CHAPTER SIXTEEN
‘WHAT’S HAPPENED TO US, Kimmie?’
‘What do you mean, “What’s happened to us?”’
‘You accuse me of never showing my feelings, but do you always show yours? Saying the words “I love you” is far easier than testing that love, isn’t it? I know,’ he added before she had a chance to reply. ‘I haven’t even gone as far as saying the words. I haven’t, because I didn’t want to lead you on, and I just couldn’t be sure that what I was feeling wasn’t a weird sort of triumph—not connected with providing an heir for Kaimos Shipping, but becoming a father. Knowing that, if all went well, I would become a parent, and could show my child the love my parents weren’t able to offer me, was immense. I was overwhelmed by it and, after a lifetime of suppressing my feelings, it took some getting used to.’
‘And now?’ she asked tremulously.
‘And now you come to ask me for a loan, and tell me you’re fine, when clearly that’s not the case. Who’s hiding their feelings now, Kimmie?’
When she didn’t speak, he added, ‘I can only imagine what it cost you to come here.’ The fact that she had nowhere else to go didn’t lessen the impact of a proud, self-sufficient woman like Kimmie throwing herself on his mercy.
‘It wasn’t easy,’ she admitted ruefully, ‘but if I don’t paint I don’t make money, and I need to start earning right away. To do that I have to buy supplies.’ Her lips pressed down in a sad little smile as she shrugged. ‘Will you lend me the money? I’ll pay you back every penny. You do trust me to do that, don’t you?’
‘I trust you with my life, and with the life of our child. You can have anything. You know that.’
Trust was everything to Kimmie. It was the rock she had always wanted to build her life on, but that rock had so often turned out to be sand.
And, much as he wanted to gift her the money, a handout wasn’t the answer. She wouldn’t want one. Kimmie had come to him because she needed to get back on her feet and for no other reason, unfortunately.
‘I’ll organise a transfer.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
‘And set out the terms of the loan.’
She raised her head at that and when she said, ‘Thank you,’ this time her voice was firm and her eyeline was steady. ‘I’d appreciate that.’
‘I knew you would,’ he said, mouth tugging up at one corner in a smile. ‘Truce?’
‘Truce,’ she agreed. ‘And thank you again...for understanding.’
‘Of course I understand. You’re a successful woman who’s had a few bumps along the way. Haven’t we all? You’ll move past it. Life’s like that. And with the benefit of hindsight you might see that all this has happened for a reason.’
‘What reason?’ Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she grimaced. ‘And does it have to hurt quite so much?’
‘Rejoice that you’re feeling something. It’s been a long time...for both of us and, yes, as I said before, it takes some getting used to. I’ll make sure the transfer is in your bank right away. I’ll mail the details of the repayment plan. And now, if that’s all...?’
‘Oh, yes... I’m sorry. I realise this is a working day. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.’
And now he felt bad. She looked stricken as she made for the door. He got there before her and barred her way. ‘Kimmie...’
‘Goodbye, Kris. I won’t forget your kindness.’
‘You’d better not,’ he warned, standing aside so she could leave. ‘Or our baby will have a rocky start to family life, and I don’t think either of us wants that, do we?’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘No,’ she whispered, ‘that’s the last thing we want.’
It was as though her tears had finally broken through a barrier inside him. He had meetings that couldn’t be cancelled. Board meetings could be postponed, site visits rescheduled, team meetings delayed... Ambassadors offering huge contracts? Not so much.
He cancelled anyway.
‘You’re right,’ he called out, catching up with Kimmie as she was about to cross the road in front of Kaimos Shipping’s gleaming steel and glass totem to excellence.
‘Sorry?’ She whirled around.
‘You’re right about me and business,’ he explained. ‘There are more important things in life.’
‘Like what?’ she queried, frowning.
‘Like my love for you.’
‘What?’
He ushered her back into the building. Calling his driver, he arranged for the limo to take them home.
All the way back he held Kimmie in his arms. There was no need to speak. They’d said everything. Now it was time to turn those words into actions.
‘Why did I get myself into such a mess?’ she asked, not expecting an answer, he guessed, as they entered the house.
‘Do you think I’ve never blundered? You learn by your mistakes,’ he said, guiding her into the library, his favourite room in the house. ‘It’s part of the game in business.’
‘But this isn’t a game,’ she whispered. ‘This is my heart.’
‘And you feel as if it’s been trampled on so many times there’s no point in trying to revive it? Come on, Kimmie, I know you better than that. We’ve both come a long way since we met on that beach,’ he added as he ushered her towards a comfortable sofa in front of the log fire. ‘I’ve not quite perfected the art of being romantic, but I’m working on it.’
‘By drawing up another contract?’
‘Yeah. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?’
