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“Alexos, darling” the still stunning figure of the woman had draped herself over him, kissing him softly on the lips before pulling back and turning to her, the smile on her mouth not reaching her cold eyes.
“Imagine meeting you here. It’s Grace isn’t it?…we met before…before you” her look one of discomfort as she had looked at Alexos once more, her teeth biting her lip as though she had said too much, Grace feeling her hackles rise.
“Angelica isn’t it?” she had returned, fixing a small smile of her own her eyes scanning the immediate area “Is your husband not with you?”
She had felt Alexos once more grow rigid beside her as he had interrupted.
“Yes Angelica…what a surprise. Lovely to see you again” his eyes falling to his watch as he had looked at Grace “We really should be going Cara” his look moving to the other woman “It was lovely to see you again”
She had smiled so sensually at him as he had nodded back, Grace aware of the tension between the two, frowning as she had looked down trying not to think about its meaning. As they had moved away, she had regarded him questioningly
“I am sorry…did I say something wrong?” Alexos looked back at her with a small grimace.
“Nothing you were to know about. However, she and her husband split up last week, and they are going through a pretty nasty divorce”
Grace had looked back at the receding woman a gentler look in her eyes “No…I didn’t know…I am sorry to hear that”
Alexos had given her a warm return smile as the two had moved back to the car. He had taken her to see the small temple, gaining pleasure in acting as guide. However, both had been aware as she had become more and more uptight as the hour of the party had approached. Returning to the villa that night she had showered and pulled on the wonderful full length cocktail dress they had bought only days earlier.
The aqua silver off-the-shoulder designer dress had shown her lovely curves, the shade complementing her own natural colouring making even Grace gasp at how good she looked. Pulling her hair into a soft knot secured by an ornate comb she had taken more care than usual with her makeup, Grace not fully aware as to just how stunning she looked.
Walking into her room Alexos had stopped in his tracks. She had always been beautiful to him, but he had had to swallow the large lump in his throat seeing her stood ready to go.
“Oh my God Grace……you look….wow”
A small blush had risen to her cheeks as she in turn had admired him. Wearing a tuxedo, the suit fitting his figure so well, she had felt the all too familiar flash of desire fill her. Moving forward he had dropped his head slightly to the side, a small contemplative look on his face as she had looked back before examining the front of her dress, looking to see what was wrong a concerned frown on her lovely features.
“What…what is it?” she had questioned as he had pulled something from the inside of his jacket. Grace had watched as he had opened the large flat square box, her eyes opening wider seeing the jewellery that lay within the velvet interior
“Alexos!!”
Her eyes flying to his seeing the necklace and matching tennis bracelet “This…this is too much”
A smile turning the corners of his mouth “A perfect match for the ring Cara”
Lifting the bracelet he had secured it on her small wrist, raising it and turning her arm to lay a small kiss on the throbbing vein of her wrist, another flash flying through Grace. Taking the necklace he had moved around her, his fingers brushed gently against her neck, Grace shuddered softly at the feel of him. As he had secured it his lips had dropped to rest on the small of her back, this time Grace unable to hold back the small gasp, her body shivering as he had chuckled against her.
Turning her around to him he had looked down into her wonderful face, the green of her eyes so bright.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known” something wonderful in his tone as she had only been able to stare back at him, her eyes so bright with the passion for this man.
The small knock on the door had broken the moment as he had called back in Greek, the response seeing him turn to her, a small smile on his face.
“Show time Cara” concern once more etched on her features. Taking her hand in his he had whispered softly “I will not leave your side Grace…you have my word” she smiling warmly back, the thought of that somehow making what was to come seem almost bearable.
The party had only just began as together they had descended the stairs. Nikoli had greeted them both, his eyes growing softer as he had looked at Grace “You look wonderful” his comment as he had looked at Alexos.
“You look after this girl, or you will have me to deal with” Grace smiling warmly back, an uneasy prickle of guilt filling her. As she had moved away she had looked at the man at her side, her face full of concern.
“Alexos…how is your father going to take it when he finds out that our engagement is not real?”
With a small smile he had brushed the comment away “Who says he has to know? We can talk about that later”
About to argue, her eyes had fallen on the two people who had just entered the large ballroom, a small noise of pain leaving her as her hand had started to shake tightening in his. Alexos had instinctively known what the problem was, his eyes moving to where she looked, seeing her parents being welcomed by his father.
“Let’s get this over with shall we?” his soft voice in her ear as she had taken a deep breath moving beside him.
It was her mother who had spotted her first, her eyes filling with happy tears as she had seen her daughter for the first time in nearly six years. Opening her arms she had pulled her in for a tight embrace, Grace feeling as her own eyes had misted over.
“Grace….oh my beautiful Grace” her mother had sobbed, real love in her eyes, Alexos feeling the warmth of their reunion. As the two women had broken apart the stern voice of the man beside her mother had sent an icy sensation down his spine, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“That is enough Ellana…do not make a spectacle of yourself” the woman shrinking back, as had Grace, her body moving in tighter to him.
“Well Grace. I see you did finally come around to your senses” his voice low with a sneer to it, before becoming warmer as he had turned to Alexos.
“You are a most generous man Mr Manetas. After what happened all those years ago I appreciate that you were able to see past her….indiscretion”
He had felt the rush of anger towards her father, instantly sensing the fear the two women had for him. His Grace, a woman so fearless, his Grace who swam towards sharks was afraid of this small man before him. For the first time he had realised what kind of a childhood she must have had to endure, his respect for her growing even more that she had accomplished so much with her life knowing that it had been in spite of this man, certainly not because of him.
Turning to her mother he had lifted her hand bestowing a gentle kiss on it, his eyes warm.
“It is a great pleasure to see you again Mrs Leotta” her mother’s face breaking out into a large smile. Turning slightly his voice had been less warm as he had faced her father.
“You are mistaken Mr Leotta. It is I who is indebted to Grace for giving me a second chance”
Watching the two her father had sneered softly, though his voice was more respectful as he had ignored Grace “Indeed. You will always be welcome in our home” his look shifting to Grace “As will you” before taking his wife’s arm with the intention of mingling.
As they had moved away Grace had released a deep breath. She had not even been aware that she had held her breath during the exchange. Looking up into Alexos’ eyes she had smiled.
“Thank you” her voice full of sincerity as he had winked back down at her.
She had found herself enjoying the night, especially when her mother had managed to sidle away from her father, the two women slipping into a small corner so happy to finally see each other. While they had kept in contact mainly through email she had missed her mother and she was so happy at now being able to hug her and see for herself that she was well, though she felt, not happy.
“I am so sorry for upsetting you” she had whispered, her voice full of pain “I should not have done what I did, it was never my intention to hurt you”
To her surprise the other woman had shaken her head stopping her apologies
“No Grace…it is I who should be sorry. I should never have allowed him to try to push you into something you were not ready for. I am so proud of what you have achieved…so very, very proud” tears of pride in her eyes “can you ever forgive me?”
With a small whimper she had pulled her mother in for another hug, the love between them so strong. As they had broken apart, her mother had looked at her with a strange expression on her features.
“Seeing you like this Grace…I wish that I had been as strong and brave as you…but I wasn’t” her eyes hardening as she had looked over at her husband. “But I am going to be…I deserve to be happy”
