Ruthless Milllionaire, Indecent Proposal

Ostensibly she was speaking to her mother but Tina knew the words were for her. Maybe they were true. He might very well be a wonderful father, but being a wonderful husband was something else.

‘Maximus and I very much want to see him settled down with his own family,’ Sophie carried on.

‘Mama, don’t push,’ Ari gently chided.

She heaved a sigh which drew Tina’s mother into a string of sympathetic comments about young people taking their time about getting married these days.

Tina sat in frozen silence until Ari’s father leaned towards her and asked, ‘Who is managing your family restaurant while you are away, Christina?’

She had to swallow hard to moisten her throat before answering, ‘The head chef and the head waiter.’

‘You trust them to do it well?’

‘Yes. My father set it up before he died that both men get a percentage of the profits. It’s in their best interests to keep it running successfully.’

‘Ah! A man of foresight, your father,’ he said with satisfaction.

Tina knew he was thinking the restaurant could keep running successfully without her. ‘It needs an overall manager and my father entrusted me with that job,’ she said with defiant pride.

‘Which is a measure of his respect for your abilities, Christina. But as a Greek father myself, I know it was not what he wanted for you.’

His amber eyes burned that certain knowledge into her heart. There was no denying it. Her father had not been against his daughters having a career of their choice but he had believed a woman was only truly fulfilled with the love of a good husband and the love of their children.

It hurt, being reminded of her failure to live up to his expectations of her, but the big word in her father’s beliefs was love, and Ari did not love her. She faced his father with her own burning determination. ‘I have the right to choose what I do with my life. My father respected that, as well.’

‘I don’t think the choice is so unequivocal when you are a mother, Christina,’ he shot back at her. ‘The rights of your child have to be considered.’

‘Papa …’ Ari said in a low warning voice.

‘She must understand this, Ari,’ was the quick riposte.

‘I do,’ Tina told him flatly. ‘And I am considering them.’ She lowered her voice so as not to be overheard at the other end of the table as she fiercely added, ‘I hope you do, too, because I am Theo’s mother and I always will be.’

She would not allow them to take over her son. She would concede visits but knew she would hate every minute Theo was away from her. Not all their wealth and caring would make any difference to the hole that would leave in her life until he returned to her. Tears pricked her eyes. Her head was swimming with all the difficulties that lay ahead.

‘Please, forgive me my trespasses,’ Ari’s father said gruffly. ‘You’re a fine mother, Christina. And that will always be respected by our family. The boy is a credit to you. How can I put it? I want very much to enjoy more of him.’

A warm hand slid over one of her clenched fists and gently squeezed. ‘It’s all right, Christina,’ Ari murmured, ‘You’re amongst friends, not enemies.’

She stared down at his hand, biting her lips as she tried to fight back the tears. He’d offered his hand in marriage, which was the easiest way out of the custody issue, but how could she take it when she felt so vulnerable to what he could do to her—twisting up her life all over again?

She swallowed hard to ease the choking sensation in her throat and without looking at either man, said, ‘I want to go back to the resort now, Ari. It’s been a long day.’

‘Of course.’ Another gentle squeeze of her hand. ‘It’s been good of you to let us spend this time together.’

‘Yes. A wonderful evening,’ his father chimed in. ‘Thank you, Christina.’

She nodded, not wanting to be drawn into another stressful conversation. She felt painfully pressured as it was. Her gaze lifted to check Theo who was now nodding off on her mother’s lap.

Ari rose from his chair. ‘Helen, Mama … Christina is tired and it looks like Theo is ready for bed, as well. It’s time to call it a night. I’ll carry him out to the car, Helen.’

Ari’s parents accompanied them out to the car, walking beside her mother who thanked them profusely for their hospitality. All three expressed pleasure in meeting up again at the wedding. Both Maximus and Sophie dropped goodnight kisses on Theo’s forehead before Ari passed him over to Tina in the back seat. She thanked them for the birthday party and the car door was finally closed on it, relieving some of the tension in her chest.

