Sale or Return Bride

And she knew exactly why her grandfather had given the Fiorukis family a deadline of two hours to complete the deal. He was afraid that, left on her own with the man, she’d blow it. That she’d do something to put Sebastien Fiorukis off marrying her.

And he was right. She was so different from his usual choice of woman that the comparison was laughable. She couldn’t even do a decent job of walking in the shoes.

‘As far as I’m aware there is no language barrier between us,’ he said smoothly, his dark gaze resting on her face with a significant degree of speculation, ‘and yet so far you have uttered barely a word and cast barely a glance in my direction.’

Clearly she’d dented his monumental ego.

Alesia stifled a cynical laugh. Was that all he cared about? That she hadn’t gazed into his eyes and fallen for him like the other brainless women he mixed with? He was unbelievably shallow and, as far as she was concerned, Sebastien Fiorukis deserved everything that was coming to him.

‘You must forgive me—’ her voice sounded stilted ‘—I—I’m finding this situation rather difficult—’

‘Me, too. And that’s hardly surprising given the circumstances. It’s not every day you are expected to agree to a marriage to someone you have only just met. But this proposed marriage between us is going to be somewhat heavy weather if you can’t bring yourself to speak to me,’ he drawled lightly, and she met his gaze full-on.

‘Am I supposed to speak honestly?’

‘Why else did I just get rid of your grandfather?’

She almost smiled at the reminder of how neatly he’d dismissed her relative. Whatever else he might be, Sebastien Fiorukis was evidently not a coward. In fact he was the first person she’d met who didn’t seem remotely intimidated by her grandfather, which was at least something in his favour. But nevertheless she was agonizingly aware that one wrong word from her could blow the whole deal.

‘My grandfather is afraid that I’ll say the wrong thing. He wants this deal very badly.’

‘And you, Miss Philipos?’ There was something dangerously soothing about his voice. Like a lethal predator stalking his prey. ‘How badly do you want this deal?’

Being called ‘Miss Philipos’ felt totally alien. It was as if he was addressing a stranger. But it was all part of this act she was expected to maintain.

She lifted her chin. ‘I want to marry you, if that’s what you’re asking.’

That at least was true. She did want to marry him. It would solve all her problems.

And all her mother’s problems.

There was a sardonic gleam in his dark eyes as he watched her carefully. ‘Don’t tell me—’ his voice was a deep, dark drawl ‘—you have been madly in love with me for your whole life? You have dreamed of this moment from your cradle, perhaps?’

She’d dreamed of having access to enough money to finally help her mother.

‘I’m not in love with you, Mr Fiorukis, any more than you are in love with me,’ she said calmly, ‘and we both know that love is not the only reason for marriage.’

His spectacular eyes narrowed. ‘Nevertheless, since we are the two people who will be forced to live together as a result of this deal, I think it’s important to discover whether we can at least tolerate each other’s company, don’t you?’ He gestured towards a narrow path that led down to the beach. ‘Let’s walk.’

She followed his gaze. The sea stretched into the distance like a cruel, forbidding monster, mocking her. The breath jammed in her throat and the panic rose.

‘Can’t we just stand here?’

‘You wish to conduct a conversation on my helicopter pad?’ His dark drawl dripped sarcasm and she flushed, still struggling as cold fingers of panic threatened to drag her down into darkness.

‘I just don’t see why we need to walk down to the sea.’

This was close enough. Too close.

He glanced at her with barely concealed irritation. ‘I refuse to conduct a conversation with your bodyguards hovering in the background.’

Her bodyguards?

Alesia glanced over her shoulder. She hadn’t even noticed the three burly men until this moment, even though they must have been on the helicopter. She’d been too busy concentrating on not looking at the ocean. ‘Oh—they work for my grandfather.’

‘You don’t need to explain. As the Philipos heiress you are entitled to protection.’

Momentarily forgetting her concerns about the sea and her shoes, Alesia almost laughed aloud. Protection from what? Who would be interested in a penniless, gawky student who spent every waking hour working herself to the bone? But clearly he knew nothing of her real life. Glancing around her, she noticed two other men hovering close by. ‘Who are they?’