‘And when I embarrass you?’
Leandro smiled. ‘That won’t happen. I find you beautiful, generous and kind and I intend to devote the next few weeks to making you believe in yourself.’
If they could have stayed in Greece forever, maybe their relationship would work, Millie thought. But his life was so much bigger than this one, idyllic island.
And what was going to happen then?
CHAPTER TEN
THE idyll lasted two more weeks.
‘He loves his afternoon nap. He’s sleeping really well now.’ Millie tucked Costas into the cot and tiptoed towards Leandro, who was waiting in the doorway. He was dressed casually in shorts and a polo shirt and his dark hair gleamed in the sunshine.
‘You are very good with him.’ His eyes lingered on her face. ‘And extremely generous to give so much of yourself to a child who isn’t yours.’
Millie was horribly conscious of his scrutiny. ‘He’s part of my sister.’
Leandro took her hand and led her across the terrace and towards the narrow path that led down through a garden of tumbling Mediterranean plants to the beach. ‘You are nothing like her.’
‘I’m well aware of that. My parents were constantly reminding me of that.’
Leandro frowned down at her. ‘Really?’
‘I don’t blame them. I never gave my parents anything to boast about. I was never top in maths, I was only ever picked for the netball team if everyone else was struck down by some vile virus or other, I didn’t play a musical instrument, I have a voice like a crow with a sore throat and I don’t have the face and body of a model.’
‘And is all that important?’
‘Among you alpha high achievers, it is. My mum’s face glowed with pride when she introduced Becca to anyone—“This is my daughter who works as a top model but she also has a maths degree from Cambridge, you know.” And then she’d turn to me and say, “And this is our other daughter—Millie isn’t academic, are you dear?” And I’d feel the same way I felt when I got my spelling wrong at school. The teachers would sigh and say, “You’re nothing like your sister, are you?” as if that was a major disadvantage in life.’
‘No wonder you have no confidence. But all that is going to change.’ As they reached the bottom of the path, Leandro tightened his grip on her hand. ‘You can’t possibly still be feeling insecure,’ he murmured, taking her face in his hands and kissing her. ‘For the past two weeks we’ve done nothing but talk and make love.’
‘Maybe I’m having problems believing that anyone can be this lucky,’ Millie replied humbly, wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘And I still can’t believe you don’t want someone who you can discuss the money markets with over breakfast.’
‘I can’t think of anything more guaranteed to put me off my food.’ He dragged his thumb across her mouth in an unmistakably sensual gesture. ‘I work in a very high-pressured, conflict-ridden environment—when I come home I don’t want to discuss work. And I don’t want conflict. I want a soft, warm woman who can challenge me in other ways. Which you do. So the answer to your unspoken question, agape mou, is no. I didn’t ever want your sister. But I have told you that before.’ He released her and took her hand, leading her towards the jetty.
Millie looked at the sleek motorboat. ‘We’re going out on that?’
‘I feel in need of an adrenaline rush,’ he drawled. ‘In the absence of anyone to fire, bully or intimidate, I need to find alternative forms of excitement.’
Her eyes slid to his and he gave a slow grin. ‘Yes, we’ll be doing that, too,’ he purred, helping her into the boat and loosening the rope. Lithe and agile, he followed her into the boat, taking the control with his usual cool confidence. ‘Do you get seasick?’
‘I don’t know, but I’m probably about to find out.’ Her nerve endings sizzling from the chemistry that constantly flared between them, she tried to concentrate. ‘How fast are you going to go?’
His smile widened. ‘Fast.’
And he did.
Having eased the boat skilfully out of the shallow bay, he pushed the throttle forwards and sent the boat flying across the waves at a speed that took her breath away.
Millie held tight to the seat, meeting his brief, questioning glance with an exaggerated smile of delight.
Men, she thought, relieved that she hadn’t bothered with a hat. Her hair flew around her face and the spray from the waves stung her cheeks.
Leandro kept up the pace until they reached a neighbouring island, and then he cut the engine and dropped the anchor.
‘Presumably you could have gone at half the pace.’
‘And that would have taken twice the time.’ Unapologetic, he leaned forward and kissed her hard. ‘I don’t like hanging around.’