Secret Heirs: Baby Scandal

‘This is the ring.’

His voice was husky, his accent heavy, making her heart pound harder.

‘Serena, will you marry me?’

She swallowed hard, aware that her breathing had deepened and each breath was harder to come by. Would he think she was acting the part too? She certainly hoped so, because he must never find out how much she loved him.

‘Yes.’

She responded with the answer she knew he wanted for the sake of acting the part. Would she have given the same answer if he’d asked her last night, instead of blackmailing her with something as cruel as her sister’s happiness?

His lips brushed hers so briefly she wondered if it had happened. Her sigh of pleasure couldn’t break the connection that arced between her and Nikos at that moment. Serena couldn’t breathe as he continued to hold her hand, his fingers warm against hers. It felt so real, so passionate, so loving.

It’s just pretence, she reminded herself sternly.

* * *

Nikos’s heart beat faster than he’d ever known. What was the matter with him? He was getting carried away with the moment. He looked into her eyes again and lifted her fingers to his lips. The green of her eyes was flashing brighter than the emerald on her finger and he wanted her with a force that stunned him.

‘The gemstone of the goddess Venus. A symbol of hope,’ the assistant said in stilted English, her words breaking the spell.

Serena pulled away from him, her eyes downcast and her long lashes sweeping down, locking him out.

‘Then it is a perfect choice,’ he said softly, and lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes once more.

‘It brings lovers closer if the giver’s motive is pure love.’ The assistant continued with her sales talk.

What did it mean if his motive was convenience coupled with lust? He looked into Serena’s face. Her porcelain-like skin was faintly flushed, but her gaze held his boldly. Was she wondering the same?

Before he had time to think, to rationalise his actions, he lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. A startled gasp of shock broke against his lips, lighting the fire that only she had ever truly ignited. He wanted to pull her close, to kiss her harder. He wanted so much more but propriety surfaced. Now was not the time or the place.

‘Nikos...’ she whispered quickly, and pressed her palms against his chest, pushing him away, her thoughts obviously echoing his.

He smiled down at her, took her hand in his and then turned to the assistant to pay for the ring. All the time he held her hand, keeping her at his side. He could feel the warmth of her body invading his and wished they were anywhere else but here. The passion that had exploded between them when they had first met was still burning—and it was becoming stronger and harder to resist.

The deal they’d struck had just become very interesting.

‘We have more shopping to do yet,’ he said as they emerged into the sunshine of the afternoon.

She pulled him to a stop, but he didn’t let go of her hand. Instead he pulled her closer as the desire he’d suppressed in the shop simmered through him.

‘We don’t need to buy anything else. A ring is enough for anyone to believe we’re getting married. Nobody has to believe it’s because we’re in love.’

His brows rose in question and the word love all but doused the fire that burned for her. He didn’t worry about people questioning if they were in love—it was his business reputation, his ability to keep his word, that mattered most.

‘We agreed that marriage was best in the circumstances.’

‘Agreed?’ She glared up at him, her eyes flashing with challenge.

‘You came to Athens with me. You obviously agreed with my terms. And as I told the press last night we were engaged you now need to be seen wearing my ring. Do you think my business associates will take me seriously otherwise? Having people believe we are “in love” has nothing to do with it. I want people to see that I honour my word, my promise and most importantly my obligations to the child you carry.’

Irritation surged forward, overriding all his previous emotions. It was for the best, he thought as he looked down into her face, at her eyes shrouded in confusion. If he had to keep playing the role of lover it would lead to temptation and desire, which would only complicate the situation.

‘Do you really think we agreed on marriage? It was more of a case of you deciding it would happen and instigating it with little regard for anyone else.’

Her words were sharp and she stood her ground, and he became aware that they were attracting the attention of passers-by.

‘Come,’ he said, in a growly voice that did little to hide his jumbled emotions. ‘You must get something to wear at the party tonight.’

‘I don’t need anything new.’

