Claiming My Bride of Convenience

It had been a haven when I needed one, and starting Amanos Textiles had been the purpose I’d longed for. I suppose, in a somewhat roundabout way, Matteo had been responsible for both, and the realisation humbled me. Since confronting him in Athens I’d been so focused on his haughty manner, his displeasure in having me disrupt his rules, that I’d forgotten just how much he’d done.

‘Thank you,’ I added abruptly.

Matteo raised his eyebrows. ‘You’re thanking me? How novel.’

‘I know...I know.’ Impulsively, I punched his arm, laughing a little. ‘I’m sorry. You have been very kind in providing me with so much—a home, the means to start my own business... Since seeing you face-to-face, I haven’t always seemed grateful.’

‘Why is that, do you suppose?’

‘Because you can be an arrogant so-and-so.’

I could hardly believe we were talking and teasing like this, but it felt nice. My heart was light.

‘It’s not arrogance when I’m right.’

‘Of course not.’ I shook my head. ‘I’d expect no less from you.’

‘At least you expect something from me.’

The import of his words had me blushing. What was he saying, really? That we had the start of something?

I looked away, keeping my gaze on the shimmering, tranquil waters of the sea in the distance. Already I was feeling out of my depth. A few moments of light-hearted conversation was making my heart do cartwheels. Really, I needed to calm down. What was it about Matteo Dias that made my head both empty and spin?

The answer was everything.

* * *

Daisy was surprising me at every turn, and I found I quite liked it. I was still amazed that she’d built her own business from nothing, and I was looking forward to seeing the extent of the operation. I was also looking forward to spending time with her, which was novel. The time I spent with women was almost always in bed.

Yet here we were, Daisy and I—my wife and I—strolling along a sunny road. I glanced at her, noting the way the loose top skimmed her curves, the capris emphasised her slender legs. Her hair was loose about her shoulders in soft, golden-brown waves. I imagined if I kissed her right now she’d taste like sunshine.

But I had to stop thinking that way. Today’s little jaunt, pleasant as it was, had a purpose—and that was to prove to my bride that she belonged to me. I would not let myself forget that for a moment.

‘So what are the top ten sights of Holki?’ I asked as the village with its whitewashed buildings and narrow, cobbled streets came into view.

Daisy threw me a laughing glance. ‘I’m not sure there’s ten total, never mind at the top.’

‘Tell me what I should see first.’ I flung my arms wide, enjoying the novelty of a sunny afternoon spent with a beautiful woman, and not in bed.

‘Well...’ Daisy ducked her head before giving me a shy glance. ‘We could visit the workroom and the dyeing areas for Amanos Textiles.’

‘You have a workshop? Let’s see it, then.’

Over the next few hours my amazement at and my admiration for my wife increased more and more. We toured the workshop—a converted barn that was bright and airy inside, filled with reams of the distinctive blue cloth as well as several industrial-sized tables where women were busy working.

Their eyes rounded when they caught sight of me, but they were happy for me to see their work. And I was happy to see it too, as well as to listen to Daisy’s at first halting and then more confident explanations.

‘The women weave the cloth in their homes, because I think it’s important that they’re able to work from home, where they can still supervise their children, but we dye it in a separate space—because of the mess and the smell—and then finish it off here because we need the space to cut it.’

‘And what about your buyers? How did you find those?’

‘Online, mostly. I started a website and paid for some advertising. Maria approached a few small, independent clothing retailers—ones we knew supported grass-roots enterprises and cottage industries. It took a while—those one million euros certainly helped provide a cushion.’

‘And to think I thought you were redecorating or buying clothes.’

‘Over a million euros’ worth of clothes?’ she exclaimed, looking laughingly appalled. ‘And yet I wore that wretched red dress to your ball? Credit me with some sense, at least.’

I laughed out loud, enjoying her candid humour even more than the lovely sight of her.