Page 230 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

There were sounds of a scuffle and more shouts, then Panos turned. ‘Come. The car’s just here.’

Sure enough, their vehicle had purred up beside them. But as Panos opened the door to usher her in, Dido heard her name called by a familiar voice.

The skin at her nape tightened and she froze. ‘But that’s…’ She peeked past him and saw her half-brother Charlie struggling to get past a pair of men in dark suits.

She rarely noticed Panos’ bodyguards. They were experts at blending into their surroundings, but moved fast when needed. The sight of them forcibly holding Charlie back made her eyes goggle.

‘You don’t want to talk to him, do you?’

Panos’ question cut through her astonishment. She shook her head, revulsion vying with shock. Charlie had done his best to ruin her life. She wanted nothing to do with him.

Panos nodded and gestured for her to get in. ‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you.’

Once she was inside he shut the door and strode the few metres down the pavement to where Charlie now stepped back from the bodyguards, adjusting his collar and straightening.

She saw the beginnings of her half-brother’s smile and felt bile rise. What was he doing here? But there was only one answer. He saw a chance to get something for himself from her relationship with Panos. What lies would he tell?

He didn’t have time to say much. Panos leaned towards him, speaking. Even from this distance she saw Charlie pale, before he began to talk. But Panos was already moving away. Minutes later he was beside her on the back seat as the car smoothly accelerated away.

Panos turned to her, his features sharply honed. His gaze gave nothing away.

Did he know she hadn’t invited Charlie to Athens? They’d been seen out enough for the world to know they were together. It wasn’t a secret. Not like last time when Panos had blamed her for Charlie’s approach.

Yet her stomach was full of swooping butterflies and her body hunched protectively. Seeing Charlie made her feel sick. But far worse was the possibility everything she’d been building with Panos might shatter again.

She read the tension around his mouth and locked jaw, the tic of his pulse testament that he fought to stay calm. Her heart plummeted.

Then he reached out one hand, palm up on the leather seat. ‘Dido.’

When he said her name like that, in the rich, roughened voice she usually heard when they made love, something unspooled inside her. She let out a breath she hadn’t realised she held. Slowly she unwrapped one of the arms wound around her middle and put her palm in his.

Long fingers curled around hers, squeezing gently.

‘He won’t bother you now.’ Dido breathed deep at Panos’ reassurance, catching his skin’s faint bergamot and spice scent. ‘Now, let’s talk houses. Would you like to look at more options?’

Dido blinked. Surely she should say something about her half-brother. But Panos was right. She wanted nothing to do with Charlie. He was poison. Why waste time on him? Especially as Panos seemed to have discounted the possibility she’d invited him to Athens. Relief buoyed her.

She wrapped both her hands around her husband’s.

Her husband’s.

He was the man she wanted to spend her life with. A man who wasn’t perfect but was trying hard. Perhaps she’d never hear the word love from his lips. Perhaps his past made that impossible. But she’d take what he could give. He made her happier than any other man could and he was all she wanted.

‘The house is gorgeous. I’d love to live there with you and raise our family.’ She held his gaze, feeling that buzz of connection. ‘I can imagine Athena playing hide-and-seek there.’

He nodded. ‘She’d love the pool too.’

Instantly Dido could see the pair of them, father and daughter, laughing together in the water. ‘And the library, I’d like to fill it with books. And that huge, trellised patio will be perfect for entertaining.’

His expression stilled.

‘You don’t like hosting parties?’

His shoulders lifted. ‘I don’t know. I’ve never done it. I don’t count charity galas where I’m wheeled in to give a speech and persuade people to donate money.’

Dido’s heart missed a beat. He said it so prosaically, as if it were normal, never having friends visit.

How she wished a younger Panos had been allowed to discover the joys of true friendship. But there was no point dwelling on the past. They’d concentrate on the future.