Page 52 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

‘How’s Niko?’

‘He’s fine.He’s with Maria, she’s agreed to live in until we hire a second nanny, which hopefully won’t betoo long.I’ve lined up interviews at the villa tomorrow.You’re welcome to sit in.’

A knife twisted inside Tara.She felt like pointing out that if she could be Niko’s full-time mother, he wouldn’t need to hire two nannies.But her being Niko’s full-time mother wasn’t an option.

‘Thank you,’ she said.

‘I’ve got something for you, downstairs.’

Tara took the key from the bowl inside the door and followed him into the elevator.It was only then that she realised what a state she was, her image reflected in the steel wall of the elevator.Wearing jeans, flip-flops and a loose shirt, hair pulled up haphazardly.No make-up.

But then the doors opened and she realised they were in the basement garage.He walked over to a small black SUV.Sleek and stylish.Roomy but not intimidatingly large.He zapped it and opened the doors.The interior was as stylish as the exterior, enough controls to launch a space rocket.And it was automatic.She looked at Dion, not comprehending.He handed her the key.‘You’ll need something to get around.My drivers are at your disposal, of course, but I know you value your independence.’

She looked into the back.‘There’s no baby seat.’

‘I’d prefer if you used my drivers if you want to go anywhere with Niko.’

Tara looked at Dion.‘Millions of mothers the world over are successfully driving their children around in cars without incident.’

A muscle twitched in Dion’s jaw.‘I would prefer it for now.At least until you get used to driving in Athens.The traffic can be a bit nuts.’

Something melted inside Tara to think he was genuinelyjust concerned for their safety.She looked at the key in her hand and back to him.‘I don’t know what to say… You really didn’t have to do…any of this.’

* * *

Dion kept waiting for some kind of sense of relief to wash over him.He was literally handing Tara her freedom and independence and yet when he’d shown her the apartment yesterday, it had felt all…wrong.

Far from relief, it was something much more complicated.He pushed the conflicting emotions aside for now and said, ‘Why don’t you take it for a spin now?You can bring me up to the villa and have dinner.There’s something I need to show you.’

Tara looked wary.‘More?’

Dion shook his head and also pushed aside the revelation that any other woman he’d ever been with would be ecstatic to be given gifts.And he knew it wasn’t that Tara wasn’t appreciative, she just wasn’t remotely materialistic.

She couldn’t be less like your mother,pointed out a little voice.It jarred inside Dion.

He refocused.‘Not as in a thing, it’s stuff online.The pictures of us together from the opera event and Paris.And news has broken about Niko.I’ve prepared a statement to go out that will hopefully take fire out of the story.I’d like you to see it before we send it out.’

Tara went pale, her freckles standing out.She could have passed for an art student right now but Dion had never wanted a woman more.

She looked at the car.‘Drive up to the villa now?’

‘Might as well start to get used to it.’

‘I’ve never driven on the other side of the road before.’

‘I’ll guide you.’

But again, in the car, as Dion fought not to get distracted by her pale hands on the wheel and the way her thighs looked under the snug jeans, and as he instructed her where to turn and which side of the road to stay on, he felt that this was all wrong—not Tara driving, but the fact that he was handing her a tool to stay separate from him.From them.

* * *

The following morning, it took Tara a long time to figure out that she was in a new bed.In a new room.In a new apartment.She turned her head.The bed was dented slightly beside her.So she hadn’t dreamt that Dion had been here.He’d insisted on accompanying her back to the apartment in her car, after dinner and after Niko had gone to bed.

He’d leaned against the door with one shoulder and had said, ‘Want me to tuck you in?’

Tara had longed to be able to say,No, thanks,and shut the door that he had put between them in his face, but after spending the evening with him and Niko all of her defences had been toast.She’d grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her saying, ‘Damn you, Dion Dimitriou,’ before kissing him and kicking the door closed at the same time.

But now he was gone and Tara could feel the silence of the apartment settle around her.It was unnerving.After growing up with four siblings, she was used to people being around, barging into rooms.Coming and going.The villa had been busy with staff.