Theo slept all the way back to the resort and the conversation between Ari and her mother in the front seats was conducted in low murmurs. Tina sat in silence, hugging her child, feeling intensely possessive of him and already grieving over how much she would have to part from him.

Having arrived at El Greco, Ari once again lifted Theo into his arms and insisted on carrying him to their accommodation. Tina did not protest, knowing that to her mother this was the natural thing for a man to do. The problem came when she unlocked her door and instead of passing Theo to her, Ari carried him straight into her room.

‘Which bed?’ he asked.

She dashed past him to turn back the covers on Theo’s bed and Ari gently laid him down and tucked him in, dropping a kiss on his forehead before straightening up and smiling down at his sleeping son, making Tina’s heart contract at the memory of Theo’s wish for a Papa. He had one. And very soon he had to know it.

Ari turned to her and she instantly felt a flood of electricity tingling through her entire body. He was too close to her, dangerously close, exuding the sexual magnetism that she should be immune to but wasn’t. Being in a bedroom with Ari Zavros, virtually alone with him, was a bad place to be. She quickly backed off, hurrying to the door, waving for him to leave.

He followed but paused beside her, causing inner havoc again. He raised a hand to touch her cheek and she flinched away from the contact. ‘Just go, Ari,’ she said harshly. ‘You’ve had your day.’

He frowned at her unfriendliness. ‘I only wanted to thank you, Christina.’

She forced her voice to a reasonable tone. ‘Okay, but you can do that without touching me.’

‘Is my touch so repellent to you?’

Panic tore through her at how vulnerable she might be to it. She stared hard at him, desperate not to show him any weakness. ‘Don’t push it, Ari. I’ve had enough, today.’

He nodded. ‘I’ll call you in the morning.’

‘No! Tomorrow is my family day,’ she said firmly. ‘Cassandra will be joining us and so will all our relatives from the mainland. We’ll meet again at the wedding.’

For one nerve-wracking moment she thought he would challenge her decision. It surprised her when he smiled and said, ‘Then I’ll look forward to the wedding. Goodnight, Christina.’

‘Goodnight,’ she repeated automatically, watching him in a daze of confusion as he walked away from her.

He hadn’t done anything wrong all day. For the most part, he’d been perfectly charming. And she still wanted him, despite the grief he’d given her. There had never been any other man who made her feel what he did. But he probably made every woman feel the same way. It meant nothing. It would be foolish to let it cloud her judgement.

When Theo was told that Ari was his Papa, he would want them to be all together, living happily ever after.

But that was a fairy-tale and this story didn’t have the right ingredients. The prince did not love the princess, so how could there be a happy ever after?

Tina fiercely told herself she must not lose sight of that, no matter what!

CHAPTER EIGHT

ARI stood beside George in the church, impatient for the marriage service to be over, his mind working through what had to be accomplished with Christina. Theo was not a problem. His son had grinned broadly at him as he had carried the cushion with the wedding rings up the aisle. He would want his Papa. But Christina had only smiled at George, keeping her gaze averted from him.

She looked absolutely stunning in a dark red satin gown. Desire had kicked in so hard and fast Ari had struggled to control the instinctive physical response to instantly wanting her in his bed again. ‘She is magnificent, is she not?’ George had murmured, meaning his bride, and she was, but Cassandra stirred nothing in him.

There were many beautiful women in the world. Ari had connected to quite a few of them, but none had twisted his heart as it was being twisted right now. He had to have Christina again. Perhaps she touched something deep in him because she was the mother of his child. Or perhaps it was because he had taken her innocence and she made him feel very strongly about righting the wrong he had done her. The reasons didn’t matter. Somehow he had to persuade her to be his wife.

His parents certainly approved of the marriage and not only because of Theo.

‘She’s lovely, Ari, and I could be good friends with Helen,’ his mother had remarked.

His father had been more decisive in his opinion. ‘Beautiful, intelligent, and with a fighting spirit I admire. She’s a good match for you, Ari. Don’t let her get away from you. The two of you should have many interesting children together.’

Easier said than done, Ari thought grimly.

