Ruthless Milllionaire, Indecent Proposal

The edge of hard ruthlessness in his tone told her without a doubt that he was intent on making a legal claim. A down to the wire fight over Theo was inevitable. What she needed to do now was buy time. Quelling the threatening rise of panic, she tried bargaining with him.

‘You said in Athens we could do this the easy way or the hard way, Ari.’

‘Yes. I meant it. Is there something you’d like to suggest?’

‘You messed up my life once and I guess nothing is going to stop you from messing it up again. But please … don’t make a mess of my sister’s day in the sun as a bride. That would be absolutely rotten and selfish, which is typical of your behaviour, but … I’ll make it easy for you to get to know your son over the next few days if you hold back on telling everyone else you’re his father until after the wedding.’

The silence that followed her offer was nerve-wracking. Tina gritted her teeth and laid out the hard way. ‘I’ll fight you on every front if you don’t agree, Ari.’

‘When was I ever rotten or selfish to you in our relationship?’ he demanded curtly, sounding as though his self-image was badly dented.

‘You made me believe what wasn’t true … for your own ends,’ she stated bitingly. ‘And may God damn you to hell if you do that to Theo.’

‘Enough! I agree to your deal. I shall meet you at the resort in one hour. We will spend the day happily together for our son’s pleasure.’

He cut the connection before Tina could say another word. Her hand was shaking as she returned the telephone receiver to its cradle. At least Cass’s wedding wouldn’t be spoiled, she told herself. As for the rest … the only thing she could do was deal with one day at a time.

It took Ari the full hour to get his head around Christina’s offensive reading of his character. Anger and resentment kept boiling through him. He wasn’t used to being so riled by any situation with a woman. It was because of Theo, he reasoned. It was only natural that his emotions were engaged where his son was concerned.

As for Christina, her hostility towards him was totally unreasonable. He remembered romancing her beautifully, showering her with gifts, saying all the sweet words that women liked to hear, wining and dining her, not stinting on anything that could give her pleasure. No one could have been a better first lover for her.

Was it his fault that the contraception he’d used had somehow failed to protect her from falling pregnant? He had never, never intended to mess up her life. He would have dealt honourably with the situation had he known about it. She could have been living in luxury all these years, enjoying being part of a family unit instead of struggling along with single parenthood.

That was her decision, not his. She hadn’t allowed him a decision. If there was any condemnation of character to be handed out on all of this, it should be placed at her door. It was selfish and rotten of her to have denied him the joys of fatherhood.

Yet … there was nothing selfish about not wanting anything to spoil her sister’s wedding.

And he could not recall her ever making some selfish demand on him during the time they’d spent together. Not like Felicity Fullbright. Very, very different to Felicity Fullbright. A delight to be with in every sense.

Gradually he calmed down enough to give consideration to her most condemning words … You made me believe what wasn’t true … for your own ends.

What had he made her believe?

The answer was glaringly simple when he thought about it. She’d been very young, inexperienced, and quite possibly she’d interpreted his whole seduction routine as genuine love for her. Which meant she’d been deeply hurt when he’d left her. So hurt, she probably couldn’t bear to tell him about her pregnancy, couldn’t bear to be faced with his presence again.

And she thought he might hurt Theo in the same way—apparently loving him, then leaving him.

He had to change her perception of him, make her understand he would never abandon his child. He had to show her that Theo would be welcomed into his family and genuinely loved. As for winning her over to being his wife … trying to charm her into marrying him wasn’t likely to work. Those blazing dark eyes of hers would shoot down every move he made in that direction. So what would work?

She had just offered him a deal.

Why not offer her one?

Make it a deal too attractive to refuse.

Ari worked on that idea as he drove to the El Greco resort.

‘He looks just like a Greek God,’ her mother remarked admiringly as Ari Zavros strode across the terrace to where they were still sitting in the open-air section of the restaurant, enjoying a last cup of coffee after breakfast.

Tina’s stomach instantly cramped. She had thought that once—the golden Greek with his sun-streaked hair and sparkling amber eyes and skin that shone like bronze. And, of course, it was still true. The white shorts and sports shirt he wore this morning made him look even more striking, showing off his athletic physique, the masculine strength in his arms and legs, the broad manly chest. The man was totally charismatic.

