Gorgeous Greeks: Playing Her Games

‘The helicopter flight was amazing?’

‘No, I haven’t done that yet. I was talking about the night with you, although there were moments that felt as nerve-racking as skydiving.’ Her mouth tilted into a self-conscious smile. ‘Of course it’s also a little embarrassing looking at you in daylight after all those things we did in the dark, but I’m trying not to think about it. Now stop being annoying. In fact, stop talking for a while. That way I’m less likely to kill you before we arrive.’

Nik refrained from pointing out she’d been the only one in the dark. He’d had perfect vision and he’d used it to his own shameless advantage. There wasn’t a single corner of her body he hadn’t explored and the memory of every delicious curve was welded in his brain.

He tried to work out what it was about her that was so appealing. Innocence wasn’t a quality he generally admired in a person so he had to assume the power of the attraction stemmed from the sheer novelty of being with someone who had managed to retain such an untarnished view of the world.

‘Are you embarrassed about the night we spent together?’

‘I would be if I thought about it, so I’m not thinking about it. I’m living in the moment.’ Having offered that simple solution to the problem, she reached into the back of the car for her hat. ‘You could take the same approach to the wedding. You’re not here to fix it or protect anyone. You’re here as a guest and your only responsibility is to smile and look happy. Is this it? Are we here? Because I don’t see an island. Maybe your father might have changed the venue when he saw the black cloud of your presence approaching over the horizon.’

Nik dragged his gaze from her mouth to the jetty. ‘This is it. From here, we go by boat.’

Lily stood in the prow of the boat feeling the cool brush of the wind on her face and tasting the salty air. The boat skimmed and bounced over the sparkling ocean towards the large island in the distance, sending a light spray over her face and tangling her hair.

Nik stood behind the wheel, legs braced, eyes hidden behind a pair of dark glasses. Despite the unsmiling set of his mouth, he looked more approachable and less the hard-headed businessman.

‘This is so much fun. I think I might love it more than your Ferrari.’

He gave a smile that turned him from insanely good-looking to devastating, and she felt the intensity of the attraction like a physical punch.

It was true he didn’t seem to display any of the family values that were so important to her, but that didn’t do anything to diminish the sexual attraction.

As far as she could tell, he couldn’t be more perfect for a short-term relationship.

For the whole trip in the car she’d been aware of him. As he’d shifted gear his hand had brushed against her bare thigh and she’d discovered that being with him was an exciting, exhilarating experience that was like nothing she’d experienced before.

There had been a brief moment when they’d pulled into the car park that she’d thought he might be about to kiss her. He’d looked at her mouth the way a panther looked at its prey before it devoured it, but just when she’d been about to close her eyes and take a fast ride to bliss, he’d sprung from the car, leaving her to wonder if she’d imagined it.

She’d followed him to the jetty, watching in fascination as the group of people gathered there sprang to attention. If she needed any more evidence of the power he wielded, she had only to observe the way people responded to him. He behaved with an authority that was instinctive, his air of command unmistakable even in this apparently casual setting.

It was a good job he didn’t possess any of the qualities she was looking for, she thought, otherwise she’d be in trouble.

Her gaze lingered on his bronzed throat, visible at the open neck of his shirt. He handled the boat with the same confident assurance he displayed in everything and she was sure that no electrical device had ever dared to misbehave under his expert touch.

Trying not to think about just how expert his touch had been, she anchored her hair and shouted above the wind. ‘The beaches are beautiful. People aren’t allowed to bathe here?’

‘You can bathe here. You’re my guest.’ As they approached the island, he slowed the speed of the boat and skilfully steered against the dock.

Two men instantly jumped forward to help and Nik sprang from the boat and held out his hand to her.

‘I need to get my bag.’

‘They will bring our luggage up to the villa later.’

‘I have a gift for your father and it’s only one bag,’ she muttered. ‘I can carry a single bag.’

‘You bought a gift?’

