The Diakos Baby Scandal

by Natalie Rivers

  ‘Carol, this is Theo. He is from Athens.’ Kerry’s natural politeness forced her to make at least some sort of introduction—but all her instincts told her not to say too much. No one at work knew anything about what had happened in Athens, and it paid to be as careful as possible. She didn’t want any speculation about Lucas and who his father was.

  ‘Why don’t you go for your lunch break?’ Carol suggested. ‘You probably have lots to catch up on.’

  Kerry’s pulse was still racing and the palms of her hands suddenly felt damp. The last thing she wanted was to go off alone with Theo—but neither did she want to cause a stir at work. Her boss, Margaret, would be back from her emergency dental appointment soon, and chances were she would not be in a good mood. Kerry really needed her job, and she really did not want to give anyone fuel for gossip.

  ‘All right. I’ll get my bag.’ She stood up and walked to the office at the back of the shop, desperately hoping that she didn’t look as wobbly as she suddenly felt.

  With every thump of her heart she felt Theo’s gaze burning deeper and deeper into her—through the protective veneer of her uniform, piercing through all the emotional barricades she had tried to build up since that devastating night in Athens.

  Why was he here?

  The office door swung shut behind her, shielding her from his sight, and her legs buckled beneath her. She clung to the edge of the desk, gasping for air and shaking violently.

  Had Theo come to try and take Lucas away from her?

  She’d never let that happen—her gorgeous boy was everything to her. She loved him more than life itself, and she’d never, never let Theo take him.

  She took a deep, steadying breath and looked back through the one-way mirror into the shop. Theo was still standing there, as inscrutable as an ancient Greek statue, and Carol was obviously trying to engage him in conversation.

  The sudden, horrifying thought occurred to her that Carol might innocently mention Lucas. With another judder of her already painful heart she grabbed her bag and burst back through the door. She had to get Theo away from anyone who knew her as quickly as possible.

  ‘Take as long as you want,’ Carol said, trying to be helpful. ‘I’ll send you a sneaky text if Margaret gets back.’

  ‘I won’t be long,’ Kerry said.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Carol said. ‘Have fun. Enjoy your blast from the past.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Kerry slipped past Theo and pushed the heavy glass door open. She flashed her colleague a tight smile and walked away down the rainy street, leaving Theo to follow her.

  Fun was the last thing she was expecting to have. And as for Carol’s unsuspecting use of the phrase blast from the past—all Kerry could think about was the more violent, destructive meaning of the word blast.

  She desperately hoped Theo hadn’t come to rip mercilessly through her life, laying everything to waste and destroying the tentative happiness she had finally found.

  Suddenly she couldn’t bear the agony of not knowing.

  She stopped abruptly and turned to face Theo.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded.

  ‘I’ve come to take you back to Greece,’ he said.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THEO stood still, watching Kerry’s reaction to his announcement. For a second he hardly recognised her. Somehow she didn’t seem like the woman he’d spent nearly a year of his life with.

  There were the obvious differences—the unflattering navy blue uniform, and the new way she had done her blonde hair, twisting it up into a tight knot at the nape of her neck with a long fringe he didn’t remember falling into her eyes. But the real differences seemed to be deeper, more profound than that. She looked older in some way, and the expression on her face was wary and troubled.

  He frowned, momentarily disconcerted as he looked down into her eyes. He could have sworn that her eyes had been a soft clear blue, but now they appeared to be pale grey, as if they were reflecting the pastel colour of the rain-streaked sky.

  ‘Why would you say that?’ Kerry gasped. ‘I’m not coming back to Greece with you.’

  ‘Actually, you are,’ Theo said.

  ‘Why?’ she demanded incredulously. ‘Why do you want me to? And what makes you think I’d ever go anywhere with you ever again?’

  ‘Because you owe me that,’ he replied.

  ‘I don’t owe you anything!’ Kerry exclaimed, anger suddenly flaring inside her. ‘I gave up my career to be with you, and I never took any of the money you tried to give me. I used up all my savings while I was living with you, which made it really hard for me when I came back to London.’

  She paused, racking her brain for any other possible reason he might think that she owed him. The very idea that he could want anything of her was ridiculous—he was one of the richest men in Athens.

  ‘I left all the expensive jewellery you gave me behind,’ she added, remembering how much that had hurt.

  It wasn’t because of the cost of the items—for Kerry their value had been entirely sentimental. She’d thought they were genuine tokens of Theo’s affection for her. When he’d thrown her out so coldly, she’d realised that all the things she’d taken as meaningful in their relationship had obviously meant nothing at all to him.

  ‘I’m not talking about trivial monetary matters,’ Theo said flatly.

  ‘Then what—?’ Kerry’s voice dried up in her throat. Did that mean he had found out about Lucas?

  She bit her lip, desperately hoping that he hadn’t discovered her secret. Surely he would have brought up something so important immediately? But perhaps he meant to string it out to torment her.

  ‘You interfered with matters that did not concern you,’ Theo said. ‘The consequences could have been tragic.’

  Kerry drew in a shaky breath, remembering the awful evening of the accident.

  ‘No one was injured,’ she said in a small voice.

