His Pregnancy Ultimatum

Elder brother, Nikolos, who ruled the Karedes Corporation with a fist of steel; their widowed mother Sofia, whose influence was superseded only by Angelena the family matriarch, Nikolos and Cris’ widowed paternal grandmother.

The doorbell pealed, and Mia drew in a deep breath as she crossed into the hallway.

‘Hi.’ Her greeting held genuine warmth for the young man standing in the aperture.

He was attractive, with dark soul-searching eyes, a warm smile and generous heart; his tall frame and lean features held promise of the man he would become.

Introductions were made with ease, and minutes later Mia slid into the passenger seat of a Porsche.

‘Yours?’ she teased as he sent the car purring down the street.

‘It belongs to my brother.’

‘And he lets you borrow it?’

‘When I’m home.’ Cris effected a negligible shrug. ‘He has others.’

‘As in plural?’

‘Uh-huh.’

A shiver slid down her spine, for which she had no logical explanation. ‘Perhaps you should fill me in on the evening’s game plan.’

The Porsche growled to a halt at a traffic intersection, and he spared her a penetrating look. ‘You’re a friend I happen to regard with affection.’

‘Platonic friend,’ she conceded, and earned his swift smile.

‘That’s the description I’ve offered.’

‘Good.’

‘They’ll adore you. What’s not to like?’

Mia offered a slightly rueful smile. There was a part of her that wanted to tell him to turn the car round and take her home.

Get a grip. It was only one evening. A few hours. She’d exchange social pleasantries, decline the obligatory glass of wine and eat fine food.

Rose Bay held an eclectic mix of well-established homes, many with panoramic views of the harbour, and stately came to mind as Cris eased the Porsche to a halt outside a magnificent set of ornate wrought-iron gates guarding entrance to a sweeping driveway that led to a double-level plantation-style home in cream-plastered brick.

Wide bi-fold doors, timbered shutters, pillars and an elegant porte-cochère, set in beautiful landscaped grounds, the home…mansion, Mia amended…gave hint to serious family wealth. Very serious wealth.

Something Cris had neglected to mention.

As if to compound it, a Maybach sat parked beneath the porte-cochère. Its opulent lines were easily identifiable as the ultimate in the Mercedes group.

‘You’re impressed.’

It was a statement, uttered without emotion, and she allowed her gaze to settle on his features. ‘Am I meant to be?’

His expression became unreadable as he drew the Porsche to a halt in a designated parking bay. ‘It’s only stuff,’ he said quietly. ‘Material possessions gathered and passed from one generation to another as a visual attestation to entrepreneurial success.’

‘Which you hate?’

‘No. I merely prefer not to hang onto the familial coat-tails.’ He reached for his seat belt as Mia undid her own. ‘Okay, let’s go do this.’

‘Face the fray?’ she teased lightly, and was rewarded with a teasing smile.

‘You got it in one.’

Seconds later they gained the spacious bi-level marble-tiled external entrance, and two large panelled doors swung open to reveal an impeccably attired butler.

‘Good evening.’

A butler? Why should she be surprised?

Cris executed an introduction. ‘Costas has been with the family for years.’

‘The family are assembled in the lounge.’

When it came to strict formality, she’d take warm spontaneity any time. Didn’t families of Greek origin fall into the latter category?

Perhaps not.

Mia crossed the wide expanse of marble-tiled floor at Cris’ side, a few steps behind the butler, who paused on reaching what she presumed to be the lounge.

‘Ma’am, your son and his guest are here.’

It was a large, exquisitely furnished room in which two women were seated and a man stood in side profile beside a wall of French doors.

A man whose height and stance struck a familiar chord. One Mia instantly dismissed, despite the swift curl of apprehension twisting her stomach.

The younger of the two women rose to her feet and moved forward.

‘Mia. How nice to meet you at last.’

‘My mother, Sofia Karedes,’ Cris alluded with a smile. ‘Mia Fredrickson.’

‘Allow me to introduce my mother-in-law.’ Sofia indicated the older woman remaining seated. ‘Angelena Karedes.’

The matriarch, Mia concluded, meeting Angelena Karedes’ intense unwavering gaze. Nothing, she deduced, would pass unnoticed beneath those sharp dark eyes.

‘Mia.’ It was a polite acknowledgement, nothing more.