‘Absolutely,’ she confirmed, but there was tension in her voice.
‘I’m still open to offers to repay the loan in kind.’
‘I bet you are,’ she said, loosening up as she gazed at him.
‘And yes, people are supposed to be nice to each other, but that doesn’t always happen.’ He shrugged. ‘We both know that. We’re not children cowering in a corner as we used to, waiting to see how things turn out. We make things happen now.’
‘Is that what you’re doing?’
He ignored the question. ‘You know how to grab hold of life and ride that wave,’ he insisted. ‘And you’ll do so again, though next time I predict you’ll take more of an interest in the business side of your career.’
‘I might need some help with that.’
‘I’m offering. Drink?’
‘How can you turn in a flash from an offer that has to be priceless in the world of commerce to something as mundane as a drink?’
‘Try this for a switch-around.’ Getting down on one knee on the rug in front of the fire, he brought out a ring box, for the third time and hopefully final time, although he knew he’d ask her as many times as it took to get the answer he wanted. ‘I think you know what I’m going to ask, but I’m going to ask it anyway. Kimmie Lancaster, I love you with all my heart, and I promise never to stop you doing anything you want to do, and that includes borrowing money from me—though if I don’t get the right answer this time I might decide to charge interest on the loan.’
‘Retrospectively?’
‘Whatever it takes.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘How about yes?’
‘Seriously?’ Slipping down onto the floor in front of him, Kimmie raised her chin. ‘Can we do this?’ she asked in all seriousness.
‘Of course we can. We can do anything we want, so long as we remain true to each other.’
‘I don’t want your money.’
‘Fortunately, that’s not what I’m offering.’
‘What are you offering?’
‘My name, as well as something far more valuable than cash in the bank.’
‘Which is?’
‘My experience in business. As a successful artist—and, yes, you are successful, and are going to be even more so—it�
�s your duty to become familiar with how commerce works. I’m not offering you a handout, or even an easy path. It will be hard work repaying my loan. I’m a relentless taskmaster. You’ll pay me back in full, and every penny I receive will go straight into the scholarship fund you’re trying to build. That will be your incentive. The fund will be a success and so will you. I believe in you. Now believe in yourself.’
She was quiet for quite a while, and then she mused out loud, ‘Mandy said something similar.’
‘Then listen to us.’
If Kris had offered pity or an unconditional loan, she would probably have thrown everything back in his face, but she realised he knew her too well for that. And he’d admitted that he loved her. That was a colossal thing for him.
‘I love you too,’ she said, which was still a colossal thing for Kimmie to say, even though she’d already told him once before. They deserved each other, she concluded as Kris smiled with fierce satisfaction. ‘With all my heart.’
‘For ever and always,’ he confirmed.
And then he kissed her and held her as if he would never let her go. She didn’t want to go anywhere. She was home.
* * *
The sale of a large canvas of Kyria Demetriou staring out to sea in thoughtful mood paid off Kimmie’s loan to Kris, and added a hefty sum to her scholarship programme. There had been a vast increase in demand for her paintings, and this last sale had prompted a new exhibition.
‘I’ve got something for you,’ she said.
‘You do choose your moments,’ Kris remarked, precariously balancing on the top of a ladder to adjust one of her paintings.
‘Can I give it to you now?’
‘Can’t it wait?’
‘Maybe, but...I don’t know.’
‘You infuriating woman,’ Kris growled as he sprang down from the ladder.
‘Feel this...’ Pressing her back into him, Kimmie wrapped Kris’s arms around her heavily pregnant belly. ‘The baby’s turning somersaults. I thought you’d want to feel...’
‘I do want to feel.’ Brushing her hair aside, he kissed her neck as they stood motionless in wonder.
‘Pretty good, huh?’ Kimmie commented happily.
‘We seem to have got the recipe right,’ Kris agreed, smiling.
Turning her, he kissed her tenderly and held her close. ‘For ever and always,’ he reminded her.
They strolled down the same hall in the same community centre that had become a magnet for those eager to view the works of new artists. ‘I hope you can feel my appreciation for your work?’ Kris teased as he dragged Kimmie close at the end of the hall.
‘I can certainly feel something,’ she confirmed. ‘Do you have any idea of how sexy you look when you’re up a ladder in rugged boots, snug-fitting jeans and a soft wool jumper with the sleeves rolled back to reveal forearms like steel bars?’
Kris pulled a face. ‘Honestly? It’s never occurred to me.’ He laughed. ‘You, on the other hand...’
‘Not here,’ Kimmie protested. ‘Anyone could walk in.’ The hall was a public place and plenty of people were working on preparation for this latest exhibition.
‘Isn’t that half the fun?’ Kris suggested as he took full advantage of the love of his life.
