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have done.’
‘You can be such a caveman.’ In a twisty way that appealed to the dark side of her temperament, she was painfully amused that despite his own extra-marital interests he could still be so possessive of her. The logic of his attitude escaped her. But, of course, he wanted to keep her as a wife: he needed her for the children. They loved her and she loved them. Now there had to be a compromise found that she and Sergios could both live with. Some magical solution that would provide a path through the messy swell of emotion currently blurring her view of the world.
‘Look at me…’ Sergios urged.
‘I don’t want to,’ Bee said truthfully, but she turned round all the same.
She wondered why it was that she could now see that Jon sulked and pouted like a spoilt little boy when he didn’t get his own way, but that in spite of what she had learned about Sergios she still could not see a visible flaw in him. He remained defiantly gorgeous from his stunning dark golden eyes to his slightly stubbled and shadowed chin.
‘That’s better,’ he murmured, scrutinising her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.
‘Why did you bring me here?’
‘If we’re going to argue, if there’s going to be dissension between us, I didn’t want the children as an audience,’ Sergios admitted flatly, features grave.
‘My word, you think of everything!’ Bee was all too wretchedly aware that she would not have considered that danger until it was too late.
‘They deserve better from us—’
‘Is that you reminding me of my duty?’ Bee prompted tightly, her throat suddenly thickening with tears.
‘Whatever it takes I want to hold onto you.’
‘You already said that.’
‘It’s more than I’ve ever said to a woman,’ Sergios breathed roughly, challenge in the stance of his big powerful body. He stood tall with broad shoulders thrown back and strong legs braced as though he were expecting a blow.
He wanted everything, he wanted too much, she reflected unhappily. He wanted his mistress and he wanted his wife, a combination he evidently believed necessary to his comfort and happiness. Emotion didn’t come into it for him. If only it didn’t come into it for her either! Her eyes prickled hotly and she kept them very wide, terrified that the tears threatening her would spill over in front of him.
‘If we’re staying here I could do with lying down for a while,’ she said abruptly, desperate for some privacy.
‘Of course.’ He crossed the room and pressed open a door that led into a corridor. He showed her into the bedroom and startled her by yanking the bedspread off the bed and pulling back the duvet for her. He looked across at her, a dark uncertainty in his eyes that she had never seen before, and for the first time it occurred to her that he was upset as well.
‘Thanks,’ she said dully, taking off her jacket and kicking off her shoes.
‘Would you like a drink?’ he enquired without warning.
‘A brandy,’ she responded, dimly recalling that being recommended for shock in a book she had read. Probably not at all the right remedy for shock in today’s world, she thought ruefully. In fact, couldn’t alcohol act as a depressant? In the mood she was in, she didn’t need that, did she?
Seemingly glad, however, of something to do, Sergios strode out of the room and she sat down on the bed. Time seemed to move on without her noticing, for he reappeared very quickly and handed her a tumbler half full of brandy. ‘Are you trying to get me drunk?’ she asked in disbelief.
‘You look like a ghost, all white and drawn. Drink up,’ Sergios urged.
‘I can’t live like this with you…’ she framed, the admission leaping off her tongue before she could stop it.
Sergios came down on his knees at her feet and pushed the tumbler towards her mouth. ‘Drink,’ he urged again.
‘It might make me sick.’
‘I don’t think so.’
All of a sudden she noticed that the hand he had on the glass was trembling almost infinitesimally. He was behaving as though the drink might be a lifesaver, rather than a pick-me-up. She sipped, shuddering as the alcohol ran like a flame down her throat, making her cough and splutter. She collided with strained dark eyes.
‘What the heck is the matter with you?’ Bee demanded in sudden frustration. ‘You’re behaving very oddly.’
Sergios vaulted upright. ‘What do you expect? You go and see my former mistress—then you run straight off to stage a private meeting with your ex, who’s clearly desperate to get you back!’ he exclaimed wrathfully. ‘I mean, it’s not exactly been my dream day and I still don’t know what the hell is going on!’
Former mistress? Her ears were practically out on stalks. Was he planning to try and lie his way out of the tight corner he was in? Pretend that his relationship with Melita was over? While pondering that salient point, Bee drank deep of the brandy, grateful for the heat spreading and somehow soothing her cold, empty tummy.