Her voice rose a little and her shoulders straightened, warning him of her intention to go against him.

‘As my bride-to-be you will be expected to look amazing. Anything less just isn’t acceptable.’

He looked at her, seeing her confusion become quickly masked by spirit.

‘I can’t compete with the models you’ve dated. Even the most fabulous dress won’t do that.’

‘I do not expect you to compete with anyone,’ he said calmly, and moved closer to her, dominating her with his height. But again she held her ground and looked up at him, her lips set in a pout of annoyance, just begging to be kissed.

It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. Before she had time to move he pulled her close with his free arm, pressing her against him while still holding her hand. His lips burned as they met hers. Their initial resistance melted almost immediately and he felt her body relax and mould against his.

He broke the kiss and pulled back from her. He had to stop kissing her in public. He promised himself that next time it would be in the privacy of his apartment, where he could give in to the carnal hunger she provoked.

He glanced up and down the crowded street and found what he was looking for—an exclusive boutique. ‘This way. Unless you want me to kiss you again.’

To his relief the threat worked, and she fell into step beside him as they made their way up the busy street. As soon as they entered the shop assistants came forward, as keen to help as the one in the jeweller’s. He informed them in Greek of what Serena needed and turned to her, amused by the stunned look on her face.

‘I have calls to make, but they know what I want.’

‘What you want?’ Incredulity rang out from each word and those lovely green eyes widened with shock.

‘Yes, what I want. I will see you in an hour.’

He turned and left the shop...before he kissed the look of astonishment from her beautiful face.

* * *

Serena fumed as he turned and walked away. Just who did he think he was? And how had she ever fallen for his gentle fisherman act? Had she been so blinded by her love for him she hadn’t seen even a hint of his lies? She’d lived her life watching her father lie, hiding his love affairs behind his work. Was she now going to be forced to live with a man who lied to achieve his goals?

Further thoughts were brushed aside as the assistants all but whisked her away. Dress after dress was held up to her, and the rapid exchange of Greek almost made her head spin, but when they finally agreed on a dress she couldn’t help but smile with pleasure.

She tried it on and looked at her reflection. The pale green silk skimmed over her curves and the small swell of her stomach would never be noticed—not even by the most observant. Her eyes looked vibrant and alive, and her hair contrasted beautifully with the dress, lying on bare shoulders. It was perfect. Maybe she could be as glamorous as the women she’d seen Nikos spread all over the internet with that morning.

Apprehension rushed in, knocking the confidence from her. Would Nikos notice her—desire her as he’d once done—like this? The thought ambled around her mind only to be forced out. The ruthless businessman that Nikos truly was wouldn’t notice her, but she hoped the man she’d met—the loving fisherman—would.

Reluctantly she removed the dress and put her sundress on again. The glamorous and bright-looking woman she’d seen reflected in the mirror disappeared. In her place stood a normal and very plain woman—one who would never have turned the head of a Greek billionaire. He’d been amusing himself at her expense, letting her fall in love with him whilst she was researching her article, safe in the knowledge that she would go home and never return.

But she had returned.

She’d returned carrying his child and he’d been forced to admit who he really was. He’d dragged her into his world of luxury and wealth and tonight she would play him at his own game. She would be someone she wasn’t. She would make him want her. And then, like in a fairy tale, she would revert to her usual self by dawn.

CHAPTER SIX

NIKOS WAS STUNNED into silence as Serena came out of the guest room, ready for the party. He knew he was staring at her like an unpractised youth. But what man wouldn’t? He’d never seen her dressed like this, and wondered how she’d ever thought she couldn’t compete with other women. She’d outshine them completely—and not just in his eyes.

She was utterly gorgeous and he wished he hadn’t accepted the party invitation. Right now all he wanted was to be alone with her, to taste the desire they’d shared and experience the passion once more.

