Playing by the Greek's Rules (16 page)

‘Because you haven't experienced something personally, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I've never been to the moon but I know it's there.'

‘So despite your disastrous relationships you still believe there is an elusive happy ending waiting for you somewhere.'

‘Being happy doesn't have to be about relationships. I'm happy now. I've had a great time.' She gave a faint smile. ‘Have I scared you?'

He didn't answer. Instead he lowered his head to hers again and she melted under the heat of his kiss, wishing she could freeze time and make this moment last for ever.

When she finally pulled away, she felt shaky. ‘I've never met anyone like you before.'

‘Cold and ruthlessly detached? Wasn't that what you said to me on that first night?'

‘I was wrong.'

‘You weren't wrong.'

‘You reserve that side of you for the people you don't know very well and people who are trying to take advantage. I wish I were more like you. You're very analytical. There's another side of you that you don't often show to the world, but don't worry—it's our secret.'

His expression shifted from amused to guarded. ‘Lily—'

‘Don't panic. I still don't love you or anything. But I don't think you're quite the cold-hearted machine I did a week ago.'

I still don't love you.

She'd said the words so many times during their short relationship and they'd always been a joke. It was a code that acted as a reminder that this relationship was all about fun and sex and nothing deeper. Until now. She realised with a lurch of horror that it was no longer true.

She wasn't sure at what point her feelings had changed, but she knew they had and the irony of it was painful.

She'd conducted all her relationships with the same careful, studied approach to compatibility. David Ashurst had seemed perfect on the surface but had proved to be disturbingly imperfect on closer inspection whereas Nik, who had failed to score a single point on her checklist at first glance, had turned out to be perfect in every way when she'd got to know him better.

He'd proved himself to be both honest and unwaveringly loyal to his family.

It was that honesty that had made him hesitate before finally agreeing to take her home that night and that honesty was part of the reason she loved him.

She wanted to stay here with him for ever, breathing in the sea breeze and the scent of wild thyme, living this life of barefoot bliss.

But he didn't want that and he never would.

* * *

The following morning, Nik left Lily to pack while he returned Chloe to his father and Diandra, who were enjoying breakfast on the sunny terrace overlooking the sea.

Diandra took Chloe indoors for a change of clothes and Nik joined his father.

‘I was wrong,' he said softly. ‘I like Diandra. I like her a great deal.'

‘And she likes you. I'm glad you came to the wedding. It's been wonderful having you here. I hope you visit again soon.' His father paused. ‘We both love Lily. She's a ray of sunshine.'

Nik usually had no interest in the long-term aspirations of the women he dated, but in this case he couldn't stop thinking about what she'd told him.

I want to be someone's favourite person.

She said she didn't want a fairy tale, but in his opinion expecting a relationship to last for a lifetime was the biggest fairy tale of all. His mouth tightened as he contemplated the brutal wake-up call that awaited her. He doubted there was a man out there who was capable of fulfilling Lily's shiny dream and the thought of the severe bruising that awaited her made him want to string safety nets between the trees to cushion her fall.

‘She is ridiculously idealistic.'

‘You think so?' His father poured honey onto a bowl of fresh yoghurt. ‘I disagree. I think she is remarkably clear-sighted about many things. She's a smart young woman.'

Nik frowned. ‘She is smart, but when it comes to relationships she has poor judgement just like—' He broke off and his father glanced at him with a smile.

‘Just like me. Wasn't that what you were going to say?' He poured Nik a cup of coffee and pushed it towards him. ‘You think I haven't learned my lesson, but every relationship I've had has taught me something. The one thing it hasn't taught me is to give up on love. Which is good, because this twisty, turning, sometimes stony path led me to Diandra. Without those other relationships, I wouldn't be here now.' He sat back, relaxed and visibly happy while Nik stared at him.

‘You're seriously trying to convince me that if you could put the clock back, you wouldn't change things? Try and undo the mistakes?'

‘I wouldn't change anything. And I don't see them as mistakes. Life is full of ups and downs. All the decisions I made were right at the time and each one of them led to other things, some good, some bad.'

Nik looked at him in disbelief. ‘When my mother left you were a broken man. I was scared you wouldn't recover. How can you say you don't regret it?'

‘Because for a while we were happy, and even when it fell apart I had you.' His father sipped his coffee. ‘I wish I'd understood at the time how badly you were scarred by it all and I certainly wish I could undo some of the damage it did to you.'

‘So if you had your time again, you'd still marry her?'

‘Without hesitation.'

‘And Maria and Callie?'

‘The same. There are no guarantees with love, that's true, but it's the one thing in life worth striving to find.'

‘I don't see it that way.'

His father gave him a long look. ‘When you were building your business from the ground and you hit a stumbling block, did you give up?'

‘No, but—'

‘When you lost a deal, did you think to yourself that there was no point in going after the next one?'

Nik sighed. ‘It is
not
the same. In my business I never make decisions based on emotions.'

‘And that,' his father said softly, ‘is your problem, Niklaus.'

CHAPTER TEN

T
HE
JOURNEY
BACK
to Crete was torture. As the boat sped across the waves, Lily looked over her shoulder at Camomile Villa, knowing she'd never see it again.

Nik was unusually quiet.

She wondered if he'd had enough of being with her.

No doubt he was ready to move on to someone else. Another woman with whom he could share a satisfying physical relationship, never dipping deeper. The thought of him with another woman made her feel ill and Lily gripped the side of the boat, a gesture that earned her a concerned frown.

‘Are you sea sick?'

She was about to deny that, but realised to do so would mean providing an alternative explanation for her inertia so she gave a little nod and instantly he slowed the boat.

That demonstration of thoughtfulness simply made everything worse.

It had been so much easier to stay detached when she'd thought he was the selfish, ruthless money-making machine everyone else believed him to be.

