‘I recommend the lamb.’
‘We’re going clubbing later. Will you come?’
‘I’ll be too tired after working here all day, but thanks for the invitation.’ She was used to deflecting invitations and she kept it light and friendly, kept the smile on her face, all the while aware of Stefan seated two tables away, listening to every word.
She felt him watching her. Felt those sinfully sexy eyes following her every move as she moved between tables serving tourists and locals.
He sat still as Mariana delivered his coffee, and continued to watch Selene until her nerves were shredded and she hardly dared hold a plate in case it slipped from her sweaty fingers.
The fact that they’d been watching her without her knowledge freaked her out.
Who else was watching her?
Suddenly she made a decision.
Walking through to the bar area, which couldn’t be seen from the restaurant, she smiled sickly at the owner and told him she was feeling unwell. The job wasn’t real anyway. He’d only given her the job because the Ziakas machine had swung into action.
She went to the bathroom, pushed open the window, climbed through it and dropped onto the street outside.
Brushing off the dust, she derived some small satisfaction from the knowledge that she wasn’t making it easy for him. No doubt he’d track her down again in no time if he wanted to, but that didn’t mean she had to hand herself over.
Heart pounding, she sprinted along the maze of streets that led back to the tiny room she was renting, all the time expecting to hear the heavy tread of masculine footsteps behind her.
She was just congratulating herself on successfully slipping away when a male hand curved over her shoulder.
Terrified that it might be her father or one of his men, Selene turned round swinging but it was Stefan who caught her arm.
‘It’s all right. It’s just me.’ His voice was roughened with concern. ‘But it might not have been. Why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you making it hard for us to protect you?’
‘I’ve been followed and watched over for the whole of my life. I am trying to escape from that.’
‘I offered you my help but instead you choose to spend your day working in a taverna being propositioned by sleazy men in Hawaiian shorts.’
‘And what are you, Stefan? A sleazy man in an expensive suit? At least they’re honest about what they want.’ Still shaken by the panic that had gripped her when he’d touched her shoulder, she pressed herself against the wall. ‘I really have no idea why you’re even here. I’ve served my purpose and we both know you’re not interested in anything or anyone unless it serves a purpose.’
‘Since when did you become so cynical?’
‘Since I accepted that you’re a cold, emotionless megalomaniac with no redeeming qualities. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll—’
‘No.’
He planted his arms either side of her, caging her, and she gasped, shoving him hard.
‘Don’t ever trap me like that.’
‘Then don’t run.’ But he lowered one of his arms. It made virtually no difference because he was standing so close to her there was no way she could move. ‘I did not invite you to that party because of your father. I invited you because you were sweet and sexy and because I wanted to spend time with you.’
‘I don’t want to talk about this. It’s too late, Stefan.’
‘Journalists take photographs of me all the time. It’s part of my life. So much a part of it I didn’t think of it. Had you explained to me the importance of your father not knowing, it might have occurred to me.’
‘I arrived in your office in disguise. Didn’t that give you a clue?’
‘You told me he disapproved of what you were doing and I had no reason not to question that. You were dressed in a nun’s outfit—’ his eyes gleamed with self-mockery, ‘—I assumed that what came out of your mouth was the truth.’
‘But you knew I wanted to keep my visit to you a secret.’
‘I didn’t even think about it. There is a world of difference between a disapproving father and an abusive father. I thought you wanted to make your mark on the world. I didn’t know he was leaving marks on you.’ There was a brief pause. His mouth tightened. ‘You should have shared that with me.’