He gave a wry smile. ‘Not a good idea to intentionally make a Greek man jealous.’
‘I know that now.’
His smile faded and he stared down into her eyes, a muscle working in his hard jaw. ‘All those things Farrer said, about you loving me so much you’d do anything for me—’ his voice was hoarse ‘—were they true?’
Lauranne felt her face heat. It was the first time that her true feelings had been exposed and she suddenly felt shy and unsure.
‘Lauranne?’ He prompted her gently, his hands sliding over her shoulders and forcing her to look at him. ‘Would you do anything for me?’
She nodded, mute, and he let out a long breath.
‘That’s good to hear.’ He pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. ‘Because what I want more than anything is your forgiveness.’
‘Forgiveness?’
‘For hurting you so badly.’ His arms tightened. ‘For not trusting you. And then for crashing back into your life and blackmailing you.’
She pulled away slightly and smiled up at him. ‘I’m glad you blackmailed me or we’d never be here now. We’d be divorced.’
He shook his head and framed her face with his hands. ‘I would never have given you a divorce.’
Finally Lauranne summoned the courage to ask the question that she’d been longing to ask.
‘Why, Zander?’ Her voice faltered slightly. ‘Why wouldn’t you have given me a divorce?’
A strange expression crossed his handsome face. ‘Because I love you.’ He said the words softly, as if he was trying them out, and then he smiled and said them again. ‘I love you. And I’ve never said those words to anyone before.’
Lauranne stared at him, the tension in her body holding her rigid. ‘You really love me? You’re sure?’
Please, oh, please—
‘Very sure. I think I’ve always loved you,’ he admitted, a wry smile on his face, ‘but I didn’t recognise it. Or maybe I was too stubborn to recognise it. Five years ago I was terrified by the effect you had on me. It was another reason I removed you from my life so hastily.’
Was it?
Suddenly she wanted to just smile and smile. ‘Why did you bring me to the island?’
‘Because there was no way I was letting you out of my sight and I wanted to get you away from Farrer,’ he said immediately. ‘All my instincts told me that it was a bad business decision, but I was determined to do it anyway.’
She stared at him in fascination, utterly captivated by his uncharacteristically emotional response. ‘Why was it a bad business decision?’
‘Because you were angry with me and I knew you could blow the whole deal if you’d wanted to.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘My lawyer has aged ten years since I announced that I was taking you.’
She smiled. ‘The moment you told me about your grandmother there was no way I could have ruined it for you. I wanted you to have the island.’
‘I know.’ His expression was strained. ‘You’re a good, generous person and I’ve treated you very badly.’
She shook her head. ‘I was stubborn and stupid. I never should have tried to make you jealous.’
He nodded assent. ‘But the fact that you could, should have told you something.’
She smiled. ‘Apart from the fact that you’re Greek?’
‘It should have told you that I was in love with you,’ he said hoarsely, bending his head to kiss her mouth. ‘I can’t let you do it, Lauranne. I ought to be generous and tell you that Farrer is right. That I’m a selfish bastard and you’re probably better off without me. But I can’t do it. I can’t be that generous. I won’t give you a divorce. You’re mine. And I intend to spend the rest of my life making up for hurting you so badly.’
Her heart warmed but she lifted her chin, unable to resist teasing him. ‘And what if I want a divorce?’
He shook his head and pulled her close once more. ‘You don’t.’