One-Click Buy: September Harlequin Presents

by Penny Jordan

  ‘No,’ he agreed. They both knew she didn’t need to finish that sentence.

  Kallie wanted to get the focus off her. ‘What about your mother? Why wasn’t she at the wedding?’

  The change was stunning and immediate. His face shuttered, his eyes black pools. Kallie thought he wasn’t going to answer until finally he said, ‘She’s never been one for travelling. She’s happy as long as she knows that Kouros Shipping is making enough money to keep her in comfort.’

  His voice was so cold and detached that Kallie sucked in a breath. She wasn’t fooled. He spoke as though he didn’t care but she could sense his pain, having been through intense grief herself, and could feel it as clear as day in him. But she knew he wouldn’t appreciate her sympathy. She couldn’t believe the well of emotion that rose up within her, making her want to go and take him in her arms. When she put down the spoon her hand was trembling and it clattered against the plate, making her start.

  She excused herself to go to the ladies before he could read something in her expression and only came back when she felt composed. Coffee was waiting for her. She looked over. ‘Thanks…but I didn’t order coffee…’

  ‘It’s on the house…a treat from my friend Theo.’

  She shrugged. ‘OK…’

  A silence stretched between them. Alexandros seemed to be brooding. They’d obviously used up the little conversation they had. Kallie’s thoughts strayed as she sipped the coffee. Very soon they’d be back in the villa. Alone. Would he leave the door open tonight? Would he ask her to sleep with him? Would he kiss her into submission? Force her? He wouldn’t have to…

  Kallie’s heart speeded up as she took a bigger gulp of coffee. She couldn’t look across the table. She took some more coffee. Anything to distract her thoughts. It had a slightly funny taste that made her wrinkle her nose.

  Half idly, belying the turmoil of her thoughts, she asked, ‘What’s in this coffee? It tastes different.’

  Alexandros looked over, his hooded eyes making her pulse speed up, again.

  ‘Some liqueur, I think the waiter said.’

  Immediately Kallie could feel something slam into her. She hadn’t touched alcohol in years. Seven years. And suddenly the only thing she could smell, or taste, or feel with a nauseous swimming in her head was the alcohol. And with shocking vividness, she was back there on the patio, her head swimming, feeling the acute mortification all over again. As if it were yesterday. Terror gripped her, squeezing around her heart, and she lifted a hand to her chest.

  It was all hitting her at once. She was in Athens again. Greece. With Alexandros, who was looking over at her. She could see him frowning…was she looking funny? Kallie felt very strange…and she knew that for some reason she’d stopped breathing.

  ‘What is it?’ Alexandros’s voice came from far away.

  ‘Kallie, answer me…’

  Her voice was raspy, she couldn’t breathe. ‘I don’t know…must have been something…’

  All she did know with some kind of miraculous self-protecting clarity was that he couldn’t know why she was having this reaction. The room was spinning now and she felt herself drooping sideways, unable to sit up. Then she was being lifted up into strong arms, against a firm wall of something…muscle? She didn’t care. She felt sick, but safe. Then she blacked out.

  She came to in the most horrific, undignified fashion, hunched over a toilet bowl, her whole upper body dripping wet, retching. Alexandros was behind her, holding her hair back as life slammed back into her and she emptied her stomach. Finally it was over. She was shaking all over violently. She felt herself being pulled back up and a wet cloth over her face and neck. It felt wonderful. Then she was sitting on his lap and being held very firmly against a broad chest until the shaking started to subside. She finally managed faintly, ‘Where…where are we?’

  A rumble came from under her cheek. ‘In the staff toilet of the restaurant.’

  Kallie closed her eyes and clung to Alexandros. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry…’

  When she opened them again, she took in the shower and realised that he must have had to put her underneath it to wake her up somehow. She pulled back.

  ‘I’m so sorry…’

  ‘Don’t be. Kallie, what the hell was that?’ His voice was harsh. ‘For goodness’ sake, woman, if you’re allergic to liqueur or coffee, why didn’t you tell me?’

