to Greece and assume the identity of his fiancée? It would fulfil her longed-for desire to visit Greece again, but the most important aspect of the deal he was proposing was that he’d promised to increase what he had paid to her father for his business.

Half the amount again would allow her dad to keep his flat and not be forced to sell it. The fact that he could keep his home would go a long way, Natalie believed, to helping him make a new start. Not only that, it might give his health a real boost too. This deal Ludo was proposing was too important to dismiss, she realised. How could she live with herself if she didn’t take it and her dad’s health and self-esteem sank even lower because he’d lost all hope in making things better for himself?

But now, as she let her gaze roam over the strikingly handsome man silently observing her, with his chiselled good looks and piercing blue eyes, a nervous cartwheel flipped in the pit of her stomach. Could she really contemplate playing the part of his fiancée? Would she be strong enough to pull it off without letting her feelings get involved? Being in close proximity with Ludo in
Greece and pretending to be his fiancée would surely mean holding hands, kissing and touching, perhaps
intimately …

Natalie didn’t allow her thoughts to venture any further, because they had already induced a powerful wave of heat that made her body feel as if it were near to bursting into flames. Lifting the heavy swathe of long hair off the back of her neck in a bid to help cool her temperature, she noticed that Ludo’s previously confident expression had altered. Now his glance was more contemplative, as if he wasn’t entirely sure that her response would be the one he hoped for. If that were true, Natalie wondered how such an amazingly successful and attractive man could ever be plagued by doubt of any kind. It didn’t make sense.

‘Well?’

He was levelling his gaze upon her a little more intently, and she got the impression his patience was wearing thin.

‘Are you going to give me an answer to what I have proposed? Is it to be yes or no, Natalie?’

Sucking in a breath, she pushed to her feet. ‘You make it sound so simple … to just say yes or no.’

‘Are you saying it’s more complicated?’

‘Where emotions are involved no situation is ever going to be straightforward.’

‘Why should emotions be involved?’ Frowning in puzzlement, Ludo dug his hand into his trouser pocket. ‘Are you worrying about your father and his reaction when he learns you’re going to come to Greece with
me? I shouldn’t imagine it will be a problem, considering I have offered to increase the amount I paid him.’

Her heartbeat accelerating, Natalie felt herself redden. ‘Actually, it’s not my father I was worrying about. I don’t have any doubt he’ll be more than pleased with your new offer for the business, and as for me going to Greece with you—he’ll accept it if he knows it’s what I want, too. I was just wondering how, if I should go with you, I’m going to cope with playing your fiancée when we’ve only just met and I hardly know you? Aren’t engaged couples supposed to behave as though they’re crazy about each other?’

Ludo’s amused smile emphasised his even white teeth and sexy, sun-kissed tan. She caught her breath.

‘Do you think you will find it difficult to pretend that you’re crazy about me,
paidi mou
? Most women I know tell me I am quite a catch. Some have even called me “irresistible”… Shall we put the theory to the test?’

Before Natalie realised his intention he walked right up to her and encircled her waist. Being up close and personal with his body as he pulled her towards him, smelling the alluring musky aftershave he wore, made her knees come very close to folding even before he embraced her. A stunned gasp left her throat as he lowered his head and kissed her. As soon as his lips made contact she opened her mouth and he expertly inserted his smooth, silken tongue inside to make the kiss even more intimate.

Every thought in her head vanished except the one that registered the fierce addictive pleasure of his taste and the sexy heated brand of his skin against hers. It felt
as though a torch had ignited an unforgettable flame in her blood that no other man before or after him could ever hope to compete with … In the silence of her mind a renegade response came.
Okay … I’ll cope. It can’t be that difficult
.

She enjoyed the kiss so much she was genuinely disappointed when Ludo eased the delightful pressure on her lips. Lifting his head to gaze down at her, he moved his hands from her waist to rest them lightly on her hips. Up close, his stunning sapphire eyes were matchlessly blue, like a sunlit Mediterranean sea in midafternoon. Even his dark blond lashes were impossibly lavish. It didn’t matter if he were rich or poor, Natalie decided. The man’s physical assets were simply amazing.

‘Hmm …’ He smiled. ‘That was nice.’

She hoped he wouldn’t want a more detailed assessment from her on how
she
felt about the kiss. She might just have to tell him she’d like to try another one, just to make sure she hadn’t imagined the spine-tingling pleasure it had given her.

‘Can I take it that the idea of playing my fiancée is not as repellent as you might have thought initially?’ he teased softly.

Natalie couldn’t help but be honest. ‘I’m sure you know that you’re far from repellent. But it still doesn’t make it easy for me to pretend I’m something that I’m not. I feel very uneasy about deceiving anyone, even in a good cause. Especially your parents.’

Reaching towards her, Ludo moved some silken strands of hair away from her face and gently stroked his hand down over her cheekbone. ‘Because you are
naturally such a thoughtful person I know they won’t have a problem accepting you as my girlfriend,’ he asserted confidently.

‘A girlfriend is one thing … I could cope with that. But introducing me as your fiancée is much more serious, don’t you think?’

Removing his hand from her cheek, he expelled a heavy sigh. The quirk at the corner of his exquisitely carved mouth suggested some exasperation. ‘Think of it as a harmless game of “Let’s Pretend”. Believe me when I say that you are not hurting anybody. After all, you will be getting what you want for your father, remember? That and an opportunity to visit your mother’s country … something you told me you’d love to do again.’

Stepping away from him so that she might think straight, Natalie knew she had to make a decision. She sent up a silent prayer that it was the right one.

‘All right, then. I’ll do as you ask and go to Greece with you. But if when I’m there it becomes in any way difficult or untenable for me to keep up the charade of being your fiancée then do you agree I can go home, no questions asked?’

Somewhat reluctantly Ludo nodded his head. ‘I will not be happy about it, but I will agree so long as you remember I am paying your father a great deal of money for his business. You at least owe me the courtesy of staying with me until I tell you I am satisfied.’

‘Satisfied?’ The hot colour started at the tips of Natalie’s toes and travelled in an all-consuming heatwave right up to her scalp. The word
satisfied
had many connotations, so why did she have to focus on the sexual one
first? Transfixed by Ludo’s shimmering blue gaze, she didn’t have to search very hard for the answer.