The Secrets She Carried

His handsome mouth twisted. ‘You and Lisandra are very different.’

Did he have regrets? A little ache set in somewhere in the region of Erin’s heart. Erin had seen photos of his ex-wife in glossy magazines and Lisandra was much more sophisticated than she was. Most people would reckon that Cristo had married ‘down’ in choosing Erin and when they realised that the twins were his they would put another construction altogether on their marriage. Did that matter to her? Was she too sensitive? Expediency, rather than love, made the world go round. She didn’t need him to love her. Evidently she didn’t have that essential spark that would inspire such feelings in him or he would have fallen in love with her when they were first together and everything was all shiny and new.

‘Visiting my mother in spite of what she did, allowing her to be present today and treating her like one of the family,’ Cristo specified wryly. ‘Lisandra would never have forgiven her.’

‘I haven’t forgiven Appollonia either.’

‘But you’re willing to try. I’m very grateful for that,’ Cristo told her quietly. ‘You had the opportunity to get your own back by excluding her from our lives but you didn’t take it. That was generous of you.’

‘She truly regrets what she did. We all make mistakes.’

Cristo grasped her hand, curved lean fingers to the side of her face and brought his mouth down on hers with a hungry urgency that sent pure energy winging through her trembling body. ‘I’m wrecking your make-up,’ he groaned against her sultry mouth.

‘Doesn’t matter,’ Erin proclaimed breathlessly, looking up at him with starry eyes and a thundering heartbeat.

Cristo handed her a tissue for the lipstick he had smeared. ‘Our guests await us but first … I have a gift for you.’

He handed her a tiny jewellery box, which she flipped open. It contained a band of diamonds, an eternity ring. ‘Cristo, it’s beautiful but I haven’t got you anything.’

‘My gift is having you back in my bed again,’ he murmured lazily.

The burning intensity of the look that accompanied that statement was like a blowtorch. She tottered out of the car on wobbling knees, struggling to pin a social smile to her lips. He really really wanted her and that was good, a healthy sign for a very practical marriage, she told herself earnestly, striving hard to be sensible while she admired the new rings sparkling on her finger. Cristo for eternity would be paradise, she thought dizzily, barely able to credit that he was finally hers. She watched as the twins ran to him and he scooped them up in both arms in a movement that made Lorcan and Nuala break into fits of laughter.

‘He’s so good with them,’ her mother remarked approvingly from the front door that stood open. ‘I expect you’re planning on more children.’

‘Not at the minute,’ Erin told her mother frankly. ‘I think we’ll be getting used to being married for quite a while.’

‘Cristo looks happier and more relaxed than I’ve seen him in years,’ Vasos commented approvingly at her elbow. ‘You’re good for each other. I only wish that my wife’s interference hadn’t parted you when you should have stayed together.’

‘It’s water under the bridge now,’ Erin said lightly as she looked up at the older man.

‘I had an argument with my son when he said he couldn’t possibly take a honeymoon while my company was failing. Don’t worry,’ Vasos urged comfortably. ‘I soon talked sense into him. Of course you’re having a honeymoon.’

Erin swallowed uncomfortably. She knew how hard Cristo had worked in his efforts to support his father’s business, which had suffered badly in the difficult economic climate in Greece, but she also knew that Vasos’ stubborn independent streak had made it an almost impossible challenge. ‘He worries a lot about you.’

‘He’ll get over it,’ Vasos replied staunchly.

‘No, he won’t actually,’ she told him in a low voice. ‘He’ll feel like the worst failure if your business goes down. Why won’t you let Cristo help you?’

‘I could never accept money from Cristo.’

‘But you’re his family.’

‘When he came to us as a child he was a fantastically rich little boy and I swore never to take advantage of that.’

‘Times change. For a start, he’s an adult, not a child any more. He loves you very much. Isn’t it selfish to force him to stand by and do nothing while you go bankrupt? He’ll be devastated.’

Vasos frowned.

‘Please don’t be offended with me,’ Erin begged. ‘I just wanted you to know what it’s like for him not to be allowed to help when you’re in trouble. In the same situation wouldn’t you want to help him no matter what?’

‘I will consider that angle,’ Vasos replied after a long minute of silence, his stern face troubled. ‘You can be very blunt, Erin … but you do understand Cristo.’

‘Hopefully.’ With a warm smile, Erin moved away to greet other guests, praying she hadn’t said too much to Cristo’s foster father. Cristo would probably be furious if he knew she had said anything, but negotiations between him and the older man were currently at a standstill and she had decided that she might as well speak up on Cristo’s behalf.

Late afternoon, Cristo informed her that they were leaving. ‘To go where?’ she pressed.

‘It’s a surprise.’