Finally Kouropoulos lifted his head, his expression hard. ‘You’re planning to close the resort.’
Zander didn’t flinch. ‘That’s right.’
There was a heavy silence and Kouropoulos shifted in his chair, his voice gruff as he spoke. ‘I’ve been here for twenty-six years.’
‘I know exactly how long you’ve had possession of this island.’ Thick dark lashes shielded his eyes but there was a tension in his powerful frame that hadn’t been there before.
‘The business is losing money,’ Kouropoulos admitted ruefully, ‘but with an injection of capital—’
‘I’m not interested in saving the resort,’ Zander said shortly, his tone totally lacking in emotion. ‘I want the island for an entirely different reason.’
Kouropoulos sat back in his chair, one eyebrow raised. ‘And that reason is—?’
Zander smiled. ‘Personal.’
Lauranne glanced at him, knowing exactly what the reason was and loving him all the more for it.
Theo Kouropoulos was looking at Zander thoughtfully. He opened his mouth and began to speak in English, and then he glanced briefly at Marina and Lauranne and switched to rapid Greek, making sure that the only person who could understand him was Zander.
Zander sat still, his eyes fixed on the older man.
When Kouropoulos finally finished speaking, Zander replied in the same tongue, nothing in his expression giving even the slightest clue as to the content of the discussion.
Lauranne wished she’d bothered to learn Greek.
She had absolutely no idea what was being said, and neither had Marina if the look of frustration on her over-made-up face was anything to go by, but she could tell by the body language of the two men that it was significant.
Suddenly she realised that Kouropoulos was looking at her with a beaming smile on his face.
Uncomprehending, she glanced at Zander for some clue as to how she should respond and he smiled at her.
‘I was just revealing our plans, agape mou.’
Plans?
Lauranne managed a suitably vague smile and Kouropoulos chuckled.
‘You are going to break the hearts of millions of women, Lauranne. And I have to admit that I was beginning to give up hope that Zander would ever mend his marriage.’
Mend his marriage?
Just what exactly had Zander said?
Her breathing in a mess, Lauranne looked at Zander for inspiration or explanation, afraid to say the wrong thing.
‘I’ve told him that we won’t be getting a divorce,’ Zander said softly, his gaze fixing on her shocked face. ‘Ever. I’ve told him that I want the island as a home for my wife and children.’
She stared into his eyes, only dimly aware of Marina’s shocked denial.
For one short, amazing moment she allowed herself the luxury of believing he meant it.
And then she remembered how badly he wanted the island.
Of course he didn’t mean it.
Kouropoulos gave a delighted laugh. ‘I never thought I’d see the day—’
‘Neither did I,’ Zander drawled, his eyes still holding Lauranne’s, ‘but that was before I fell in love.’