‘My elder son, Nikolos.’

He turned, and she felt as if her heart suddenly ceased beating.

No. The silent cry rose up from the depths of her soul. It couldn’t possibly be…

There had to be a mistake. How could Cris’ brother and the man with whom she’d spent a wild night of unbridled sex be one and the same?

Yet his identity was beyond doubt. His height and breadth of shoulder were achingly familiar. So too were his broad-sculpted facial features, the strong jaw, dark eyes, and a mouth that was to die for.

All it took was one look, and her bones began to melt.

Dear heaven…just thinking about what they’d shared almost brought her undone.

He knew. It was there in the depths of his eyes, the sensual curve of his mouth…an instant recognition that appeared fleetingly as he moved forward to greet her.

She wanted to obey an instinct to turn and run, and it was only courage that forced her to remain.

‘Mia.’

Her name on his lips sent the blood surging through her veins, heating her body to fever pitch, and it was all she could do to utter a brief acknowledgement.

Did he recognise her discomfort? Worse, did anyone else in the room sense it?

She wanted to rage against fate for being so unkind. It was bad enough accepting she’d discarded every moral she’d held dear for all of her adult years. Difficult to condone it had happened with a stranger. Discovering she was pregnant went right off the Richter scale.

Yet this…this was her worst nightmare.

CHAPTER TWO

MIA tried for calm politeness, and held the instinctive feeling she failed miserably.

‘Nikolos.’ His name on her lips sounded strange, even to her own ears, and she dismissed the inclination to close her eyes, then open them again in the hope she was locked into some nightmarish dream.

In the name of heaven, get a grip. In the list of awkward situations, this took top place in her book. But doubtless not in his.

In his late thirties, Nikolos Karedes bore the air of a seasoned sophisticate, well-versed in every social nicety.

Yet she’d caught a glimpse of the man beneath that façade…someone who’d destroyed her previously held defences with galling ease. Worse, she’d allowed him to.

As if she’d had a choice, she reflected wryly, aware of the intervention of a divine power over which she’d had no control.

Had it been the same for him? That instinctive knowledge they were twin halves of a soul? Or was it merely fanciful thinking on her part?

The latter, she perceived with rueful acceptance. Without a doubt.

So her name was Mia…Nikolos perceived. The petite sable-haired young woman who’d managed to get beneath his skin in a way no other woman had. The thought, taste of her had driven him mad with longing since that unforgettable night they’d spent together twelve weeks ago. She was an itch he couldn’t scratch…heat and light and passion, and so much more.

Did she have any idea how he’d felt when he’d woken and found her gone?

Or the steps he’d taken in subsequent days and weeks to try to discover who she was? Each avenue he’d explored had brought no result. It was as if she’d appeared out of nowhere, only to disappear.

He’d wanted to wring her neck…dammit, his own, for not anchoring her close to him in sleep so that her slightest move would have brought him awake.

There were occasions when he wondered if he’d dreamed the entire night, her…yet he retained a vivid memory of her scent, the clean, fresh smell of her hair, the silky smoothness of her skin beneath his hands, his mouth.

As to her response…the tentative surprise, the burgeoning sensuality beneath his touch, her generosity in giving herself up to him so completely… It had proven a powerful aphrodisiac that had changed want to need through the night, and seeded an emotion he hadn’t cared to define.

Mia glimpsed the momentary darkness evident in his dark, almost black eyes. The faint edge of mockery, and something else she was unable to determine. Anger? Why anger, for heaven’s sake?

‘Please take a seat.’ Sofia indicated a chair close by, and Mia sank into it with a feeling of relief.

‘What can we offer you to drink?’

Something strong to settle the wild tango in which her nerves were indulging would be great…except alcohol in any form was a no-no. ‘Thank you. A soda,’ she indicated. ‘Or mineral water.’

Mia was acutely aware of Cris’ interested gaze, and that of his grandmother. Sofia seemed intent on acting the gracious hostess. As to Nikolos…his part in this wretched tableau was something at which she could only hazard a guess.

What had held the portent of being a difficult evening had taken a shift for the worse.

How long before she could leave? Two hours, three?

Mia accepted a frosted glass from the proffered tray.

‘Cris has spoken very highly of you.’

She could do polite conversation. ‘We share a few classes at university.’

