Exotic Nights

of marriage to be so moved had scared her slightly.

Before they left for the reception Stavros took her aside and told her how thankful he and Delphi were to her, for helping their wedding to happen, and especially before the pregnancy became common knowledge. Those words alone, and seeing the unmitigated joy on Delphi’s face, made everything worthwhile.

Leo was waiting for her at the entrance of the church, to take her to the reception, and to her relief her father didn’t seem to be inclined to make a scene—no doubt very well aware that Leo was being courted and feted by everyone almost as if he was the one getting married.

Dimitri Stephanides, Stavros’s father, had put on a lavish display in a top Athens hotel—no doubt also to impress Leo. Everyone was there. Angel became slowly aware that things had changed subtly in the time that she’d been with Leo. There were fewer of the snide whispers and furtive looks, and the headlines in the newspapers had all but disappeared. She realised that people had grown used to seeing them together …

‘Dance?’

Angel looked up from her preoccupation to see Leo standing there, holding out a hand. She stood up and let him lead her to the dance floor, where Delphi and Stavros had just had their first dance to much raucous applause.

A slow, swoony song came on and Leo pulled Angel close. Feeling raw, she tried to resist the pull to just lean against him, but his hand on her bare back, above the top of her dress, urged her close. She gave in and moved and swayed with Leo, content to let her head fall into his shoulder. It felt like sheer indulgence.

‘Your sister is not what I expected.’

Angel tensed, but Leo’s hand on her back, moving in slow, sensual circles, forced her to relax again. She lifted her head and looked up. Leo’s face was far too close for comfort.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, half forgetting what he’d said.

He shrugged minutely, one broad shoulder moving under his shirt. He’d taken off his jacket and tie, so his shirt was open to reveal the strong, bronzed column of his throat.

‘She seems …’ Leo grimaced. ‘Sweet. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that she and Stavros are genuinely in love.’

Angel really tensed then, and tried to pull away, but Leo was like a steel wall around her, not letting her go anywhere.

She whispered up at him fiercely, ‘They are in love, and have been for ever. They were childhood sweethearts.’

‘Cute,’ Leo said, clearly not impressed.

Angel hesitated, and then said in a rush, ‘The reason they needed to get married so quickly is because Delphi is nearly four months pregnant. Stavros’s family were never going to sanction a marriage with a Kassianides. Stavros wanted to elope with Delphi, but she wouldn’t let him do that.’

Leo quirked a brow. Angel bit her lip. She’d gone too far now to turn back.

‘His family would have disinherited him and cut him off.’

Angel saw the cynical gleam come into Leo’s eye and colour bloomed in her cheeks as she asserted passionately, ‘It’s not like that. Delphi couldn’t care less about Stavros’s inheritance, but he wants to get into politics and she didn’t want to be responsible for causing a rift in his family.’

‘And yet now, no matter what you say, she—and you by proxy—will be fine, secure in the wealth of her new husband.’

Angel finally managed to pull away from Leo with a violent tug, disappointed at how hurt she was at this evidence of his bitter cynicism. ‘Believe what you want, Leo. Someone like you will never know that kind of pure love.’

And before he could grab her back she’d spun on her spindly heels and was threading through the couples on the dance floor and out to the lobby. Leo raked a hand through his hair, aware of eyes on him. Aware of the way females were starting to circle, sensing an opening. Beyond irritated, and not even sure why, he pushed through the crowd and went to the bar—but not before he glanced to his right and saw the happy couple.

They were sitting apart from everyone else, in a corner, smiling. Stavros had his hand on Delphi’s belly and her hand was over his, and they shared a look of such private intensity that Leo’s step almost faltered. Right now they looked nothing like what he’d just described; he felt guilty—as if he’d tarnished something.

Delphi was like Angel only in height and build; the younger sister had obviously inherited her father’s stronger features and dark eyes, while Angel must have inherited her Irish mother’s more delicate features and colouring.

Leo thought then of what it must have been like to lose their sister, Delphi’s twin … At that moment he saw Ari and Lucy Levakis approach and smile a greeting, and for once he was glad of the distraction. Seeing Angel’s family was throwing up far too many contradictions.

When Angel felt composed enough she came back into the ballroom, and was surprised to see Leo dancing a traditional Greek dance with the rest of the men. She was still burningly angry with him, but she melted inside when she saw the wide grin on his face. He looked so powerfully sensual doing the dance movements that she couldn’t help smile. Just then her arm was grabbed in a punishing grip, and she let out a gasp of pain. Her father.

‘We need to have a little chat. I’ve missed you, daughter, and you’ve been very busy since I saw you last.’

Alcohol fumes wafted over Angel, making her feel sick. She tried to wrench her arm away but her father held on. ‘No, we don’t. There was no way I was going to let you get away with stealing that man’s will.’

Her father sneered. ‘So you ran straight to lover-boy and handed it back. Don’t think you’re going to get away with this, Angel, I’m not finished with—’

Just then Delphi came up and pulled her away. Angel sent her sister a relieved glance as they left their father swaying drunkenly, looking after them murderously. Now that Delphi would be living with Stavros Angel knew she’d never have to see her father again if she didn’t want to. The relief was immense, and she gave Delphi a quick, impetuous kiss.