The Mediterranean's Wife By Contract

She glared at the printed page, hating herself for weakening. Andreas had made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested in her last night—so this was probably some kind of sop to his brother’s feelings, because Theo had been as upset as Jo when he’d walked out.

She glanced up over the pages of her book as she heard a car pulling up outside. A few moments later she saw Andreas strolling in through the front gates of the property. He looked magnificent. There was no other word for it. His clothes were casual, a white linen shirt and sand-coloured trousers, yet he looked incredibly sophisticated and stylish—or was that simply the air of confidence that he wore like a well fitting cape?

Carrie immediately wished she’d rushed inside to get changed. Not that she had many stylish clothes with her. The dress she’d worn last night was it—everything else was shorts, tee shirts and jeans. But it was too late to even think about that now, she realized with a rapidly beating heart as he glanced over and caught her eye.

‘Ah, there you are.’ He cut away from the path and walked across the grass towards her and she noticed the interested glances he received from some attractive young women nearby.

She tried to pretend that she was engrossed in her book, only nonchalantly glancing up as he reached her side. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she too found it hard to take her eyes off him.

He seemed to tower over her, and that combined with the fact that she was only wearing a bikini made her feel suddenly extremely self-conscious.

She sat up a little straighter on the bed and then drew her knees up in an attempt to shield her body from his eyes. But she realized that wasn’t working as his gaze just moved over her long legs with swift male appraisal.

‘I don’t know what you are doing here, Andreas,’ she murmured nervously.

‘Don’t you…?’ His lips curved in a smile that made her heart rate start to increase. Then he took a chair from a nearby table and sat down beside her. ‘I thought I told you when we spoke on the phone.’

‘And I thought we’d dealt with this situation last night. Theo and Jo mean well,’ she continued briskly, ‘but we shouldn’t feel obliged to spend time together just to please them.’

‘Is that what you think this is?’ One dark eyebrow lifted. ‘I never do anything I don’t want to do, Carrie…I can assure you of that.’

‘Well, you turned up last night!’ she reminded him swiftly.

‘Yes, out of curiosity.’ He smiled. ‘You’re right when you say that I think a lot of my brother—but dating to please him…?’ He looked at her wryly and shook his head. ‘That was never going to happen.’

‘Yes, well, I feel exactly the same where Jo is concerned, so let’s just leave it like that.’ She flicked her chin up stubbornly.

‘Good, I’m glad you feel the same—because it means we can just be friends, doesn’t it?’

She liked the way he held her eyes as he said those words. Could a woman ever just be a friend with someone who looked like him? Carrie wondered.

‘I don’t do serious relationships anyway,’ he added gently. ‘I don’t want complications, nor have I got time for them, especially at the moment.’

‘Neither have I.’ She angled her chin up even further. ‘I’m on holiday to relax after working extremely hard for exams. And in nine days’ time I start a new job in the city.’

‘So a bit of light-hearted fun is in order all round.’ She wanted to ask him what kind of fun he was talking about, but she didn’t dare voice that question because it seemed far too dangerous.

‘So, the bottom line is that you’re at a loose end this afternoon?’ she said instead.

He laughed at that. ‘Maybe it is.’

‘Well, I’ll have to check my appointments diary.’ She nodded. ‘Because I’m really busy…’

He liked the playful gleam in her blue eyes.

‘Yes, I can see that.’ His glance moved towards the book that she was still holding in her hands and he reached out and took it from her. At first she thought he was taking it away, but he simply turned it around and handed it back and she realized she’d been holding it upside down!

She flushed with embarrassment. ‘I dropped it a few moments ago.’

He nodded. ‘It’s obviously riveting.’

‘It is…but I suppose I could tear myself away from it for a few hours. I’m not so sure about snorkelling at the reef, though…as I told you last night I am not a strong swimmer.’

‘Well…we’ll sail out there, assess your skills and take it from there. How’s that?’

‘Sounds OK.’

He nodded. ‘And if you don’t want to swim or snorkel you can watch the boat whilst I dive. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.’

‘Oh, right, so I’m just the lookout for sharks now, am I?’

