‘Theo—’ she cried out at the culmination of relief and craving.
‘I’m here.’
Yes.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘THEO HAS LEFT for work already.’ Leah smiled apologetically as she poured Dimitri a cup of tea as he joined her at the table on the terrace. Since that conversation when she’d asked him to help her, Dimitri had thawed—coaching her in beginner Greek phrases and instructing Amalia to do the same. The week had passed with increasing ease and speed. Theo had returned her to the compound early the morning after the exhibition and Amalia had swung into action to help her with preparations. She’d enlisted her cousin and aunt as well because they were so low on time.
This morning the sun warmed Leah’s back as she resumed knitting the white silk as quickly and as neatly as she could. Amalia was already working on her section too. Theo had left well over an hour ago.
‘He works too hard.’ Dimitri stirred his tea. ‘Perhaps he will work less now there is a child coming.’
‘Perhaps.’ Leah didn’t hold out much hope but she’d heard the wistful tinge to the older man’s words and she didn’t want to lie to him.
Dimitri studied her with his faded version of Theo’s bright green eyes. His held more blue and weren’t as vivid yet he still seemed to see right through her.
‘He’s not perfect,’ Dimitri said.
‘No one is.’ She smiled, unsure where he was going with this but she wasn’t going to say a word against Theo to his grandfather.
‘I was too hard on him.’
For a moment she held Dimitri’s gaze, recognising that hint of arrogance in the way he held his head. But then he dropped his chin and his shoulders sagged.
‘I didn’t want him to become like his father, but Theo was always different...’ The old man coughed. ‘He’s loyal. He cares deeply...’
Leah stared at him, realising how hard it was for him to say any of this.
‘He loves you very much. He doesn’t want to let you down,’ she said.
‘I know. Because of that, he works too hard.’ He gazed across the pool. ‘Perhaps now he has you, that will change.’
Dimitri had been a workaholic as well. The discipline in his daily routine proved that. While routine could provide a safe structure and enable achievement, it could also reinforce bad habits. Strengths were also weaknesses, sometimes, and working too hard for too long could definitely become a weakness.
She smiled to hide her thoughts. ‘Theo and I understand each other. We respect each other.’
‘But you don’t love each other.’
Her skin cindered with embarrassment. She respected Theo. She’d be loyal to him and she was insanely attracted to him. Anything more than that, she couldn’t bear to consider.
‘Perhaps that is good.’ He picked up his coffee. ‘Marrying for suitability rather than love works better in the long term.’ He nodded. ‘He is different from his father.’
So his father had married for love? Or what he’d thought at the time had been love. Theo had called it a ‘blazing affair’ that had led to an unplanned pregnancy. She and he hadn’t had the affair. They’d had only the one night. Though they’d had a couple more since.
‘Is he different from you?’ Leah asked, curious enough to push past her nerves. ‘Did you marry for love or was it merely a suitable arrangement?’
‘It began as one and became another. That is what happens.’
‘A suitable arrangement grew into love?’ she asked.
‘As it will for you.’
Of course he wanted to believe that. He loved Theo and he didn’t want what had happened to his son to happen to his grandson.
‘You don’t think the same can happen in reverse?’ she asked warily. ‘An unsuitable love match can’t become suitable?’
Dimitri’s expression shut down. ‘No.’
Wild love—wild lust—didn’t last. She suspected Theo thought they were burning out the lust between them, then it would become a convenient arrangement somehow. But for her, the intensity hadn’t lessened. It was worsening.
Because it’s not just lust.
She closed her mind to that awful whisper and poured both herself and Dimitri some fresh orange juice. She’d focus on finishing her dress and learning Greek.
* * *
Theo returned every night to the riviera compound, unable to spend another night away from her. He’d carve out their new normal after the wedding, but right now the temptation to return to her was extreme. And he couldn’t resist it. He couldn’t resist the need to touch her. But his discomfort was growing. He couldn’t seem to think as clearly. He found himself distracted at work—wondering what she was doing. It was unacceptable.
He knew some distance was required.
Tonight he roved through the house but knew she’d be on the terrace. She liked the sunset. He heard her laughter as he neared. He walked faster but quietly, surprised by the sound of other voices, others laughing.
He paused in the open doorway. Leah sat at the table, her back to him. She looked vibrant in loose white linen trousers and a clingy blue shirt. Amalia was with her and so was Dimitri. They were laughing together. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Dimitri laugh like that. She didn’t notice him for a while. They were sampling a selection of traditional sweet cakes.
‘Leah likes the lemon.’ Dimitri noticed him first and sat back with a satisfied twinkle in his eye as he called to him. ‘She has good taste.’
Theo stared as Leah smiled and coyly thanked Dimitri in Greek. She had a private joke going with his grandfather? Since when did they begin talking like this? Since when did his grandfather joke?
Theo shook his head and pulled out a chair to join them, trying to shift the uneasy weight pressing down on his chest. ‘Preferring the lemon over the plum?’
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled again at his grandfather. His gut tightened and his appetite vanished. He didn’t want dinner. He didn’t want to sit here and watch them all laughing together. He wanted her alone, in his bed, her attention all on him.
He stilled, stunned at his own rabid—jealousy?
He should have known what damn sweet she liked. He should have sought it out for her. His grandfather seemed to know more about her than he did. His staff too...
And whose fault is that?
He’d been determined to work as much as he could this week. Determined to do this right so he didn’t ruin her life completely. He refused to let her become miserable. But suddenly he wasn’t sure what was right any more.
His island idea had definitely been wrong. He’d not understood her need for companionship or to feel valued, visible in her role as his fiancée. And now, he didn’t like the thought of her being so far away. Even a thirty-minute flight time felt too long.
He couldn’t understand why he couldn’t keep this simple. Why did he suddenly want things he’d never wanted before in his life? Never had he ached to leave work early the way he did now knowing she was here.
He somehow got through supper, listening to them talking and laughing, watching Leah at ease—chatting, funny, kind. It was late when Amalia walked Dimitri back to his building, leaving Theo alone with Leah at last.
‘You came home earlier tonight.’ She broke the silence with her soft voice.
He nodded, unable to take his eyes off her.
‘Are you going to work tomorrow morning?’ Her chin lifted.
‘Yes.’ He leaned back in his seat and tried to ignore the slight pout of her lower lip. ‘I figured it gives me something to fill in the time before the ceremony.’
She put down her spoon. ‘What happens after? You go back to work?’
‘No,’ he answered mildly, despite the tension stringing him out. ‘We go on our honeymoon.’
‘To prison island?’ Her lashes lowered, hiding her eyes.
r /> ‘It’s a surprise.’ To his astonishment he actually felt a little nervous about it.
The feeling compelled him to silence her next question in the best way possible. He couldn’t resist any longer anyway. He stalked around the table and kissed her till she was breathless. He ached to pull her to her feet and hustle her inside so he could have her in his bed. Restraint was imperative yet apparently impossible. Rebellion at his self-imposed restrictions bubbled his blood. He couldn’t stand the need and the want clawing within him. Since when did he want anything with this intensity?
‘I’m not sleeping with you tonight,’ he said huskily. ‘It’s the eve of our wedding, it’d be bad luck.’