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Mary nodded.
‘We spoke. At first I spoke about the jewels and the watch her brother had found. She was nervous, I could see, so I changed the subject to work...’
‘And drank a little ouzo...?’ she said.
‘Of course,’ he agreed. ‘Unlike you, some people need to be a little loose to speak their mind. Roula wants to leave the island. But her family are upset at the thought, and Nemo especially does not want her to leave. He thinks that old promises should be kept. In fact, every day that he works for me he feels is an insult.’
Mary met his eyes urgently and opened her mouth to speak, but he overrode her.
‘Listen!’ he warned with a pointing of his finger. ‘Roula is more than troubled. She found something in her brother’s garage and is scared that her husband’s death might not have been an accident. I told you aboutphilotimo...honour... Well, his is misguided, I believe. He wants the way paved for his sister to marry me and will use any means necessary. He is bitter and twisted and black with silent rage...’
‘Oh, God!’ It was far worse than she had even considered. She thought of Nemo’s cold brown eyes and felt fingers of fear grip her heart. ‘Has he been arrested?’
‘Not yet.’ Costa shook his head. ‘I gave him a promotion for catching a thief, but first he’s taken a few weeks’ bonus vacation...’
‘Thanks.’
‘No...’ He smiled. ‘Thankyou! Look, I can’t have him near any guests. He’s being investigated, and I believe he’ll be arrested any day now, but it was five years ago that Roula’s husband died, so they have to be sure before they make a move. Nemo is in a good mood right now, telling everyone that Roula and I are together. Mary, I had to put that in place before I came here. I want you to—’ His voice cracked then, only she knew this was not fear. This was bigger.
‘Not here,’ he said.
Mary frowned. ‘No one can hear.’
‘Can we go up to my suite? I can’t do this with an audience. Look, I understand if you’re not comfortable...’
Mary stood without thinking, then wished she’d remained seated—or hesitated, at least! She was like a puppy galloping towards a treat, she thought angrily. For, despite all promises to her father and to herself never to make foolish mistakes again, Costa seemed to be the exception to her new rule.
She had a vision of him rolling up in London twenty years or so from now, sitting at this table, where she would be waiting for him. He was both her weakness and her strength.
Conflicted, she took his arm and they walked to the elevators.
He was going to tell her he and Roula were engaged—she just knew it.
Yet that lure was still there between them.Always there.
She sighed as the lift hurtled them up to his suite.
One more time, perhaps...
One last time with the man she would always love...
They stood on opposite sides of the lift. Costa looked at Mary and saw not the choppy new haircut, nor Leo’s stylish clothes, but the little fridge magnet she clutched in her hands.
Her admission of loneliness still humbled him. Her bravery terrified him at times—the fact that she would simply step out, or dive off, or refuse the easy route. And her honesty and loyalty disarmed him a thousand times over.
Hewas the coward—at least where love was concerned. And it was time now to be brave.
As they reached the penthouse floor he stopped her from stepping out of the lift. ‘Do you know why I forgave you when I thought you had stolen those family jewels?’
‘No.’
‘Because they mattered less than you.’
Mary stilled, unsure where his words were leading, unsure quite what he meant. She was silent more from being overwhelmed than by lack of words, for she was desperate for clarification.
‘I figured you had your reasons,’ he said eventually.
‘I didn’t, though...’