‘For you, maybe,’ Kimmie gasped as he upped the risk, making her groan with pleasure. ‘Don’t you need to be doing something useful with that spirit level?’ she asked, glancing wildly at the picture he’d been hanging.
‘I do,’ he agreed. ‘I definitely do. Are you complaining?’ he asked as she gasped.
‘Never!’
EPILOGUE
THE KAIMOS WEDDING was held in the grand salon on board Kristof Kaimos’s fabulous superyacht, affectionately nicknamed the Office Block by its new joint owner, his beloved.
Everyone agreed the couple were perfectly matched, even though they were so utterly different. Take one hard, driven businessman and one boho artist, mix them together, and the result was a loving family with just the right balance of artistry and commerce to keep love at the top of both their agendas.
No one who saw them with their infant child could deny the love that radiated from them. There had never been a more beautiful bride, people said, even if her hair was a little unusual. And as for her husband, the impossibly handsome Kristof Kaimos, billionaire, now a lover and a father, who didn’t care if the world knew he was besotted with his wife, and enchanted by their baby daughter, Camilla. His happiness had only seemed to make him more successful in business, and Kaimos Shipping had gone from strength to strength.
Everyone who mattered to the couple joined them on their happy day, and Kimmie was proud to wear the ring that had meant so much to Kris’s uncle. Happily, another friendship seemed to be blossoming between Theo Kaimos and Kyria Demetriou and, as far as Kimmie and Kris were concerned, that put the seal on the day.
Kris had never seen anyone lovelier than his bride and knowing Kimmie was quite capable of choosing her own path through life, and yet had chosen to walk that path with him, was something he valued more than he could say...though he did have a good go at saying it, because they’d vowed to be honest with each other always and express their feelings fully.
No one mattered more to Kris than this woman standing at his side and their baby daughter. Who knew he could become such a devoted family man?
‘I knew,’ his uncle had assured him with vigour. ‘I always knew that when the right woman came along you would be smitten. It just took a little longer than I thought for you to realise Kimmie was the one. Me? I knew right away.’
‘Of course you did, Uncle.’
But now, as he looked at Kimmie, he knew his uncle was right. He should have been telling her how special she was from the very first moment they’d met instead of fighting falling in love quite so hard. Each day he’d learned more about her, and each day he had more reason to love her than before, and he told her this in every way he could.
The fresh white rose petals he’d had specially imported sent billows of glorious scent wafting around her. The setting was everything he’d hoped for, and that was all thanks to his wonderful staff, under the dedicated supervision of Mandy, ably assisted by Kyria Demetriou.
‘I love you,’ Kimmie whispered as the ceremony was about to begin.
Quite suddenly it was as if he, Kimmie and their baby daughter, who was safe in Kyria Demetriou’s arms, were the only three people present. ‘I love you too,’ he said, staring deep into Kimmie’s eyes, and then the congregation fell silent and the marriage ceremony began.
The love surrounding them was almost like a living thing, Kimmie thought and, yes, she wanted to paint it.
‘Stop designing sketches in your mind, and just say “I do”,’ he advised, staring down in a way that made her body tremble and yearn for his touch.
‘I do,’ she stated clearly, and then the minister declared them husband and wife.
* * *
‘So my dress isn’t too plain for you?’
‘Your dress is perfect.’
‘Perfect to take off?’
‘That too,’ Kris confirmed, smiling into her eyes when they were alone together at last.
She wore the simple ivory silk sheath with fresh flowers in her hair and the beautiful star sapphire ring as her only other adornment. As she’d asked, her wedding ring was a plain gold band.
‘I love painting hands and rings that seem to grow into a person’s hand as they get older, just as you are part of me,’ she’d told Kris.
‘I’ll never change you,’ he said now as her dress pooled on the floor at Kimmie’s feet.
‘It’s too late,’ she said. ‘You’ve already changed me.’
‘As you have changed me,’ he said and, lifting her hands to his lips, Kris kissed each one in turn in a silent pledge of trust and love.
* * *
; If you enjoyed The Greek’s Virgin Temptation you’re sure to enjoy these other stories by Susan Stephens!
A Night of Royal Consequences
The Sheikh’s Shock Child
Pregnant by the Desert King
A Scandalous Midnight in Madrid
Available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Shock Marriage for the Powerful Spaniard by Cathy Williams.
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Shock Marriage for the Powerful Spaniard
by Cathy Williams
CHAPTER ONE
‘BUT...ANYWAY... I’M glad you’ve come, Rafael. I wasn’t sure whether you would have the time, with this deal you’re working on. The newspapers are full of it. It’s nice that you still can find a window for a dying old man.’
The Greek's Virgin Temptation Page 16
