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She was reclining on a lounger beneath the shade of the vine arbour, a pristine folder held loosely in her hands, her eyes closed.
For a moment he allowed himself the sheer luxury of feasting his eyes on her. She wore a filmy sundress in a cool cream colour that drew attention to the honey-gold tan she had acquired on the island, the tiny shoestring straps revealing the smooth perfection of her arms and shoulders, the soft fabric of the dress moulding those beautifully formed breasts, skimming her waist and flowing around her lovely legs.
You had to look very hard to detect the swelling of her tummy—something he allowed himself to do at leisure each time he stripped her willing body.
Abruptly he pulled himself together, his long mouth twisting wryly. He only had to see her to want her, and now was not the time!
He moved towards her. She felt his presence, turned her head and smiled radiantly for him. ‘You’re back. Good! Come and see what we’ve got!’
Shifting into a sitting position, she moved her legs to one side, making room for him to perch on the end of the soft lounger.
Her eyes gleaming with pleasure, Maddie opened the classily presented folder. ‘Look. It was delivered by hand this morning.’ Spreading the enclosed papers around them, she revealed detailed sketches of the nursery Dimitri had commissioned from the team of top-flight designers he’d chosen with such care. ‘It looks perfect. I love the colour scheme—pale lemon-yellow, off-white, and touches of that misty green—perfect for a baby boy or gir
l. And will you just look at that rocking horse? Should we give them the go-ahead to start work?’
‘Of course.’ Her delight was infectious. So easy to let himself get caught up in it, in the more than welcome return of the sunny smiles and easy chatter that had been markedly absent for the last few days.
But.
He collected the sketches and replaced them in the folder, then took her hands in his, his eyes serious, holding hers. ‘Maddie, we’ll look at them together later. Right now, I want you to tell me the truth. Has Aunt Alexandra said or done anything to upset you? Something’s taken the spring out of your step since she returned. I know from experience that she has a vicious tongue when she feels like using it. And I promise you, if she has upset you and continues to do so, she will be asked to live elsewhere.’
Maddie’s body clenched to stillness and her eyes smartly evaded his.
The truth? How could she?
Her joy in the morning fled. Gone was the snatched tranquillity out here, away from his aunt and the hurtful remarks the old lady had made on finding her breakfasting alone. The relaxation of the soft lounger in the welcome shade, the excitement over the plans for the nursery that had helped push the latest insult to the back of her mind faded.
‘So you’ve got yourself pregnant? No doubt you’re pleased with yourself for cementing your position as the wife of one of the wealthiest men in Greece! Well, don’t make too many plans for a long-term future—I know my nephew better than you do. It won’t last. He’ll see through you and you’ll be history!’
How could she tell him that his aunt hated her and lost no opportunity of letting her know it? The old lady had brought him up—probably done the best her intrinsically cold nature had let her, and looked on him as if he were her own son.
She couldn’t in all conscience cause a family rift. And how would the old lady feel about being thrown out of the home that had been hers for so many years?
Much as she would prefer Aunt Alexandra’s absence to her presence, she couldn’t do it!
Conscious of his watchful silence, the increased pressure of his hands, she lifted her eyes to his and told him, trying to smile, ‘There’s no question of your aunt losing her home here with you. She’d be dreadfully hurt, so you mustn’t even think of it! I’m a bit of a disappointment to her, that’s all.’ She shrugged, aiming to portray the subject’s lack of importance. ‘And it’s understandable if you think about it, because, reading between the lines, I guess she secretly had her heart set on you marrying Irini. She’s bound to be miffed because that didn’t happen. Give her time and she’ll get over it.’
That was as far as she could go. And if it caused him pain with the reminder that he had loved Irini for years but felt unable to marry her because of her infertility, she regretted it.
That rang true, Dimitri conceded heavily. Alexandra had doted on Irini since the day she was born, and had wanted to see her in Maddie’s place. She probably did look on his poor darling as a usurper. But, ‘There’s more? Has she actually come out and said she finds you unwelcome?’
‘No.’
It was horrible to lie to him. But the truth would hurt both him and his aunt. And for what? The relief of ridding herself of the old lady’s insults and snide remarks? Seeing her banished would hang heavily on her conscience. Too great a cost.
It was time, more than time, that she stood her ground and refused to let Alexandra Kouvaris make her feel worse than worthless.
She found a reassuring tone. ‘I guess your aunt doesn’t make friends easily, but she’ll come round after our baby’s born—you’ll see!’ And if she didn’t she would learn to live with it, ignore it.
‘You’re sure?’
Her eyes slid from his again, he noted. Her affirmative nod was ready. Too ready?
Releasing her hands, Dimitri stood. His shoulders tensed beneath the fine fabric of his smoothly tailored business suit. One of the first things that had drawn him to Maddie was her transparency. Hiding her emotions didn’t come easily to her.
She was hiding something now. Something wild horses wouldn’t drag from her.
But loving patience might?