‘Of course. It’s a wedding. I couldn’t come without a small gift.’ She stepped out of the bobbing boat and allowed herself to hold his hand for a few seconds longer than was necessary for balance. She felt warmth and strength flow through her fingers and had to battle the temptation to press herself against him. ‘So how many bedrooms does your father have? Are you sure there is room for me to stay?’

The question seemed to amuse him. ‘There will be room, theé mou, don’t worry. As well as the main villa, there are several other properties scattered around the island. We will be staying in one of those.’

As they walked up a sandy path she breathed in the wonderful scents of sea juniper and wild thyme. ‘One of the things I love most about Crete is the thyme honey. Brittany and I eat it for breakfast.’

‘My father keeps bees so he will be very happy to hear you say that.’

The path forked at the top and he turned right and took the path that led down to another beach. There, nestling in the small horseshoe bay of golden sand with the water almost lapping at the whitewashed walls, was a beautiful contemporary villa.

Lily stopped. ‘That’s your father’s house?’ The position was idyllic, the villa stunning, but it looked more like a honeymoon hideaway than somewhere to accommodate a large number of high-profile international guests.

‘No. This is Camomile Villa. The main house is fifteen minutes’ walk in the other direction, towards the small Venetian fort. I thought we’d unpack and breathe for an hour or so before we face the guests.’

Witnessing his tension, she felt a rush of compassion. ‘Nik—’ She put her hand on his cheek and turned his face to hers. ‘This is a wedding, not the sacking of Troy. You do not need to find your strength or breathe. Your role is to smile and enjoy yourself.’

His gaze locked on hers and she wished she hadn’t touched him. His blue-shadowed jaw was rough beneath her fingers and suddenly she was remembering that night in minute detail.

Seriously unsettled, she started to pull her hand away but he caught her wrist in his fingers and held it there.

‘You are a very unusual woman.’ His voice was husky and she gave a faint smile, ignoring the wild flutter of nerves low in her stomach.

‘I am not even going to ask what you mean by that. I’m simply going to take it as a compliment.’

‘Of course you are.’ There was a strange gleam in his eyes. ‘You see positive in everything, don’t you?’

‘Not always.’ She could have told him that she saw very little positive in being alone in the world, having no family, but given his obvious state of tension she decided to keep that confidence to herself. ‘So how do you know we’re staying in Camomile Villa? Cute name, by the way. Maybe your father has given it to one of the other guests. Shouldn’t you go and check?’

‘Camomile belongs to me.’

Lily digested that. ‘So actually you own five properties, not four.’

‘I don’t count this place.’

‘Really? Because if I owned this I’d be spending every spare minute here.’ She walked up the path, past silvery green olive trees, nets lying on the ground ready for harvesting later in the year. A small lizard lay basking in the hot sun and she smiled as it sensed company and darted for safety into the dry, dusty earth.

The path leading down to the villa cut through a garden of tumbling colour. Bougainvillaea in bright pinks and purples blended and merged against the dazzling white of the walls and the perfect blue of the sky.

Nik opened the door and Lily followed him inside.

White beamed ceilings and natural stone floors gave the interior a cool, uncluttered feel and the elegant white interior was lifted by splashes of Mediterranean blue.

‘If you don’t want this place, I might live here.’ Lily looked at the shaded terrace with its beautiful infinity pool. ‘Why does anyone need a pool when the sea is five steps from the front door?’

‘Some people don’t like swimming in the sea.’

‘I’m not one of those people. I adore the sea. Nik, this place is—’ she felt a lump in her throat ‘—it’s really special.’

He opened the doors to the terrace and gave her a wary look. ‘Are you going to cry?’

‘It’s perfect.’ She blinked. ‘And I’m fine. Happy. And excited. I love Crete, but I never get the chance to enjoy it like a tourist. I’m always working.’ And never in her life had she experienced this level of luxury.

She and Brittany were always moaning about the mosquitoes and lack of air conditioning in their tiny apartment. At night they slept with the windows open to make the most of the breeze from the sea, but in the summer months it was almost unbearable indoors.

‘You are the most unusual woman I’ve ever met. You enjoy small things.’

‘This is not a small thing. And you’re the unusual one.’ She picked up her bag. ‘You take this life for granted.’

