SHE LOOKEDthe picture of innocence, Angelos thought savagely. There was a gentleness in her eyes and a softness to her face that was totally at odds with her reputation as a man-eater. Not just a man-eater, he reminded himself grimly. Her tastes were more refined than that. She was a clever, manipulative, rich-man-eater.
‘He thinks we’re getting married?’ Her eyes were wide and shocked, and Angelos fought back his distaste.
He couldn’t believe he’d actually allowed himself to be manipulated in this way. Only once in his life before had he ever been taken in by a woman, and on that occasion he’d had inexperience as his excuse. He’d been just eighteen years of age, and dizzy with lust. Lust—love—how easily those two became intertwined. His mouth tightened at the thought.
He was no longer eighteen.
So what was his excuse this time?
He resisted the temptation to turn the full force of his anger onto the woman standing in front of him. ‘You told him that you were crazy about me. That we were madly in love.’ Angelos struggled to keep his voice level. ‘As far as my father is concerned, the next step is marriage.’
Her gaze softened. ‘He is such a lovely man. I thought that at the time.’
I’ll just bet you did. Angelos made a mental note not to leave her alone with his father for too long. Despite her protests, he had no doubt that once she discovered her ‘relationship’ with him had no long-term prospects she would have no compunction about turning her attentions to his more vulnerable father. ‘Before you start congratulating yourself on your success, remember that this is me you’re dealing with—not my father.’
‘You want me to go to Greece with you? That’s what you’ve brought me here to ask me?’
‘I don’t want you to go to Greece with me. But that is what is going to happen.’
Obviously the two men she’d duped hadn’t been able to see past those sapphire eyes, he thought grimly. And this time she’d obviously decided to go for the jackpot. The sheer audacity of her plan amazed even him. His views on marriage were well known, as were his views on his father’s two very public and very expensive divorces. The fact that she’d believed that she might be successful said a great deal about her ego.
‘I don’t understand why you would think it’s a good idea. Your father would never believe that we were together!’
‘Thanks to your convincing display at the ball, he already believes that we are together,’ Angelos told her. ‘Your role is simply to produce more of the same. It shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll be working for most of the day. You will get to sit by a pool with a drink in your hand and a view of the Aegean Sea, singing my praises. From what I can gather, you’re in between men at the moment. Think of it as a free holiday—which isn’t quite on the same level as a meal ticket for life, but given the stunt you pulled you’re lucky even to get that from me.’
She watched him, and he could almost see her brain working as she thought about what he’d said.
‘No.’
‘Don’t try and negotiate with me,’ he warned softly. ‘There won’t be a better offer.’
‘I’m not hoping for a “better offer”.’
‘Then why refuse?’
‘Because it wouldn’t be fair on your father. I don’t understand why you think it’s a good idea.’ She frowned slightly. ‘When he finds out that you’re lying, he’ll be devastated.’
The same uncomfortable truth had occurred to Angelos, but he’d been unable to find any other solution. ‘It is a shame this conscience of yours didn’t emerge a little sooner. Thanks to you, I don’t have a choice. When my father is stronger, I’ll tell him that we weren’t as compatible as we thought.’
‘It would never work.’
‘Why not?’
‘If you glare at me the way you’re glaring at me now, he’s never going to be convinced that our relationship is real.’
‘The mere fact that I am bringing you to the island will be enough to convince him.’
‘Why?’
Angelos tensed. ‘I don’t take women there.’
Her eyebrows rose. ‘Never?’
‘It is a place for family.’
‘And none of your previous women have earned that distinction?’
‘You are not family either, Isabelle,’ Angelos warned her softly. ‘Do not forget that. You’re merely a necessary part of my father’s convalescence.’