The uncertainty in the green depths of her eyes tugged at his heart. A heart he had thought to be frozen since the moment his mother had walked out of his life, showing him the cruel side of love. But his heart would have to remain icy-cold, devoid of emotion. It would be better that way—for both of them.

His attention was caught by her heels daintily tapping out a beat as she walked towards him—a beat that matched the throb of desire within him, which was increasing with each second.

‘I had no idea what was needed for this evening, but the shop assistants assured me, as best they could in Greek, that this was it. I trust it meets with your approval?’

He let his gaze blatantly slide down her, marvelling at her resolute composure. ‘It is more than everything I anticipated,’ he said forcefully. The words You look so beautiful were suppressed, along with the weak-willed wish that things were different.

‘I don’t want to stand out too much,’ she said, and she lowered her gaze to fiddle with her clutch bag.

A surge of unfamiliar protectiveness flared within him. ‘You will stand out—but it will be for the right reasons.’

‘It will be bad enough not understanding what’s being said all night, without wearing the wrong thing.’

‘Bad enough?’

Most women he knew would be desperate for the chance to be bought a pretty dress and taken out for the evening—but Serena wasn’t most women. He was fast realising she was different. Too different.

‘The headlines,’ she said quickly, then looked at him, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. ‘Have you forgotten that all of Greece now believes we are engaged?’

‘No, I have not—and I will be with you at your side all night.’

His swift reply banished any further discussion.

He did have business connections to make, and originally his intention had been simply to halt any rumours that might be growing about her arrival. But as he looked down at Serena he knew having her at his side would make a nice change from the frivolous models he usually chose as company for such occasions. Not one of the women he’d dated had ever affected him the way Serena had—and still did.

If he was honest with himself it went back to their time in Santorini—to a time when his guard had been lowered...a time when he’d tasted what might have been if only his life had been different.

‘We will leave now, if you are ready?’

She nodded, briefly looking nervous before smiling. ‘I’m ready.’

* * *

The party had been underway for some time when they arrived, and he felt Serena tense as they entered the large room. The hum of chatter continued, but he was aware of speculative glances being cast their way, and whispers that were far from discreet.

With his arm around her, and his hand resting at her waist, he guided her through the throng of the elite of Athens society. It seemed the fundraiser had pulled people in from far and wide.

‘Nikos!’

He paused at the mention of his name and saw Christos Korosidis, the head of a rival shipping company. In the boardroom they would be enemies, but in the buzz of a party—especially a fundraising event—they would assume the air of friendship.

‘So the rumour is true?’ Christos said, his admiring gaze sweeping over Serena, sending a zip of totally alien jealousy hurtling through Nikos. ‘I would never have thought you were the marrying kind, Nikos.’

He could hear the conjecture in the other man’s voice and knew Serena’s sudden appearance in his life was causing as much controversy as his bid to take over Adonia Cruise Liners. A company Christos also had his sights on.

Nikos wondered if Christos would use the current news of his engagement to slip in under the radar and make another bid. He should have been angry at the idea, but he wasn’t. If the deal failed—it failed.

This was a completely new way for him to look at things. He didn’t care if Christos put a new offer in and won. Right now all that mattered was his child, his heir, and in order to be a part of its life he had to keep Serena at his side. As far as he was concerned his marriage was the most important deal right now. It would legitimise his son and heir. Not that he’d ever hint at that to Christos.

‘Appearances can be deceptive,’ he said with a smile as he took a glass of champagne and handed it to Serena.

She frowned, making it clear she wasn’t drinking alcohol, but took it from him, holding it with elegantly manicured hands. In that second he cursed his stupidity. She might not have chosen to disclose the reason for her return to Christos, but he was an astute man. Her reaction to the champagne hadn’t gone unnoticed.

‘Nikos and I met several months ago in Santorini.’

Serena’s soft voice broke through his turmoil and his body heated as she moved closer against him, her smile distracting Christos instantly.

