Playing by the Greek's Rules (5 page)

She tried not to laugh. ‘You're impossible. To you it's an old pot, but it can have tremendous significance. Ceramics help archaeologists establish settlement and trading patterns. We can reconstruct human activity based on the distribution of pottery. It gives us an idea of population size and social complexity. Why are you donating so much money to the museum if it isn't an interest of yours?'

‘Because I'm interested in preserving Greek culture. I donate the money. It's up to them to decide how to use it. I don't micromanage and gifts don't come with strings.'

‘Why didn't you insist that it was called “The Zervakis Wing” or something? Most benefactors want their name in the title.'

‘It's about preserving history, not about advertising my name.' His eyes gleamed. ‘And ZervaCo is a modern, forward-thinking company at the cutting edge of technology development. I don't want the name associated with a museum.'

‘You're joking.'

‘Yes, I'm joking.' His smile faded as Spy and Brittany joined them.

‘They're good friends of mine,' Lily said quickly, ‘so you can switch off the full-wattage intimidation.'

‘If you're sure.' He introduced himself to both of them and chatted easily with Spy while Brittany pulled Lily to one side.

‘I don't even know where to start with my questions.'

‘Probably just as well because I wouldn't know where to start with my answers.'

‘I'm guessing he's the owner of Villa You-Have-to-be-Kidding-Me.'

‘He is.'

‘I'm not going to ask,' Brittany muttered and then grinned. ‘Oh hell, yes I am. I'm asking. What happened? He found you in the cellar fighting off the ugly sisters and decided to bring you to the ball?'

‘Close. He found me on the floor of his bathroom where I'd been attacked and left for dead by his power shower. After I broke up his relationship, he needed a replacement and I was the only person around.'

Brittany started to laugh. ‘You were left for dead by his power shower?'

‘You said you wouldn't ask.'

‘These things only ever happen to you, Lily.'

‘I am aware of that. I am really not good with technology.'

‘Maybe not, but you know how to pick your rebound guy. He is spectacular. And you look stunning.' Brittany's curious gaze slid over her from head to foot. ‘It's a step up from dusty shorts and hiking boots.'

Lily frowned. ‘He isn't my rebound guy.'

‘Why not? He is smoking hot. And there's something about him.' Her friend narrowed her eyes as she scanned Nik's broad shoulders and powerful frame. ‘A suggestion of the uncivilised under the civilised, if you know what I mean.' Brittany put her hand on her arm and her voice was suddenly serious. ‘Be careful.'

‘Why would I need to be careful? I'm never setting foot in his shower again, if that's what you mean.'

‘It isn't what I mean. That man is not tame.'

‘He's surprisingly amusing company.'

‘That makes him even more dangerous. He's a tiger, not a pussycat and he hasn't taken his eyes off you for five seconds. I don't want to see you hurt again.'

‘I have never been in less danger of being hurt. He isn't my type.'

Brittany looked at her. ‘Nik Zervakis is the man equivalent of Blood Type O. He is everyone's type.'

‘Not mine.'

‘He kissed you,' Brittany said dryly, ‘so I'm guessing he might have a different opinion on that.'

‘He kissed me because I didn't know what to say to David. I was in an awkward position and he helped me out. He did that for me.'

‘Lily, a guy like him does things for himself. Don't make a mistake about that. He does what he wants, with whoever he wants to do it, at a time that suits him.'

‘I know. Don't worry about me.' Smiling at Brittany, she moved back to Nik. ‘Looks like the party is breaking up. Thanks for a fun evening. I'll post you the dress back and any time you need your shower cleaned let me know. I owe you.'

He stared down at her for a long moment, ignoring everyone around them. ‘Have dinner with me. I have a reservation at The Athena at nine.'

She'd heard of The Athena. Who hadn't? It was one of the most celebrated restaurants in the whole of Greece. Eating there was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people and a never-in-this-lifetime experience for her.

