Read Online Greek Billionaire's Blackmailed Bride (The Rosso Family Series, #1) by Leslie North - Free Book Online Page B

had much to make up for—she had thought he had agreed with his father. And that was wrong.
    Eva climbed out of the steps and squeezed the water from dark hair. She wore a tiny bikini that left Antonio frowning. She was getting to be too old to wear such things—she was barely covered. She saw him frowning and stuck out her tongue at him, and then said, “I’m coming up with you.”
    “Great. See you all at dinner,” Claire grabbed a towel and headed into the house. Eva followed her, her towel draped over her shoulder.
    Antonio’s cell phone rang and he answered absently, “Hello?” He listened for a few minutes and then he frowned. “Don’t I pay you to handle such things? What do you mean, he demands?” He heard a babbled excuse and rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
    “Antonio? What’s going on?” Alexandra asked.
    He hung up and grabbed his towel. “Nothing to worry about. A minor problem, but with an account that has been with the family for a long time.”
    Alexandra wrinkled her nose. “Someone father knew.”
    “Exactly. And someone who thinks our family has nothing better to do than to drop everything. I’ll have to head into the city.” He didn’t mind, however. He’d been meaning to drop by Diamond Club Danelian, the most exclusive jewelers in Athens—and one of the best in the world. He needed to buy a ring for Claire. He also needed some space from Claire—he only had to look at her and he wanted his hands on her. He ached to have her in his bed, but she was right. They were two different people from two different worlds. He had to remember that. This was only a pretend marriage. A sham. When the time came, he would arrange for photos of him with another woman, and Claire could divorce him for adultery. He frowned—he didn’t like the idea, but his father had forced him into this. He started for the house. “I’ll be back in time for dinner, but if I’m not, don’t wait for me.”
    ***
    A lexandra stood watching her brother’s back disappear into the house. Was it her imagination or did it seem like Claire and Antonio were avoiding each other. She could swear the looks that had passed between them this afternoon showed more than a little interest—yet, here they were heading off in opposite directions. Shouldn’t a couple about to marry be holding hands and thinking up excuses to be together?
    She turned back to the pool in time to see Dareios climbing out. Rather than use the stairs, he pulled himself from the water and turned to sit on the edge of the pool with just his feet dangling in the pool. She could see small rivulets of water running down the muscles of his back. She’d always enjoyed being around Dareios, but since she’d come back from university, something had changed.
    It had been easy to ignore the change while dealing with her father’s death, and everything that had been included, but now she was at a loss for how to deal with him. Did she just keep on treating him as she always had—as he seemed to want?
    She’d dated a lot while in college, but growing up with a father like Matthias, she had learned to keep to herself—and to keep all her relationships light and away from her father’s notice. She’d had Antonio’s example of his failed fling with Claire to guide her, and that had taught her that it was just better if she didn’t ever bring anyone home. She gave a sigh—maybe she just wasn’t cut out for a relationship.
    Sitting down on the edge of the pool a few inches away from Dareios, she bumped her shoulder against his. “What do you think of Antonio and Claire?”
    Dareios glanced at her and shrugged. “I think Antonio will do what Antonio always does.”
    “Meaning.”
    His mouth twisted into a smile. “He’s too like his father at times. He thinks he knows best, but I’m not sure Claire thinks that is true. She’s good for him—in a way. But...”
    He let the word trail off. Alexandra bumped his shoulder