‘Serena has thankfully just returned to Greece,’ Nikos said, and looked down at her when she glanced up at him. He brushed his lips over her forehead lightly, then turned his attention back to his sparring partner in business, trying to ignore the warmth that flooded through him. ‘And not a moment too soon.’

Beside him he felt Serena stiffen and try to pull away, but he kept her close. Her light floral scent was invading his senses, stirring them evocatively and unbalancing him further. But it was as she remained stiffly at his side that the implications of his words sank in. All he’d meant was that he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her—which in itself had been truthful—but what he’d just said could be taken another way. Or was that his guilty conscience at work...?

‘Nice to have met you.’ Christos bestowed another charming smile on Serena and moved on in his mission to circulate.

Nikos inhaled slowly. He had to regain control of his emotions. He was more distracted than he’d ever been by Serena, and wondered how long he’d be able to keep up the pretence of being a caring fiancé when all he wanted was to claim her as his in every sense.

‘That went well.’

Serena’s feisty remark cut off all thought and he turned his attention back to her, taking the glass of untouched champagne from her and placing it on a nearby table.

‘Was that your way of covering up the truth?’

‘If I wanted to cover up the truth, as you put it, I would adopt a very different tactic—one that would leave nobody in any doubt about the irresistible passion that has brought you back to Greece.’

‘And that would be what?’

‘I’d kiss you deeply and passionately, right here, for all to see.’

His blood heated as she glared up at him, her lips parted, almost daring him to carry out his threat. It was all he could do not to pull her into his arms and kiss her—deeply and passionately.

Her brows rose and a teasing smile lit up her eyes. ‘You wouldn’t dare...’

‘You’re playing a dangerous game, Serena.’ The thud of desire quickened, and without thinking of where they were he stepped closer to her. ‘Is that what you want me to do? Kiss you?’

‘No, I don’t.’

Her firm words pulled him back, then he laughed softly.

Did she think playing such games in public would force him to show there was more to their marriage than an accidental pregnancy?

‘I know you don’t really want me. You just want your child—but without any scandal. I can see that now. And for the record,’ she said flippantly, her eyes flashing with provocation, ‘you wouldn’t dare kiss me here. At least not in the way you’re threatening.’

‘Don’t challenge me, Serena,’ he whispered, and he lowered his head closer to hers.

He heard her sharp intake of breath. Satisfaction rushed through him. It didn’t matter what she led him to believe—she was far from indifferent to him. For whatever reason she’d put up a barrier, and was intent on keeping him on the outside, but he wasn’t going to allow that.

She placed her hand on his arm, the heat of her touch scorching him through his jacket and shirt. And as she pushed him gently back away from her she lifted her chin, bringing her lips tantalisingly close to his...

A sudden burst of applause crashed into his stirred-up senses so spectacularly he stepped back, momentarily unsure of what was happening.

* * *

Serena took in a deep breath when he drew back, as if she was surfacing from the sea. Her pulse raced wildly and the lingering scent of his spicy aftershave was doing untold things to her already unbalanced body. She’d never been so bold or so daring before. Ever.

She glanced up at Nikos, who seemed completely unruffled and totally composed as he turned his attention to the announcements being made. They were all in Greek, and she amused herself by observing the world Nikos inhabited. It was so far from the world she’d thought he lived in it was surreal.

Women so glamorous they might have stepped off the front of any celebrity magazine glittered with jewels. Serena found herself wondering, who, if any of these women, had been at such an event before on Nikos’s arm. The array of images she’d seen on the internet that morning proved he was anything but the ordinary fisherman she’d thought he was. He was powerful, wealthy and if the array of beautiful women he’d dated was anything to go by very much a playboy.

As the speeches and applause went on Serena’s mind slipped back to the first time she’d seen him. Nothing about that tanned, handsome fisherman had suggested he was anything else. But he’d been a cunning liar.

He’d smiled at her as she’d sat on the beach, enjoying the early evening sunshine, then a short time later she’d walked past the local fishing boats and had seen him again. He’d talked to her, telling her things about fishing and the local restaurants he supplied that would be useful for her article.

