'I don't need anyone to provide for me,' she snapped. He was like a juggernaut ignoring every refusal she put in his path, and blithely carrying on. 'I can do that on my own.'
He cast her a slow assessing look. 'I know,' he agreed. 'Stephen is a credit to you, and you have proved your ability to succeed in life to the whole world, but it must have been hard work. Now it is time for you to relinquish the reins a little, relax, and, how do you say it? Smell the roses.' His firm lips quirked at the corners and he smiled down at her. 'Stop creating problems where there are none, Willow. Now I have to dress, but my mother is waiting to meet you again, and don't worry—she is so entranced with Stephanos that all is forgiven.'
Stephanos. It was happening already, the Kadros takeover of her son, Willow thought, fear and anger making her voice sharp. 'His name is Stephen, and I have nothing to be forgiven for,' she said determinedly, straightening her shoulders. 'However, you could take a look at your own behaviour.' She attempted to walk past him, but steely fingers closed around her arm.
She tried to wrench free, but in a heartbeat she was spun around and enfolded in a tight embrace. The shock of being pressed against his bare chest, all sleek, rippling muscle, made her gasp. 'Let me go.'
'We have an audience, so be quiet and listen.' Theo stared down into her face, his own hard. 'Your one saving grace is that you named our son Stephen; my father's name was Stephanos. My mother is a religious woman and she is a great believer in fate. She is convinced your naming our son Stephen was God's will and therefore she forgives you for not making him known to us sooner. But understand this,' he commanded with icy force, 'I am nowhere near as forgiving as my mother and if you do anything at all to upset her I will make you wish you were never born.'
'As if I would,' Willow said with a negative shake of her dark head. This man did not know her at all. But even as he threatened her she was intensely aware of the clean, male scent of him, and she felt her breasts hardening at the close contact with his massive chest. Tensing, she raised her hands between their two bodies in the hope of pushing him away. 'And for your information Stephen was named after the ambulance driver who delivered him,' she told him bluntly.
His dark head suddenly jerked back and his hold on her loosened as he stared down at her with incredulous black eyes. 'An ambulance driver—what on earth for?'
Willow took the chance to escape, and stepped back quickly. 'Figure it out for yourself. You're so smart.'
'Wait a minute.' She was hauled back by a strong arm snaking around her waist, and the chill in Theo's dark eyes was now pronounced. 'Was he a lover?'
The total incongruity of his question made her laugh out loud. 'Hardly.' She lifted sparkling blue eyes to his. 'In fact, I might have put the poor young man off sex for life. It was his first week in the job when I called for an ambulance because the birth was imminent. Unfortunately by the time the ambulance arrived it was too late. Stephen had to deliver my baby in the bedroom.'
Theo's arm fell from her waist and he stared down at her in shock. 'A man. . .? A complete stranger. . .?' He shook his dark head incredulously.
Willow grinned; she had succeeded in leaving him speechless. Spinning around, she walked along the terrace to where a circular table was set for breakfast under the shade of a huge parasol. Mrs Kadros was already there, sitting next to Stephen, a beaming smile on her face.
'Ah, Willow, good morning. Please sit down. You have no idea how happy you have made me.'
'Good morning, Mrs Kadros,' she said rather nervously.
'Oh, no, dear, please, you must call me Judy. And I shall call you Willow. I was born and brought up in America so we don't stand on ceremony here. Though sometimes my beloved Stephanos used to despair of my open ways, but I always found ways to reassure him,' she said with a slightly naughty chuckle.
'Then good morning again, Judy.' Willow grinned. There was something infectious about the older woman's humour, and her first name was refreshingly more American than Greek. Pulling out a chair, Willow sat down on the opposite side of her son. I must thank you for having Stephen and I stay for a short holiday.' She felt better having clarified the situation with Judy. Willow was not going to marry her son, whatever Theo thought.
'My pleasure.' Judy smiled and leaned over and filled the coffee-cup at Willow's place setting. She then beckoned to the young Greek maid standing a few feet away, and said in an aside, 'Fresh coffee, please, Marta,' and, grinning back at Willow, she asked, 'Now, what would you like to eat? Just name it and Marta will prepare it for you.'
'Coffee and a roll will be fine. I never eat much breakfast,' Willow said truthfully.
'You will here, Mum—the food is great,' Stephen cut in, glancing up at her and talking with his mouth half full. 'You must try these pastry things with honey on them. They are much better than porridge.'
Willow grimaced. 'Not so good for your teeth, though; make sure you clean them after you have finished eating.' Pouring some cream in her coffee, she lifted the cup to her lips; she needed this.
'You are perfectly right,' Judy supported her. 'But excuse an old woman for spoiling the little one.'
'I'm not little,' Stephen said smartly. 'I am eight.'
'Sorry, Stephanos, of course you are a big boy, and I have no doubt you will end up as tall as your father in time.'
'Will I really, Mum?' he asked.
'I think it is a pretty safe bet,' Willow said dryly, grinning down into his beloved face. He was still young enough to turn to her for confirmation, his trust in her still absolute. But for how much longer, she wondered, now that his father was on the scene?
'I can see I am going to end up feeling like the midget of the family very soon,' Judy joked, and, turning to Willow, she added, 'But I don't care, set against the joy of seeing my grandson grow up. You cannot imagine how marvellous it is to have Theo's child in my house, my grandson. His grandfather must be rejoicing in heaven, I am sure,' and to Willow's surprise moisture glazed Judy's golden brown eyes. 'Forgive me, I am still a little emotional.'
'No, please, there is nothing to forgive.' Then, taking the bull by the horn, she did what she knew she had to do. 'If anyone needs forgiveness it is me. I should have tried to get in touch with you sooner.' There, she had said it. Willow took a deep, steadying breath and lifted the cup of coffee to her lips and drained the contents in one go.
'Go and find your father, Stephanos, and tell him to dress you properly before coming back or you will burn.'
'Oh, I'll do that.' Willow made to rise. 'I forgot too much exposure to the sun is so harmful.' Judy must think she was the world's worst mother.
'No.' Judy laid a restraining hand on her arm as Willow went to follow Stephen's quick departure from the table.