Beauty and the Greek (9 page)

‘I prefer yours; it is more subtle.' The light flowery scent was still in his nostrils. His eyes slid to her mouth and the knot of frustration in his belly made its painful presence known.

He had reacted instinctively when he saw Ariana, but he had very quickly lost sight of the purely practical purpose.

‘I don't wear perf—' She stiffened as he placed his hands around her waist.

‘Relax,' he recommended, flashing a grin before he lifted her down from the counter. He did not immediately release
her. Instead, he stood, his body curved over her, his hands still spanning her waist.

Her physical reaction to this man was terrifying. So much for not being a fan of the dark brooding type!

‘You'll crease my dress.'

Their eyes met and for a split second she thought Theo was going to ignore her, then he inclined his head and released her.

An awful thought occurred to Beth. ‘What if she…tells anyone what she saw?'

‘I'm relying on it; I have total faith in Ariana's instinct to dish the dirt.' Ariana's voice drifted through Theo's head, spiteful and vindictive. Beth had no defences against a woman like that.

Or against a man like me?

He tightened his jaw and closed down the conscience-pricking inner dialogue.

Beth grimaced in distaste and moaned, ‘I feel sick.'

‘You are ill?'

She flashed him a look of intense irritation. ‘No, I'm not ill.' But possibly insane; nothing else explained what she had just done. If Ariana had not spoken, bringing her back to earth, what would have happened?

Beth shook her head, unable to complete the thought.

‘Then what is wrong?'

Beth glared up at him. ‘Beyond the fact I feel cheap and soiled after being mauled by you?' The moment the words left her lips, she knew that bringing up the subject had not been a good move.

One corner of his fascinating mouth twisted into a mocking half smile, though it was not mockery that put the heat in his stare.

‘You did your fair share of mauling.' He thought of her
small cool hands moving over his skin and cleared his throat before tucking his already tucked shirt back into his trousers again.

The mortified colour rushed to her cheeks, her eyes locking of their own accord onto his mouth.

She tried not to remember the taste of him, the warm texture, the…Beth inhaled and pushed away the intrusive memories, wrapping her arms around herself to disguise the fact she was shaking.

It was hard to occupy the moral high ground when you'd just acted like a sex-starved bimbo, she thought, watching him casually straighten his tie, unable to believe that he could kiss like that and then act as though nothing had happened.

‘You know I felt sorry for Ariana at dinner.'

Theo looked at her in utter disbelief. ‘You don't have the survival skills of a lemming; you'll leap to your doom thinking the best of the world.'

Beth blinked at this blast of searing anger—where had that come from?

Taking a deep breath, she struggled to kick-start her frozen brain. His anger was baffling, his mouth was utterly distracting; the sensually sculpted outline acted as an irresistible lure.

‘Do you want Andreas to marry a cold, manipulative bitch?'

Beth gave a contemptuous sniff. ‘I'm sure you could teach her a thing or two about being cold and manipulative.' She thought about the searing heat of his kiss and added in a shaking voice, ‘You can't have her so you don't want your brother to have her.'

His jaw tightened in anger, but Theo shrugged and let
the accusation stand. She clearly found it easier to assign base motives to his actions, and her liking him was not essential to the success of this scheme.

And kissing her was not essential either but it had been pleasurable, as his body was still reminding him. The physical and sexual had always been something that he was able to control.

Theo held open the door for her to pass through, but Beth hesitated.

‘What's wrong now?' he asked, sounding like a man very near the limit of his patience.

‘If you must know, the idea of walking back in there with people thinking what they're thinking…' She gave an expressive shudder.

His lips twisted into a sardonic smile. ‘And what would that be?'

She flashed him a look of dislike. ‘That I'm the sort of girl who—' She stopped and bit her lip.

Theo laughed. ‘If by “people” you mean Andreas, don't worry; that's the sort of girl he likes.'

‘And what sort of girl do you like? My God!' she groaned. ‘I said that out loud, didn't I?'

The dismayed addition thawed some of the tension in the atmosphere as Theo grinned. The unexpected warmth in his expression made her stare. Once she started, it was hard to stop—there was something about his dark fallen angel face that made it compulsive viewing.

‘I like variety, Elizabeth.'

‘You mean you're not fussy. Personally, I prefer quality to quantity.' Quite pleased she'd given the impression she was not only discriminating but something of an expert on
the subject, Beth wrinkled her nose and gave a disdainful sniff.