She didn’t want him to touch her.

Today, she didn’t want to look at him.

Was she frightened of the attraction she still felt with him, frightened of giving in to it? She would have to look at him at the wedding reception and suffer his touch during the bridal waltz. Not just a touch, either. Full body contact. He would make the waltz one of the most intimate dances she’d ever had, force the sexual chemistry between them to the surface so she couldn’t hide from it, couldn’t ignore it, couldn’t deny it.

She was not going to get away from him.

Tina listened to the marriage service as she stood beside her sister. These same words could be spoken to her soon if she said yes to Ari’s proposal. Would he take the vows seriously, or were they just mumbo-jumbo to him—the means to an end?

He had offered the fidelity clause in a prenuptial agreement. She would get full custody of Theo and any other children they might have together if he faltered on that front. Could she be happy with him if he kept faith with his marriage deal?

It was a risk she probably shouldn’t be considering. Cass’s wedding was getting to her, stirring up feelings that could land her in a terrible mess. Plus all the marriage talk amongst her Greek relatives yesterday had kept Ari’s offer pounding through her mind—no relief at all from the connection with him.

Her mother had raved on about how kind he’d been—taking Tina and Theo out for the day, the birthday party at his parents’ home—which had reminded the relatives of how attentive he’d been to Tina at the family party in Athens. Comments on how eligible he was followed, with speculative looks that clearly said Helen’s daughter might have a chance with him. Being a single mother was … so unfortunate.

Little did they know that Theo was the drawcard, not her. They would all be watching her with Ari today—watching, hoping, encouraging. She would have to look at him soon, take his arm as they followed Cass and George out of the church, be seated next to him at the wedding reception, dance with him. The whole thing was a nightmare with no escape, and it would be worse when the truth was told.

Her mother would want her to marry Ari.

Her relatives would think her mad if she didn’t.

Only Cass might take her side, asking what she wanted, but Cass wouldn’t be there. She and George would be off on their honeymoon. Besides, what Tina wanted was impossible—utterly impossible to go back to the time when she had loved Ari with all her heart and believed he loved her. How could she ever believe that now?

She felt a sharp stab of envy as George promised to love Cass for the rest of his life. There was no doubting the fervour in his voice, no doubting Cass, either, as she promised her love in return. A huge welling of emotion brought tears to Tina’s eyes as the two of them were declared husband and wife. She wished them all the happiness in the world. This was how it should be between a man and a woman, starting out on a life together.

She was still blinking away the wetness in her eyes when she had to link up with Ari for the walk out of the church. He wound her arm around his and hugged her close, instantly causing an eruption of agitation inside Tina.

‘Why do women always weep at weddings?’ he murmured, obviously wanting her to focus on him.

She didn’t. She swept her gaze around the gathered guests, swallowed hard to unblock her voice and answered, ‘Because change is scary and you hope with all your heart that everything will work out right.’

‘What is right in your mind, Christina?’ he persisted.

Christina … he invariably used her full name because it was what she had called herself for the modelling career that had been cut short after he had left her pregnant. During the months they’d spent together she’d loved how that name had rolled off his tongue in a caressing tone. She wished he wouldn’t keep using the same tone now, that he’d call her Tina like everyone else. Then she wouldn’t be constantly reminded of the girl she had been and how much she had once loved him.

She wasn’t that girl any more.

She’d moved on.

Except Ari could still twist her heart and shoot treacherous excitement through her veins.

It was wrong for him to have that power. Wrong! And the pain of her disillusionment with him lent a vehement conviction to her voice as she answered him. ‘It’s right if they keep loving each other for the rest of their lives, no matter what happens along the way.’ She looked at him then, meeting the quizzical amber eyes with as much hard directness as she could muster. ‘We don’t have that basis for marriage, do we?’

‘I don’t believe that love is the glue that keeps a marriage together,’ he shot back at her. ‘It’s a madness that’s blind to any sensible judgement and it quickly burns out when people’s expectations of it aren’t met. Absolute commitment is what I’m offering you, Christina. You can trust that more than love.’