Those incredible dark eyes held hers and Brittany's voice flitted into her head.

He's a tiger, not a pussycat.

From the way he was looking at her mouth, she wondered if he intended her to be the guest or the meal.

‘That's a joke, right?' She gave a half-smile and looked away briefly, awkward, out of her depth. When she looked back at him she was still the only one smiling.

‘I never joke about food.'

Something curled low in her stomach. ‘Nik...' she spoke softly ‘...this has been amazing. Really out of this world and something to tell my kids one day, but you're a gazillionaire and I'm a—a—'

‘Sexy woman who looks great in that dress.'

There was something about him that made her feel as if she were floating two feet above the ground.

‘I was going to say I'm a dusty archaeologist who can't even figure out how to use your power shower.'

‘I'll teach you. Have dinner with me, Lily.' His soft command made her wonder if anyone had ever said no to him.

Thrown by the look in his eyes and the almost unbearable sexual tension, she was tempted. Then she remembered her rule about never dating anyone who didn't fit her basic criteria. ‘I can't. But I'll never forget this evening. Thank you.' Because she was afraid she'd change her mind, she turned and walked quickly towards the exit.

What a crazy day it had been.

Part of her was longing to look back, to see if he was watching her.

Of course
he wouldn't be watching her. Look at how quickly he'd replaced Christina. Within two minutes of her refusal, Nik Zervakis would be inviting someone else to dinner.

David stood in the doorway, blocking her exit. ‘What are you doing with him?'

‘None of your business.'

His jaw tightened. ‘Did you kiss him to make me jealous or to help you get over me?'

‘I kissed him because he's a hot guy, and I was over you the moment I found out you were married.' Realising it was true, Lily felt a rush of relief but that relief was tempered by the knowledge that her system for evaluating prospective life partners was seriously flawed.

‘I know you love me.'

‘You're wrong. And if you really knew me, you'd know I'm incapable of loving a man who is married to another woman.' Her voice and hands were shaking. ‘You have a wife. A family.'

‘I'll work something out.'

‘Did you really just say that to me?' Lily stared at him, appalled. ‘A family is
not
disposable. You don't come and go as it suits you, nor do you “work something out”. You stick by them through thick and thin.' Disgusted and disillusioned, she tried to step past him but he caught her arm.

‘You don't understand. Things are tough right now.'

‘I don't care.' She dug her fingers into clammy palms. Knowing that her response was deeply personal, she looked away. ‘A real man doesn't walk away when things get tough.'

‘You're forgetting how good it was between us.'

‘And you're forgetting the promises you made.' She dragged her arm out of his grip. ‘Go back to your wife.'

He glanced over her shoulder towards Nik. ‘I never thought you were the sort to be turned on by money, but obviously I was wrong. I hope you know what you're doing because all that man will ever give you is one night. A man like him is only interested in sex.'

‘What did you say?' Lily stared at him and then turned her head to look at Nik. The sick feeling in her stomach eased and her spirits lifted. ‘You're right. Thank you so much.'

‘For making you realise he's wrong for you?'

‘For making me realise he's perfect. Now stop looking down the front of my dress and go home to your wife and kids.' With that, she stalked past him and spotted the reporter who had asked her identity on the way in. ‘Lily,' she said clearly. ‘Lily Rose. That's my name. And yes, Rose is my second name.'

Then she turned and stalked back into the museum, straight up to Nik, who was deep in conversation with two important-looking men in suits.

All talk ceased as Lily walked up to him, her heels making the same rhythmic tapping sound that Christina's had earlier in the evening. She decided heels were her new favourite thing for illustrating mood. ‘What time is that restaurant reservation?'

He didn't miss a beat. ‘Nine o'clock.'

‘Then we should leave, because we don't want to be late.' She stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss firmly on his mouth. ‘And just so that you know, whatever you're planning on doing with the dress, I'm keeping the shoes.'

