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

‘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?