In Petrakis's Power (8 page)

‘Yes—satisfied that you have acted the part of my fiancée to the very best of your ability and played it as convincingly as possible.’

‘I’m no actress. I can only do the best I can. All right, then.’ Briefly withdrawing her gaze, she glanced down at the polished wooden floor to help regain her equilibrium, because her heart was thudding alarmingly at the daunting prospect of what she was agreeing to do. ‘You’d better tell me when you’re intending to travel.’

‘As far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better. Could you be ready to go in a week’s time?’

‘That
is
soon. I’ll need to arrange help at the B&B for my mum while I’m away. I hope a week will be enough time for me to organise things.’

‘You have already intimated to me that you are a good organiser, Natalie. I’m sure a week will give you plenty of time. You should be ready to leave next Monday, when I intend us to travel on an early-morning flight. As we will be departing from Heathrow you should probably arrange to stay with your father the night before.’

‘I’m sure that won’t be a problem.’

‘I’m sure it won’t.’ With a mocking glint in his eye, Ludo drolly echoed her comment. ‘Especially when he learns that I am not as uncharitable and hard-hearted as you both first suspected.’

‘I never meant to deliberately insult you by what I said. I was just upset, as any loving daughter would be, at the prospect of my dad struggling to get by after
paying all his debts. It seemed so unfair that after being forced to sell his business after so many dedicated years of hard work the proceeds wouldn’t even leave him enough to live on.’

Even though she had felt entirely justified, Natalie was still embarrassed at being reminded of her accusatory outburst at the meeting.

Flushing, she glanced briefly down at her watch and declared, ‘I really do have to go now—but there’s just one more thing I need to say before I leave.’ Her teeth nibbled anxiously at her lip. ‘I’m really sorry to hear about your brother. Such a dreadful loss must have been devastating for you and your family … I really feel for you all.’

A shadow seemed to move across Ludo’s bright blue irises, momentarily darkening them. ‘Devastating is not a big enough word,’ he murmured, awkwardly dragging his fingers through his thick fair hair. ‘But I appreciate your sympathy.’

‘Well, I think it’s time I left. Presumably you’ll ring me when you have the flight times?’

‘You can count on it.’ Moving with her towards the door, Ludo lightly touched her arm. ‘But I won’t just be contacting you then. I’m going to ring you during the week—preferably in the evenings, when I’m not working. I think it’s quite important that we get to know each other a little before our trip, don’t you?’

‘Talking to each other on the phone is hardly the best way to get to know someone, but I suppose it will have to do if we can’t see each other.’

‘As much as I would like to, it’s impossible for me
to free up any time to see you this week, Natalie. For now, phone calls will have to suffice.’

Meeting his enigmatic gaze, she could do no more than shrug in agreement, even though in truth she was disappointed. It was a mystery to her how Ludo had got under her skin so quickly. She’d never experienced such a tangible sense of connection with a man before, and everything that she believed about herself had been turned on its head.

‘Okay. I’ll expect your calls later on in the week, then,’ she murmured.

‘Good. By the way, when we arrive in Rhodes the weather should be seasonally hot. Bring plenty of suitable clothing and sun-cream,’ he suggested.

The sociable smile that accompanied his words was far warmer than she’d expected after the sorrow he’d just expressed about the loss of his brother, and Natalie was already nursing a secret hope that he might talk about his sibling more fully during their time together in Greece. There was so much about this complex, surprising man that she longed to discover.

‘I will.’

She couldn’t help feeling shy all of a sudden, and curled her palm round the brass doorknob, then swept out of the office into the reception area—only to be confronted by the curious glances of Ludo’s colleagues.

After giving her father the good news that Ludo had increased the sum he had paid for the business, and hearing that he was much more optimistic about his future because of it, the following day Natalie returned home
to Hampshire. Trepidation, hope and great doubt accompanied her.

First and foremost, she could hardly believe that she’d agreed to go to Greece with Ludo in just a week’s time and endeavour to convince his parents that they were engaged. Surely they would know immediately that an unremarkable girl like her was the least likely woman he would choose as a fiancée? For a start, she was a million miles away from the perfect-looking women who adorned the arms of rich and powerful men like their son in the glossy magazines.