‘No, I’ll promote you. You can be the bar manager,’ he amended.

‘Gee, thanks.’ She laughed. ‘Just give me a minute to go inside and change.’

‘You’re fine the way you are.’ She was wearing a very sexy red bikini that showed off her incredible figure to perfection: high pert breasts, a narrow waist, and slender hips. ‘Just throw on your shorts and T-shirt.’ He picked them up from the bottom of her sunbed and tossed them up at her.

She caught them instinctively. ‘But my money is in the apartment safe so I need to go back inside anyway.’

‘You don’t need money.’ He watched as she took off her sunhat and her hair tumbled around her shoulders and down to her waist in a golden silky wave.

She was so beautiful that he found it difficult to look away. He noticed how her ribs protruded as she stretched upwards to put her T-shirt on and how flat her stomach was and he longed suddenly to reach out and touch her, slide his hands over the satin perfection of her skin. As she stood up from the bed and pulled her shorts on she flicked a glance over at him.

It was a look that was both vulnerable yet filled with an answering fire. The same look she had thrown him last night. It intrigued him…

Not many women had that effect on him, and there had been no shortage of beautiful women in his life over the years. Mostly he hadn’t had to pursue any with too much rigour; they’d fallen into his bed with the greatest of ease—and he’d enjoyed them, whilst being as honest as he could about the fact that he had no intention of committing to a real relationship. The strange thing was that the more elusive he was, the more interested they became. But it wasn’t a game with him—he really didn’t want to get himself entwined in a serious relationship. He’d been there and wouldn’t return.

Presently there were no women in his life—he’d cleared the decks because he needed all his time and concentration for the intricate negotiations of the takeover deal. Ditching his social life for these last few weeks hadn’t cost him a second thought. He was completely focused on the deal.

Or rather he had been until this morning when during a meeting of the board he had suddenly been distracted by thoughts of Carrie.

He hadn’t been able to get her out of his head all night either. That almost defiant way she’d looked at him with clear sky-blue eyes. The way her skin flushed so easily, and vulnerability slipped in. She was a bewitching mix of innocence laced with provoking passion and despite telling himself to stay away he just couldn’t.

Right now he should have been in a meeting with his accountants, not here with her. But, he reasoned, he deserved an afternoon off anyway. They would keep things light and tomorrow he would regain his complete focus on business.

Andreas had recommended that she kept her shirt on to protect her delicate fair skin from burning whilst snorkelling, but all he wore were his trunks. She watched from the back of the boat as he dived cleanly into the calm turquoise water. He looked like an Olympic athlete, she thought admiringly; his body was perfectly honed, his skin gleaming a rich honey gold. He disappeared for a moment beneath the satin surface of the sea and then resurfaced. ‘Right, your turn.’

‘Very funny. I can’t dive like that!’

He grinned. ‘Go down onto the platform and slide in. Don’t worry—I’ll catch you if you have any difficulty.’

Carrie didn’t know which made her heart race faster: the thought of him putting his arms around her or the vast depths of the ocean.

‘Come on, it’s lovely once you’re in,’ he coaxed.

Taking a deep breath, she went down the ladder onto the back platform and then allowed herself to slide in. The water felt surprisingly icy and she gasped.

‘Gosh! It’s cold.’

He laughed and swam over so that he was next to her. ‘It’s not cold, you’re just hot.’ He added teasingly, ‘In more ways than one.’

It was amazing—even in the cool water she could feel the heat of his gaze licking through her. He was so very close; she could see the gold flecks in the darkness of his eyes, noticed how thick and dark his eyelashes were, how sensual and inviting the arrogant curve of his lips.

She wanted to reach out and touch him. Instead she forced herself to swim away. ‘So where is the reef?’

‘A little further out.’ He picked up the masks he’d left on the platform and headed after her.

Carrie didn’t think she would ever forget being alone with Andreas that afternoon, surrounded by nothing but the vastness of the sea. The water was so tranquil and clear, and, when her skin became accustomed to it, quite warm. Andreas showed her how to use the snorkelling equipment and stayed close until she was feeling more confident. And by then she was enraptured by the secret world beneath them.