CHAPTER THREE

T
HE
A
THENA
WAS
situated on the edge of town, on a hill overlooking Souda Bay with the White Mountains dominating the horizon behind them.

Still on a high after her confrontation with David, Lily sailed into the restaurant feeling like royalty. ‘You have no idea how good it felt to tell David to go home to his wife. I felt like punching the air. You see what a few hours in your company has done for me? I'm already transformed. Your icy control and lack of emotional engagement is contagious.'

Nik guided her to his favourite table, tucked away behind a discreet screen of vines. ‘You certainly showed the guy what he was missing.'

Lily frowned. ‘I didn't want to show him what he was missing. I wanted him to learn a lesson and never lie or cheat again. I wanted him to think of his poor wife. Marriage should be for ever. No cheating. Mess around as much as you like before if that's what you want, but once you've made that commitment, that's it. Don't you agree?'

‘Definitely. Which is why I've never made that commitment,' he said dryly. ‘I'm still at the “messing around” stage and I expect to stay firmly trapped in that stage for the rest of my life.'

‘You don't want a family? We're very different. It's brilliant.' She smiled at him and his eyes narrowed.

‘Why is that brilliant?'

‘Because you're completely and utterly wrong for me. We don't want the same things.'

‘I'm relieved to hear it.' He leaned back in his chair. ‘I hardly dare ask what you want.'

She hesitated. ‘Someone like you will think I'm a ridiculous romantic.'

‘Tell me.'

She dragged her gaze from his and looked over the tumbling bougainvillea to the sea beyond.
Was she a ridiculous romantic?

Was she setting herself unachievable goals?

Seduced by the warmth of his gaze and the beauty of the spectacular sunset, she told the truth. ‘I want the whole fairy tale.'

‘Which fairy tale? The one where the stepmother poisons the apple or the one where the prince has to deal with a heroine with narcolepsy?'

She laughed. ‘The happy-ending part. I want to fall in love, settle down and have lots of babies.' Enjoying herself, she looked him in the eye. ‘Am I freaking you out yet?'

‘That depends. Are you expecting to do any of that with me?'

‘No! Of course not.'

‘Then you're not freaking me out.'

‘I start every relationship in the genuine belief it might go somewhere.'

‘I presume you mean somewhere other than bed?'

‘I do. I have never been interested in sex for the sake of sex.'

Nik looked amused. ‘That's the only sort of sex I'm interested in.'

She sat back in her chair and looked at him. ‘I've never had sex with a man I wasn't in love with. I fall in love, then I have sex. I think sex cements my emotional connection to someone.' She sneaked another look at him. ‘You don't have that problem, do you?'

‘I'm not looking for an emotional connection, if that's what you're asking.'

‘I want to be more like you. I decided this morning I'm going to have cold, emotionless rebound sex. I'm switching everything off. It's going to be wham, bam, thank you, man.'

The corners of his mouth flickered. ‘Do you have anyone in mind for this project?'

She sensed this wasn't the moment to confess he was right at the top of her list. ‘I'm going to pick a guy I couldn't possibly fall in love with. Then I'll be safe. It will be like—' she struggled to find the right description ‘—emotional contraception. I'll be taking precautions. Wearing a giant condom over my feelings. Protecting myself. I bet you do that all the time.'

‘If you're asking if I've ever pulled a giant condom over my feelings, the answer is no.'

‘You're laughing at me, but if you'd been hurt as many times as I have you wouldn't be laughing. So if emotions don't play a part in your relationships, what exactly is sex to you?'

‘Recreation.' He took a menu from the waiter and she felt a rush of mortification. As soon as he walked away, she gave a groan.

‘How long had he been standing there?'

‘Long enough to know you're planning on having cold, unemotional rebound sex and that you're thinking of wearing a giant condom over your feelings. I think that was the point he decided it was time to take our order.'

She covered her face with her hands. ‘We need to leave. I'm sure the food here is delicious, but we need to eat somewhere different or I need to take my plate under the table.'