This time, however, Tina wasn’t about to melt at his feet. ‘Bearing gifts, as well,’ she said ironically, eyeing the package he was carrying under his arm.

‘For me?’ Theo cried excitedly.

Ari heard him, beaming a wide grin at his son as he arrived at their table and presented him with the large package. ‘Yes, for you. Happy birthday, Theo.’

‘Can I open it?’ Theo asked, eagerly eyeing the wrapping paper.

‘You should thank Ari first,’ Tina prompted.

‘Thank you very much,’ he obeyed enthusiastically.

Ari laughed. ‘Go right ahead. Something for you to build when you have nothing else to do.’

It was a Lego train station, much to Theo’s delight.

‘He loves Lego,’ her mother remarked, finding even more favour with the Greek God.

‘I thought he would,’ Ari answered. ‘My nephews do. Their rooms are full of it.’

‘Talking of family,’ her mother quickly slid in. ‘Your father has apparently insisted on paying for all our accommodation here and …’

‘It is his pleasure to do so, Mrs Savalas,’ Ari broke in with a smile to wipe out her concern. ‘If you were staying on Patmos, George’s family would see to it. Here, on Santorini, my father is your host and he has asked me to extend an invitation to all of you for dinner tonight at our family home. Then we will not be strangers at the wedding.’

Her mother instantly melted. ‘Oh! How kind!’

Tina glared at Ari. Had he lied about keeping the deal? And what of his parents? Had he warned them not to reveal their relationship to Theo? He was pursuing his own agenda and she wasn’t at all sure he would respect hers. Far from melting at his kindness, every nerve in her body stiffened with battle tension.

Ari kept smiling. ‘I’ve told my mother it’s your birthday, Theo. She’s planning a special cake with five candles for you to blow out and make a wish. You’ve got all day to think about what to wish for.’

All day to worm his way into Theo’s heart with his facile charm, Tina thought grimly. She knew only too well he could be Mr Wonderful for a while. It was the long haul that worried her—how constant Ari would be as a father.

‘Are you coming with us today, Mrs Savalas?’ he asked, apparently happy to have her mother’s company, as well, probably wanting the opportunity to get her even more onside with him.

‘No, no. It sounds too busy for me. I shall stroll into the township in my own time, take a look at the church where the wedding is to be held, do a little shopping, visit the museum.’ She smiled at Tina, her eyes full of encouraging speculation. ‘Much better for you young people to go off together.’

Tina barely stopped herself from rolling her own eyes at what was obviously some romantic delusion. Gorgeous man—unmarried daughter—Greek island in the sun.

‘I shall look forward to the family dinner tonight,’ her mother added, giving whole-hearted approval to Ari’s plans for the whole day.

Tina smothered a groan.

No escape.

She had agreed to letting him into their lives in return for his silence until after the wedding, but if he or his parents let the cat out of the bag tonight, she would bite their heads off for putting their self-interest ahead of everything else.

After a brief return to their room to put the Lego gift on Theo’s bed, refresh themselves, and collect hats and swimming costumes, they re-met Ari and set off for the five-minute walk into the main township of Fira. Tina deliberately placed Theo between them. He held her hand, and unknowingly, his father’s. She wondered how she was going to explain this truth to him—another nail in her heart.

‘Are your parents aware of our deal?’ she asked Ari over Theo’s head.

‘They will be in good time,’ he assured her.

She had to believe him … until his assurance proved false, like the words he had spoken to her in the past. Would he play fair with her this time? She could only hope so. This wasn’t about him. Or her. It was about the life of their child.

The view from the path into town was spectacular, overlooking the fantastic sea-filled crater with its towering cliffs. Two splendid white cruise ships stood in the middle of the glittering blue harbour and Theo pointed to them excitedly.

‘Are we going to ride in one of those boats?’

‘No, they’re far too big to move close to land,’ Ari answered. ‘See the smaller boats going out to them? They’re to take the people off and bring them to the island. We’ll be riding in a motor-launch that can take us wherever we want to go. You can even steer it for a while if you like.’

