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‘I’m OK,’ she said, scanning the bustle of activity, rather than turning to look up at him. ‘Maybe a little tired.’
‘You can rest when we reach the house.’ He dropped his hand and Sophie felt as if a constricting weight lifted off her chest, allowing her to breathe freely again.
‘We’ll soon be on our way. And it’s not too far along the coast to my home.’ He gestured to a limousine parked straight ahead. It was long, dark and gleaming.
She should have expected no less. Obviously she’d stepped into another world: one of wealth and privilege. There had been the assiduously helpful airline staff, the VIP treatment through Customs and the discovery that, far from spending the long flight to Athens with hundreds of other economy travellers, Costas had obtained the whole first-class cabin for them alone.
That had astounded her. But anything was possible to the man who owned the airline, she’d discovered.
Had this been the world her mother had given up for love? No wonder Petros Liakos had been shocked at her choice of a penniless Australian for her husband.
Sophie walked slowly towards the limousine, suddenly dreading the idea of what awaited her at the end of this journey. How would she ever live up to Costas Palamidis’ expectations? What if she couldn’t help?
But she hadn’t been able to refuse him.
She’d almost been convinced that if she didn’t leave Sydney willingly, he’d scoop her up into his arms and bring her here by force. The grim, absolute determination in his face, in his battle-ready stance, in his piercing dark eyes, had spoken of a man who stood outside the civilised conventions of polite request and negotiation. He’d looked as if he welcomed any excuse for action. As if he was prepared to bundle her over his shoulder and smuggle her away to his private lair in Greece.
The fantastical notion still sent a shiver of appalled excitement through her.
But what had decided her to come was the vulnerability she could only guess at, hidden behind his obstinate determination and aura of aggressive, macho power. She’d caught a glimpse of it in his eyes when he’d spoken of Eleni. She knew it was there, deep inside him. The love for his daughter, the fear for her. Sophie could relate to it far too well.
‘Here we are.’ Costas gestured her towards the rear door of the vehicle. A young man in uniform stood smiling, holding it open for her.
The discreet buzz of a phone sounded and Costas stopped, frowning at the number displayed. ‘Excuse me a moment,’ he said. ‘It’s a call from the house. I’d better take it.’
Sophie sensed the immediate tension in him as he stepped aside, saw the grimness around his mouth as he lifted the phone to his ear. He was expecting bad news.
Sophie paused, couldn’t help but watch. Just how bad could the news be?
Then she saw his lips curve up in a smile. His tender expression stole her breath away. ‘Eleni,’ he said. And what she heard in his voice made her turn back to the car and the waiting driver, feeling like a voyeur. It didn’t matter that the conversation was in rapid Greek, too quick for her to follow. It was far too personal for her to intrude.
Costas stared up at the vivid blue bowl of the open sky, heard his little girl’s chatter in his ear and thanked the lord he was home again at last.
And with such excellent news! The hope he’d been searching for so frantically.
He listened to Eleni’s story of the kittens she’d seen just yesterday, and of how useful a cat would be, to keep the nonexistent mice at bay. He almost laughed aloud at her transparent tactics.
There was a grin on his face as he promised once more that he’d be home soon and said goodbye. He swung around towards the car, eager to be on his way.
There was Sophie, the embodiment of their last hope. He quickened his step. She wasn’t in the car, but stood, talking to Yiorgos. The driver had lost some of his professional aloofness and was standing close, gesticulating as he spoke. As Costas watched, Sophie smiled, then started to laugh, a light sound that teased at his senses.
He paused, watching the play of expression across her face. The shadows of grief lifted from her face and he saw her as she must have been before her mother’s illness. Carefree, happy. stunningly beautiful. Her vibrant loveliness tugged at him, stirred deep-buried feelings into life.
Yiorgos said something and Sophie laughed again, her eyes smiling appreciatively at her companion. Costas’ breath hissed between his teeth as a stab of sensation speared into his chest.
Discomfort. Annoyance.
Jealousy?
No. That wasn’t possible. He barely knew the woman. Had no claim over her. No interest in a personal relationship. The idea was ludicrous.
He shoved the cellphone into his pocket and strode over to the car. ‘Ready?’ His voice was brusque.
Yiorgos immediately snapped to attention and into position beside the door. Sophie’s smile faded and she looked away.
Costas felt disappointment percolate through his elation at being home.
What more did he want? He had what he’d sought: the chance to save Eleni. That was all that mattered. There was nothing else he needed. Not this woman’s smiles nor her company.