His cynical view of love was deeply offensive to her, yet she felt the strength of his will encompassing her, battering at her resistance to what he wanted. ‘I’d rather have what Cass and George have than what you’re offering,’ she muttered, resenting the implication that her sister’s happiness with her marriage wouldn’t last.

‘I understand that change must be scary to you, Christina,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘I promise you I’ll do all I can to make the transition easy for both you and Theo.’

The transition! He expected her to give up her life in Australia—all she’d known, all she’d worked for—to be with him. It wouldn’t work the other way around. She knew that wouldn’t even be considered. She was supposed to see marriage to him as more desirable than anything else, and she would have seen it that way once, if he’d loved her.

That was the sticking point.

Tina couldn’t push herself past it.

The hurt that he didn’t wouldn’t go away.

Outside the church they had to pose for photographs. Tina pasted a smile on her face. Her facial muscles ached from keeping it there. Ari lifted Theo up to perch against his shoulder for some shots and everywhere she looked people seemed to be smiling and nodding benevolently at the grouping of the three of them—not as bridesmaid, best man and page boy, but as wife, husband and son. Ari’s parents stood next to her mother and Uncle Dimitri. They would all be allied against her if she decided to reject the marriage proposal.

She ached all over from the tension inside her. At least the drive to the reception spared her any active pressure from Ari. Theo rode in their car, sitting between them on the back seat, chatting happily to the man he would soon know as his father. Tina was grateful not have to say anything but she was acutely aware of Theo’s pleasure in Ari and Ari’s pleasure in his son. How could she explain to a five-year-old boy why they couldn’t all be together with the Papa he had wished for?

They arrived at the Santo winery. Its reception centre was perched on top of a cliff overlooking the sea. To the side of the dining section was a large open area shaded by pergolas and normally used for wine-tasting. Guests gathered here while the bridal party posed for more photographs. Waiters offered drinks and canapés. A festive mood was very quickly in full swing.

Tina thought she might escape from Ari’s side for a while after the photographer was satisfied but that proved impossible. He led her straight over to George’s family who were all in high spirits, delighted to meet their new daughter-in-law’s sister and press invitations to be their guest on Patmos at any time.

Then he insisted on introducing her to his sisters and their husbands—beautiful women, handsome men, bright beautiful people who welcomed Tina into their group, making friendly chat about the wedding. Their children, Ari’s nephews, all four of them around Theo’s age, quickly drew him off with them to play boy games. Which left Tina very much the centre of attention and as pleasant as the conversation was, she knew they were measuring her up as wife material for Ari.

After a reasonable interval she excused herself, saying she should check if Cass needed her for anything.

It didn’t provide much of an escape.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Ari instantly said. ‘George might require something from me.’

As soon as they were out of earshot, Tina muttered, ‘You told them, didn’t you?’

‘Not the children. Theo won’t hear it from them. Keeping it from your family until after the wedding will be respected, Christina. I simply wanted my sisters to understand where you are with me.’

‘I’m not anywhere with you,’ she snapped defensively, giving him a reproachful glare.

He held her gaze with a blaze of resolute purpose. ‘You’re my intended wife and I told them so.’

‘Why are you rushing into this?’ she cried in exasperation. ‘We can make reasonable arrangements about sharing Theo. Other people do it all the time. You don’t have to marry me!’

‘I want to marry you.’

‘Only because of Theo and that’s not right, Ari.’

‘You’re wrong. I want you, too, Christina.’

She shook her head in anguished denial, instantly shying away from letting herself believe him. Cass and George were chatting to a group of their modellingworld friends and Tina gestured to the gorgeous women amongst them. ‘Look at what you could have. I’m not in their class. And I bet they’d lap up your attention.’

‘You’re in a class of your own and I don’t want their attention. I want yours.’

‘Today you do, but what about the rest of your future, Ari?’

‘I’ll make my future with you if you’ll give it a chance.’

Again she shook her head. There was no point in arguing with him. He had his mind set on a course of action and nothing she said was going to shift him from it.

