The Maid's Best Kept Secret (The Marchetti Dynasty 1)

She felt very pale, and wished she had more colour.

There was a movement behind her and she saw Nikos, reflected in the doorway.

Her heart stopped. He was wearing a tuxedo and she felt a rushing sensation in her head, remembering the first time she’d seen him lounging against his own front door, looking like the devil himself.

He looked no less innocent now, even though his tuxedo was pristine. He oozed sophistication and masculine elegance, yet with that ever-present edginess that hinted at something much darker and more intense.

He came into the room and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

His dark gaze swept her up and down. ‘I knew you were beautiful, Maggie...but like this you are even more than I imagined.’

Maggie couldn’t even take in what he was saying. It was so far removed from her reality.

Her old reality.

‘You look...lovely.’ She winced inwardly. What did one say to one of the most ridiculously handsome men on the planet?

Nikos quirked a smile. ‘Thank you.’

She wanted to scowl. ‘You know what I mean... I’m not used to this.’

Nikos’s smile faded. He reached out and touched Maggie’s jaw. ‘I know. You’ll be fine. I promise. Everyone will be captivated by you.’

‘I don’t want to captivate anyone.’

Don’t you? whispered a small voice.

She ignored it.

Nikos took his hand away and moved behind her to the boxes laid out on a table. Maggie hadn’t even noticed them before.

He opened one of them up and stood back. ‘What would you like to wear with the dress?’

Maggie walked over and was almost blinded by the bling. Diamonds... A necklace with square rough-cut diamonds and matching earrings. A bracelet.

She looked at Nikos. ‘My ears aren’t pierced.’

He responded smoothly. ‘Okay, the bracelet and necklace, then.’

He plucked them out and moved behind her to put on the necklace. She felt its heavy cold weight against her collarbone and touched it.

Then he came in front of her and lifted her arm, fastening the bracelet around her wrist. It too was heavy. Substantial.

‘What if I lose them?’ she asked.

Nikos looked at her. ‘Don’t. They’re worth the annual debt of a small country.’

There was a glimmer of humour in his eyes, though. And then he picked up another, much smaller box.

Maggie looked down at it. ‘What’s this?’

‘This evening is primarily focused on introducing you as my fiancée. You’ll need a ring.’

He opened the box and Maggie sucked in a breath. She’d never really been interested in jewellery, but the ring nestled against a white satin cushion was exquisite. It was a square-cut emerald, with small square diamonds on either side, in a platinum setting and band.

Maggie said, ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘I could have let you choose, but I thought this one would suit.’