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Charlotte blinked at him. ‘You mean…I don’t have to…’

  ‘No. Not tonight.’

  She ran her tongue over her dry lips, her emotions see-sawing between disappointment and relief. She couldn’t understand her reaction to his offer of a short reprieve. It wasn’t as if she still loved him. He had killed those feelings with his ruthless treatment of her in the past, but still…

  She caught her bottom lip with her teeth. ‘But you paid me to be your partner for this evening…’

  ‘I have not forgotten our deal,’ he said. ‘I am just allowing you some breathing space.’

  ‘I’ll pay it back.’ Charlotte didn’t know how she would do it, but she determined she would definitely pay it back.

  ‘Yes, indeed you will,’ he said with chilling implacability. ‘I want you and I am prepared to wait a day or two until you are ready to come to me willingly.’

  She stood uncertainly before him, torn between wanting to bolt and to stay and feel the magic of his touch once more.

  She twisted her hands together. ‘Damon…I don’t know what to say…’

  ‘What I would like you to say is that you will have lunch with me tomorrow,’ he said.

  She shifted from one foot to the other. ‘Um…’

  ‘You do have a lunch hour, do you not?’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t think…’

  ‘Just lunch, Charlotte,’ he said. ‘Nothing else. For now.’

  For now.

  Charlotte suppressed a tiny shiver as the ominous sound of those two little words seared her soul. She couldn’t help feeling that he was toying with her, allowing her to briefly glimpse freedom before snatching it away again. Being with him in any context was flirting with danger. She considered rejecting his invitation but was worried that by doing so he would withdraw his temporary reprieve and insist on her staying this evening.

  She couldn’t risk it.

  But lunch would certainly be a whole lot easier than dinner, she reasoned. Emily would be at crèche all day, which meant she wouldn’t have to call upon Caroline to babysit.

  ‘All right…’ she said after a little silence. ‘Lunch will be fine.’

  ‘I will meet you on the steps of the museum at one p.m. Is that convenient?’

  ‘Yes…’ She swallowed the uneven lump in her throat and met his eyes once more. ‘So…so you’re not going to withdraw your sponsorship for the exhibition?’

  His coal-black eyes held no trace of the warmth she craved. ‘I am still thinking about it, Charlotte. It depends on many things.’

  Her teeth worried her lip again. ‘Wh-what sort of things?’

  He studied her for a seemingly endless interval.

  ‘I am still making up my mind about you,’ he said. ‘Whatever you might have done in the past, it seems reasonable to conclude you would not be in such a responsible position now if you had not proven yourself to be trustworthy.’

  Hope brightened her eyes. ‘So you finally believe me when I say I didn’t steal those things from your mother’s gallery?’

  He took another long moment to answer, his gaze holding hers as if he was still weighing up the pros and cons of her innocence.

  ‘As I told you earlier, I have not yet made up my mind.’

  It wasn’t quite the answer she was hoping for, but she knew it would have to suffice. There was no way of proving her innocence and the only way forward was to let it go. It was a black mark against her name but it seemed there was nothing she could do to remove it.

  Her heart gave a little flutter as his firm warm fingers enveloped hers, his eyes growing even darker as they meshed with her blue ones. He drew her closer to him, his chest brushing against her breasts, his mouth so near hers that his warm breath felt like a caress on her up-tilted face.

  ‘Your mouth is still the most kissable mouth I have ever seen,’ he said, his voice low and deep. ‘I have thought of it many times over the years.’

  ‘Y-you have?’

  ‘Yes,’ he breathed his answer into her mouth as she opened it on a shaky little sigh.

  His lips connected with hers in a kiss as soft as feather down, but it was enough to set fire to her soul. She felt the rush of need like a river of flame along her nerve-endings, each one screaming out for more of his touch. His tongue met hers with a flicker of need that sent a shockwave through her entire body. Her breasts came alive as his hands moved up along her ribcage to shape them, her stomach caving in with delight at the feel of his possessive touch. Her mouth was on fire under the onslaught of his, the stroke and glide of his tongue setting her alight with aching need. Her body secretly prepared itself, the deep throb of wanting making her whimper as he began to suckle on her bottom lip. She felt the sexy rasp of his tongue against hers and the scrape of his teeth as his kiss became more and more urgent. His tongue drove into the warm cave of her mouth again and again, reminding her of all the times he had driven into her with his hardened arousal, the thickness of his desire sending her senses on a rollercoaster ride of ecstasy.