The reef was spectacular, a giant living city of swaying tentacles and flower shapes that moved with a swirl of its colourful fish inhabitants.

She loved every minute of it and was disappointed when Andreas told her it was time to head back to the boat.

‘That was fabulous.’ She smiled happily up at him as he climbed on the platform and reached to help her out of the water.

‘You’re glad you did it, then?’

‘Really glad. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’

‘You certainly looked at home. In fact, you looked like a mermaid with your hair streaming behind you as you swam.’

She laughed. ‘Well, unless this T-shirt dries out quickly I’m going to look like a bedraggled fish out of water on the way home.’

‘You can borrow a shirt of mine to put on.’ He led the way up onto the deck. ‘Although I have to say that the bedraggled look also suits you.’

Distracted by his gentle flirting, she lost her footing as she stepped down onto the polished floor.

Immediately he caught her and for the briefest moment she was held close against the powerful lines of his wet body.

Then he released her.

‘Sorry about that. I just slipped.’ She tried to sound nonchalant, and smile at him, but the contact had knocked all the breath from her body, and the curl of dangerous excitement deep inside her was still there.

Disconcerted, she looked away. ‘I suppose we should head back to the island now.’

‘Yes, I guess so. I have work to get back to.’ His glance moved over her, he hadn’t been lying when he’d told her that she looked good. Her wet hair was slicked back from her face revealing her perfect skin, her high cheekbones.

His gaze moved lower, noticing how the wet shirt was moulded to the shapely curves of her body and how taut and firm her body was.

He wanted to peel the shirt off her and unfasten the bikini, let his mouth and his tongue explore her warm, wet curves.

His eyes moved upwards and connected with hers and suddenly naked hunger burned like a blue flame between them. Carrie felt a thrill of need kick inside and take over, her desire so intense it made her feel powerless.

How was this happening to her? she wondered in panic.

How could he make her want him so desperately with just the slightest touch, and one look?

She made to turn away but he caught hold of her hand and pulled her back.

The next moment she was in his arms and his mouth was on hers, possessing her with an almost ruthless intent.

No one had ever kissed her with such total demanding control and she hesitated for a moment as shock pounded through her, and then pleasure detonated inside her. It felt so good, as if he were reaching inside her, drawing out the secrets of her soul…

She kissed him back, her arms sliding up and around his neck, aware that at the same time his hands were moving beneath her wet shirt, stroking up over her.

The sensation of pleasure was so exquisitely irresistible that she ached for more, ached to be rid of all the clothes and have no barrier between them. All she could think about was how much she wanted him—and how she could intensify the enjoyment—how she never wanted him to let her go.

‘I wanted to do this from the moment I saw you again this afternoon.’ He murmured the words against her ear as his hand slid down to stroke over her bikini-clad bottom, pulling her in against the hard arousal of his body.

‘And I thought you just wanted to be friends.’

‘Well, I want that too…I want everything…’ he murmured, stroking his hand along the smooth curves of her hips. ‘Everything you want to give…’ His fingers teased across over her thighs and then swept higher to the soft core of her through the material of her costume. ‘I’m greedy like that.’

Carrie found herself gasping with pleasure as his lips took control of hers again. She felt greedy too…and impatient, and where lovemaking was concerned these were emotions she’d never had to deal with before.

She tried to tell herself she didn’t know this man, that she should be cautious because this was nothing more than a holiday fling. Did she really want her first time to be just a casual encounter? But her body was fighting the thoughts, pushing them away with almost mocking disregard so that her reasoning was lost like a whisper in a hurricane.

‘Maybe we should go inside, make ourselves more comfortable,’ he suggested as his fingers stroked ever more tantalizingly over her.

She couldn’t answer him, couldn’t formulate any words. His lips moved down over the column of her neck with butterfly kisses and she held him closer. He pressed against her, parting her legs, and suddenly she realized he was responding to her urgency and if she didn’t say anything he would just take her right here, right now…

Momentary panic zinged through her as she felt how powerful his body was against hers and she froze. Immediately he pulled back.