‘How old are you?’ Angelena Karedes demanded, and earned Sofia’s chiding protest.

‘Please. Mia is a guest.’

Oh, hell, could the evening get any worse? ‘Twenty-seven.’ She waited a beat. ‘Would you like to check my driver’s licence?’

The old lady’s eyes gleamed. ‘Sassy. I like that.’ The gaze didn’t shift. ‘What do you see in my nineteen-year-old grandson?’

Mia’s chin tilted slightly. ‘A friend.’

‘Hmm.’

One word, that wasn’t really a word at all, yet it conveyed a wealth of meaning.

‘Yiayia,’ Nikolos chided gently. ‘Enough. You embarrass our guest.’

The matriarch’s sharp gaze speared her own. ‘Are you embarrassed, child?’

‘Do you mean me to be?’

‘Dinner is served.’

Costas’ announcement was timely, and brought an inward sigh of relief that was short-lived as she found herself seated opposite Nikolos.

Accident or design?

Design, Mia decided. As the eldest male and presumably head of the family, there could be little doubt the reason for his presence was to check out his younger brother’s friend and deduce an ulterior motive for the friendship.

Familial protectiveness or necessary caution? Undoubtedly both, and, while she could see the sense of it, she abhorred the not-so-subtle interrogation.

Would she have felt differently if Nikolos weren’t present, and part of it? Innate honesty compelled an affirmative answer.

He disturbed her…mentally and emotionally. It was almost as if every nerve cell recognised him on a base level, and she had to fight to retain her composure.

Difficult when he was there, almost within touching distance on the opposite side of the dining table.

The thought of eating anything made her feel ill, yet good manners ensured she sampled a few morsels from each course…of which there seemed far too many. Or was that merely her imagination, due to her acute sensitivity of the man seated close by?

‘Are you a perpetual student,’ Angelena queried, ‘intent on gaining academic successes without putting theory to practice?’

‘If I’d known you would be so intensely interested in my background, I could have brought my CV for your perusal.’

Strike one for Mia, she accorded silently, and heard Cris’ appreciative chuckle.

‘Are you going to give it up, Yiayia?’

His grandmother lifted one eyebrow. ‘Have you known me to retreat from anything?’ She turned her attention back to Mia. ‘What field were you in before choosing to pursue a pharmacy degree?’

For one second she considered going for shock tactics, then opted for fact. ‘I was a cosmetics consultant.’

Those shrewd eyes sharpened. ‘In a department store?’

‘On referral from cosmetic surgeons to teach patients how the skilful use of cosmetics can minimise facial disfigurement.’ Exacting work, with often pleasurable results.

‘I imagine it was gratifying,’ Sofia indicated with interest. ‘Did you work with children, or mainly adults?’

‘Both.’

Between them they were gradually building up her profile, and she mentally chastised herself for her own cynicism in wondering if it wasn’t some preconceived test.

Mia sipped water from her glass, and when it came to dessert she passed on the baklava and settled for fresh fruit.

Another hour, she perceived, then she could plead a need to leave.

‘Are you intent on seducing my grandson?’

Now there was a question!

Nikolos fingered the stem of his wine goblet as he waited to see how Mia would handle the elderly lady’s irascible manner, intrigued by the slight tilt of her chin, the faint edge of defiance deepening her dark brown eyes.

‘No.’

‘You are a refreshing change from the simpering socialites who trip over themselves to attract my grandson’s attention.’

Costas’ appearance was a welcome intrusion. ‘Coffee is served in the lounge, ma’am.’

Thank heaven the evening was almost at an end. For the past few hours she’d felt like a specimen beneath a microscope…dissected, analysed, and categorised.

Mia requested tea, and when she finished she stood up, thanked Sofia, Angelena, then she turned towards Cris.

‘Would you mind calling me a cab?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ His protest was immediate.

‘I’ll drive Mia home,’ Nikolos inclined smoothly.

A silent scream rose and died in her throat. Oh, dear Lord, no. She didn’t want to be alone with him. Hell, she didn’t want to have anything to do with him!

Except somehow she couldn’t dismiss an instinctive feeling he intended to allow her no choice.

‘A cab is fine,’ she managed evenly, tempering her firm tone with a polite smile.

‘No.’