  How she had missed this wild abandoned excitement. Her body felt alive with sizzling sexual energy, each nerve within her tingling with fully charged responses to his touch.

  He broke the kiss to look down at her with desire still burning in his eyes. ‘This is probably a good time to stop,’ he said with a wry curve to his mouth.

  ‘Yes…yes…I guess it is…’

  He took her hands in his. ‘Where did you park your car—in the hotel car park downstairs?’

  ‘No…I parked a few streets away.’

  ‘Then I will walk you to it,’ he said.

  Charlotte’s heart gave a sudden lurch. Emily’s child booster seat was in the back of her car. ‘No!’ she said.

  He frowned at her emphatic response. ‘No?’

  ‘I—I lied…’ She reluctantly brought her gaze back to his. ‘I didn’t drive here tonight…I…I caught a cab.’

  His dark gaze studied her for a lengthy pause.

  ‘Why did you feel it was necessary to lie about something as common as catching a cab?’ he asked.

  ‘I—I don’t know…’ she faltered.

  His expression closed over as he took her hand. ‘Come on, Charlotte. I will escort you to the cab rank.’

  She tried to pull her hand away. ‘There’s really no need to bother.’

  His fingers tightened a mere fraction. ‘It is no bother, really,’ he insisted.

  Charlotte had no choice but to allow him to escort her downstairs and into one of the waiting cabs. She gritted her teeth behind her forced smile as he waved her off.

  ‘Where to, miss?’ the cab driver asked as he began to pull out of the hotel driveway.

  She gave him a sheepish look. ‘You’re not going to believe this…’

  ‘The airport?’ he asked with a grin. ‘Every person I’ve picked up this evening’s been going to the airport.’

  ‘Actually, no, much closer than that,’ she said with rising colour. ‘See that yellow car parked under that tree on the next block?’

  ‘You’re kidding me.’

  ‘Sorry.’ She grimaced. ‘But do you think we can do a few rounds of the block. I don’t want my…er…friend to see me getting into my car.’

  He gave her another smile. ‘No trouble. How many rounds do you think we should do?’

  Charlotte glanced back over her shoulder at the hotel, but there was no sign of Damon watching.

  ‘Two should do it,’ she said, releasing a sigh as she settled back into the seat.

  ‘Two it is,’ the driver said, and made a turn to the left.

  ‘Stacey?’ Charlotte called out as soon as she got back to the flat. ‘I’m home.’

  A chill ran down her spine when there was no answer. She dropped her bag and called out again, but the flat was eerily quiet.

  She checked each of the rooms but it wasn’t until she got to her bedroom that she saw the note stuck on her laptop computer screen.

  Sorry, Charlie. I know you’re going to hate
me but I’m just not ready. Forgive me. S.

  Charlotte peeled off the note with a sinking heart, the sharp edges of the paper sticking into the soft skin of her palm. She tossed it in the bin but the movement of her hand against her little desk disturbed the computer mouse and the computer screen came to life.

  She stared at her internet banking details, her stomach churning in despair when she realised what her sister had done.

  ‘Oh, Stacey…’ she cried out in frustration. ‘How could you do this to me?’

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘YOU look nice today,’ Diane said as she ran into Charlotte in the ladies’ room the following day. ‘Are you going out to lunch?’

  Charlotte recapped her lipstick and rolled her lips together before answering. ‘Yes, I am actually.’

  ‘The Greek billionaire?’ Diane guessed with a knowing smile.

  Charlotte frowned as she turned to face her colleague. ‘You haven’t been talking to him, have you?’

  ‘No, why?’

  ‘Listen, Diane.’ She lowered her voice conspiratorially. ‘Remember we discussed the other evening how Mr Latousakis and I had met before?’