‘What is it?’ His voice was distracted as he traced his hands up over her narrow waist and ribcage. Then he looked into her eyes…And for just a fleeting second he saw her vulnerability.

‘You have done this before…haven’t you?’

It was almost a throwaway question, but when she didn’t answer shocked realization flooded through him closely followed by the knowledge that maybe he’d suspected her innocence all along…Yes…when he thought about the delightful way she blushed so easily, her way of avoiding his gaze sometimes, and of course the vulnerable gleam in those beautiful eyes. Even the hesitant way she’d first met the demands of his kiss.

Deep down he’d known…

‘You’re a virgin.’ It was more statement than question. Then he said something in Greek softly under his breath as he pulled her shirt down to cover her body again.

‘Andreas?’ She looked up at him questioningly, and as she saw him moving back from her it was as if icy cold water were suddenly flooding through her veins.

‘Carrie…this…changes things.’ He said the words slowly as he tried to get his brain to operate without the almost violent intervention of the desire he still felt for her.

She frowned. She didn’t want this conversation; all she wanted was for him to take her back into his arms. ‘Does it?’

‘Of course it does!’ He raked a hand through the darkness of his hair. ‘You’re young and beautiful, and obviously a virgin by choice.’

‘Well…yes…’ She frowned, not understanding where he was going with the conversation.

‘Which means you don’t do casual relationships—and that’s all I have to offer.’

He watched how her skin coloured. ‘Carrie, I don’t want to hurt you,’ he added gently.

‘No, of course not…and you’re right, this would be a bad mistake!’ Her voice came out in a rush as reality swooped in. She couldn’t believe what she had so nearly done! Obviously this would be nothing more than casual sex. Something she had always avoided.

Hell—from as far back as she could remember she’d always promised herself that she would be in control of relationships. She’d witnessed at first hand the devastating consequences of loving the wrong person.

She swallowed hard as she looked over at him, her pride stinging. ‘But I’d no intention of going further—I was just enjoying a bit of light-hearted fooling around.’

‘Were you now?’ His voice held amusement and she felt her skin scorch with sudden wild heat as she remembered how eagerly she had returned his advances.

‘I don’t know what I was thinking,’ she admitted.

‘Well…I know what I was thinking.’ His voice was husky, his eyes on her lips. He reached out and stroked a stray strand of her hair back from her face.

‘Don’t, Andreas.’ She flinched away from him. ‘Let’s just put this down to a little bit of madness, and forget it, OK.’

Andreas frowned. He didn’t want to forget it—but nor could he proceed…not now…not with any conscience.

‘Anyway, we said we’d head back to land now, didn’t we?’ she said quickly.

‘Yes, dry land and sanity.’ He turned away from her and headed up to the bridge. She was off limits, he told himself firmly. And that was the end of it.

Carrie picked up one of the towels that Andreas had left out for her earlier and wrapped it around her slender figure. She was trembling with cold—yet the sun was blazing down on her. It was the strangest feeling.

CHAPTER THREE

CARRIE was sure there would be a strained silence between them in the car on the way home, except that as soon as Andreas switched on his phone and put it into hands-free mode it kept ringing. He took one call after another as he drove slowly back along the coast road.

Carrie couldn’t understand a word he was saying, but it was obviously all to do with business because he dealt with each call in the same serious, crisply concise voice.

‘My apologies, Carrie. I employ a team of accountants and yet they still need me to hold their hands,’ he muttered in annoyance as he started to say something to her and the phone rang again.

‘That’s OK.’ She shrugged and looked away from him. In truth she was glad. She couldn’t wait to get away from him, pretend that this afternoon hadn’t happened.

He finished his call just as the gates to her apartment complex loomed and as soon as he pulled up outside she reached quickly for the door handle.

‘Well, I hope your takeover deal goes well for you.’ She smiled at him. ‘And I’ll see you around some time.’ She’d been practising the goodbye line for the last few miles and she was pleased that it sounded casual enough.

She hadn’t intended waiting for his reply, but his voice held her back as she turned away.

‘Haven’t you forgotten something?’

