pulled Claire into a hug. “You’re going to be family—so we don’t shake hands.” Stepping back, Claire grinned. “Where’s Eva? I might as well meet all the family.” “She’s looking for you upstairs. Are you busy?” Claire shook her head. “Just drooling over the equipment—Antonio doesn’t do anything by half measures, does he?” Alexandra grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her from the room. “Come on, we will go sit by the pool, have drinks and dinner and get to know each other.” Dareios called out, “Just remember, when it comes to swim suits, live by the motto that less is better.” *** D areios heard feminine laughter and knew he’d been forgotten. They’d gossip, drink and swim—and he’d miss the sight of those beautiful bodies. Giving a sigh, he turned off the lights in the studio and went in search of Antonio. Maybe he could convince the man to take a few hours off to hit the gym. Anything would be better than sticking around here to torture himself with visions of Alexandra in a swimsuit. The girl just loved to taunt him with her body—but she was more like a sister to him. And Antonio would kill him if he ever treated Alexandra as anything but a sister. He found Antonio a few minutes later in the drawing room with Claire and his sisters. For the past two days it had seemed to him as if Claire was almost avoiding Antonio—she seemed to want to spend all her time in the studio. But he also saw her watching Antonio anytime she thought Antonio was not looking at her. He was not quite certain what was up with those two. He’d heard the story from Antonio that they were to marry—young lovers parted and now together again. He did not quite believe the story, but there was a spark between them. And a strain. However, it was not his job to ask questions—he just hoped Antonio knew what the hell he was doing. Claire seemed a nice girl. Dareios had always liked her, and he was starting to worry for her. Antonio was also starting to look like a hungry man every time he stared at Claire. He looked away from her now—and he looked a little guilty as if he’d been caught thinking of things that should be kept in bedrooms. But he put on a bright smile and waved for Dareios to join them. “We’re taking the rest of the afternoon off. Grab a suit from the pool house and join us.” Dareios offered a slight smile. “Sure. It’s a beautiful day out there.” And he wondered if this day could get any more complicated. *** “I f I stay in this water any longer I’m going to shrivel up and become a prune,” Claire declared. She climbed out of the water, her skin wet and glistening. Antonio put a towel over his lap. It was getting worse. Ever since he had taken Claire shopping, he had wanted more of her. He thought of her at night—and in the mornings. He seemed to always be hard—and always to be thinking of her. They had swum and eaten a delicious meal of kabobs, Gaia’s dolmas—which she made with pine nuts and mint as well as rice and grape leaves—and a salad of cucumbers, feta cheese, tomatoes and Greek olives. Claire had gone back into the pool to burn off some of the calories, and Antonio had had to keep himself still and seated so he would not follow her. He wanted his hands on her again. He wanted to feel her come apart in his arms. But he knew he’d frightened her a little. She’d been careful around him for the past two days. And after she’d come out of that dressing room where she’d come apart in his arms, she’d made certain that he stayed where he could not see her strip down. But now he could see her body. Her swimsuit—a one piece—clung to every curve. She might think it modest, but he could see her nipples had hardened from the cool water. Water slid from her thighs, and he could only think about how wet she had been when he had made her touch herself. She was beautiful—she was Aphrodite stepping from the sea. And he wanted her to know that. He