‘That is not true. I know how fortunate I am.’

‘I don’t think you do, but I’m going to be pointing it out to you every minute for the next few days so hopefully by the time we leave you will.’ She glanced around her and then looked at him expectantly. ‘My bedroom?’

For a wild, unnerving moment she hoped he was going to tell her there was just one bedroom, but he gestured to a door that led from the large spacious living area.

‘The guest suite is through there. Make yourself comfortable.’

Guest suite.

So he didn’t intend them to share a room. For Nik, it really had been one night.

Telling herself it was probably for the best, she followed his directions and walked through an open door into a bright, airy bedroom. The bed was draped in layers of cream and white, deep piles of cushions and pillows inviting the occupant to lounge and relax. The walls were hung with bold, contemporary art, slashes of deep blue on large canvases that added a stylish touch to the room. In one corner stood a tall, elegant vase in graduated blues, the colour shifting under the dazzling sunlight.

Lily recognised it instantly. ‘That’s one of Skylar’s pots.’

He looked at her curiously. ‘You know the artist?’

‘Skylar Tempest. She and Brittany were roommates at college. They’re best friends, as close as sisters. I would know her work anywhere. Her style, her use of colour and composition is unique, but I know that pot specifically because I talked to her about it. Brittany introduced us because Skylar wanted to talk to me about ceramics. She’s incorporated a few Minoan designs into some of her work, modernised, of course.’ She knelt down and slid her hand over the smooth surface of the glass. ‘This is from her Mediterranean Sky collection. She had a small exhibition in New York, not only glass and pots but jewellery and a couple of paintings. She’s insanely talented.’

‘You were at that exhibition?’

‘Sadly no. I don’t move in those circles. Nor do I pretend to claim any credit for any of her incredible creations, but I did talk to her about shapes and style. Of course the Minoans used terracotta clay. It was Sky’s idea to reproduce the shape in glass. Look at this—’ She trailed her finger lightly over the surface. ‘The Minoans usually decorated their pots with dark on light motifs, often of sea creatures, and she’s taken her inspiration from that. It’s genius. I can’t believe you own it. Where did you find it?’

‘I was at the exhibition.’

‘In New York? How did you even know about her?’

‘I saw her work in a small artisan jewellers in Greenwich Village and I bought one of her necklaces for—’ He broke off and Lily looked at him expectantly.

‘For? For one of your women? We’re not in a relationship, Nik. You don’t have to censor your conversation. And even if we were in a relationship you still wouldn’t need to censor it.’

‘In my experience, most women do not appreciate hearing about their predecessors.’

‘Yes, well the more I hear about the women you’ve known in your life, the more I’m not surprised. Now tell me about how you discovered Skylar.’

‘I asked to see more of her work and was told she was having an exhibition. I managed to get myself invited.’

Lily rocked back on her heels. ‘She never mentioned that she met you.’

‘We never met. I didn’t introduce myself. I went on the first night and she was surrounded by well-wishers, so I simply bought a few pieces and left. That was two years ago.’

‘So she doesn’t know she sold pieces to Nik Zervakis?’

‘A member of my team handled the actual transaction.’

Lily scrambled to her feet. ‘Because you don’t touch real money? She would be so excited if she knew her work was here in your villa. Can I tell her?’

He looked amused. ‘If you think it would interest her, then yes.’

‘Interest her? Of course it would interest her.’ Lily pulled her phone out of her bag and took a photo. ‘I must admit that pot looks perfect there. It needs a large room with lots of light. Did you know she has another exhibition coming up?’ She slipped her phone back into her bag. ‘December in London. An upmarket gallery in Knightsbridge is showing her work. She’s really excited. Her new collection is called Ocean Blue. It’s still sea themed. Brittany showed me some photos.’

‘Will you be going?’

‘To an exhibition in Knightsbridge? Sure. I thought I’d fly in on my private jet, spend a night in the Royal Suite at The Savoy and then get my driver to take me to the exhibition.’ She laughed and then saw something flicker in his eyes. ‘Er—that’s exactly what you’re going to be doing, isn’t it?’