Theo was agog. ‘Can I? Can I really?’

Ari laughed. ‘You can sit on my lap and be the captain. I’ll show you what to do.’

‘Did you hear that, Mama? I’ll be captain of the boat.’

‘Your boat, Ari?’ Tina asked, anxiously wondering what other goodies he had up his sleeve, ready to roll out for Theo’s pleasure.

‘A family boat. It will be waiting for us at the town wharf.’

His family. His very wealthy family. How could she stop the seduction of her son by these people? He was a total innocent, as she had been before meeting Ari. He was bound to be deeply impressed by them and the outcome might be a terrible tug-of-war for his love.

Tina suffered major heartburn as they strolled on into town. It was so easy for Ari to win Theo over. It had been easy for him to win her over. He had everything going for him. Even now, knowing how treacherous it was, she still had to fight the pull of his attraction. After him, no other man had interested her, not once in the years since he had left her behind. While he, no doubt, had had his pick of any number of beautiful women who had sparked his interest. Like the blonde in Dubai and probably dozens of others.

It was all terribly wrong. He had been the only man in her life and she’d meant nothing to him. She only meant something to him now because she was the mother of his child and he had to deal with her.

On the road up to the beautiful white church dominating the hillside, a statue of a donkey stood outside a tourist shop displaying many stands of postcards. The donkey was painted pink and it had a slot for letters in its mid-section. Over the slot was painted a red heart with the words POST OF LOVE printed on it.

‘I didn’t get to sit on the camel, Mama. Can I sit on this donkey?’ Theo pleaded.

‘You’ll be sitting on a real donkey soon. Won’t that be better?’ Tina cajoled, mentally shying from anything connected with love.

Theo shook his head. ‘It won’t be pink. I’d like a photo of me on this one.’

‘Then we must do it for the birthday boy,’ Ari said, hoisting Theo up on the donkey and standing beside him to ensure he sat on it safely.

They both grinned at her, so much a picture of father and son it tore at Tina’s heart as she viewed it through the camera and took the requested shot.

‘Now if you’ll stand by Theo, I’ll take one of the two of you together,’ Ari quickly suggested.

‘Yes! Come on, Mama!’ Theo backed him up.

She handed Ari her camera and swapped places with him.

‘Smile!’ he commanded.

She put a smile on her face. As soon as he’d used her camera he whipped a mobile phone out of his shirt pocket and clicked off another shot of them. To show his parents, Tina instantly thought. This is the woman who is Theo’s mother and this is your grandson. It would probably answer some fleeting curiosity about her, but they would zero straight in on Theo, seeing Ari in him—a Zavros, not a Savalas.

‘You have a beautiful smile, Christina,’ Ari said warmly as he returned her camera and lifted Theo off the donkey.

‘Stop it!’ she muttered, glaring a hostile rejection at him. She couldn’t bear him buttering her up when he probably had some killing blow in mind to gain custody of his son.

He returned a puzzled frown. ‘Stop what?’ Theo was distracted by a basket of soft toys set out beside the postcard stands, giving her space enough to warn Ari off the totally unwelcome sweet-talking. ‘I don’t want any more of your compliments.’ His gesture denied any harm in them. ‘I was only speaking the truth.’

‘They remind me of what a fool I was with you. I won’t be fooled again, Ari.’

He grimaced. ‘I’m sorry you read more into our previous relationship than was meant, Christina.’

‘Oh! What exactly did you mean when you said I was special?’ she sliced back at him, her eyes flashing outright scepticism.

He gave her a look that sent a wave of heat through her, right down to her toes. ‘You were special. Very special. I just wasn’t ready to take on a long-term relationship at the time. But I am now. I want to marry you, Christina.’

Her heart stopped. She stared at him in total shock. No way had she expected this. It was Theo, her stunned mind started to reason. Ari thought it was the best way—the easiest way—to get Theo. Who she was, and what she wanted was irrelevant.

‘Forget it!’ she said tersely. ‘I’m not about to change my life for your convenience.’

‘I could make it convenient for you, too,’ he quickly countered.

Her eyes mocked his assertion. ‘How do you figure that?’

‘A life of ease. No fighting over Theo. We bring him up together. You’ll have ample opportunity to do whatever you want within reason.’

