AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The nod and kiss on her forehead the answer as she had spoken so softly
“What happened to your mother?”
The long sigh had made her look up seeing the pain in his eyes.
“Sorry…I didn’t mean to upset you…it doesn’t matter” her eyes full of apology. Giving her a kiss he had looked ahead his mind full of the woman they were talking about.
“My mother was an amazing woman Grace. She was a journalist…covered most of the big stories”
His eyes full of pride “She was fearless, didn’t matter who it was, she went after the truth like a bloodhound. She didn’t care if she was dealing with beggars on the street or kings of foreign countries, to her all that mattered was the truth”
Smiling, Grace had enjoyed hearing the love in his voice hearing as he had paused, his tone becoming sombre, sadder.
“When I was 23 she was coming back from the middle-east and her plane crashed”
Groaning softy, Grace had turned “I’m so sorry Alexos…that must have been awful”
Dropping another kiss onto her head he had nodded softly.
“It was…but it destroyed my father…he was never the same. My parents used to live on the island, it was their main base. After she died he has never set foot on it again, it was almost as if he gave up the will to live” a weary sigh leaving him.
“I guess that the men in our family only fall in love once” a strange smile lighting his handsome face as he had turned her over and kissed her, the fires once more lighting between the two.
As he had again snuck out of her room, Grace had blown him a kiss, her whole face lighting up with radiant happiness, Alexos holding his breath at the need to return to her arms that had filled him. Curling up, pulling the pillow which still retained the scent of him to her, her mind played over his words ‘the men in our family only fall in love once’ wondering if he had meant anything by the comment, daring to hope that he had meant her.
With a small frown it had hit her that at no point even when they had been talking about marriage had he ever proclaimed any real affection for her, especially love, Grace frowning softly. She had been expected to be his wife, mother of his children and convenient companion at formal occasions, at no time had he ever proclaimed love. Gasping, her eyes had flown open with shock. If it wasn’t her he had been in love with then who was it, jealousy ripping through her, the memory of Angelica Fleur and her coincidental appearance suddenly seeming not so coincidental.
Six years ago he had wanted a wife, was that because the woman he loved was already married and it was easier to carry on a clandestine affair if he too was married? Now he had made it clear that he was only looking for someone to play his fiancée, was that because the woman he wanted to really marry was still not free, going through what he had called a ‘nasty divorce’? Groaning, this had caused her pain deep within, the thought tearing her apart.
The following morning she had discovered that Alexos had been called to an important meeting leaving Grace to spend the day with Nikoli, the two getting on so well as he had opened up to her, talking about the old days, Grace listening silently as he had talked. As they had sat together over lunch she had flicked a wary look at him.
“I appreciate that you have never said anything about what happened six years ago”, seeing the way the older man’s mouth had quirked, his look becoming a little harder
“I will admit Grace that when Alexos informed me that the two of you were once more together…I was surprised…especially with how hard he took the breakup in the first place”
Fidgeting slightly she had looked back in surprise
“I…I never meant to hurt him”
Nikoli Manetas silently watched her for a second before he had given a smile “Well, do not do it again Miss Leotta” an understanding falling between the two.
Alexos had arrived back at the estate late, everybody else having gone to bed several hours previously. Grace had heard his car park and had waited patiently for him to knock at her door. However, as the minutes had slipped past she had savaged her lips before slipping out of the room and knocking on his.
As the door had opened he had looked tired, a smile lighting his sensual lips.
“Mmmmmmm….you are a definite sight for sore eyes, pulling her into his arms for a kiss”
Grinning she had looked up at him with eyes full of fire
“Well it seemed wrong you getting all the sneaking around fun” his laugh rumbling against her mouth. Peeling her gently from him he had given a sorrowful look down at her
“I’m sorry Grace…I am washed out. Is it OK if we just sleep tonight?” Grace stepping back giving an awkward half-smile as she had felt so foolish, nervously touching her hair.
“S…sure…not a problem.I’m sleepy anyway” Alexos giving her a smile. As she had made to turn she had caught a whiff of perfume, and leaning in she had given him a small kiss on the cheek, her nose catching the unmistakable aroma of another woman’s fragrance, the pain of what it meant hitting her harder than she would have ever thought possible. She recognised the scent, the image of Angelica Fleur filling her mind as she had stiffly left the room, once more returning to her own.
She had not slept that night, staring unseeingly into the darkness. What a fool she had been. So he was still seeing her, the woman he loved, bitterness twisting her insides into a tight knot. Well she knew now and in another week she would be out of his life. The guilt she had felt for the past six years left her with the realisation that she had been right, right to leave him. He truly was like her father, a womaniser and deceiver.
As the hazy half-light of dawn had broken the darkness she had finally given up on sleep, showering and dressing before sneaking out of the villa. Walking to one area she had been shown the previous day, she had sat on the cool grass. The hillside had opened up to reveal the beauty of the land below, as Grace allowed the serenity of the scenery to wash over her in wave upon wave of soothing calm. She had not known how long she sat there, her mind blank as she had watched the way the sun had brought the colour back to the land.
The ringing of her mobile phone had broken the reverie as she had pulled the device from her pocket
“Where the hell are you?” the voice of Alexos had sounded concerned, Grace fighting the desire to scream at him that she knew where he had been, as her fingers had clutched the device tightly, keeping her voice calm.
“I woke early…thought I would just go for a walk”. On the other end of the line he had sighed softly, his still sleepy voice becoming more sensual.
“Why didn’t you walk by here, wake me up gently” Grace gritting her teeth.
“You were tired…I thought you needed the lie in” Alexos chuckling “Mmmm that is not what I needed, and I’m guessing it is too late now”
As she had signed off agreeing to return to the house her mouth had been clenched tightly. The man was unbelievable. He had spent yesterday in the arms of his mistress and still expected her the next day to perform the same duties. Grace felt dirty, used, as she had slowly made her way back.
By now the house was bustling with morning activity, as the staff had moved around cleaning and preparing breakfast for the family, Grace met at the door by Alexos. Looking more rested, he had pulled her into his arms dropping a kiss on her soft lips.
“Good morning Cara” his soft murmur against her mouth as she had held herself stiffly trying so unsuccessfully to relax and not show her hurt.
“What is wrong?” his eyes had delved deeply into hers, taking in her pallor, the strained expression on her face, his frowning with concern.
“Are you OK?” Grace giving a half-smile as she had ran her hand along her forehead “Just a headache. I thought that a walk would clear it … but …”
Moving his arms around her shoulder he had kissed her head softly. “Well…I have organised for the helicopter to pick us up after breakfast…so when we get home you can go straight back to bed”
With a wavering smile she had nodded against him “Yes…I think that would be for the best”
Through breakfast that morning she had been quieter, Nikoli looked at her with surprise smiling as she had informed him that she had enjoyed staying at his home, the older man patting her hand affectionately.
“You will always be welcome here Grace, always”
After their meal the helicopter had arrived as planned, and with hugs all round the two had once more found themselves speeding their way back to the island, Grace able to escape from him for the rest of the day as she had fled to their bedroom. To her surprise she had fallen into a deep sleep almost immediately, not moving again for nearly five hours. It was the soft movement beside her that had woken her, eyes blinking open as her befuddled mind had tried to figure out where it had come from, just as a hand had moved around her
“Feeling better?” Alexos’ soft voice had made Grace jump, rolling onto her back to find him looking down at her, a soft smile on his mouth.