  But I’m not! Or, at least, she hadn’t thought she was. But even as Kallie thought about the alcohol in the coffee, she could see the images flood her head again, the acute nausea close behind. She closed her eyes, gripped his shirt and breathed deeply. This was ridiculous. No way could this be affecting her so badly. It had to be the food…or something else. She couldn’t still be so tied into what had happened. The thought that she could be made something in her head shut down.

  She shook her head. ‘No, it couldn’t be…’ It couldn’t be!

  ‘It must have been something I ate.’

  ‘We had the same thing and I feel fine,’ he pointed out grimly.

  She was too weak to argue.

  He stood, taking her with him, clasping her to his chest. She only saw then that his own hair was plastered to his head, his chest soaking. He’d got into the shower too? He answered her look. ‘Well, I could hardly avoid getting wet, too, could I? I couldn’t just dump you in there.’

  ‘Sorry,’ she said in a small voice. Again.

  He elbowed his way out of the room and his friend Theo was there, the owner, looking awful and wringing his hands. ‘I am so sorry, Alexandros. I have no idea how this could have happened.’

  Kallie gave an involuntary shudder. Alexandros tightened his hold.

  ‘Theo, it’s fine. Forget it…. we need to leave now, though, we’re wet.’

  His friend jumped around, clearly upset, and gave them towels. ‘Your vehicle is right outside the door here, at the back…’

  Kallie couldn’t help another wave of mortification. She was sure the great Alexandros Kouros hated this embarrassment. When he climbed into the back of the vehicle, still keeping her tucked into his arms, she resolutely looked out the window, taking her arms away from his neck.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said stiffly yet again, her whole body rigid. ‘I didn’t mean to embarrass you in front of your friends…the people in the restaurant…’

  Alexandros looked down at the bent head, her hair no less vibrant, even though it was wet. When she’d taken her arms down from his neck, he’d had the urge to bring them back up. And when she’d gone rigid, the loss of her soft curves nestled into him had been almost like a physical pain. And despite what she seemed to think, when she’d almost collapsed, the entire restaurant could have disappeared for all he’d cared. His only concern had been Kallie and getting her to safety. He’d even bellowed out for a doctor but none had been there.

  ‘Don’t be stupid, Kallie. We brought you out the back because it was quicker.’

  ‘Oh…’

  He took one of the towels and put Kallie away from him slightly, starting to undo her shirt. She slapped at his hand ineffectually. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

  He pushed her hands out of the way. ‘Kallie, you’re soaked, so am I. Unless you want to get hypothermia, you have to take off your shirt.’

  He’d undone all the buttons and was slipping the shirt from her shoulders before she could do anything.

  She let out a strangled whisper. ‘The driver!’

  She was now in just her bra and Alexandros was pulling his own sodden shirt off. Totally unashamed, he ignored her concern. He drew her back against his bare chest and wrapped them both in a couple of towels, tucking her arms around his waist. Sensation flooded her belly, her breasts, making them tighten painfully. She bit her lip.

  Alexandros looked down briefly and when he caught a glimpse of two perfect creamy half-mounds spilling from her bra, pressed against him, he felt desire rocket straight to his lap.

  The inevitable response became more acute. His
jaw clenched, the towel dropped slightly. She moved to get comfortable and he gritted out, ‘Kallie, stop moving.’

  She felt the hard ridge beneath her and heat flooded her body. The trip back up into the hills was excruciating and by the time they got out, Kallie’s face was hectic with colour, her eyes so bright they looked feverish.

  He carried her up to her room and gently stood her outside her bathroom door. She had pulled the towel tight around her upper body and looked anywhere but at the expanse of bare chest in front of her.

  ‘Do you need help?’

  ‘No,’ she said quickly, and qualified it. ‘No…thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if—’

  ‘You need to get out of those wet things before you get a chill.’

  She just nodded and went inside, stripped off and had a hot shower. Putting on a voluminous toweling robe, she emerged to find an empty room. Disappointment gushed through her. Then Thea appeared at the door with a look of concern on her face. Which she quickly masked when she saw Kallie.