The attraction between them had sparked and from then on they had spent every moment they could together. Soon hot, passionate nights had followed. He’d been the man she’d been waiting for—the man she’d wanted to lose her virginity to and the man she’d thought she would be able to go on loving. She’d believed they had a future—until that last night on the beach, when his harsh words had shattered that illusion.

‘Daydreaming?’

Nikos’s gentle accented voice broke through her thoughts, rushing her back to the fundraising event and the glamorous reality of his life.

When she looked into his handsome face she could almost see the Nikos she’d first met and it tugged at her heartstrings. Which was the real Nikos?

‘I was just wondering how you came from a small island fishing village to this.’ She gestured around her at the no-expense-spared glamour of the party, at the guests moving to the sides of the room as the lights dimmed and music began.

‘It’s a long story,’ he said, his face sombre, his eyes strangely hollow and lacking emotion.

Deep inside her she recognised pain, but before she could say anything he took her in his arms, moving them onto the dance floor as other couples began dancing around them.

She wanted to ask him more—to find out about the man she was now engaged to—but the sensation of being held close against his body as music filled the room was too much. Every move he made sent shockwaves through her and she lowered her face, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on his shoulder, not wanting him to see the flush of desire that must be evident on her cheeks.

She closed her eyes against the urge to reach up and kiss him, to indulge her fantasy of being loved by him. She couldn’t let him know that was all she needed, all she wanted—not when he’d lied to her, believing she was looking only to further her career and her position in life.

The music changed, the tempo becoming faster, and she pulled back from him, thankful of the excuse to do so. The darkness of his eyes as they met hers was so consuming she drew in a sharp and ragged breath.

He took her hand in his and led her away from the bustle of dancing. Doors opened out onto a balcony, lit with an array of coloured lights that reminded her of Christmas. She glanced around to see they were alone. The music floated out on the warm evening air, and laughter could be heard, but it was just the two of them here and her heartbeat joined in with the sway of the music.

‘Nikos...’ she whispered, aware he was holding back from her. ‘Your story—it’s one I need to hear if we are going to make any kind of future together.’

A smile of satisfaction spread across his lips, drawing her gaze briefly away from the blue of his eyes. ‘So you are considering a future with me?’

His brittle words reminded her that they were not in love—that this was a deal, one brokered in the interest of their child. The mood changed, killing any romantic notions the dance had allowed to slip into her head.

‘We are having a child, Nikos, and as much as I can’t bear the idea of a marriage for that reason, or the hideous terms you’ve attached to it like a business deal, I don’t want my child not to know his or her parents.’

She pushed thoughts of her sister aside as her mind flew back to the arguments her parents had always had. The hateful accusations they’d hurled at each other. She knew she didn’t want to live like that. Worse were memories of the realisation that she’d forced them to stay together just by being born. She didn’t ever want her child to feel that guilt. The secret love she had for the Nikos she’d first met would have to be enough—for both of them.

‘Why is that a bad reason? Surely marrying for the sake of a child is best?’

‘Not always, Nikos.’ She smiled up at him, aware of his diverting tactics and employing some of her own. ‘How did you end up here?’

What would he think if she told him about her childhood? Would he think that what they were doing was a mistake if she told him about how guilty she felt? She couldn’t risk him turning his back on her—not when the chance to give Sally all she wanted was so tantalisingly close.

The warm wind ruffled his hair as he leant on the balcony, looking out across Athens as if it would give him answers. She moved closer to him, and the sweet fragrance of flowers around them did not quite mask the scent of his aftershave.

Without looking at her, he spoke. ‘I was brought up by my grandparents and I inherited a small fleet of fishing boats when my grandfather died. I owe them a lot. They took me in when my mother left and after my father fell apart, when the truth about my mother was exposed. They gave me a start in life—which was more than either of my parents did.’