The Marakaios Baby (The Marakaios Brides 2)

At the cash desk she offered to pay for it, but Leo silenced her with a single look as he handed over his credit card. He’d been the same when they were dating: he’d paid for all their meals and hotels, despite Margo’s insistence that she could pay her way. She hadn’t minded, because she’d still felt safe. Still kept him at a distance.

This felt different. This was a wedding dress—the start of a new life that would be utterly intertwined with Leo’s.

‘We should go back to the apartment,’ he said as he accepted the dress, now swathed in a designer hanging bag. ‘You should rest before the ceremony.’

* * *

A few hours later Margo’s stomach was seething with a whole different kind of nausea, now caused by nervousness. She’d showered and put on her new dress and heels, coiled her hair into its usual elegant chignon. The dress’s high waist hid her small baby bump, for which she was grateful. She’d rather not have some sanctimonious city official looking at her disapprovingly.

‘Are you ready?’ Leo called, and she gave her reflection one last, swift look.

In less than an hour she would be married. She would have made vows that would bind her to Leo for ever.

‘I’m coming,’ she called, and walked out of the bedroom.

Leo’s eyes widened as he took in her appearance, and then he gave one nod. ‘You look very nice.’

It was a rather ‘milquetoast’ compliment, but Margo saw the way colour touched his cheekbones. She felt awareness—physical awareness—sweep through her in an electrifying wave.

‘You look nice too,’ she said, which was a serious understatement.

In a dark grey suit and silvery-grey tie he looked amazing. The colour of his tie made his eyes look even more silver, seeming to blaze in his swarthy face, and his dark hair was brushed back, the strong lines of his cheekbones and jaw emphasised by the cut of his suit.

‘We should drive to the town hall,’ he said. ‘And then we can leave directly from there. I need to get back to the estate to work.’

Margo nodded. No matter how incredible Leo looked, this marriage was still no more than a business arrangement. ‘I’ll get my bag.’

They drove in silence to the town hall, with tension stretching and snapping between them, or at least that was how it felt to Margo. She knew the civil marriage ceremony would be short and simple, but she would still be making promises to Leo. To herself. To their baby. Promises she intended to keep. Which made her heart race and her hands go clammy. There would be no going back from this.

The town hall in Athens was an impressive building in the centre of the city; the marriage ceremony was to be held in a small room on a top floor, with only a few people in attendance. The two staff from Leo’s office greeted him with bland faces, although Margo imagined they had to be curious as to why their CEO was getting married in such a quick and pragmatic way. Thank goodness her bump wasn’t visible, although of course it would be soon enough.

The official cleared his throat and began, and within a few minutes it was over. Margo had barely had to say a word.

Leo slid a ring of white gold on her finger; she stared down at it in surprise.

‘When did you...?’

‘I had it couriered,’ he answered, and for some reason it hurt her—the thought that someone else had bought her wedding ring.

It was stupid, of course, but then she’d been so emotional lately. In any case, Margo knew she’d have to get used to these little things and remind herself that they weren’t slights. She hadn’t wanted romance, so she shouldn’t expect it. Its absence surely shouldn’t hurt her.

Just like the fact that he hadn’t kissed her shouldn’t hurt. It was simply the way it was. And so they walked out of the town hall into the bright winter sunshine, and then to the car.

They drove out of Athens as husband and wife, with not one word or person to mark the occasion.

* * *

Leo drove in silence for nearly an hour, his mind seething with thoughts he didn’t want to articulate. The ceremony had been both simple and brief, which was how he’d expected and wanted it to be, and yet somehow he felt as if he were disappointing Margo. Disappointing himself.

It had hardly seemed appropriate to have a big church wedding, and yet... It had been a very small ceremony for a big step such as they were taking.

He glanced at the ring she’d slid onto his finger, her fingers seeming so fragile and cold on his. Married. He was a husband now, with responsibilities to his wife and child. Responsibilities he’d bear gladly, and yet he still felt their weight.

And one of those responsibilities was introducing Margo to his family. He hadn’t considered the ramifications of marrying quickly and bringing Margo back to his villa immediately after. He’d simply wanted to control the situation, to have it on his terms.