Or she could just be living in a fantasy land where her mind and heart had no idea what language the other was speaking. Because she was beginning to believe that her heart was more involved in Theo’s welfare than was wise. And yet she couldn’t control it enough to make it stop wrenching in pain when he suffered another nightmare, or soar with joy when he took her to the heights of ecstasy. Even the knowledge that some time in the very near future, after his goal to destroy her father was achieved, Theo would pack up his bags and leave Rio for good, made her heart ache in a way that was almost a physical pain.
Santa Maria, she was losing her mind—
‘There you are. Teresa told me you’re still here. I thought you’d be at the centre by now.’ She’d shared more details of her volunteer work with him during the times when he’d been Normal Theo, not Revenge Theo. And she’d been ridiculously thrilled when he hadn’t been judgemental or condescending.
She looked up as he entered the living room and crossed to where she sat, applying finishing touches to the sketch she’d been working on since breakfast an hour ago. She’d thought he’d left for the day but obviously she’d been mistaken.
Glancing up at his lean, solid frame and gorgeous face, her heart performed that painfully giddy flip again and she glanced away. ‘I took a day off. I’m…I’m still thinking of resigning.’
He stilled then dropped to his haunches in front of her. ‘Why?’
She struggled to breathe as his scent surrounded her, making her yearn to lean in closer. ‘This whole thing with my father has brought unwanted attention to people who are already struggling with life’s difficulties. I don’t think it’s fair on the children.’
A look resembling regret passed through his eyes before he blinked it away. After a full minute, he murmured, ‘No, it’s not. But you won’t resign.’
Her heart caught. ‘Why not?’
‘Because I won’t allow you to give up something you love doing. The publicity about your father will go away. I’ll make sure of it.’
She met mesmerising hazel eyes. ‘Why are you doing this?’
He shrugged. ‘Perhaps I’m beginning to realise that I was mistaken about how much collateral damage I was prepared to accept.’
Collateral damage. She was grappling with that when he spoke again.
‘I have something for you.’
She glanced warily at him. ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. I’m sure I’ve read that warning somewhere.’
His smile held a certain chill but was heart-stopping nonetheless. ‘For the most part, I’d urge you to heed that warning. But this one is completely harmless.’ He pulled something from his back pocket and presented it to her. The look in his eyes made her stomach flip as she glanced from his face to the box.
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘Open it and see.’
She opened the velvet case and gaped at the platinum-linked, three-tiered diamond choker nestling between the two catches.
‘Are you trying to make some sort of macho statement?’
He shook his head in confusion. ‘Sorry, anjo, you’ve lost me.’
‘This is a choker. You want everyone to see that you own me?’
He frowned. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’
‘Why a choker? Why not a simple diamond pendant?’
‘I asked my jeweller to send a few pieces. I liked the look of that one. So I chose it. No big deal, no mind games. I thought you’d like it,’ he finished tersely.
She bit her lip and wondered if she was reading too much into it. Much like she was reading far too much into her feelings for Theo and what would happen when things ended.
‘It’s a beautiful piece of jewellery. But frankly it’s a bit ostentatious for my taste.’ She snapped the box shut and held it out to him. ‘Besides, since my role as paparazzi bait is over, I don’t see where I would wear something like that.’
His jaw tightened and he pushed the box back at her. ‘I was just coming to that. Ari is getting married next weekend. You’re coming with me as my plus one.’
She couldn’t stop her mouth from gaping open any more than she could stop breathing. ‘You want me to drop everything and fly to Greece with you?’