If she thought he’d let her escape so easily, she was badly mistaken. Nikolos leant down and brushed his lips to Angelena’s temple, then accorded Sofia a similar gesture of affection.

‘Goodnight. I’ll be in touch.’

Mia cast Cris a desperate glance, and received a faintly raised eyebrow indicating a silent What’s the fuss?

If he only knew!

‘This isn’t necessary,’ Mia said quietly minutes later as Nikolos opened the passenger door and stood waiting for her to slip into the front seat.

‘You want to cause my mother distress by beginning an argument on her doorstep?’

She flung him a dark glance as she slid into the car, and the door closed with a refined click before he crossed to the driver’s side.

The instinct to get out and run was uppermost, and she banked it down.

‘I’ll accept a ride to the nearest cab-stand,’ she indicated stiffly as Nikolos eased the vehicle towards the gated entrance.

‘Afraid, Mia?’ he posed as the Mercedes gained the leafy avenue and gathered speed.

Sheer bravado was responsible for her answer. ‘No.’

‘You should be.’

‘I don’t see why.’

He spared her a brief glance. ‘No?’ She looked so delightfully petite seated against the opulent leather. ‘You’d have me believe what we shared was of little consequence? A one-night stand between two consenting adults?’

Her heart thudded in her chest, then kicked to a faster beat. ‘Something like that.’

‘The hell it was.’

She wanted to hit him, and would have if he hadn’t been in control of a car. ‘There’s a cab-stand at Double Bay. You can drop me there.’

Nikolos’ hands tightened on the steering wheel as a knot tightened in his gut. Something primeval stirred deep within in the knowledge he’d been her first and only lover. He tamped down the need that rose so swiftly, and stifled a husky oath in self-castigation.

He was far beyond the ready lust of a teenager. Yet this woman had the power to test his control, and it irritated him. Worse…thoughts of her kept him awake nights, and ruined him for any other woman he could easily have bedded. Heaven knew there were a number from whom he could choose.

Except it was Mia’s features he wanted to see, the warmth of her smile…and he gently extricated willing fingers, made a seemingly reasonable but regretful excuse and went home alone.

‘When we’ve talked,’ Nikolos declared. ‘I’ll take you home.’

‘We have nothing to discuss.’

He brought the vehicle to a halt at a set of traffic lights and turned towards her briefly. ‘Yes,’ he reiterated hardily. ‘We do.’

‘Do you insist on a post-mortem with every woman with whom you’ve had sex?’

The lights changed, and he moved the vehicle forward with the flow of traffic. Minutes later he entered Double Bay and after finding no convenient parking space he swung the car into the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, requested valet parking, then led her into the hotel lounge.

Refined elegance, she perceived as a waiter hurried forward to usher them to a table, took an order for tea, then unobtrusively retreated.

Mia schooled her features as she deliberately met Nikolos’ dark gaze. ‘Can we get this over with?’

Was that her voice? She sounded so calm, when inside her nerves were shredding into a tangled mess.

‘Why did you leave?’

Her eyes widened slightly, then became shadowed. Twelve weeks had passed since that fateful night, yet every detail was etched in her mind. The magic of his touch, the unleashing of emotions she hadn’t known she possessed…

Dear God, how could she have stayed and faced him in the morning? Calmly risen from the bed, showered, dressed, shared breakfast, then walked away as if the night had meant nothing more than the sharing of good sex?

Instead of an earth-shattering experience that had changed her perspective, her life?

‘There was no reason to stay.’

‘No name, no contact number,’ Nikolos pursued silkily. ‘No means by which I could get in touch with you. Why?’

‘I was unaware there was any protocol involved. What would you have had me write on a note? “You were great?”’ She was on a roll. “‘Call me some time and we’ll do it again?” Would that have fed your ego? Salved your conscience?’

He didn’t move, but she had the sensation his body coiled like a tightly wound spring.

‘You gifted me your virginity. That had to mean something.’

His words were silky smooth and dangerous, and Mia barely repressed a shiver as sensation unfurled deep within at the memory…his disbelief, the husky curse, and his gentleness as he’d led her through the threshold of pain to pleasure beyond her wildest imagination.

And afterwards…dear heaven, afterwards he’d held her all night long as she’d become a willing wanton eager for his touch. Again and again.

‘It wasn’t such a big deal.’ And knew she lied…big time.

‘No?’ His gaze didn’t shift.

