‘You kept shutting me out.’
‘You were so affectionate. So open. I kept shutting you out and when you said those words I panicked.’
‘I know.’
‘I’m not panicking now.’ He trailed his fingers down her cheek. ‘So any time you want to say them again, that would be good.’
She smiled again. ‘What words?’
‘Now you’re torturing me, but I suppose I deserve it.’
‘I’m not torturing you—’ she wrapped her arms round his neck ‘—I just don’t know which words you mean.’
‘You’re a wicked tease.’ His mouth was hot on hers and she gasped as he lifted her onto the table.
‘Any moment now thirty people are going to walk into this room.’
‘Then you’d better say those words fast—unless you want to say them in front of an audience.’
‘Which words?’
He cupped her face. ‘The ones where you tell me how you feel about me.’
‘Oh, those words.’ She loved teasing him. ‘I’ve forgotten how to say them because you didn’t want to hear them. They’ve vanished from my brain.’
‘Selene—’
‘I love you.’ For the first time she said it freely, and she smiled as she did so because it felt so good to be truly honest about her feelings. No more hiding. No more pretending. ‘I really love you and I’ll always love you.’
They kissed, lost in each other, until they heard applause and both turned to see a crowd in the doorway led by Maria, who was smiling. Behind her stood Takis, Kostas and all the other members of Stefan’s senior team.
Blushing, Selene slid off the table and Stefan muttered under his breath.
‘What does a guy have to do to ensure privacy round here?’
‘We came to congratulate you.’ Maria produced two bottles of champagne which she put on the table and then turned to hug Selene. ‘I’m so delighted. I know it’s a little early in the day, but we thought it was appropriate to celebrate the occasion with champagne.’
Stefan eyed the bottles with incredulity. ‘You shouldn’t even have been aware of the occasion. Were you listening at the door?’
‘Yes.’ Maria was unapologetic.
Takis eyed his boss cautiously and then slid into the room, put a tray of glasses on the table and hugged Selene, too.
Choked, Selene hugged them both back. ‘Thank you for watching over me and being so kind.’
?
?If everyone could stop hugging my future wife,’ Stefan drawled, ‘I’d quite like to hug her myself. But it appears I no longer have any influence in my own office.’
‘This is a special occasion, boss,’ Takis muttered, releasing Selene. ‘Some of us had given up on ever seeing this day.’
Unbelievably touched, Selene slid her hand into Stefan’s as his executive team piled into the room. ‘This is so great! Can we open the champagne? I always wanted to live a champagne lifestyle—although preferably without the headache.’
Takis reached for the nearest bottle. ‘Champagne in a breakfast meeting. A typical working day in the Ziakas Corporation.’
Stefan rolled his eyes. ‘Clearly you’ve never seen what happens to Selene when she drinks champagne.’
‘I’m lovely when I drink champagne—and anyway I have Takis to extract me from danger.’