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mother’s defence. ‘What do you imagine she might have done?’
    ‘When my father was alive she tried to persuade him to build a nightclub and casino, so that she could hold private parties rather than have to travel to one of the bigger islands for entertainment,’ he told her dryly.
    ‘Oh.’ Louise grimaced. Owning a nightclub was just the sort of thing Tina would have loved, she acknowledged ruefully. Her mother would not have worried about spoiling the peace and tranquillity of Eirenne.
    ‘Well, she hasn’t done anything like that. In fact she hasn’t been back to the island since Kostas died.’ She hesitated, and then said huskily, ‘I know you believe Tina was only interested in your father because he was wealthy, but I think she really loved him.’
    Dimitri shot her a sardonic look. ‘The only person Tina Hobbs has ever loved is herself.
Theos
, even you must admit she was not a great mother. I know you spent most of your childhood dumped in boarding schools while she lived the high life, flitting from one rich sucker to another. My father was the biggest sucker of all, and I blame him as much as Tina for breaking my mother’s heart.’
    Dimitri’s voice had risen, attracting curious glances from people at a nearby table. He muttered something beneath his breath and snatched up his menu, and Louise did the same, holding it in front of her so that she did not have to meet his angry gaze. Tension simmered between them. She took another gulp of champagne and welcomed the slight feeling of light-headedness as the alcohol hit her bloodstream.
    The evening was on course to be a disaster, and the only surprise was how much she cared. Maybe she should leave? It was doubtful she could say anything that would persuade Dimitri to buy Eirenne. He was arrogant and powerful andit was clear he made his own decisions. There seemed little point in her staying.
    She put down her menu, and a tremor ran through her when she discovered he was watching her. He didn’t look angry any more, but she could not define the expression in the green eyes that glittered beneath his heavy brows.
    ‘Louise, I’m sorry,’ he said roughly. ‘The last thing I want to do is drag up past issues that have nothing to do with us. My father’s relationship with your mother was never our concern.’
    Taken aback by his apology, she gave him a startled glance. ‘How can you say that? You blame Tina …’
    ‘My feelings about her are irrelevant,’ he insisted. ‘Look.’ He leaned across the table, his expression intent as he held her gaze. ‘I don’t want to fight with you,
pedhaki mou
.’
    What he wanted to do was walk around the table and pull Louise into his arms; feel her soft, curvaceous body pressed up against him as he crushed her lips beneath his, Dimitri acknowledged silently. Would she respond to him? His gut instinct told him that she was as fiercely aware of him as he was of her, and he was sure that, like him, she remembered the passionate night they had spent together seven years ago.
    But there was a correct order to seduction, which he intended to follow. His body might be acting as if he was a hormone-crazed adolescent, but first they would enjoy good food and conversation, and he would savour the anticipation of bedding her as he’d savour a fine wine.
    ‘What I would like to do,’ he said softly, ‘is to forget the past and pretend that we’ve only just met. Let us imagine that we are strangers, having dinner in Paris and getting to know one another a little better. What do you say?’
    ‘I.’
    Louise could not tear her eyes from Dimitri’s face. He was as beautiful as a Michelangelo sculpture. She studied the chiselled lines of his cheekbones and his square jaw and longed to run her fingers over his five o’clock stubble, trace the sensual curve of his mouth. That gentle endearment, ‘
pedhaki mou
’, had weakened her defences. If she had any sense she would insist that she only wanted to discuss the