  She deeply regretted that her involvement had caused Hallie to drive off with Nicco when she’d been drinking. But that did not change the fact that Theo and Corban had been planning to take Nicco away from his mother.

  ‘It’s a miracle no one was killed,’ Theo said. ‘But that’s not exactly the reason I’m here.’

  Kerry stared up at him anxiously. What could be worse than causing a potential tragedy—something bad enough to bring Theo all the way from Athens to seek restitution from her?

  ‘Your meddling stirred up a vicious media circus,’ Theo said, as if that was on the same level as a tragedy. ‘The paparazzi had a field-day. They hounded my family relentlessly—Hallie and Corban in particular. It made things very difficult.’

  Relief that Theo had not come about Lucas poured through Kerry—making her bold. Was he really comparing the inconvenience of unwanted media interest with the possibility of someone dying in a car crash? How had she ever lived with this man—shared his home for six months—without realising what he was really like?

  ‘You mean with the media watching everything you did it made it difficult for you to take your sister-in-law’s child away from her?’ she asked.

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth she knew she should not have antagonised him. A change came over him that made goosebumps prickle across her skin. It was hard to pinpoint what was actually different about his expression or his body language, but something alerted her to danger.

  ‘It would be better—for you—if you never mention what you overheard that night again.’

  Theo’s voice grated across her nerves, making her heart start to race once more. But then all of a sudden her hackles rose at the threat in his tone. How dared he tell her what to do? She wasn’t in a relationship with him any more.

  ‘Why not? Are you ashamed of yourself for contemplating something so horrible?’ she demanded recklessly. ‘Or are you simply lying low—intending to carry on with your plan once the heat is off?’

  Theo glared down at her, his blood suddenly surging hot and angry through his vein
s. He’d had no idea that Kerry had it in her to behave like this. The woman who’d been his lover for nearly a year would never have been so hot-headed, never have challenged him so rashly.

  ‘Be very careful,’ he grated, stepping forward so that he towered over her, forcing her to crane her neck back to maintain eye contact.

  ‘Why?’ she demanded, planting her hands on her hips and refusing to back away. ‘What are you going to do to me?’

  Theo could almost feel the energy crackling between them. Despite the cool air of the wet summer day, there was real heat in the space around their bodies. It was the heat of anger—and it was far more than just that.

  It was the heat of passion—emotional and sexual.

  Suddenly he knew exactly what he wanted to do to her, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to give in to his desires. The need to seize her in his arms and drag her hard against his body was almost overwhelming. He wanted to cover her angry mouth with his—to silence her in the most satisfying way he knew how.

  He continued to stare down at her, letting the silence lengthen. His heart was pumping powerfully in his chest, and his body was thrumming with desire for her. Then he saw her eyes widen slightly, saw her lips part a little as her breathing deepened. And he knew she felt it too.

  Pure physical attraction.

  A few minutes earlier it had seemed as if he didn’t know her any more—but now he knew precisely how her body was reacting to him. After all, they had been lovers for nearly a year. He recognised the heat suddenly dancing in her cheeks, and the way her pupils had grown large in her pale-coloured eyes.

  She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Suddenly he gripped her arms and pulled her towards him, up onto her tiptoes so that her lips were just below his. All he had to do was bend his head a fraction more and his mouth would come down over hers. He would take back what had once been his—reclaim her body in hot, hard retribution for what she had done.

  But this wasn’t what he had come to London for. He could not—would not—let his libido get in the way of fulfilling his mother’s dying wish. He needed Kerry to convince Drakon to sell him the island.

  ‘I didn’t come here for this,’ he said gruffly, letting go of her arms and stepping away from her.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Kerry said, shaken by how husky her voice sounded.

  How had she let herself fall under his sensual spell so easily? Why would she even respond to him at all, after the horrible way he had treated her?

  ‘You know as well as I do,’ he said. ‘Let’s not play any more games. I’ll tell you what I came for.’

  ‘Why don’t you?’ she said, pleased with how sassy she managed to sound, considering the way her body was still buzzing with unwanted desire for him. Even though her face was streaked with rain, she could feel her cheeks burning. ‘It’s taking you long enough to get round to it.’

  The rain was coming down more heavily now, and she lifted her hand to brush her long wet fringe back from her face. She stared straight up into his eyes, determined not to let him see any weakness. She’d be ready next time, if he started looking at her like that again—as if he wanted to tear off her clothes and make love to her right there and then.

  After everything that had happened she couldn’t believe he’d had the audacity to come on to her like that. And she couldn’t believe she’d let herself respond. She would not let it happen again.

  ‘Do you want to go inside?’ he asked, glancing around as if he was looking for a café. ‘Sit out of the rain while we talk?’

  ‘No. I’m already wet, and my break is nearly over,’ she said. ‘Just tell me what you want from me.’

  She didn’t relish the idea of continuing their conversation standing in the rain on a busy urban pavement—but somehow she felt safer out in the open. The thought of being in a confined space with him, even a public café, sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine.

  ‘I want to buy an island from an old man,’ Theo said, getting straight to the point. ‘I need you to help me secure the deal.’

