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If he was honest with himself it went back to their time in Santorini—to a time when his guard had been lowered...a time when he’d tasted what might have been if only his life had been different.
‘We will leave now, if you are ready?’
She nodded, briefly looking nervous before smiling. ‘I’m ready.’
* * *
The party had been underway for some time when they arrived, and he felt Serena tense as they entered the large room. The hum of chatter continued, but he was aware of speculative glances being cast their way, and whispers that were far from discreet.
With his arm around her, and his hand resting at her waist, he guided her through the throng of the elite of Athens society. It seemed the fundraiser had pulled people in from far and wide.
‘Nikos!’
He paused at the mention of his name and saw Christos Korosidis, the head of a rival shipping company. In the boardroom they would be enemies, but in the buzz of a party—especially a fundraising event—they would assume the air of friendship.
‘So the rumour is true?’ Christos said, his admiring gaze sweeping over Serena, sending a zip of totally alien jealousy hurtling through Nikos. ‘I would never have thought you were the marrying kind, Nikos.’
He could hear the conjecture in the other man’s voice and knew Serena’s sudden appearance in his life was causing as much controversy as his bid to take over Adonia Cruise Liners. A company Christos also had his sights on.
Nikos wondered if Christos would use the current news of his engagement to slip in under the radar and make another bid. He should have been angry at the idea, but he wasn’t. If the deal failed—it failed.
This was a completely new way for him to look at things. He didn’t care if Christos put a new offer in and won. Right now all that mattered was his child, his heir, and in order to be a part of its life he had to keep Serena at his side. As far as he was concerned his marriage was the most important deal right now. It would legitimise his son and heir. Not that he’d ever hint at that to Christos.
‘Appearances can be deceptive,’ he said with a smile as he took a glass of champagne and handed it to Serena.
She frowned, making it clear she wasn’t drinking alcohol, but took it from him, holding it with elegantly manicured hands. In that second he cursed his stupidity. She might not have chosen to disclose the reason for her return to Christos, but he was an astute man. Her reaction to the champagne hadn’t gone unnoticed.
‘Nikos and I met several months ago in Santorini.’
Serena’s soft voice broke through his turmoil and his body heated as she moved closer against him, her smile distracting Christos instantly.
‘Serena has thankfully just returned to Greece,’ Nikos said, and looked down at her when she glanced up at him. He brushed his lips over her forehead lightly, then turned his attention back to his sparring partner in business, trying to ignore the warmth that flooded through him. ‘And not a moment too soon.’
Beside him he felt Serena stiffen and try to pull away, but he kept her close. Her light floral scent was invading his senses, stirring them evocatively and unbalancing him further. But it was as she remained stiffly at his side that the implications of his words sank in. All he’d meant was that he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her—which in itself had been truthful—but what he’d just said could be taken another way. Or was that his guilty conscience at work...?
‘Nice to have met you.’ Christos bestowed another charming smile on Serena and moved on in his mission to circulate.
Nikos inhaled slowly. He had to regain control of his emotions. He was more distracted than he’d ever been by Serena, and wondered how long he’d be able to keep up the pretence of being a caring fiancé when all he wanted was to claim her as his in every sense.
‘That went well.’
Serena’s feisty remark cut off all thought and he turned his attention back to her, taking the glass of untouched champagne from her and placing it on a nearby table.
‘Was that your way of covering up the truth?’
‘If I wanted to cover up the truth, as you put it, I would adopt a very different tactic—one that would leave nobody in any doubt about the irresistible passion that has brought you back to Greece.’
‘And that would be what?’
‘I’d kiss you deeply and passionately, right here, for all to see.’
His blood heated as she glared up at him, her lips parted, almost daring him to carry out his threat. It was all he could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her—deeply and passionately.