‘Marriage to you is no guarantee of that. You can dangle as many carrots as you like in front of me, Ari. I’m not biting.’

‘What if I give you a guarantee? I’ll have a prenuptial agreement drawn up that would assure you and Theo of financial security for the rest of your lives.’ His mouth took on an ironic twist. ‘Think of it as fair payment for the pain I’ve given you.’

‘I’m perfectly capable of supporting Theo.’

‘Not to the extent of giving him every advantage that wealth can provide.’

‘Money isn’t everything. Besides, I don’t want to be your wife. That would simply be asking for more pain.’

He frowned. ‘I remember the pleasure we both took in making love. It can be that way again, Christina.’

She flushed at the reminder of how slavishly she had adored him. ‘You think a seductive honeymoon makes a marriage, Ari? Taking me as your wife is just a cynical exercise in legality. It gives you full access to our son. Once you have that, I won’t matter to you. You’ll meet other women who will be happy to provide you with a special experience. Can you honestly say you’ll pass that up?’

‘If I have you willing to share my bed, and the family I hope we’ll have together, I shall be a faithful husband like my father,’ he said with every appearance of sincerity.

‘How can I believe that?’ she cried, sure that his sincerity couldn’t be genuine.

‘Tonight you will meet my parents. Their marriage was arranged but they made it work. It was bonded in family and they are completely devoted to each other. I see no reason why we cannot achieve that same happiness, given enough goodwill between us. Goodwill for the sake of our son, Christina.’

‘Except I don’t trust you,’ she flashed back at him. ‘I have no reason to trust you.’

‘Then we can have it written into the prenuptial agreement that should you file for divorce because of my proven infidelity, you will get full custody of our children, as well as a financial settlement that will cover every possible need.’

Tina was stunned again. ‘You’d go that far?’

‘Yes. That is the deal I’m offering you, Christina.’ As Theo moved back to claim their attention, Ari shot her one last purposeful look and muttered, ‘Think about it!’

CHAPTER SIX

ARI was deeply vexed with himself. Christina had pushed him too far. He should have stuck to the financial deal and not let her mocking mistrust goad him into offering full custody if he didn’t remain faithful to their marriage. It was impossible to backtrack on it now. If she remained cold and hard towards him, he’d just condemned himself to a bed he certainly wouldn’t want to lie in for long.

The will to win was in his blood but usually his mind warned him when the price to be paid was becoming unacceptable. Why hadn’t he weighed it up this time? It was as though he was mesmerised by the fierce challenge emanating from her, the dark blaze of energy fighting him with all her might, making him want to win regardless of the cost.

The stakes were high. He wanted his son full-time, living in his home, not on the other side of the world with visits parcelled out by a family law-court. But something very strong in him wanted to win Christina over, too. Maybe it was instinct telling him she could make him the kind of wife he’d be happy to live with— better than any of the other women he knew. She’d proved herself a good mother—a deeply caring mother. As for the sharing his bed part, surely it wouldn’t prove too difficult to establish some workable accord there.

She’d been putty in his hands once, a beautiful rosebud of a girl whose petals he had gradually unfurled, bringing her to full glorious bloom. She was made of much stronger stuff now. The power of her passion excited him. It was negative passion towards him at the moment, but if he could turn it around, push it into a positive flow.

She did have a beautiful smile. He wanted to make it light up for him. And he wanted to see her magnificent dark eyes sparkling with pleasure—pleasure in him. The marriage bed need not be cold. If he could press the right buttons … he had to or he’d just proposed the worst deal of his life.

He took stock of this different Christina as they wandered through the alleys of shops leading up to the summit of the town. The short hair did suit her, giving more emphasis to her striking cheekbones and her lovely long neck. Her full-lipped mouth was very sexy—bee-stung lips like Angelina Jolie’s, though not quite as pronounced. She wasn’t quite as tall as her sister, nor as slim. She was, in fact, very sweetly curved, her breasts fuller than when she was younger, her waist not as tiny—probably because of childbirth—but still provocatively feminine in the flow to her neatly rounded hips.