But the following evening when Ludo phoned, trepidation and doubt instantly fled to be replaced by a totally unexpected wild optimism and hope. All it took was hearing the sound of his rich baritone voice.

Without preamble he announced, ‘It’s me—Ludo.’

About to take a bath, Natalie grasped the white bathsheet she’d wrapped round her torso to make it more secure, just as if he’d suddenly appeared in the room and his arresting cobalt gaze was resting on her semi-naked form. Dropping down onto the bed, she sent up a fervent prayer that her voice wouldn’t betray how strongly his call had affected her. Despite agreeing to go to Greece with him, it felt somehow surreal that the handsome businessman should call her personally.

‘Hi,’ she answered, the nerves she’d hoped she’d banished already alarmingly evident. ‘How are you?’

‘Tired and very much in need of a holiday.’

The surprisingly unguarded reply took Natalie aback and filled her with concern. ‘Well, thankfully you don’t
have too long to wait before you get away … just a few more days.’

‘Presumably I don’t need to check you
are
still coming with me?’

With thudding heart, Natalie said quickly, ‘No, you don’t need to check. When I give my word I keep it.’

‘Good. Do you have a pen and paper at hand? I want to give you some flight details.’

When she’d written them down she asked, ‘Is that all?’

‘No.’ She heard a disconcerting smile in his voice.

‘I’d like to talk to you some more. What have you been doing with yourself today?’

Sighing, Natalie smoothed her hand down over the soft towelling nap of the bathsheet. Not that it remotely mattered, but if Ludo intended talking for much longer then her bathwater would be turning unpleasantly cold.

‘What have I been doing? Helping to organise some help in the B&B while I’m away, and also seeing to some rather tedious administration, I’m afraid. But thankfully it was alleviated by my mum’s baking. Just after three she brought me in some homemade scones and jam with a cup of tea. No one in the world makes scones as melt-in-the-mouth and tasty as she does!’

‘You have an extremely sexy voice, Natalie. I can’t be the only man who’s ever told you that.’

Dumbfounded, Natalie automatically shook her head, as if Ludo was indeed in the room. The only thing she could conjure up right then wasn’t an answer but a mental picture of him smiling at her. The sculpted planes of his tanned cheekbones, chiselled jaw and intense
sapphire-coloured eyes were more than enough to drive away any intelligible reply.

‘Natalie? Are you still there?’

‘Yes, I’m still here. But I ran a bath just before you rang and it must be getting cold. I’m afraid I’ll have to go.’

On her feet, she carried her mobile to the slightly ajar bathroom door and anxiously bit down on her lip as she waited for his reply. The comment he’d made about her having a sexy voice had unravelled her.

‘Well, then, you must go and take your bath. But know this … I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep at all tonight, since I will have in my mind the arresting image of you naked, soaking in a bath of scented bubbles. I hope when I ring again tomorrow night you’ll end the conversation on a far less provocative note? Goodnight, Natalie. Sleep well.’

By the time Natalie had roused herself from the trance she’d fallen into, her bathwater and the scented bath foam she’d poured into it were too cold to contemplate immersing herself in. Resigning herself to going without, she pulled out the plug and once again got lost in thoughts of Ludo as she watched the water spiralling urgently down into the drain …

It had been a far from easy journey to his homeland for Ludo. The inner turmoil of his thoughts had made it impossible for him to relax.

The private plane he’d chartered was the epitome of the luxury he’d long come to expect when he travelled. As far as that was concerned there had been
nothing to complain about. The cabin crew had been ultra-professional and attentive, and the flight had been smooth without any disconcerting turbulence. But even though the sight of Natalie at the airport, in a pretty multicoloured maxi-dress, with her shining hair, had quickened his pulse, it had still been difficult to raise his spirits.

Ludo had immensely enjoyed and indeed looked forward to the nightly telephone conversations he’d had with Natalie, but when she’d sat beside him on the plane, every now and then attempting to engage him in light conversation, he hadn’t found it easy to respond in the same cheerful fashion he’d been able to adopt on the phone. In fact his mood had deteriorated more and more the closer they’d got to their destination.