  She bustled in and got Kallie into bed and Kallie’s final thought before she fell into a dreamless sleep was that maybe Thea wasn’t as cool towards her after all. Maybe she could try again. She refused to think of the dark angel who had saved her tonight, who had held her with such tenderness. Because it hadn’t been. That had been her imagination. He had been functional, that’s all.

  When Kallie woke the next morning, her stomach muscles felt tender. She must have sensed something because just as she came fully awake, her door opened. Alexandros. Dressed and looking fresh and bright. Clean shaven. Her belly tightened and she pulled the sheet up around her neck.

  He walked in and opened the curtains that covered the French doors leading onto her veranda. He stood looking out for a minute, hands stuck deep in his pockets, and then turned around. ‘How are you feeling today?’

  ‘Much better, thank you. I’m—’

  He slashed a hand in the air. ‘Don’t say sorry, Kallie, you couldn’t help it. You must have some kind of sensitivity to liqueurs. Maybe the shellfish.’

  You mean a sensitivity to the past!

  She watched warily as he came close to the bed. He looked so tall and imposing and masculine.

  ‘I’m afraid I have to go to London for a couple of days. One of our ships has had a mutiny of sorts among the crew…’ His mouth quirked. ‘It would appear that only I can sort it out.’

  Kallie could suddenly see very well that he would be a good negotiator. Tough but firm. Despite what had happened between them. With those people he’d have no bitterness. It was only with her.

  She just nodded. His gaze slanted down at her, unfathomable.

  ‘Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone…’

  She shook her head. ‘I won’t.’

  But she would. The realisation mocked her.

  ‘Oh, I’m sure you won’t, Kallie.’ He smiled briefly, tightly.

  CHAPTER TEN

  AS ALEXANDROS drove away from the villa, he had to concede that being married to Kallie so far was nothing like he’d expected. And he had a feeling that things were only going to get more complicated. Again he had that funny sensation the perhaps somewhere along the line he’d made a monumental error of judgment. For the first time in his life, he hadn’t bedded a woman he’d desired when he’d wanted. But how he wanted her. If she didn’t come to him when he got back, her time was up. No more waiting. He’d had enough of her coy looks and game-playing.

  Kallie went downstairs after a while and found some breakfast left over in the dining room. Feeling edgy and not wanting to look at why, she stacked the plates and made her way to the kitchen. She had finished washing them and had started putting them away when she heard a sound behind her. Thea stood there with a disgusted look on her face. ‘Why do you do this? Why? He is not here now. He doesn’t need to see you pretend to be something you’re not!’

  Kallie couldn’t take her words in for a moment. Thea looked so hurt, and angry.

  ‘Thea…’

  The older woman huffed, ignoring Kallie, banging open and closing cupboards randomly. Kallie could remember that she’d always done that when she’d got angry or upset when she’d been younger. It had made her laugh and she’d teased Thea about it at one time.

  She went up and put her hand on Thea’s arm. ‘Thea…please. Can we talk?’

  Thea finally let Kallie lead her over to the table. But she wouldn’t look at her. So Kallie started anyway, and haltingly told Thea exactly what had happened that night. Right up to when Alexandros had thrown the newspaper at her feet the next morning.

  She wasn’t even really aware she’d stopped until Thea looked at her and said quietly, ‘Eleni?’

  Kallie nodded silently.

  Thea sighed heavily. ‘I think I do believe you. I knew that girl was a bad egg—’

  Kallie dashed away wetness she hadn’t noticed on her cheeks. ‘But—’

  Thea was indignant. ‘Look! Even now you jump to defend her—what is wrong with you? You have to tell Alexandros.’

  Kallie shook her head. ‘I can’t, Thea. I promised I wouldn’t and he’ll go after her.’

  Thea snorted. ‘Her? Of course he wouldn’t, that’s just the problem. It was you he always cared about, not her, that’s why she did it, and why he was so angry with you…’

  Kallie didn’t believe it. He hadn’t really cared about her at all, that had been obvious in the way he’d been so quick to judge her.

