His Reputation Precedes Him

She still couldn’t believe she had been so stupid as to believe Donna’s fantastic series of lies. Although, in her defence, she had started to doubt her cousin’s version of things shortly after meeting Markos herself.

But she had only doubted Donna’s version—she had never even thought that the whole thing had been a complete fabrication from start to finish. Nothing more than a figment of Donna’s over-achieving imagination. Something, having spoken bluntly with Donna herself, Eva now knew without a shadow of a doubt to be the real truth.

Not that her cousin had apologised for the lies—in fact Donna appeared to be more angry towards Eva than anything else, for what she now saw as Eva’s family disloyalty in befriending Markos herself.

Befriending?

Eva would hardly class the fantastic, earth-shattering lovemaking she and Markos had shared as ‘befriending’ each other!

God, just remembering the depth and feeling of that lovemaking now was enough to make her nipples tingle and tighten, to make her clench and unclench between her thighs.

She straightened abruptly. ‘I’m pleased you’re happy with it.’

‘That would be an understatement.’ Markos turned to look across at her from between narrowed lids. ‘Praise where praise is due, Eva: you’ve done a fantastic job on this room.’

She avoided meeting that piercing gaze. ‘Let’s hope you’re as pleased with the rest of the apartment once it’s finished,’ she dismissed briskly as she looked around for her shoulder bag.

‘Perhaps we should have a glass of champagne to celebrate? Oh, come on, Eva,’ he drawled dryly as she turned to him with wide eyes. ‘I can’t be the first satisfied customer who has wanted to toast the success of your hard work?’

He was the first satisfied customer that Eva had gone to bed with.

The only man, besides Jack, she had ever been to bed with…

And Eva now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was absolutely no comparison between the two men. Jack had been a selfish lover, whereas Markos was a generous one. She had been a virgin when she’d married Jack, had had no idea that making love should be the way it had been between her and Markos—a delight for all the senses.

And those memories weren’t helping her in the least to keep this meeting on a business footing! ‘I really do have to go—’

‘Do you have a date this evening?’

‘No, of course not,’ she answered with irritation.

‘Have you heard from Cabot Grey?’

Eva drew her breath in sharply. ‘I’ve spoken to Jack again, yes,’ she confirmed guardedly.

Markos looked at her from between narrowed lids, having absolutely no idea what thoughts were going on behind those shuttered gold-coloured eyes. ‘I believe I asked you to tell me—’

‘If I had any further trouble from Jack. Which I haven’t,’ she added firmly. ‘We spoke. Nothing more.’

‘About what?’

She gave a pained frown. ‘As I’ve said before, I don’t believe that to be any of your business—’

‘That’s bull—’ He abruptly broke off his angry response, aware that he had been about to voice an unacceptable expletive. His jaw was tight as he continued between gritted teeth, ‘As the man who helped you to pick up the pieces after your last conversation with your ex-husband, I happen to think it’s very much my business!’ His eyes glittered darkly.

A blush heightened Eva’s cheeks. ‘I believe I’ve already thanked you sufficiently for the…assistance you gave me that weekend.’

‘I sincerely hope that was not a reference to our lovemaking, Eva,’ he bit out coldly.

‘Of course not!’ she gasped.

‘No?’

She gave another pained wince. ‘Markos, I’ve already thanked you several times for your kindness the evening I met Jack again at his father’s house. And it’s because of that kindness that I refuse to argue with you now—’

‘Then what are you going to do with me?’

She blinked. ‘Sorry?’