Page 4 of Her Forbidden Bargain

“Why me?”

“The bride, Ava Monroe, is American.”

“You know other Americans,” she said, thinking of the actress.

“It’s short notice and I want to bring someone I am comfortable with. Someone who won’t be nosing around in Christos’s business.”

This wasn’t the most flattering invitation she’d ever had. It reinforced something she knew but hated to face. That she wasn’t a forever kind of girl. That men moved on, always leaving her behind. Starting with her father, the pattern had repeated again and again over the course of her life. She tried not to dwell on it or mope around, but sometimes she forgot and hoped…hoped that those little-girl dreams of a white knight would become reality.

She still wanted to say yes.

“Christos Theakis?”

“Yes. Do you know him?”

“Only what I’ve read about Christos and the Theakis heir in the papers.” The Greek shipping tycoon had recently come to America and been photographed with a lovely woman and a young boy. The tabloids had speculated that the child was his secret son.

“What did the scandal rags say?”

“Not too much,” she said, taken aback by the vehemence in his tone. She should change the subject. “What exactly does this proposition entail?”

He pushed to his feet and walked around his desk. He leaned back against the polished walnut surface, crossing his legs at the ankle.

“I want you to be my date for the week during the wedding activities. They need a few women to round out the bridal party. The bride has one close friend she has asked, and she and Christos would like the groomsmen to invite the other attendants.”

She stared at him for a minute, unsure she’d heard him right. She shook her head and opened her mouth, but no words came out. Then she closed her eyes. “Okay, did you say date?”

“That is correct.”

Her eyes popped open. “Are you crazy?”

“Maybe. But I am serious about this.”

“Serious about taking me to Greece for a week.” She crossed her arms over her chest and settled back into the chair.

“Actually, ten days. And I already told Christos that you will be there.”

“Shouldn’t you have asked me before you started announcing that?” she asked, not even trying to keep the surprise from her voice.

He lifted one eyebrow at her. “I apologize. There wasn’t time to discuss it with you. Christos just called to ask me and wanted a name to include in the wedding program. As my assistant, you were the first suitable woman to come to mind.”

“Mr. Sabina⁠—”

“Call me Tristan.”

She stared at him. “Are you asking me because one of your lovers might get to thinking that marriage to you might be in the cards?”

He shrugged.

“Don’t you care for any of them?”

“I care for all of them, but that isn’t the point. I’ve had my once-in-a-lifetime love. Marriage is something I won’t share with anyone else.”

She’d heard through Lucille that he’d deeply loved his first wife, and that she’d died, but knew few other details. “Why not?”

“That’s irrelevant. The only fact that concerns you is that I’d like you to accompany me to Greece for this wedding. It is a proposition, Sheri,” he said in that low-toned voice of his. It was the first time he’d said her first name. He always addressed her as Ms. Donnelly.

“Like a business deal?” she asked.