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Authors: Sarah Morgan
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this group of strangers.
There was warmth and a large dollop of deference in the attitude of the rest of the team and Ella gritted her teeth because his charisma and unmistakable leadership qualities had had a similar effect on her at one time. Progress and equality had apparently done nothing to diminish the attractions of a powerful man, she thought wryly, and Nikos Mariakos wore responsibility as comfortably as he wore the sleek designer suit that skimmed his broad shoulders.
He addressed a few words to the group, made them laugh with an astute observation and then secured his place as one of them by inviting them to order at his expense.
It was a mark of respect and an acknowledgement of hisreputation and seniority that someone offered him a chair, but he declined, spoke to someone behind the bar and then settled his lean hips against the harbour wall, next to Ella.
Her hand was on the wall and he placed his over it, long strong fingers covering hers in a gesture that said ‘mine’ as clearly as if he’d sprayed the word in red on the bricks.
A few months ago Ella would have found such a macho display amusing. She also would have found it hopelessly flattering, although she would never in a million years have admitted it to anyone. Now, when she turned her head, her eyes were mocking. ‘Unreconstructed Greek,’ she murmured, and he gave a wry smile, his fingers locking with hers.
‘Perhaps. In some things at least. Have you eaten?’
‘You put me off my food.’
His laugh was soft. ‘Your heart may be broken, but I see your spirit is intact.’ He glanced briefly towards the others but they’d already lost interest and were now involved in a heated debate about the use of the air ambulance.
Ella was painfully aware of the press of his hard thigh against hers, the gentle caress of his fingers on hers. For her own protection, she wanted to snatch her hand away but she didn’t want to draw the attention of the group.
‘This is a low trick because I can’t slap you in public. What is it that you want, Nikos?’
‘You.’ His gaze was focused on her mouth. ‘I want you, agape mou . Back in my bed, where you belong.’
His words robbed her of breath. ‘Why?’ It was hard to keep it light. ‘None of your relationships have lasted more than six months. I’m already past my sell-by date.’
His hand tightened on hers. ‘I think we have already proved that it is dangerous to jump to conclusions.’
The touch of his hand was enough to make her insidesclench. ‘You walked out on me. There’s no way I’d be foolish enough to get involved with you again, Nikos.’
‘We are involved. The child you are carrying links us together.’
It was dark now, and the tiny fairy-lights illuminating the pub made the atmosphere magical. Behind them the masts of the boat clinked in the breeze and the air was filled with everything that was summer—garlic from the pub, the salt from the sea and the cool breath of wind.
‘This isn’t going to work, Nikos.’ Ella spoke softly, acutely aware of the curious looks they were receiving from other members of the department. ‘Why did you come here?’
‘If you don’t know why I came,’ he replied, ‘then you don’t know me at all.’
‘You’re right, I don’t know you. I spent six months with you and then discovered that you weren’t who I thought you were. You didn’t mention the money.’ She swallowed, not wanting to deliberately hurt someone but aware of the enormity of what they were dealing with. ‘You didn’t mention that you’d lost your wife.’
He was still. ‘You want to have this conversation here?’
‘I don’t want to have the conversation at all. We have nothing to talk about. We had an affair. Now it’s over. It happens. You can see your child, Nikos, if that’s what’s worrying you.’ She rubbed her hands up her arms, chilled even though the night was warm. ‘We’ll work something out.’
‘ Theos mou , you stand there
There was warmth and a large dollop of deference in the attitude of the rest of the team and Ella gritted her teeth because his charisma and unmistakable leadership qualities had had a similar effect on her at one time. Progress and equality had apparently done nothing to diminish the attractions of a powerful man, she thought wryly, and Nikos Mariakos wore responsibility as comfortably as he wore the sleek designer suit that skimmed his broad shoulders.
He addressed a few words to the group, made them laugh with an astute observation and then secured his place as one of them by inviting them to order at his expense.
It was a mark of respect and an acknowledgement of hisreputation and seniority that someone offered him a chair, but he declined, spoke to someone behind the bar and then settled his lean hips against the harbour wall, next to Ella.
Her hand was on the wall and he placed his over it, long strong fingers covering hers in a gesture that said ‘mine’ as clearly as if he’d sprayed the word in red on the bricks.
A few months ago Ella would have found such a macho display amusing. She also would have found it hopelessly flattering, although she would never in a million years have admitted it to anyone. Now, when she turned her head, her eyes were mocking. ‘Unreconstructed Greek,’ she murmured, and he gave a wry smile, his fingers locking with hers.
‘Perhaps. In some things at least. Have you eaten?’
‘You put me off my food.’
His laugh was soft. ‘Your heart may be broken, but I see your spirit is intact.’ He glanced briefly towards the others but they’d already lost interest and were now involved in a heated debate about the use of the air ambulance.
Ella was painfully aware of the press of his hard thigh against hers, the gentle caress of his fingers on hers. For her own protection, she wanted to snatch her hand away but she didn’t want to draw the attention of the group.
‘This is a low trick because I can’t slap you in public. What is it that you want, Nikos?’
‘You.’ His gaze was focused on her mouth. ‘I want you, agape mou . Back in my bed, where you belong.’
His words robbed her of breath. ‘Why?’ It was hard to keep it light. ‘None of your relationships have lasted more than six months. I’m already past my sell-by date.’
His hand tightened on hers. ‘I think we have already proved that it is dangerous to jump to conclusions.’
The touch of his hand was enough to make her insidesclench. ‘You walked out on me. There’s no way I’d be foolish enough to get involved with you again, Nikos.’
‘We are involved. The child you are carrying links us together.’
It was dark now, and the tiny fairy-lights illuminating the pub made the atmosphere magical. Behind them the masts of the boat clinked in the breeze and the air was filled with everything that was summer—garlic from the pub, the salt from the sea and the cool breath of wind.
‘This isn’t going to work, Nikos.’ Ella spoke softly, acutely aware of the curious looks they were receiving from other members of the department. ‘Why did you come here?’
‘If you don’t know why I came,’ he replied, ‘then you don’t know me at all.’
‘You’re right, I don’t know you. I spent six months with you and then discovered that you weren’t who I thought you were. You didn’t mention the money.’ She swallowed, not wanting to deliberately hurt someone but aware of the enormity of what they were dealing with. ‘You didn’t mention that you’d lost your wife.’
He was still. ‘You want to have this conversation here?’
‘I don’t want to have the conversation at all. We have nothing to talk about. We had an affair. Now it’s over. It happens. You can see your child, Nikos, if that’s what’s worrying you.’ She rubbed her hands up her arms, chilled even though the night was warm. ‘We’ll work something out.’
‘ Theos mou , you stand there
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