‘While I find details of your sex life fascinating—' despite the mockery in his tone, he recognised there was an underlying truth in his comment ‘—I think we should join the party before they send out another search party.' Or I kiss you again.

‘Fine by me,' Beth snapped, hurrying to keep pace with his long-legged stride, her progress hampered by the long skirt of her dress and the unaccustomed height of her heels.

Theo paused and waited, hands folded across his chest for her to catch up. ‘Don't dawdle.'

‘You try hurrying in a dress that has built-in wind resistance.'

His lips twitched. ‘I'll pass.'

‘And heels,' she continued to grumble, extending one leg and pointing to her toes to demonstrate her point. ‘And, in case you hadn't noticed, I don't have legs that go all the way up to my ears!'

But they were very nice legs—actually, better than nice—and, from what he'd seen, perfectly in proportion with the rest of her diminutive frame.

Theo's glance moved from her slender ankle and up over her equally shapely calf. In his head, he saw his fingers pushing aside the black fabric and sliding underneath higher and higher until he reached the damp heat of… He stopped and lifted his gaze abruptly.

This was what happened when a man neglected a healthy libido; it was
definitely
time to find a replacement for Camilla.

‘You want me to say you have great legs? Fine, I will. You have great legs,' he said, sounding bored.

‘The day I need your approval is the day I have myself sectioned.' Head held high, skirt in hand, she stalked past him, inadvertently providing him with an excellent view of her rear.

Stopping short of re-entering the dining room, Beth stopped. ‘We can't go back in together.'

‘Let me guess.' Theo rolled his eyes. ‘What will people think?'

D
ESPITE
his mockery, Theo had agreed without much of an argument to leave a decent interval before he returned to the table.

He didn't seem to understand her embarrassment but then why would a man who had the sensitivity of a rhinoceros appreciate her discomfiture?

To Beth's relief, there were no sly comments made about their prolonged absence from the table. Theo dropped the attentive lover routine, which was a massive relief. In fact he ignored her so completely that she got the impression that people thought they'd had a row.

She might actually have enjoyed the rest of the meal but for Ariana's icy glares and Andreas's tendency to stare.

They were lingering over coffee when Beth's phone beeped.

‘Sorry.' Beth flashed a smile round the table and fished her phone from the impracticably tiny bag that matched her outfit.

When she had voiced her concern about its size, the stylists, clearly shocked by her ignorance, had exchanged glances before mentioning the designer of the tiny beaded handbag with what seemed to Beth inappropriate reverence.

Theo watched the expressions flicker across her face as
she read the text and wondered who or what had put the fear in her eyes.

With a mild jolt of shock he realised that he knew nothing about her personal life.

He had no idea about her family or friends; he didn't know if she liked Chinese food or Italian. This information, he realized, could be useful when it came to presenting the image of a loving couple.

It was Andreas who spoke first when she slid the phone away. ‘Problem with the contracts?' he asked. ‘Their accountant had no problem with the figures when I ran them past him so there shouldn't be.'

Beth shook her head and cut across him. ‘No, it's not work; it's personal.'

‘Personal?'
Andreas echoed.

‘Yes,'
she snapped and saw his eyes widen at the unaccustomed brusqueness in her tone. She had had enough of the Kyriakis brothers tonight. ‘I do have a life outside the office.' Another time the hurt expression that chased across Andreas's good-looking face might have made her feel guilty but right now her thoughts were focused on the news from the nursing home.

She smiled an apology around the table, leaving Theo until last. She did not expect him to be pleased at her leaving before the evening had ended after all the trouble and expense he had gone to but if he didn't like it, she thought grimly—tough.

‘I'm afraid I have to leave; my gran is not very well.' The doctors had warned after the last episode that the likelihood was there would be more.

That had been eight months ago and, when gran had not suffered any long-term damage from the minor stroke, the fear Beth had felt at the time had receded.

‘Nothing serious, I hope?' Daria asked.

Theo watched her knead her white fingers, tying them into knots as she gave a tight little smile, her thoughts clearly already elsewhere.

‘They say not, but—'

Andreas looked flatteringly eager when he cut across her and said, ‘Well, in that case, there's no hurry, is there? Why break up the party?' he coaxed, oblivious to the molten fury in Ariana's glare before she lowered her gaze to her plate.