‘The prophylactic broke, remember?’

One of them.

The waiter arrived and laid out their tea, then took his leave.

‘If you weren’t taking precautions prior to intimacy,’ Nikolos continued, ‘I imagine you covered any possibility of pregnancy with a prescription for the morning-after pill?’

‘I considered it unnecessary.’ Foolishly, she accorded in silent self-castigation. What on earth had she been thinking of? Yet when she had thought, she’d rationalised her cycle hadn’t been in the fertile zone.

So much for the norm, the majority!

She became aware of Nikolos’ intent gaze, and held it with difficulty.

‘And was it unnecessary?’ he pursued quietly.

Oh, dear Lord, how did she answer that?

His eyes darkened and assumed a ruthless intensity as her silence stretched too long. ‘Mia?’

‘My body, my responsibility,’ she managed quietly, aware she was just barely holding it together.

‘Dammit, you weren’t alone in that bed.’

‘What do you want me to say? “Was it as good for you as it was for me?” Or are you afraid I’ll slap you with a paternity suit, demand a large financial settlement, or run to the media and besmirch the Karedes name?’ She was like a runaway train that couldn’t stop. ‘Or maybe all three?’

‘The truth will do for a start.’

She held his gaze fearlessly. The truth? ‘I took a pregnancy test three weeks ago, and had the positive result confirmed by a doctor the following day.’

He waited a beat as he attempted some measure of control. ‘Tell me, was I never to know?’

Her hand shook a little as she took time out to add milk to her cup. ‘Reality check, Nikolos. Just as you didn’t know my name, you hadn’t given me yours.’

The breath hissed from his mouth. ‘Have you had—?’

‘An abortion? No.’ The foetus inside her was a living entity. The thought of having it forcibly removed from her body made her feel ill. ‘This child is my responsibility.’

‘Mine, also. I’ll ensure you have specialist obstetrical care, and take care of all medical expenses.’

‘I don’t want anything from you.’

‘If you think I’ll walk away from this, you’re mistaken.’

‘You have no rights—’

‘Yes, I do.’

The thought of sharing the child hadn’t entered her head. Now that it did, it began to assume gigantic proportion.

‘I intend bringing up the child alone.’

‘No.’

‘What do you mean…no? The decision isn’t yours to make.’

‘The child will bear the Karedes name.’

Mia replaced the cup carefully down onto its saucer, then sank back in her chair. ‘Fredrickson,’ she corrected.

‘Karedes,’ Nikolos declared with chilling softness.

‘As I don’t intend changing my surname, Fredrickson will appear on the birth certificate.’ She rose to her feet and caught up her bag. ‘It’s been some evening. Your grandmother suspects I’ve snatched Cris for a toy boy and showed no mercy in her interrogation.’ She glared at him, and barely restrained herself from picking up the ashtray and throwing it at him. ‘As if that’s not enough, you shanghai me and take up where they left off.’

‘Sit down.’

‘Go to hell.’

‘Sit down—please.’

The please almost did it, except she refused to give in. ‘I’ll have the concierge summon a cab.’ She fixed him with an angry glare. ‘If you try to stop me, I’ll—’

‘Do what?’ Nikolos drawled.

‘Call Security and file a harassment charge.’

‘You might care to rethink that.’

‘Why?’ It was a cry from the heart. ‘You’re bent on detaining me against my will.’

‘This conversation would have been better served in private.’

‘We’ve said all there is to say.’

‘No,’ Nikolos drawled imperturbably. ‘We haven’t.’

She was tired, she had a headache, and she’d had enough. ‘It’s simple. I’m going to keep the baby. I don’t want your help…financial or otherwise. And I’d rather not see you again.’

His appraisal remained steady, and unnerved her…as he meant it to. ‘Tough. Because not seeing me again isn’t an option. Nor is refusing my help.’

Mia didn’t like his imperturbability, or the hint of elemental ruthlessness beneath his deceptively mild exterior.

Nikolos Karedes possessed an animalistic sense of power that was vaguely frightening. He had no hold over her, no means to force her into any situation she didn’t want or covet.

So why did she have the feeling he was intent on taking control? With or without her consent.

It was crazy.

Without a further word she turned and walked to the concierge’s desk, requested the attendant summon a cab, then when it swept into the entrance she made her escape.