  Kerry frowned up at him. She felt slightly startled by the fact that he was finally being direct about his reason for coming to her, but she was also puzzled as to why he thought he needed her help.

  ‘What have I got to do with it?’ she asked, intrigued despite herself.

  ‘It is because you meddled in my family’s affairs—creating a situation that caused the media frenzy—that the old man is reluctant to do business with me,’ Theo said. ‘He wants to sell his island to someone with traditional values—someone he approves of.’

  ‘I don’t understand how you think I can help you—even if I wanted to,’ Kerry said. ‘What can I do to change the way this man thinks about you?’

  ‘The old man in question is called Drakon Notara. He remembers meeting you. Apparently he liked you,’ Theo replied, somehow making it sound as if he thought it highly unlikely that anyone would actually like her.

  ‘I remember him.’ Kerry frowned, irritated by Theo’s tone. ‘He told me all about the wildlife sanctuary he has on his island. He hates all these intensive modern developments and wants to keep somewhere natural.’ She paused and looked at Theo quizzically. ‘Why do you want to buy a wildlife sanctuary?’

  For a long moment he didn’t respond, and something made Kerry think that Theo hadn’t even known about the sanctuary. He just wanted the island.

  ‘No wonder Drakon doesn’t want to sell to you,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t want a hotel on his nature preserve.’

  ‘It seemed to me that he was more concerned with my commitment to family values,’ Theo said curtly. ‘Therefore you will accompany me to his island tomorrow—travelling as my fiancée. At no point will you reveal that we have not been together since you met him.’

  Kerry stared at him in shock.

  ‘Fiancée?’ she repeated.

  For a moment she almost thought he was proposing to her. But that would be crazy. Almost as crazy as him expecting a woman he’d heartlessly cast aside for making one mistake to pose as his fiancée. Just so that he could buy an island from an old man who apparently did not approve of him.

  ‘Yes,’ Theo said. ‘For the duration of the few days we are to spend on the island you are to act the perfect, adoring fiancée in every way.’

  ‘I wasn’t your fiancée when I met Drakon,’ she said, saying the first thing that came into her mind. It seemed a ridiculous thing to say—but so was the charade Theo was suggesting.

  ‘Time has passed since then,’ Theo said. ‘It would seem natural that our relationship has progressed.’

  ‘Progressed!’ Kerry exclaimed, finally coming to her senses. ‘That’s an interesting take on it. I thought it had ended—badly—the night you kicked me out without giving me a chance to defend myself.’

  ‘There’s no defence for what you did,’ Theo said. ‘So why would I listen to whatever spin you wanted to put on your meddling? Whatever excuse you were going to give me?’

  ‘There’s no way I’m going to help you persuade a dear old man to sell you his island,’ she said.

  ‘Yes, you are,’ Theo said. ‘I will collect you from your flat tomorrow morning.’

  ‘You don’t know where I live!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Of course I do,’ he replied scathingly. ‘Be packed and ready by six-thirty.’

  Biting panic suddenly flared within her—freezing her insides stone-cold with dread. He’d found out where she worked, which probably meant he did know where she lived. And if he knew that, what else had his people found out about her—what else would they find if they dug deeper?

  She had to keep Lucas hidden from him.

  She remembered his words—a Diakos child belongs with the Diakos family.

  He’d had no qualms about taking Hallie’s child from her, and she was married to his brother—a true member of the family. What chance did Kerry have against him if he wanted to take his son?

  ‘Don’t make
me come for you at work tomorrow,’ Theo said. ‘I will find you if you try to hide from me. And if you give me the runaround I will not be pleased.’

  Kerry stood on the pavement outside her block of flats at six o’clock the following morning. It was very early, but she could not risk Theo coming inside the building to look for her. The closer she let him come to her home, the more chance there was of him finding out about Lucas.

  Half an hour later, when a smart black limousine pulled up beside her, she discovered that she’d be travelling alone. Theo had already returned to Athens the previous evening.

  ‘Your ticket, Miss Martin,’ his assistant said, handing her a white envelope. ‘You are booked on a flight out of Heathrow airport this morning. You will be met when you arrive in Athens, and taken to join Mr Diakos. You will then fly out to the island together.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Kerry said automatically. Still slightly stunned by Theo’s absence, she slipped into the limo and stared out through the tinted window.

  Was Theo really so confident that she would meekly do as she was told? She’d never actually agreed to go with him. In fact she’d told him point-blank that she was not going. Had she always been so biddable that it just didn’t occur to him that she might refuse to co-operate?

  He didn’t know the reason she’d had to go—the secret she could not risk him uncovering if she made him come looking for her. He must simply have expected her to do as she was told because that was what she had always done.

  She closed her eyes and hugged herself, already missing Lucas although it was scarcely an hour since she’d left him with Bridget—the only person in the world she truly trusted. They’d been brought up together as sisters and, despite the fact that she had discovered later that Bridget was really her aunt, they still shared an incredibly close, sisterly bond.

  Kerry knew Lucas would be safe with her. Bridget had her own little ones and was used to babies, but even so Kerry felt horrible leaving him. She knew she had no choice—to protect her son she had to leave him for a couple of nights—but somehow she felt she was letting him down.