The truth was that Alexio had always had the impression that his mother had been lonely, and he didn’t like the way Sidonie’s innocent comments had brought him back to a time when it had been all too apparent that he couldn’t protect his mother simply because she would not allow it. Not even when she needed it.
He forced his train of thought away from that unwelcome memory. They were approaching a narrow street with a glittering array of jewellery shops and Sidonie had stopped, enthralled, outside the first one.
She sighed deeply and sent a quick rueful glance to Alexio. ‘I have to admit to a deeply unattractive trait: a love for glittery objects. My father used to say I was like a magpie, obsessed with shiny things. I used to collect the most random objects and put them in a box in my room and then take them out to look at them.’
Sidonie looked at the display again and Alexio couldn’t stop the prickle of something across the back of his neck. The sensation of exposure was strong, along with something like disappointment. A feeling of inevitability. This was what he was used to. Women cajoling, seeking something. And even though Sidonie wasn’t going about it in a way he was used to wasn’t it the same thing? She was hinting that she loved jewellery and that she expected him to spoil her with some.
She looked up at him then and must have seen something in his expression. She frowned. ‘What is it?’
Quickly he schooled his features. ‘Nothing.’ His voice was tight. ‘The club is just down here.’
CHAPTER SIX
SIDONIE FELT AS if she’d done something wrong. The look on Alexio’s face just now had been almost...disgusted. She felt stupid for blurting out that she’d always loved glittery things. It was a trait that she’d inherited from her mother and Sidonie didn’t like to be reminded of that. Especially when she knew deep down that it wasn’t like her mother’s love for real jewels. When she’d found her childhood jewellery box during the clearing of the house after her father had died she could almost have laughed, because it was full of ten-cent pieces, buttons and tin foil. Hardly a treasure trove.
Sidonie tried to push down the sense of disquiet and followed Alexio into a very mysterious-looking doorway with no name on it. A man in a black suit with an earpiece let them in with a deferential nod to Alexio.
Determined to put his reaction out of her mind, Sidonie tightened her hand reflexively in Alexio’s and he looked down at her. She was relieved to see that the tightness in his expression was gone and that the lazy, sexy insouciance was back.
Another entrance was just ahead, with billowing white curtains wafting in the breeze. A stunning glamazon of a woman stepped out, dressed in a tiny black dress which showcased her astounding body.
Sidonie nearly tripped over her heels and Alexio steadied her, looking down. ‘Okay?’
Sidonie nodded, still struck dumb by the dark-haired Greek beauty who was now greeting Alexio very warmly with kisses on each cheek—far too close to his mouth for Sidonie’s liking. She felt something rise within her—something hot and acrid. Jealousy.
The woman turned her gaze on Sidonie and dismissed her with a cool glance before turning back to Alexio. She pouted ruby-red lips and proceeded to talk to Alexio in Greek, which Sidonie of course couldn’t follow.
Alexio replied in English, though, saying, ‘I’ve been too busy to come back. This is Sidonie—Sidonie, this is Elettra.’
Sidonie smiled, but the other women barely smiled back at all. It was like the air hostess all over again. Far from making Sidonie feel triumphant that she had the man everyone wanted, it only made her feel insecure. Was Alexio even now looking at this woman and wishing he was availing himself of her charms instead of gauche, inexperienced Sidonie’s?
But then the sight of the interior of the club took every thought out of Sidonie’s head. It was a massive, cavernous, breathtaking space. Dark and dimly lit with what seemed to be a thousand lanterns. A huge bar took up one entire wall. There was a dance floor with glowing boxes of neon lights in the old Studio 54 style. There were booths and private tables dotted around the place, and then there was a whole other level down below which was already heaving with people.
Beautiful people were everywhere. Funky music throbbed from the sound system. It was achingly hip and exclusive.
Elettra was leading them to a booth, her hips swaying sinuously in her teeny-tiny dress. When they got there Sidonie could see that they had a bird’s eye view of the entire place, and almost immediately after Elettra left—with clear reluctance—an equally stunning-looking waitress was there to take their orders. She was dressed in tiny shorts and a white shirt with very low-cut buttons. She had a pinafore-style apron that did little to detract from the sexiness of the outfit—if anything it fetishised it slightly.
Sidonie felt seriously out of her depth.
After Alexio had given an order he leant back and looked at her. She knew she must look like some wide-eyed hick.
‘Well? What do you think?’
Sidonie sat back, overwhelmed, and gave a little laugh. ‘I think that we’re not in Kansas any more, Toto.’
Alexio frowned and Sidonie explained with a wave of her hand. ‘When Dorothy ends up in Oz...’ She shook her head. ‘This is out of this world. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m used to grimy college student bars.’
The waitress came back with small plates of finger food and a bottle of champagne. Sidonie groaned softly. She hadn’t realised she was hungry and she stole a glance at Alexio, who was watching her with amusement.
‘My appetite is just one big joke to you, isn’t it?’
He shrugged and prepared some pitta bread and tzatziki, handing it to her. She ate it with relish and took a sip of the sparkling wine.
Joking, she said, ‘I could get used to this, you know.’
She missed
Alexio’s enigmatic look as she plucked an olive from a bowl. When she did look at him he was lounging back, regarding her with an expression that had her blood heating up. It was that look. The one that made him look hungry and made her feel hungry. But not for food.