  ‘Yes, on Santorini, right?’

  ‘Well…it’s really important you don’t talk to him about me. I don’t want him to know I’m a single mother.’

  ‘You think he’ll be put off if he knows you’ve got a little kid?’ Diane asked.

  ‘You know what men are like these days,’ Charlotte said, turning back to the mirror to inspect her make-up rather than meet her colleague’s eyes.

  Diane gave a deep sigh of agreement as she leaned against the basin. ‘Tell me about it. What is it with men and commitment?’

  ‘Exactly,’ Charlotte said, relieved she didn’t have to go into lengthy explanations.

  Diane gave her a probing look. ‘He’s not Emily’s father, is he?’

  ‘No.’ Charlotte felt like kicking herself for answering so quickly when she saw the way her colleague’s brows rose above her eyes.

  Diane pursed her mouth thoughtfully. ‘So you’re just doing lunch?’

  ‘Yes, just lunch.’

  ‘Does he want to see you again?’

  ‘Maybe…I’m not sure…’ Charlotte comforted herself that it was at least the truth. She had no idea what Damon wanted from her. She couldn’t quite believe he had temporarily freed her from his previous demands, but for some reason she still felt compromised. She knew it was incredibly dangerous being around him but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

  She was becoming addicted to his smile, not to mention that kiss…

  ‘But what do you want?’ Diane asked, as if tapping into her thoughts. ‘You said you were involved with him before. Do you still feel anything for him?’

  ‘I can’t afford to feel anything for him,’ Charlotte answered. ‘I have a child and he’s a playboy. The two don’t go together.’

  ‘You know you could always just tell him about Emily and see what happens,’ Diane suggested.

  ‘No. He’s only going to be here for a month.’

  ‘What if he finds out some other way? Won’t he think you’re a bit weird, keeping it from him?’

  ‘He won’t find out,’ Charlotte said as she straightened her skirt over her hips, wishing she was feeling as confident as she sounded. ‘I’m going to make sure of it.’

  Diane pushed herself away from the basin. ‘Well, for a start you’d better take all those photos of your daughter off the desk in your office,’ she advised. ‘Damon Latousakis might not be Emily’s father, but he sure as hell looks like he could be. Even if he doesn’t see the likeness, others certainly will.’

  Charlotte stared at her reflection once the door had closed on Diane’s exit, the panic in her eyes widening them to the size of dinner plates.

  If Diane was already suspicious, what hope did she have with anyone else, including Damon himself?

  He was waiting for her when she came out of the museum a short time later and her heart gave a little kick in her chest at the sight of him dressed in a charcoal-grey suit, the crisp white of his shirt highlighting the olive tone of his skin.

  He gave her a smile as he looked down at her. ‘Hello, Charlotte.’

  She returned his smile with a shy one of her own. ‘Hello…’

  His finger under her chin brought her wandering gaze back to the dark intensity of his. ‘Have you forgotten my name?’ he asked.

  ‘No, of course not…’

  ‘Say it, Charlotte.’

  She felt her stomach give a little quiver. ‘Damon…’

  His mouth tipped upwards in a satisfied smile as his hand fell away. ‘I like the way you say my name. No one else says it quite the way you do. You sort of breathe it out of your mouth in a husky little whisper.’

  Charlotte could feel the heat seeping into her cheeks and looked away again. ‘We’d better get going; I’ve only got an hour and with Julian still off sick I’ve got extra work to do.’

  She fell into step beside him as they walked across Hyde Park, her heart racing each time his arm brushed against hers. Her fingers itched to slip into the warmth of his hand and, to stop herself from being tempted, she crossed her arms over her chest.

  ‘Are you cold?’ Damon asked.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Here, take my jacket.’ He slipped it from his shoulders and draped it around her. ‘The wind is chilly. I heard there is going to be snow on the Blue Mountains this evening.’

  Charlotte felt her insides twist as she thought of the clinic Stacey should have been in by now. She had lain awake for most of the night, imagining her sister shooting up all of Damon’s money. She didn’t want to give up on her own flesh and blood, but she was starting to realise that Stacey—like their father—was fast moving past the point of no return.

