Husband By Request

“I’m sorry.” She molded her palms to his cheeks. “I didn’t grow up with staff around. My first instinct is to do everything myself.” She studied his gleaming black eyes. “I love doing things for you, but not if it means upsetting you and your world.”

His chest rose and fell visibly. “Let’s get something straight. I like my wife looking after me. When we’re—”

The ringing of the house phone prevented him from finishing what he was about to say.

“That’s probably Eleni. She wouldn’t disturb us if it weren’t important.” Still holding Dominique close, he reached for the receiver by the lamp to speak to his housekeeper.

The conversation was brief. His dark brows knit together. She knew something was wrong.

Andreas hadn’t anticipated his reunion with Dominique would sweep him away to a place where he wanted to stay with her forever, far from everyone and everything. She’d brought him ecstasy on a brand new level. He felt reborn.

But, as miraculous as the last twelve hours had been, he wasn’t so blind that he didn’t know their marriage was still in a fragile state. There was so much that needed sorting out—problems they hadn’t even touched on yet.

When he’d warned her things would probably start to fall apart between them within a twenty-four-hour period, he hadn’t realized how accurate his prediction would be.

With one phone call reality had intruded, to tear at the fabric of their newfound joy much sooner than he’d suspected.

The pain of last year’s separation would be nothing compared to the agony he would suffer if their trial reconciliation foundered in deep waters, never to be resurrected again.

“We have visitors,” he stated grimly, after hanging up the phone.

“Who?”

“Paul’s helping Olympia get settled in with Ari. It’s her vacation. Since I have to be back in Athens, I told her she was free to use the yacht and the villa.”

He watched her violet eyes, waiting to see them cloud now that she’d heard the news. Amazingly, they stayed clear.

“Like I told you earlier, you’re the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. Hurry and shower while I help her with Ari. But please get out on my side of the bed, darling. I don’t want to have to rush you to the doctor for your heart and cut feet.”

She gave him a long, passionate kiss before disappearing from their bedroom. Dazed by her response, Andreas could only stare after her. His wife had changed so much.

CHAPTER FIVE

THROUGH the windows at the east side of the villa Dominique could see Paul bringing a load of things from the helicopter. She rushed outside.

“Hi, Paul! What can I do to help?”

He gaze roved over her features, settling on her ponytail. Obviously her new look kept surprising him. “This is the last of it.”

“Let me take that thing under your arm.” She grabbed the clear plastic holder. It contained what looked like a colorful little quilted floor gym.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Eleni met them at the entrance. “I’ve put Olympia in the pink room. She’s warming a bottle for the little one in the kitchen.”

“Perfect. Come on, Paul. Let’s set up the crib for Ari.”

“I’ve already done it.”

“You’re a wonder, you know that?”

A rare smile broke out on his face. It made him quite good-looking. According to Andreas, he’d had various relationships with women over the years, but none of them had ever lasted.

He followed her down the hall to the bedroom. Ari was lying in his crib, contemplating his toes, but one glimpse of Dominique and his cute little face crumpled.

“I have a terrible effect on him,” she lamented to Paul as the baby started to wail. “The other day the same thing happened.”