‘My plans aren’t confirmed.’

‘But you do have a private jet.’

‘ZervaCo owns a Gulfstream and a couple of Lear jets.’ He said it as if it was normal and she shook her head, trying not to be intimidated.

For her, wealth was people and family, not money, but still—

‘Seriously, Nik. What am I doing here? To you a Gulfstream is a mode of transport, to me it’s a warm Atlantic current. I used to own a rusty mountain bike until the wheel fell off. I’m the one who works in a dusty museum, digs in the dirt in the summer and cleans other people’s houses to give myself enough money to live. And living doesn’t include jetting across Europe to a friend’s exhibition. I have no idea where I’ll even be in December. I’m job hunting.’

‘Wherever you are, I’ll fly you there. And for your information, I wouldn’t be staying in the Royal Suite.’

‘Because you already own an apartment that most royals would kill for.’ His lack of response told her she was right and she rolled her eyes. ‘Nik, we had an illuminating conversation earlier during which you confessed that you think your new stepmother is only interested in your father’s money. Money is obviously a very big deal to you, so I’m hardly likely to take you up on your offer of a ride in your private jet, am I?’

‘That is different. I’m grateful that you agreed to come here with me,’ he said softly, ‘and taking you to Skylar’s exhibition would be my way of saying thank you.’

‘I don’t need a thank you. And to be honest I’m here because of the conversation I had with your father. My decision didn’t have anything to do with you. We had one night, that’s all. I mean, the sex was great, but I had no trouble walking out of your door that morning. There were no feelings involved.’ She shook her head to add emphasis. ‘Kevlar, that’s me.’

He gave her a long, steady look. ‘I have never met anyone who less resembles that substance.’

‘Up until a week ago I would have agreed with you, but now I’m a changed person. Seriously, I’m enjoying being with you. You’re smoking hot and surprisingly entertaining despite your warped view of relationships, but I am no more in love with you than I am with your supersonic shower. And you don’t owe me anything for bringing me here—in fact I owe you.’ She glanced across the room to the terrace outside. ‘This is the nearest I’ve come to a vacation in a long time. It’s not exactly a hardship being here. I am going to lie in the sun like that lizard out there.’

‘You haven’t met my family yet.’ He paused, his gaze fixed on hers. ‘Think about it. If you change your mind about coming to Skylar’s London exhibition, let me know. The invitation stands. I won’t withdraw it.’

It was a different world.

What would it be like, she wondered, not to have to think about your budget? Not to have to make choices between forfeiting one thing to buy another?

This close she could see the flecks of gold in those dark eyes, the blue-black shadow of his jaw and the almost unbelievably perfect lines of his bone structure. If a scale had been invented to measure sex appeal, she was pretty sure he would have shattered it. She couldn’t look at his mouth without remembering all the ways he’d used it on her body and remembering made her want it again. She wanted to reach out and slide her fingers into that silky dark hair and press her mouth to his. And this time she wanted to do it without the blindfold.

Aware that her mind was straying into forbidden territory she took a step back, reminding herself that money came a poor second to family and this man seemed to be virtually estranged from his father.

‘I won’t change my mind.’

Dragging her gaze from his, she dropped her bag on the floor and unzipped it. ‘I need to hang up my dresses or they’ll be creased. I don’t want to make a bad impression.’

‘There are staff over in the main villa who will help you unpack. I can call them.’

‘Are you kidding?’ Amused by yet more evidence of the differences between their respective lifestyles, she pulled out her clothes. ‘This will take me five minutes at most. And I’d be embarrassed to ask anyone else to hang up a tee shirt that cost the same amount as a cup of coffee. So what happens next?’

‘We are joining my father and Diandra for lunch.’

‘Sounds good to me.’

The expression on his face told her he didn’t share her sentiments. ‘I need to make some calls. Make yourself at home. The fridge is stocked, there are books in the living room. Feel free to use the pool. If there is anything you need, let me know. I’ll be using the office on the other side of the living room.’

What else could she possibly need?

Lily glanced round the villa, which was by far the most luxurious and exclusive place she’d ever stayed.

