Playing by the Greek's Rules (Puffin Island 0.50)

‘Do you have anyone in mind for—er—Operation Ice Maiden?’

‘Not yet, but if they happen to think it’s you that’s fine. You’d look good on my romantic résumé.’

Nik leaned his head back against the seat and started to laugh. ‘You, Lily, are priceless.’

‘That doesn’t sound like a compliment.’ She adjusted the neckline of her dress and her breasts almost escaped in the process. ‘You’re basically saying I’m not worth anything.’

Dragging his gaze from her body, Nik decided this was the most entertaining evening he’d had in a long time.

* * *

‘There are photographers.’ As they pulled up outside the museum Lily slunk lower in her seat and Nik closed his hand around her wrist and hauled her upright again.

‘You look stunning. If you don’t want them all surmising that we climbed out of bed to come here then you need to stop looking guilty.’

‘I saw several TV cameras.’

‘The opening of a new wing of the museum is news.’

‘The neckline of this dress might also be news.’ She tugged at it. ‘My breasts are too big for this plunging style. Can I borrow your jacket?’

‘Your breasts deserve a dress like that and no, you may not borrow my jacket.’ His voice was a deep, masculine purr and she felt the sizzle of sexual attraction right through her body.

‘Are you flirting with me?’ He was completely different from the safe, friendly men who formed part of her social circle. There was a brutal strength to him, a confidence and assurance that suggested he’d never met a man he hadn’t been able to beat in a fight, whether in the bar or the boardroom.

Her question appeared to amuse him. ‘You’re my date. Flirting is mandatory.’

‘It unsettles me and I’m already unsettled at the thought of tonight.’

‘Because you’re with me?’

No way was she confessing how being with him really made her feel. ‘No, because the opening of this new museum wing is a really momentous occasion.’

‘You and I have a very different idea of what constitutes a momentous occasion, Lily.’ There was laughter in his eyes. ‘Never before has my ego been so effectively crushed.’

‘Your ego is armour plated, like your feelings.’

‘It’s true that my feelings of self-worth are not dependent on the opinion of others.’

‘Because you think you’re right and everyone else is wrong. I wish I were more like you. What if the reporters ask who I am? What do I say? I’m a fake.’

‘You’re the archaeologist. I’m the fake. And you say whatever you want to say. Or say nothing. Your decision. You’re the one in charge of your mouth.’

‘You have no idea how much I wish that was true.’

‘Tell me why you’re excited about tonight.’

‘You mean apart from the fact I get to dress up? The new wing houses the biggest collection of Minoan antiquities anywhere in Greece. It has a high percentage of provenanced material, which means archaeologists will be able to restudy material from old excavations. It’s exciting. And I love the dress by the way, even though I’ll never have any reason to wear it again.’

‘Chipped pots excite you?’

She winced. ‘Don’t say that on camera. The collection will play an active role in research and in university teaching as well as offering a unique insight for the general public.’

As the car pulled up outside the museum one of Nik’s security team opened the door and Lily emerged to what felt like a million camera flashes.

‘Unreal,’ she muttered. ‘Now I know why celebrities wear sunglasses.’

‘Mr Zervakis—’ Photographers and reporters gathered as close as they could. ‘Do you have a statement about the new wing?’