The Greek's Blackmailed Wife

Zander Volakis wasn’t worth crying over.

He was too self-absorbed, too stupidly jealous, too—too—Greek!

And she loved him so much it was just agony.

At least this time he hadn’t exploded, she reflected miserably. He hadn’t even tried to throttle Tom. He’d just given her a really funny look and then stalked off into the distance without a word, leaving them staring after him.

Remembering the astonished look on Kouropoulos’ face and the smug satisfaction on Marina’s, Lauranne gave a groan. There was no way that Zander was going to get his island now.

Marina had

once again achieved exactly what she’d set out to achieve.

Havoc.

She struggled to her feet and then froze as a familiar dark drawl came from behind her.

‘If you don’t stop hugging Farrer when you’re almost naked then I won’t be held responsible for my actions.’

She whirled round, tears making her eyes bright. She couldn’t believe it was him. Standing there. Looking as if he wasn’t entirely sure of his reception. ‘You stalked out and left me standing there—’

He sucked in a breath and his dark head tilted backwards, strain visible around his eyes. ‘Because I was angry—I didn’t trust myself—’

She stared at him in an agony of seething frustration. ‘Why don’t you ever use that legendary brain when you’re with me? Marina set that up! It was obvious right from the moment that you stupidly told her that we were staying married that she was going to try and mess everything up—you knew that—’

‘Yes, I knew that.’

She opened her mouth and closed it again, completely deflated by his response. ‘Then why were you angry?’

His jaw tightened. ‘You were half naked and in his arms. Again.’

‘I’d been swimming,’ she pointed out. ‘And of course I hugged him. He’s my friend—’

Zander swore violently in Greek, cutting her off. ‘Theos mou, do you think I need reminding of that fact?’ He ran a hand through his sleek dark hair, displaying all the signs of maximum discomfort. ‘How do you think I feel knowing that he was the one to comfort you when I hurt you so badly—knowing that I drove you into his arms—?’

‘Zander—’

‘And how do you think I felt today when I saw you in his arms again?’ Zander clenched his teeth. ‘He came here to pick up the pieces. To take you home. Just as he did last time.’

Lauranne looked at him. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘He came because Marina somehow set it up again because she knew it would cause trouble. And it did.’ She looked at him miserably. ‘I’m so sorry about the island.’

His eyes were fixed on her face. ‘I don’t give a damn about the island.’

For a moment she thought she must have misheard. Of course he cared about the island. Hadn’t she given him a new image so that he could buy it? ‘But you wanted it so much—’

‘I thought I did.’ His mouth twisted. ‘I discovered that there’s something that I want a hell of a lot more.’

Lauranne stared at him, deprived of her powers of speech by a hope so powerful that it threatened to overwhelm her. What was he saying? She didn’t dare ask the question, so desperate was she to prolong the fantasy a little longer.

He took a step forwards. ‘When I saw Farrer standing there I was so afraid that you’d go with him.’

Finally she found her voice. ‘You were afraid?’

‘For probably the first time in my life,’ he confessed. ‘He’s always been there for you. He’s never let you down, whereas I—’ his voice cracked and he ran a hand over his face, struggling with the words ‘—I have let you down repeatedly. I’ve treated you very badly, agape mou, and I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know.’

Lauranne looked at him, stunned. Zander was apologising?

Her heart tumbled inside her chest. ‘I was at fault too,’ she said softly, stepping closer to him and taking his hands in hers. ‘I was the one who made you jealous.’