The phone conversation he’d had with his mother earlier that morning had been a double-edged sword. While it had been a joy to hear her voice, and to be able to relate some good news to her, it didn’t assuage the onerous weight of guilt and pain that still dogged him over his brother’s death. Clearly overwhelmed and excited about the prospect of seeing Ludo again after three long years, his mother had had an emotion in her voice that had almost made it hard for him to breathe, let alone speak. There had been no words of reprimand or blame to make him feel guiltier than he was already, and somehow that had made the prospect of seeing her and his father again even more difficult.

Naturally they’d wanted to send a car to bring him and Natalie back to their spacious villa, but Ludo had carefully and respectfully declined the offer. He’d told
her that he and Natalie were going to stay at his own waterside villa and take a valuable day’s rest before they drove out to see them. Even though his absence had been a prolonged one, he’d need a little more time to acclimatise himself to the fact that he was home again, as well as time to take stock.

His mother had naturally been curious about Natalie. ‘What’s she like?’ she’d asked excitedly. ‘Are you happy with her, my son?’

All Ludo had told her was that Natalie was a ‘charming, good-natured girl’ and that he was sure they would love her. He’d deliberately squashed down the wave of remorse that had crashed through him because he was inventing a scenario that wasn’t true.

For some strange, inexplicable reason, at the back of his mind the tentative hope had surfaced that some good might come of being with Natalie despite his deception. He hadn’t just enjoyed their nightly phone conversations, he had started to
rely
on them. She’d always been so reassuring, and if he’d had a bad day his spirits had been buoyed by the idea of talking to her. He’d never experienced such a strong connection to a woman before. And the memory of the sexy, ardent kiss that he’d shared with her back in his office a week ago had definitely got him believing that having her with him in Greece might help alleviate some of the stress that would inevitably come his way.

But he also knew it would take more than one kiss or a reassuring conversation to ease the grief and anxiety he was feeling about returning home again.

Finally, just before they’d reached the cosmopolitan
Greek island they were heading for, Natalie had shaken him out of his morose mood with an unexpected comment.

‘As you know, I’m not undertaking this trip purely because I’m in love with the idea of going to Greece, or because I need a holiday. I’m doing it because you offered me a deal that was impossible to refuse. While I’m not exactly looking forward to playing your fiancée, I respect the fact that you paid my father a much more realistic price for his business than you initially offered. And because of that I fully intend to honour my part of the bargain. However, it’s a little off-putting that you don’t seem to want to talk to me. If it’s because you’re having second thoughts about bringing me with you, I want you to know that I’m perfectly willing to get on the next flight home just as soon as it can be arranged.’

It was as though she’d dashed a bucket full of ice water in his face. For one thing, it didn’t do his ego a whole lot of good to hear her confess that she wasn’t looking forward to playing his fiancée and was willing to go home if he’d changed his mind. Turning in his seat, he studied the troubled but defiant expression on the lovely face before him with a stab of remorse.

‘That is most definitely
not
what I’d prefer,
paidi mou
. Forgive me for not being a more amiable companion. It is nothing to do with my not wanting to be with you. It is purely a private dilemma that has been preoccupying me.’

Folding her hands in her lap across the pretty colourful fabric of her dress, Natalie lifted her huge grey eyes to his. ‘Is that dilemma to do with returning to
Greece for the first time since your brother died? The last thing I want to do is distress you by asking you to talk about it, but don’t you think it would help us both if you opened up a little? I’m sure it’s going to seem very strange to your parents if I haven’t got a clue about what your brother was like or how you felt about him.’

Ludo stared. What she said was perfectly true. He now saw that he hadn’t given his impromptu plan nearly enough consideration. As painful and uncomfortable as it might be, he had no choice but to talk to Natalie about Theo.

Linking his hands together, he felt his heart race a little as he attempted to marshal his thoughts. ‘Very well, then. I will tell you something of my brother Theo. Where do I begin? He was a giant of a man—our very own Rhodes Colossus … Not just in build—he was six foot four—but in character and heart too. Ever since he went to medical school to train as a doctor he knew he wanted to specialise in taking care of children.’ He allowed himself a briefly strained smile. ‘So that’s what he did. He became a paediatrician. At the clinics he attended, or on the wards, the kids just loved him. More than that, when he told them he would make them better they totally believed him … as did their parents. More often than not he was able to keep that heartfelt promise. Pretty soon his services were in demand not just in Greece but all over Europe.’