‘Did your father travel a lot?’
Libby tensed. ‘Yes, but we were all very grateful for that. Things weren’t too great when he was around.’
Wanting to escape from the memories that he’d aroused, she slipped off her shoes and sprinted down to the sand, sighing with pleasure as she felt the warm softness ooze between her toes.
‘You’re a child, Elizabeth,’ Andreas said with a laugh from behind her, and she shrugged, staring out across the sparkling sea to the orange sun that was starting to dip behind the mountains.
‘I don’t know about that,’ she said softly, ‘but I do know that if you were brought up here then you were very lucky.’
She’d heard the affection in his voice when he’d spoken of his parents and suddenly she envied him his childhood. Her own had been full of rows and totally lacking in parental affection.
Would she have been different if she’d had his family background?
Would she have found it easier to trust people?
‘I was lucky,’ he agreed. ‘I had a secure, loving family around me when I was a child and I suppose that’s why I don’t find it hard to trust people. Unlike you. I know that you’ve been surrounded by faithless men all your life, but it’s time to realise that they aren’t the only sort.’
Her breathing quickened.
It would have been so easy to believe him. So easy…
And so foolish.
She gave a wry smile and kicked at the sand with her bare feet. ‘So…’ she lifted her head and gave him a bright smile ‘…are you going to show me your house?’
He lifted a hand and touched her face gently. ‘You are the mistress of avoidance, do you know that?’
She gave a careless shrug. ‘I don’t see the point in dwelling on the past.’
‘If it’s affecting the future, there’s a point,’ he said quietly, taking her hand and pulling her back towards the villa. ‘But we’ll talk about that another time. Come on. Let’s get settled in.’
She followed him inside, almost drooling with pleasure as she saw the interior. It was decorated in a mixture of white and cool blues so that the overall impression was that it was just a continuation of the ocean.
‘I know you’re tired so I’ll show you straight to your bedroom,’ Andreas said roughly, and she looked at him cautiously.
She hadn’t given any thought to the sleeping arrangements. ‘Andreas—’
‘Sleep, Libby,’ he said gently, ‘and then we’ll talk.’
Suddenly realising just how exhausted she was, she followed him into a bedroom, smiling with pleasure when she saw the bathroom. It was the last word in luxury.
‘I can’t believe you brought me here. I ought to be fighting with you,’ she murmured, reaching forward and flicking on the taps, ‘but frankly I’m too exhausted.’
‘Thank goodness for that.’ Andreas gave a wry smile and deposited her suitcase on the floor. ‘I’ll leave you to it. My bedroom is directly opposite if you need anything.’
She stiffened. ‘I won’t need anything.’
His smile widened and she sucked in a breath, uncomfortably aware that they seemed to be alone in this villa. Alone for the first time in their relationship.
But he didn’t seem inclined to take advantage of that fact. Instead, he flicked her cheek gently with a strong finger and left the room without a backward glance, closing the door behind him.
She stared after him, telling herself firmly that she wasn’t disappointed.
He’d left her to have a bath and sleep alone in that gorgeous huge bed with the gauzy cream drapes.
And that was exactly what she wanted.
Wasn’t it?
Two days later Libby wondered how she was ever going to bring herself to leave the island.
She’d spent most of her time cooling down in the sea or in the fantastic azure blue pool that overlooked the beach. When she wasn’t swimming she slept, and every time she awoke there seemed to be more food waiting for her. Greek salads, dips, plump olives and regional specialities that made her mouth water.
Andreas had explained on the first day that one of the families from the neighbouring village looked after the villa and kept an eye on his mother when she was staying there. They were also responsible for delivering vast quantities of delicious food every day.
‘You’re trying to fatten me up,’ she groaned, leaning back in her chair after a spectacular lunch during which she’d eaten far too much for comfort.
Andreas poured her some more water and she tried not to notice how good he looked in his polo shirt. The fabric hugged the powerful muscles of his shoulders and his arms were tanned and strong.