  ‘Feeling better?’ Damon asked.

  Charlotte could barely look at him for the guilt she was feeling. ‘Yes…thank you…’ She huddled into his jacket, breathing in his scent as the lingering warmth of his body on the expensive fabric encompassed her slim frame.

  The restaurant was busy but the maître d’ escorted them to a quiet table in one corner.

  Charlotte examined the menu, hoping it would stimulate her appetite, but every time she saw the price of a meal she was reminded of how empty all of her accounts now were.

  ‘You look worried,’ Damon observed. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  He smiled at her too rapid response. ‘Yes, there is; I can see it on your face. I said it was just lunch, OK? No strings. I will even let you pay half if that makes you feel more comfortable.’

  ‘No!…er…I mean, that’s not the problem…’

  He leaned forward slightly. ‘What is the problem?’

  ‘I’m just finding this…a little difficult…’

  ‘You and me?’

  Her eyes met his briefly. ‘Yes…we haven’t seen each other in almost four years…I don’t know what to say to you…’

  ‘Tell me about your life,’ he said, leaning back as the waiter placed water and bread rolls on the table.

  ‘My life?’

  He gave her an ironic look. ‘You do have one, do you not?’

  She looked down at the table. ‘I’m sure it’s pretty boring compared to yours.’

  ‘What about relationships?’ he asked. ‘Do you have a serious boyfriend?’

  ‘I would hardly have agreed to spend time with you if I had,’ she pointed out with a wry glance in his direction.

  ‘You think I am an arrogant bastard, do you not?’

  Charlotte saw no reason to spare his feelings. ‘Yes.’

  ‘I was surprised at how seeing you again brought it all back.’

  ‘Brought all what back?’

  His smile was crooked. ‘No one has ever made me feel the way you do.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re just saying that.’

  He reached for her hand and enclosed it in the warm temptation of his. ‘I mea
n it, Charlotte. I want you as much as I ever did and you want me. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at me. There’s a hunger there that tells me no one has been able to satisfy you the way I did.’

  She pulled her hand out of his. ‘You broke my heart, Damon. I’m not going back into the ring.’

  He frowned as he sat back in his seat. ‘Come on, Charlotte. You know I had no choice but to believe you were responsible. Every finger of blame pointed to you.’

  Bitterness sharpened her gaze as it connected with his. ‘You had a choice to believe me but you chose not to.’

  He let out a sigh. ‘I have agonised over it for the last four years but I keep coming back to the same point—if you did not steal those sculptures, then who did?’

  ‘I don’t know, but someone didn’t like the fact that you and I were an item. What about your childhood sweetheart, the woman you were expected to marry?’

  ‘Iona Patonis?’

  ‘Yes. She came into the gallery with Eleni a few times. She was a brooding sort, I always thought. She could easily have done it.’

  ‘Iona would never have done something so despicable,’ he insisted. ‘She is one of the most kind-hearted people I know. She helped nurse my sister for months and she has been a wonderful support to my mother since Eleni died.’

  ‘Then why haven’t you married her?’ she asked. ‘She clearly expected you to.’

  He tapped his fingers on the stem of his wineglass for a moment. ‘That is a good question.’

  ‘Are you going to answer it?’ Charlotte asked after a short silence.

  His eyes came back to hers. ‘Iona gave up on me a while ago,’ he said. ‘She married a cousin of mine. I think you might have met him once—Nick Andreakos. I believe she is already expecting their first child.’

  Charlotte hoped her surprise wasn’t too evident on her face. ‘Did you find that hard to cope with?’

  He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘Not really. If I had married her, it would have been a marriage of convenience in any case.’

  ‘You didn’t love her?’

  ‘I loved her in a brother sister sort of way,’ he said. ‘But there was no spark, if you know what I mean.’

  Charlotte knew exactly what he meant. She could feel it now, just by sitting with her knees so close to his. She had only to stretch out her legs and the heat would explode between her thighs.