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‘We were never together,’ Leah parried, wrinkling her nose with distaste.
Oliver shifted a hand in the air and lowered his voice. ‘That business with Celeste...that’s all over and behind me. A temporary madness is all I can putthatdown to now. I’m grateful for your discretion.’
Leah discovered that she no longer cared who was in his bed and she made no comment. ‘Goodbye, Oliver. All the best for the future.’
And with that, Leah moved back to join Ari, rather than Gio, who had settled glittering diamond-cutting eyes on her for the seeming sin of straying in another man’s direction. He was so ridiculously possessive, she thought, although he would never admit it. But hewas. Oliver was her past and Gio was her future. Why didn’t he see that?
Gio wondered why Leah’s familiarity with the self-satisfied blond lawyer annoyed him. And the answer came to him fast. Bartley was a man whom Leah had loved. She had gone white at the sight of him and had tried and signally failed to cover up how rattled she was by his appearance. Gio, on the other hand, might be about to marry Leah the next day but he was also the male Leah had cheerfully walked away from after a one-night stand and that was a poor beginning that Gio was unlikely to forget. Nor could he overlook the unlovely truth that had a pregnancy not resulted from their intimacy, she would never have agreed to become his wife. Leah had kept on walking away from him until he’d got that message loud and clear. For the first time with a woman, Gio felt as if he was the one fighting for a more secure relationship.
Gio had invited Ari, Cleo and Leah out to his yacht for dinner that evening.
‘Are you cooking for us?’ Leah teased before they flew out of Athens.
‘No, I don’t think your brother would wish to sit in the galley and keep me company while I sliced and diced,’ Gio said with amusement. ‘My chef will do the honours.’
And Leah cloaked her eyes and thought how right he was. Ari rarely stood on ceremony, but he wasn’t given to informality. He had been raised in a very wealthy family and he acted accordingly. Cleo, however, was much more easy-going because like Gio and Leah, she had grown up with very little money.
‘I won’t be staying late.’ Leah sighed. ‘I need a good night’s sleep before the wedding.’
‘Of course,’ Gio agreed.
A superb meal was served on exquisite porcelain out on the deck. Ari and Gio talked business until Cleo complained. Over drinks, Ari extended a large official envelope to Gio. ‘Our wedding present to you and Leah,’ he explained.
Gio tensed and began to open the envelope.
‘It’s the deeds for the Castello Zanetti,’ Ari clarified.
Leah was shocked but Gio froze as if he had been blasted with ice.
‘The Castello Zanetti?’ Leah questioned Gio. ‘Your mother’s family home? The one that the current owner wouldn’t sell to you?’
‘Yes.’ That single acknowledgement slipped quietly from Gio’s lips as he looked at her brother with cool, narrowed eyes. ‘This is by fartoogenerous a gift.’
‘You’re marrying my sister and I’m happy about that,’ her brother murmured smoothly. ‘I had the good fortune to acquire the property at the perfect time. Let’s say no more about it. Itisyour family home.’
There was a tension in the atmosphere that Leah couldn’t quite understand. Evidently, Gio wasn’t happy about accepting so extravagant a gift. Since he had once confessed to Leah that owning his mother’s childhood home was a major ambition of his, she would have expected him to be stunned by Ari’s purchase and much more excited, pleased and curious than he appeared to be. Yet Gio’s eyes remained cool, his smile distinctly forced as he thanked Ari for his generosity and thoughtfulness and said all that was polite.
‘I can’t wait to see it!’ Leah confessed.
‘Perhaps you’ll spend your honeymoon there,’ Ari suggested.
‘Perhaps...’ Gio conceded calmly.
Leah almost succumbed to her curiosity and said something when they were alone for a couple of minutes before she stepped into the motorboat to return to the island. At the same time, it was their wedding in the morning and she was cautious, reluctant to tackle what, she sensed was a sensitive subject. She didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill or give Gio the impression that she thought he had been ungrateful. Possibly he was genuinely embarrassed by so splendid a present or simply annoyed that her brother should have pried so deeply into his background and personal aspirations. Or, possibly he had wanted the thrill of purchasing that family house for himself. Was that the problem? The sticking point?
CHAPTER EIGHT
THECONSTANTDRONEof helicopters in the sky kicked off Leah’s wedding day. Guests were arriving at a steady rate, many of them flying into the resort at the other end of the island until it was time to head for the church.
Her dress was gently gathered under the bust with a lace bodice, a sweetheart neckline and a floaty chiffon skirt. The tight bodice and sleek empire line were tailored to take the focus off her prominent bump and for the first time in months she felt feminine and attractive rather than ferociously, strikingly pregnant with twins.
‘You look a treat.’ Sally sighed fondly. ‘It’s a very feminine dress...but you’ll never stand those high heels for an entire day.’
‘They’re gorgeous though.’ Leah extended the toe of a pale sequinned shoe with satisfaction. ‘I’ll take them off during the reception.’
Her niece, Lucy, removed her thumb from her mouth for long enough to touch a reverent finger to the flowing gown and sigh, ‘Pretty.’
‘Don’t touch!’ Cleo tugged her adopted daughter back in dismay.