‘Have I?’ She looked back at him with a frown.

‘An invitation for coffee would be good.’

Her heart rate increased. She didn’t really know how to handle this situation. Part of her was desperately pleased he wanted to come in with her and the other side of her was telling her fiercely to walk away now and not prolong the agony of wanting him…

‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’ She lifted her chin a little.

‘I think it’s a very civilized idea.’ He smiled. ‘Let’s not be awkward around each other, Carrie. I’m thirty-four and a man of the world. You’re twenty-two and a virgin and I respect you for that.’

Her face flamed with colour.

‘Besides, I’d like my shirt back.’ His eyes flicked with wry amusement to the garment he’d given her to wear. It drowned her slender frame, yet she still managed to look sexy in it…How was that?

‘I’ll wash it and give it to Theo for you.’ She tipped her chin up a little higher.

‘No need, just give it back to me now.’ Why did he love teasing her so much? he wondered as he watched the consternation and the fire in her beautiful eyes.

She turned away and got out of the car. ‘I suppose you’d better come in, then.’

The grudging invitation made him smile and he reached for his phone and followed her.

The inside of the apartment was basic but pleasantly decorated. From his seat at the breakfast bar Andreas could see into a bedroom that contained two single beds.

He switched his attention back to Carrie as she flicked the kettle on. Her hair had dried in long flowing curls; she looked like a girl from a Pre-Raphaelite painting, young and yet somehow incredibly fragile as she looked over at him.

‘I’ll just change out of this shirt.’

He nodded and watched as she disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door. He would leave as soon as he’d had a coffee and she’d returned the shirt, he vowed. He had no business pursuing a virgin. Happily ever after wasn’t for him, never would be. And something told him that innocent Carrie wouldn’t really want to settle for less.

A few minutes later she reappeared wearing a blue fitted T-shirt over jeans and put his shirt down on the table beside him. ‘Thank you.’ Her voice was stiffly polite.

‘My pleasure,’ he replied and smiled to himself as she turned hurriedly to make the coffee.

She looked great in the jeans, they curved over her bottom, emphasizing how pert and toned she was.

He still wanted her. What the hell was the matter with him? he wondered angrily. He knew a million women with great figures—so what was he doing here? He should be heading back to his office. There was a mountain of paperwork waiting for his attention.

Yet still he sat on. Because he was more intrigued by Carrie than ever.

She put the coffee down in front of him just as his phone rang and he answered it impatiently.

‘Now you know why I suggested going out to sea today,’ he told her with a smile as he ended the call a few moments later.

‘Theo told me that you never stopped thinking about business,’ she said as she took the seat opposite him. ‘I take it you enjoy it.’

He shrugged. ‘It’s become a way of life, I suppose. We grew up in Athens in complete poverty and I vowed back then that I wouldn’t rest until I’d got us out of it.’

Carrie met his gaze. ‘And obviously you did that.’

The simplicity of the statement made him laugh. ‘Yes. But the thing is, the deeper you get involved with business, the more the responsibilities spiral.’ He didn’t tell her that he employed a lot of people, that he was backing Theo with an expansion plan for his diving business or that he’d just bought his father a house back on the island of Mykonos.

‘It’s addictive, you mean.’

‘I don’t think I’d go as far as to say that, but I like the challenge.’

She nodded. ‘And I suppose being single and without children it’s easier to immerse yourself in it, take bigger risks along the way.’

‘I suppose it is…’ He fell silent, her insightful remark taking him aback.

‘My father was a wheeler-dealer in his day. But never gave a thought to his responsibility for others.’ She frowned as she thought about her childhood. ‘He was always looking for the next big deal.’

‘And was he successful?’

‘At first—but unfortunately he didn’t know where to stop. Contentment wasn’t a word he understood and risk-taking became a way of life.’

‘He went bankrupt?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. Took one risk too far and lost everything.’

For a moment she fell silent. The personal cost had been even higher than the financial one. Her mother’s health had crumbled and so had their marriage. Carrie had only been ten but she remembered the trauma and the feelings of helplessness as sharply as if it had been yesterday.