‘It’s worth a chance, isn’t it, Christina?’ he pressed. ‘We were both happy when we were intimately involved. It can be that way again. You can’t really want to be separated from Theo during the time he spends with me if you insist he has to bounce between us.’

She would hate it.

But she was also hating the way Cass’s girlfriends were gobbling Ari up with their eyes, watching him approach the bride and groom. Not that she could blame them for doing it. He was even more of a sex magnet today, dressed in a formal dinner suit which enhanced his perfect male physique, highlighting how stunningly handsome he was. A Greek God. Tina had no doubt they were thinking that. And envying her for having him at her side.

Could she stand a lifetime of that with Ari?

Would he always stay at her side?

She felt sick from all the churning inside her. Any distraction from it was intensely welcome. Hopefully Cass would provide it for a while. She and Ari joined the celebrity group and were quickly introduced around. One of George’s friends, another photographer, took the opportunity to give Tina his business card.

‘Come to me and I’ll turn you into a model as famous as your sister. No disrespect to you, Cass, but this girl has quite a unique look that I’d love to capture.’

Cass laughed and turned a beaming smile to Tina. ‘I’ve always said you don’t have to be a homebody.’

‘But I like being a homebody.’ She tried to hand the card back, embarrassed by the spotlight being turned on her. ‘Thank you, but no.’

‘Keep it,’ he insisted. ‘I mean it. I would love to work with that wonderful long neck and those marvellous cheekbones. Your short hair sets them off to perfection.’

‘No, please, I don’t want it. I have nowhere to put your card anyway.’

‘I’ll keep it for you. You might have second thoughts,’ Ari said, taking the card and sliding it into his breast pocket. He smiled around at the group. ‘No disrespect to any of you lovely ladies, but I also think Christina is unique. And very special.’

Which was virtually a public declaration of his interest in her, putting off the interest that any of the lovely ladies might want to show in him.

Tina’s marvellous cheekbones were instantly illuminated by heat.

Cass leaned over to whisper in her ear. ‘Mama is right. Ari is very taken by you. Give him a chance, Tina. He’s rather special, too.’

A chance!

Even Cass was on Ari’s side.

Tina felt the whole world was conspiring to make her take the step she was frightened of taking.

‘I think I need some cool air,’ she muttered.

Ari heard her. He took her arm. ‘Please excuse us, everyone. We’re off to catch the sea breeze for a breather.’

He drew her over to the stone wall along the cliff edge. Tina didn’t protest the move. It was useless. She was trapped into being Ari’s companion at this wedding and he was not about to release her.

‘Why did you take that card?’ she demanded crossly.

‘Because it was my fault that you didn’t continue the modelling career you might have had. It’s not too late to try again, Christina. You actually have a more individual beauty now. If you’d like to pursue that path you’d have my full support.’

She frowned at him. ‘I’m a mother, Ari. That comes first. And isn’t it what you want from me, to be the mother of your children?’

‘Yes, but there are models who are also mothers. It can be done, Christina.’ He lifted his hand and gently stroked her hot cheek, his eyes burning with what seemed like absolute sincerity. ‘I destroyed two of your dreams. At least I can give one of them back to you. Maybe the other … with enough time together. ‘

She choked up.

It was all too much.

Her mind was in a total jumble. She wanted to believe him, yet he couldn’t give her back what he had taken. Whatever they had in the future would be different. And was he just saying these things to win her over? She’d trusted him with her heart and soul once and here she was being vulnerable to his seduction again. How could she believe him? Or trust him? She desperately needed to clear her head.

She stepped back from the tingling touch on her cheek and forced herself to speak. ‘I’d like a glass of water, Ari.’

He held her gaze for several moments, his eyes searching for what he wanted to see in hers—a softening towards him, cracks in her resistance. Tina silently pleaded for him to go, give her some space, some relief from the constant pressure to give in and take what he was offering.

Finally he nodded. ‘I’ll fetch you one.’

She stared out to sea, gulping in fresh air, needing a blast of oxygen to cool her mind of its feverish thoughts. It didn’t really work.