  ‘Thea, I can’t tell him.’ Kallie explained about Eleni’s fragile mental and physical health.

  Thea gave her a withering look. ‘Please, that girl is just a manipulator.’

  ‘But, Thea, can’t you see? How can I take the risk of telling Alexandros when he could very well decide to punish her…or her family?’

  ‘That was always your problem, Kallie, you were too nice…and too naïve. It was always you he cared about…that was where the problem started. Eleni was jealous.’

  Kallie winced. Was Thea right? Wouldn’t he want to punish Eleni? She couldn’t take the chance that he wouldn’t. Some dark emotion was rearing its ugly head and she didn’t want to look at it. No matter what Thea said, she had to protect Eleni.

  Thea got up to make them both some coffee and changed it to green tea when she saw how Kallie paled at the smell. Her unconscious concern told Kallie she was on the way to being forgiven. The relief was immense. Thea came back.

  ‘Child, you have no idea what happened to him after that…you think it was just the break-up of the engagement?’

  Wasn’t that bad enough?

  Kallie shrugged awkwardly. ‘I know he must have loved her…’ Despite what he had told her before.

  Thea laughed. ‘Love? You can’t still be that naïve surely? He didn’t love her. He was being forced to marry her by his mother in order to save Kouros Shipping. He had no choice in the matter. When his father died and left him in control, the old cronies didn’t have faith in him. They started to sell out, the company came close to bankruptcy. That merger was his only hope.’ She looked at Kallie carefully. ‘Didn’t you know about this?’

  Kallie knew she wasn’t going to like what she was going to hear, and shook her head. ‘No. He only told me a few times that he wasn’t sure how he felt about taking over the business…’ She smiled tightly. ‘He used to tell me that he wanted to do a degree in fine arts.’

  That was so far removed from the man today that Kallie couldn’t even believe that he had said it once. Thea brought her back to earth with a crash.

  ‘Which you confided in Eleni, and which she obviously then leaked to the papers, along with that photo…’

  ‘Oh, God…’ Kallie had never read the whole piece, she’d been too heart-sick.

  ‘Yes. They vilified him, the golden boy of the shipping world who never wanted to go into the business, he wanted to go to art college! With the merger and engagement falling through, the company going down the tubes, Alexandros had to work twenty-fou
r hours a day, seven days a week to bring things back…But he did. And no one would dare remind him of it today.’

  Unmistakable pride shone from Thea’s face. The past took on a different hue immediately. The person that Alexandros had become when his father had died had been born out of great responsibility and necessity. Not a greedy desire to make money. Kallie felt ill again. She looked at Thea with stricken eyes.

  ‘My parents…they threw him out of the house. I’ll never forget it.’

  Thea nodded. ‘I thought so.’ She shook her head at Kallie’s look. ‘No, he didn’t tell me, but I knew something bad had happened over there. He never mentioned your family again. And, in truth, you, your parents, your cousins were all the family he really had.’

  Kallie felt numb. More than numb. She’d known they’d always been close, but he’d always seemed so…self-sufficient. He’d always held something back. He’d never talked about his own family. Not really. For the first time she could see how it could have been possible for her parents to judge him so harshly…if they’d felt they hadn’t known him that well.

  It was so much worse than she’d ever known. ‘He must despise me.’

  Thea got up to rinse her cup. ‘In truth, Kallie, he was too busy to hate anyone. He just got on with it.’ She came back and stood in front of her, tipping her face up with an old calloused hand, her eyes dark and bright with emotion. She looked pointedly at the ring on Kallie’s finger, the simple platinum band. ‘He’s married you, Kallie, for a reason…’

  Thea was right, but there were two reasons. Revenge and desire. Guilt burned into Kallie like a brand. There was no way she could tell him the truth, because there was no way she could betray Eleni, risk her fragile health. And right now Kallie felt like she didn’t even deserve forgiveness. The facts were still the same. If she hadn’t gone out there to kiss him that night, when her instinct had warned her against it, none of this would have happened. And she had. So she was the one who had to deal with it.