She had a feeling the only thing she was going to need was a reality check.

He hadn’t been back here since that summer five years before. It had been an attempt to put the past behind him, but ironically it had succeeded only in making things worse.

The memory of his last visit sat in his head like a muddy stain.

Nik strolled out onto the terrace, hoping the view would relieve his tension, but being here took him right back to his childhood and that was a place he made a point of avoiding.

With a soft curse, he walked back into the room he’d had converted into an office and switched on his laptop.

For the next hour he took an endless stream of calls and then finally, when he couldn’t postpone the moment any longer, he took a quick shower and changed for lunch.

Another day, another wedding.

Mouth grim, he pocketed his phone and strolled through the villa to find Lily.

She was sitting in the shade on the terrace, a glass of iced lemonade by her hand and a book in her lap, staring out across the bright turquoise blue of the bay.

She hadn’t noticed him and he stood for a moment, watching her. The tension left him to be replaced by tension of a different source. That one night he’d spent with her hadn’t been anywhere near long enough.

He wanted to rip off that pretty blue sundress and take her straight back to bed but he knew that, no matter what she said, she wasn’t the sort of woman to be able to keep her emotions out of the bedroom so he gave her a cool smile as he strolled onto the terrace.

‘Are you ready?’

‘Yes.’ She slid her feet into a pair of silver ballet flats and put her book on the table. ‘Is there anything I should know? Who will be there?’

‘My father and Diandra. They wanted this lunch to be family only.’

‘In other words your father doesn’t want your first meeting for a long while to be in public.’ She reached for her glass and finished her drink. ‘Don’t worry about me while we’re here. I’m sure I can find a few friendly faces to talk to while you’re mingling.’

He looked down at the curve of her cheeks and the dimple in the corner of her mouth and decided she was the one with the friendly face. If he had to pick a single word to describe her, it would be approachable. She was warm, friendly and he was sure there would be no shortage of guests eager to talk to her. The thought should have reduced his stress because it gave him one less responsibility, but it didn’t.

Despite her claims to being made of Kevlar, he wasn’t convinced she’d managed to manufacture even a thin layer of protection for herself.

He offered to drive her to avoid the heat but she chose to walk and on the way up to the main house she grilled him about his background. Did his father still work? What exactly was his business? Did he have any other family apart from Nik?

His suspicion that she was more comfortable with this gathering than him was confirmed as soon as he walked onto the terrace.

He saw the table by the pool laid for four and felt Lily sneak her hand into his.

‘He wants you to get to know Diandra. He’s trying to build bridges,’ she said softly, her fingers squeezing his. ‘Don’t glare.’

Before he could respond, his father walked out onto the terrace.

‘Niklaus—’ His voice shook and Nik saw the shimmer of tears in his father’s eyes.

Lily extracted her hand from his. ‘Hug him.’ She made it sound simple and Nik wondered whether bringing someone as idealistic as Lily to a reunion as complicated as this one had been entirely sensible, but she and his father obviously thought alike because he walked towards them, arms outstretched.

‘It’s been too long since you were home. Far too long, but the past is behind us. All is forgiven. I have such news to tell you, Niklaus.’

Forgiven?

His feet nailed to the floor by the past and the weight of the secrets his father didn’t know, Nik didn’t move and then he felt Lily’s small hand in his back pushing, harder this time, and he then stepped forward and was embraced by his father so tightly it knocked the air from his lungs.

He felt a heaviness in his chest that had nothing to do with the intensity of his father’s grip. Emotions rushed towards him and he was beginning to wish he’d never agreed to this reunion when Lily stepped forward, breaking the tension of the moment with her warmest, brightest smile and an extended hand that gave his father no choice but to release Nik.

‘I’m Lily Rose. We spoke on the phone. You have a very beautiful home, Mr Zervakis. It’s kind of you to invite me to share your special day.’ Blushing charmingly, she then attempted to speak a few words of Greek, a gesture that both distracted his father and guaranteed a lifetime of devotion.

Nik watched as his dazzled father melted like butter left in the hot sun.