‘You're doing it again. Letting emotions govern your actions.'

‘But he
heard
me. Aren't you embarrassed?'

‘Why would I be embarrassed?'

‘Aren't you worried about what he might think of you?'

‘Why would I care what he thinks? I don't know him. His role is to serve our food and make sure we enjoy ourselves sufficiently to want to come back. His opinion on anything else is irrelevant. Carry on with what you were saying. It was fascinating. Dining with you is like learning about an alien species. You were telling me you're going to pick a guy you can't fall in love with and use him for sex.'

‘And you were telling me sex is recreation—like football?'

‘No, because football is a group activity. I'm possessive, so for me it's strictly one on one.'

Her heart gave a little flip. ‘That sounds like a type of commitment.'

‘I'm one hundred per cent committed for the time a woman is in my bed. She is the sole focus of my attention.'

Her stomach uncurled with a slow, dangerous heat. ‘But that might only be for a night?'

He simply smiled and she leaned back with a shocked laugh.

‘You are so
bad.
And honest. I love that.'

‘As long as you don't love
me
, we don't have a problem.'

‘I could never love you. You are so wrong for me.'

‘I think we should drink to that.' He raised a hand and moments later champagne appeared on the table.

‘I can't believe you live like this. A driver, bottles of champagne—' She lifted the glass, watching the bubbles. ‘Your villa is bigger than quite a few Greek islands and there is only one of you.'

‘I like space and light and property is always a good investment.' He handed the menu back to the waiter. ‘Is there any food you don't eat?'

‘I eat everything.' She paused while he spoke to the waiter in Greek. ‘Are you seriously ordering for me?'

‘The menu is in Greek and you were talking about sex so I was aiming to keep the interaction as brief as possible in order to prevent you from feeling the need to dine under the table.'

‘In that case I'll forgive you.' She waited until the waiter had walked away with their order. ‘So if property is an investment that means you'd
sell
your home?'

‘I have four homes.'

Her jaw dropped. ‘Four? Why does one person need four homes? One for every season or something?'

‘I have offices in New York, San Francisco and London and I don't like staying in hotels.'

‘So you buy a house. That is the rich man's way of solving a problem. Which one do you think of as home?' Seeing the puzzled look on his face, she elaborated. ‘Where do your family live? Do you have family? Are your parents alive?'

‘They are.'

‘Happily married?'

‘Miserably divorced. In my father's case three times so far, but he's always in competition with himself so I'm expecting a fourth as soon as the wedding is out of the way.'

‘And your mother?' She saw a faint shift in his expression.

‘My mother is American. She lives in Boston with her third husband who is a divorce lawyer.'

‘So do you think of yourself as Greek American or American Greek?'

He gave a careless lift of his broad shoulders. ‘Whichever serves my purpose at the time.'

‘Wow. So you have this big, crazy family.' Lily felt a flash of envy. ‘That must be wonderful.'

‘Why?'

‘You don't think it's wonderful? I guess we never appreciate something when we have it.' She said it lightly but felt his dark gaze fix on her across the table.

‘Are you going to cry?'

‘No, of course not.'

‘Good. Because tears are the one form of emotional expression I don't tolerate.'

She stole an olive from the bowl on the table. ‘What if someone is upset?'

‘Then they need to walk away from me until they've sorted themselves out, or be prepared for me to walk away. I never allow myself to be manipulated and ninety-nine per cent of tears are manipulation.'

‘What about the one per cent which are an expression of genuine emotion?'

‘I've never encountered that rare beast, so I'm willing to play the odds.'

‘If that's your experience, you must have met some awful women in your time. I don't believe you'd be that unsympathetic.'

‘Believe it.' He leaned back as the waiter delivered a selection of dishes. ‘These are Cretan specialities. Try them.' He spooned beans in a rich tomato sauce onto her plate and added local goat's cheese.