Today she was wearing a pretty lemon and white striped top that was cut into clever angles that spelled designer wear—possibly a gift from Cassandra. She’d teamed it with white Capri pants and she certainly had the legs to wear them with distinction—legs that Ari wanted wound around him in urgent need. She could make him a fine wife, one he would be proud to own, one he wouldn’t stray from if she let herself respond to him.

He would make it happen.

One way or another he had to make it happen.

Marriage! Never in her wildest imagination had Tina thought it might be a possibility with Ari Zavros, not since he’d left Australia, putting a decisive end to any such romantic notion. But this wasn’t romance. It was a coldly calculated deal to get what he wanted and he probably thought he could fool her on the fidelity front.

How on earth could she believe he wouldn’t stray in the future? Even as they strolled along the alleys filled with fascinating shops women stared at him, gobbling him up with their eyes. When she stopped to buy a pretty scarf, the saleswoman kept looking at him, barely glancing at Tina as she paid for it.

The man was a sex magnet. Despite how he’d left her flat, she wasn’t immune to the vibrations, either, which made it doubly dangerous to get involved with him on any intimate level. He’d only hurt her again. To marry him would be masochistic madness. But it was probably best to pretend to be thinking about his deal until after Cass’s wedding to ensure he kept her deal.

Then the truth could come out without it being such a distracting bombshell and visitation rights could be discussed. She wouldn’t deny him time with his son since he seemed so intent on embracing fatherhood, but he would have to come to Australia for it. Greece was not Theo’s home and she wasn’t about to let that be changed.

They reached the summit of the town where a cable-car ran down to the old port. Alternatively one could take a donkey-ride along a zig-zag path from top to bottom. Tina would have much preferred to take the cable-car. Ari, however, was bent on making good his promise to Theo, and she made no protest as he selected three donkeys for them to ride—the smallest one for their son, the biggest one for himself and an average-sized one for her.

Theo was beside himself with excitement as Ari lifted him onto the one chosen for him. Tina quickly refused any need for his help, using a stool to mount her donkey. She didn’t want to feel Ari’s hands on her, nor have him so close that he would have a disturbing physical effect on her. She’d been unsettled enough by his ridiculous offer of marriage.

He grinned at her as he mounted his own donkey, probably arrogantly confident of getting his own way, just as he was getting his own way about Theo’s birthday. She gave him a beautiful smile back, letting him think whatever he liked, knowing in her heart she would do what she considered best for her child, and being a miserable mother in a miserable marriage was definitely not best.

‘I’ll ride beside Theo,’ he said. ‘If you keep your donkey walking behind his, I’ll be able to control both of them.’

‘Are they likely to get out of control?’ she asked apprehensively.

‘They’re fed at the bottom and some of them have a tendency to bolt when they near the end of the path.’

‘Oh, great!’

He flashed another confident grin. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you both. That’s a promise, Christina.’

His eyes telegraphed it was meant for the future, too.

He could work overtime on his deal, making it as attractive as he could, but she wasn’t having any of it, Tina thought grimly. However, she did have to concede he kept their donkeys at a controlled pace when others started to rush past them. And he cheerfully answered Theo’s constant questions with all the patience of an indulgent father.

Her son was laughing with delight and giving Ari an impulsive hug as he was lifted off the donkey. For Tina, it was a relief to get her feet back on solid ground. She’d been far too tense to enjoy her ride.

‘We’ll take the cable-car back up when we return,’ Ari said soothingly, aware of her unease.

She nodded, muttering, ‘That would be good.’

‘Which boat is ours?’ Theo asked, eagerly looking forward to the next treat.

Ari pointed. ‘This one coming into the wharf now.’

‘Looks like you already have a captain,’ Tina remarked.

‘Oh, Jason will be happy to turn the wheel over to Theo while he’s preparing lunch for us. It will be an easy day for him. When the boat is not in family use, he takes out charters, up to eight people at a time. Today he only has three to look after.’

The good-humoured reply left her nothing to say. Besides, she was sure everything on board would run perfectly for Theo’s pleasure. Ari would not fail in his mission to have his son thinking the nice man was absolutely wonderful. He’d been wonderful to her for three whole months without one slip for any doubt about him to enter her head.