‘I'm sorry, but—'

‘Of course she has to go, Andreas.' Theo slung a look of irritation in his brother's direction.

Beth watched in utter amazement as Theo laid down his napkin and got his feet. She watched, her mouth slightly ajar, as he kissed his mother's cheek, saying something soft to her in his native tongue before he took a position behind her own chair.

Feeling wary but grateful that he was not making this difficult for her, at least here, she got to her feet.

Georgios stood up and, after a speaking glance from his mother, so did Andreas.

‘We hope your grandmother is better very soon,' Daria said, kissing her cheek. ‘And, if you are able, we would love to see you next month Theo?'

Distracted, Beth only listened with half an ear as Theo agreed to the invitation on her behalf. Plenty of time later to say she had not signed up for family weekends.

She did not speak until they were outside in the street, then she held out her hand and said, ‘I'm sorry about this.'

His hooded gaze slid to the hand extended to him but he did not take it. ‘You are sorry for what?'

‘Well, I've spoiled your plans,' she said, letting her hand fall to her side. Presumably, now that they were out of sight of his target audience, he would drop the act, which was
good because even fingertip contact with him was slightly disturbing.

‘I am presuming you did not arrange for your grandmother to be ill?'

Her eyes flew wide with indignation. ‘Of course not!'

His broad shoulders lifted in an expressive shrug. ‘Then there is very little more to be said. Some things in life one has no control over.' Fortunately, the sexual frustration he had been denying all evening—you couldn't rise above something until you acknowledged it—was not one of them.

‘Well, thanks,' she said awkwardly as she watched a cab approach the taxi rank opposite. ‘I'm sorry it didn't work out but I…' Anxious to be gone, worry lying like a weight in her chest, she shook her head. ‘I'll…' She stepped towards the kerb.

‘What are you doing?' It had started to rain fine drops that clung to her eyelashes as she tilted her head back to look at him.

Beth looked down at the fingers curled around her elbow. ‘Catching a taxi.'

‘Don't be stupid; I'll take you.'

Beth stared at him. ‘You don't even know where I'm going.'

‘I will when you tell me,' he countered smoothly.

Beth weighed her choices. She did not want to travel with Theo but there was no question that he would get her there faster than a taxi. It was the realisation that there hadn't been room for her purse in the ridiculous bag she was carrying that swung her decision. ‘All right…thanks.'

In the underground garage, Theo told the driver they would not be needing his services before opening the pas
senger door for Beth. Belted into the passenger seat, Beth gave him the directions to the home.

‘Do you want me to pick anyone else up on the way there? Your parents?'

Beth turned her head. ‘No, they died—a train crash—I was seven so I don't really remember it.'

She just remembered waking up in the hospital and crying from the pain of the burns on her feet. She'd been there for weeks and Gran had stayed the entire time, sleeping in a cot at her bedside.

‘You have no family?'

Beth bit her quivering lip and turned her head so that he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. ‘Just me and Gran. She brought me up after the accident.'

She was glad that Theo did not ask any more questions. Other than giving him directions, neither did Beth. Her thoughts were elsewhere, trying to imagine her life without her grandmother in it—she couldn't.

At the nursing home Beth was greeted warmly by the manager. ‘The doctor's with your grandmother now.'

Fearful to ask the question and even more fearful of the reply, Beth said, ‘How is she? Do you think she'll have to go to hospital again?' Seeing her grandmother looking so small and frail lying in the hospital bed had been the moment that Beth had been forced to face the fact that the indomitable lady would not be with her for ever.

He shook his head and looked sympathetic. ‘We don't know yet, but Prudence is a tough lady. Let me take you up.' He directed an enquiring look at Theo, who stood, a silent observer to the interchange. ‘Would you both like to see her?'

Beth shook her head and said quickly, ‘No, this is just a friend who gave me a lift.' She turned, her luminous eyes brushing his face as she said, ‘Thank you.'

Choosing not to analyse either the tenderness that moved though him as he watched her climb the flight of stairs or the stab of dissatisfaction he had experienced when she had called him
just a friend
, Theo lowered himself into a seat and prepared to wait.

Whatever the news, he thought, she would need
a friend
when she returned.