She nibbled the beans and moaned with pleasure. ‘These are delicious. I still can't believe you ordered for me. Do you want to feed me, too? Because I could lie back and let you drop grapes into my mouth if that would be fun. Or you could cover my naked body with whipped cream. Is that the sort of stuff you do in bed?'

There was a dangerous glitter in his eyes. ‘You don't want to know the sort of “stuff” I do in bed, Lily. You're far too innocent.'

She remembered what Brittany had said about him not being tame. ‘I'm not innocent. I have big eyes and that gives people a false impression of me.'

‘You remind me of a kitten that's been abandoned by the side of the road.'

‘You've got me totally wrong. I'd say I'm more of a panther.' She clawed the air and growled. ‘A little bit predatory. A little bit dangerous.'

He gave her a long steady look and she blushed and lowered her hand.

‘All right, maybe not a
panther
exactly but not a kitten either.' She thought about what lay in her past. ‘I'll have you know I'm pretty tough. Tell me more about your family. So you have a father and a few stepmothers. How about siblings?'

‘I have one half-sister who is two.'

Lily softened. ‘I love that age. They're so busy and into everything. Is she adorable?'

‘I've no idea. I've never met her.'

‘You've—' She stared at him, shocked. ‘You mean it's been a while since you've seen her.'

‘No. I mean I've never seen her.' He lifted his champagne. ‘Her mother extracted all the money she could from my father and then left. She lives in Athens and visits when she wants something.'

‘Oh, my God, that's
terrible.
' Lily's eyes filled. ‘Your poor, poor father.'

He put his glass down slowly. ‘Are you crying for my father?'

‘No.' Her throat was thickened. ‘Maybe. Yes, a little bit.'

‘A man you've never met and know nothing about.'

‘Maybe I'm the one per cent who cares.' She sniffed and he shook his head in exasperation.

‘This is your tough, ruthless streak? How can you be sad for someone you don't know?'

‘Because I sympathise with his situation. He doesn't see his little girl and that must be so hard. Family is the most important thing in the world and it is often the least appreciated thing.'

‘If you let a single tear fall onto your cheek,' he said softly, ‘I'm walking out of here.'

‘I don't believe you. You wouldn't be that heartless. I think it's all a big act you put on to stop women slobbering all over you.'

‘Do you want to test it?' His tone was cool. ‘Because I suggest you wait until the end of the meal. The lamb
kleftiko
is the best anywhere in Greece and they make a house special with honey and pistachio nuts that you wouldn't want to miss.'

‘But if you're the one walking out, then I can stay here and eat your portion.' She helped herself to another spoonful of food from the dish closest to her. ‘I don't know why you're so freaked out by tears. It's not as if I was expecting you to hug me. I've taught myself to self-soothe.'

‘Self-soothe?' Some of the tension left him. ‘You hug yourself?'

‘It's important to be independent.' She'd been self-sufficient from an early age, but the ability to do everything for herself hadn't removed the deep longing to share her life with someone. ‘Why did your dad and his last wife divorce?'

‘Because they married,' he said smoothly, ‘and divorce is an inevitable consequence of marriage.'

She wondered why he had such a grim view of marriage. ‘Not all marriages.'

‘All but those infected with extreme inertia.'

‘So you're saying that even people who stay married would divorce if they could be bothered to make the effort.'

‘I think there are any number of reasons for a couple to stay together, but love isn't one of them. In my father's case, wife number three married him for his money and the novelty wore off.'

‘Does “wife number three” have a name?'

‘Callie.' His hard tone told her everything she needed to know about his relationship with his last stepmother.

‘You don't like her?'

‘Are you enjoying your meal?'

She blinked, thrown by the change of subject. ‘It's delicious, but—'

‘Good. If you're hoping to sample dessert, you need to talk about something other than my family.'

‘You control everything, even the conversation.' She wondered why he didn't want to talk about his family. ‘Is this where you bring all the women you date?'