A Ring to Secure His Heir

‘We argued,’ Rosie told him grudgingly.

Alexius stepped past Socrates into the lift before the doors could close again. ‘But go ahead and announce our engagement this evening. I have every intention of ensuring that we work out our differences.’

‘Announce … what? An engagement? Are you crazy? I have no desire to work at anything with you!’ Rosie shouted at him full-tilt as she followed him into the lift, outraged at his declaration.

‘Did I say I was giving you a choice?’ Alexius asked tight-lipped.

‘And how do you intend to make me listen?’ Rosie hurled. ‘Do you ever listen to yourself?’

‘Do you ever know when to shut up?’ Alexius traded. ‘Do you even know why you’re arguing with me?’

‘You dumped me … I hate you,’ Rosie responded without even having to think about it as the lift doors sprang open again.

‘You’ll get over it,’ Alexius asserted, pouncing on her without warning to swing her up into his arms and head first over one shoulder, one hand splayed to the pert curve of her behind to lock her safely in place. ‘You’re coming home with me now.’

‘No, I darned well am not! Put me down right this minute!’ Rosie gasped in ringing disbelief as he strode across the foyer towards the exit with everybody staring at them. As her upside-down face burned crimson with embarrassment her fists battered at his broad back in furious frustration. ‘I won’t tell you again, Alex—put me down!’

‘You should know by now that I never do as you tell me and am stubbornly resistant to even good advice,’ Alexius fielded.

Rosie blinked in horror as flash bulbs went off all around them, momentarily lighting them up and illuminating a sea of grinning faces.

‘Alex …’ she wailed, still in shock at his behaviour.

Alexius lowered her carefully into the rear of the waiting limousine and swung in beside her, watching with helpless amusement as she struggled to sit up and smooth back her tumbled hair from her flushed face. ‘How could you do that to me?’ she demanded wrathfully.

‘You didn’t give me a choice. The prospect of a couple of comic photographs doesn’t bother me,’ he admitted with a level of calm that disconcerted her.

‘Where on earth are you taking me?’ Rosie demanded sharply.

‘Back to the island where we can fight in privacy.’

‘I’m not going back to the island,’ Rosie told him stonily.

‘Please don’t make me carry you through the airport kicking and screaming,’ Alexius urged impatiently.

‘I don’t know what’s come over you.’

‘The knowledge that I don’t have the right words to persuade you and that sometimes actions speak more loudly and truly,’ he countered levelly.

‘You didn’t try to persuade me.’

‘I told you I wanted you back.’

‘That was persuasion?’ Rosie was wide-eyed at the sheer primitive nature of that idea. ‘I’ll never forgive you for making a spectacle of us like this.’

Alexius contrived to look unconcerned by that warning and even dared to smile when Rosie got out of the limo at the airport and demonstrated no desire to run away. But then shock had overwhelmed Rosie’s temper and made her think hard instead. She was very much shaken by Alexius going to such extraordinary lengths to try and get her back, even grudgingly impressed by the level of importance he had to have attached to her to act in such a way in public. And on one point he was undeniably right: they did have to talk, had to sort out their future relationship along civilised lines for the baby’s sake. Her grandfather’s crack about ‘sulking teenagers’ had hit a bull’s eye with Rosie and made her squirm with embarrassment.

Another barrage of cameras greeted them at the airport and she wondered bitterly if their colleagues outside the hotel had tipped them off. If they were hoping for another show of some kind they were disappointed when Alexius and Rosie merely walked decorously past. They boarded the helicopter before Rosie remembered her pet. ‘Bas is at Grandad’s!’ she exclaimed in dismay.

‘No, he’s not. I took care of him before I arrived at the party.’

Rosie shot his lean hard profile a frowning glance. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Bas and your clothes were flown out earlier this evening,’ Alexius admitted reluctantly, watching the gleam of incredulity spark in her eyes. ‘I may not be the romantic type but I am very practical, glyka mou.’

‘And how did Bas greet you?’

‘Like he would greet any kidnapper—with snarls and snapping teeth! But I got him all the same,’ Alexius informed her cheerfully. They were on their way back to the island and he felt more energised than he had felt all week. Although he still felt that he lacked the right words and approach he was convinced that with persistence he could get over that barrier.