 

It was half an hour later that Theo saw the small figure at the top of the stairs. The harsh electric light overhead shone on her glossy head and revealed the wetness on her cheeks.

He put down the mug in his hands and got to his feet. ‘I'm sorry.'

Beth reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped at the sound of his voice. ‘No…no.' She dragged her hand across her wet cheeks and shook her head. ‘No, I'm not crying…well, I am,' she admitted with a sniff. ‘But not because— Gran is fine.' She gave a sunny smile, oblivious to the sharp intake of breath it drew from Theo. ‘It's just the relief.'

‘I'm glad your grandmother is well.'

She produced another smile that lit up her entire face.

Beth gave a puzzled frown. ‘You waited.' The oddness of him still being here struck her for the first time. ‘I thought you'd gone.'

‘I thought you might need…'

‘A shoulder to cry on?' She stopped, the smile sliding off her face as she added quickly, ‘Not seriously?'

She'd realised about ten seconds after meeting him that Theo Kyriakis was more the pull-yourself-together sort of man, though, when it came to shoulders, his were certainly broad enough.

‘I thought you might need transport.'

On anyone else, she would have called his manner
embarrassed. Was he afraid that a kind gesture might ruin his reputation?

‘There was really no need for you to stay.'

He shrugged. ‘I have not wasted the time. I caught up on some calls without interruption and, as you see, I have been well looked after.' He glanced to the mug and plate of untouched—Theo did not have a sweet tooth—biscuits on the table.

‘I'm glad someone brought you tea.'

‘Actually, I am not quite sure what it is.'

The comment drew a laugh from Beth, who was still feeling light-headed with relief and inclined to see the best in everyone, even Theo.

Her laughter was a stark contrast to the silent distress he had been conscious of on the journey here. ‘So would you like a lift home?'

Beth regarded him doubtfully, unable to tell from his oddly abrupt manner if the offer was sincere or not. ‘I wouldn't like to put you to any trouble.'

His brows lifted. ‘Would you like a lift?' he repeated.

The flash of irritation in his eyes made Beth relax slightly. Theo being polite just didn't feel right. She tipped her head in a tiny nod of assent and said, ‘I'd be grateful.'

On another occasion, Theo might have been tempted to ask
how grateful
but he suppressed his ignoble instincts and escorted her back to the waiting car.

Behind the driving wheel, he paused expectantly.

Beth shook her head in response to his questioning glance.

‘Your address?'

Beth gave a self-conscious grimace. ‘Of course. Sorry, I didn't think.'

Theo was surprised when Beth gave him the necessary information. The address she supplied was that of an
extremely upmarket area, the home of bankers, City types and a high proportion of wealthy foreigners who had been drawn by the good transport links into the City, excellent schools and above average share of green spaces.

He was not in the habit of pigeonholing people but Beth did not act the way he would have expected someone who came from an affluent background to behave.

As he drew up in the tree-lined avenue outside the big double gates of the address she had given, the inconsistency was solved.

The house was the largest by far in the affluent street but it was also in a sadly neglected condition—actually, neglected was generous; it looked derelict. The place was a speculator's dream and worth a small fortune.

Beth saw him staring at the house and said defensively, ‘The west wing is perfectly habitable. Though the roof in the east wing is pretty much shot,' she admitted with a sigh. The quote she had got last year to fix it had been laughable.

‘That is a lot of house,' Theo observed diplomatically.

A wistful expression drifted across her face. ‘I've seen pictures of it when Gran came here after she was married. It was quite grand and really beautiful; they still had servants then and the grounds were so pretty… There are still lots of daffodils in the spring.' Sadly, the rest of the original landscaping had been overgrown for years.

‘You live here alone?' It was hard to imagine a place less suitable for a young woman to live.

‘Until Gran comes home.'

The defensive prickles were back; he was guessing that this had been a point of dissension. ‘Your grandmother does not live in the nursing home on a permanent basis?'

She sent him a challenging glare. ‘No, she's coming home.'

‘But until then you are alone?'

Beth nodded and opened the passenger door. ‘That's the way I like it.'

Theo let the rather obvious lie pass. ‘I'll see you inside.'

Beth shook her head vigorously. ‘No, I'll be fine.'

Before he could respond, she fled. Theo waited in the car until a light went on inside and waited some more before he finally drove away. It seemed rather symbolic to him that one half of the rusting gate fell off its hinges as he did so.