Now she knew differently.

The drive between the little jetty and his villa should have been blissful. The sun beamed down on them and the scent of lavender and thyme filled the air, but as they grew closer to their destination she grew more and more miserable.

She was lost in her own deep pit of gloom, and it was only when he stopped at the large iron gates that sealed his villa off from the rest of the world that she realised his mistake.

She stirred. ‘You forgot to drop me home.'

‘I didn't forget.' He turned to look at her. ‘I'll take you home if that's what you want, or you can spend the night here with me.'

Her heart started to pound. ‘I thought—' She'd assumed he'd drop her home and that would be the end of it. ‘I'd like to stay.'

The look in his eyes made everything inside her tighten in delicious anticipation.

He muttered something under his breath in Greek and then turned his head and focused on the driving, a task that seemed to cost him in terms of effort.

She knew he was aroused and her mood lifted and flew. He might not love her, but he wanted her. That was enough for now.

It wasn't one night.

They'd already had so much more than that.

He shifted gears and then reached across and took her hand and she looked down, at those long, strong fingers holding tightly to hers.

Her body felt hot and heavy and she stole a glance at his taut profile and knew he was as aroused as she was. In the short time they'd been together she'd learned to recognise the signs. The darkening of his eyes, the tightening of his mouth and the brief sideways glance loaded with sexual promise.

He wore a casual shirt that exposed the bronzed skin at the base of his throat and she had an almost overwhelming temptation to lean across and trace that part of him with her tongue. To tease when he wasn't in a position to retaliate.

‘Don't you dare.' He spoke through his teeth. ‘I'll crash the car.'

‘How did you know what I was thinking?'

‘Because I was thinking the same thing.'

It amazed her that they could be so in tune with each other, when they were so fundamentally different in every way.

‘You need a villa with a shorter drive.'

He gave a laugh that was entirely at his own expense, and then cursed as his phone rang as he pulled up in front of the villa.

‘Answer it.' She said it lightly, somehow managing to keep the swell of disappointment hidden inside.

‘I'll get rid of them.' He spoke with his usual arrogant assurance before hitting a button on his phone and taking the call.

He switched between Greek and English and Lily was lost in a dream world, imagining the night that lay ahead, when she heard him talking about taking the private jet to New York.

He was flying to New York?

The phone call woke her up from her dream.

What was she doing?

Why was she hanging around like stale fish when this relationship was only ever going to be something transitory?

Was part of her really hoping that she might be the one that changed his mind?

The happiness drained out of her like air from an inflatable mattress.

She never should have come back here. She should have asked him to drop her at her flat and made her exit with dignity.

Taking advantage of the fact he was still on the phone, she grabbed her small bag and slid out of the car.

‘Thanks for the lift, Nik,' she whispered. ‘See you soon.'

Except she knew she wouldn't.

She wouldn't see him ever again.

He turned his head and frowned. ‘Wait—'

‘Carry on with your call—I'll grab a cab,' she said hastily, and then proceeded to walk as fast as she could back up his drive in the baking heat.

Why did his drive have to be so
long
?

She told herself it was for the best. It wasn't his fault that her feelings had changed, and his hadn't. Their deal had been rebound sex without emotion. She was the one who'd brought emotion into it. And she'd take those emotions home with her, as she always did, and heal them herself.

Her eyes stung. She told herself it was because the sun was bright and scrabbled in her bag for sunglasses as a car came towards her down the drive. She recognised the sleek lines of the car that had driven her and Nik to the museum opening that night. It slowed down and Vassilis rolled down the window.

He took one look at her face and the suitcase and his mouth tightened. ‘It's too hot to walk in this heat,
kyria
. Get in the car. I'll take you home.'

Too choked to argue, Lily slid into the back of the car. The air conditioning cooled her heated skin and she tried not to think about the last time she'd been in this car.

She was about to give Vassilis the address of her apartment, when her phone beeped.

It was a text from Brittany.

Fell on site, broke my stupid wrist and knocked myself out. In hospital. Can you bring clothes?

Horrified, Lily leaned forward. ‘Vassilis, could you take me straight to the hospital please? It's urgent.'

Without asking questions, he turned the car and drove fast in the direction of the hospital, glancing at her in his mirror.

‘Can I do anything?'

She gave him a watery smile and shook her head. At least worrying about Brittany gave her something else to think about. ‘You're already doing it, thank you.'

‘Where do you want me to drop you?'

‘Emergency Department.'

‘Does the boss know you're here?'

‘No. And he doesn't need to.' She was glad she'd kept the sunglasses on. ‘It was a bit of fun, Vassilis, that's all.' Impulsively she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thank you for the lift. You're a sweetheart.'

Scarlet, he handed her a card. ‘My number. Call me when you're ready for a lift home.'

Lily located Brittany in a ward attached to the emergency department. She was sitting, pale and disconsolate, in a room where she was the only occupant. Her face was bruised and her wrist was in plaster and she had a smear of mud on her cheek.

Putting aside her own misery, Lily gave a murmur of sympathy. ‘Can I hug you?'

‘No, because I'm dangerous. I'm in a filthy mood. It's my right hand, Lil! The hand I dig with, type with, write with, feed myself with, punch with— Ugh. I'm so
mad
with myself. And I'm mad with Spy.'

‘Why? What did he do?'

‘He made me laugh! I was laughing so hard I wasn't looking where I was putting my feet. I tripped and fell down the damn hole, put my hand out to save myself and smashed my head on a pot we'd dug up earlier. It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.'

‘Why isn't Spy here with you?'

‘He was. I sent him away.' Brittany slumped. ‘I'm not good company and I couldn't exactly send him to pack my underwear.'

‘What's going to happen? Are they keeping you in?'

‘Yes, because I banged my head and they're worried my brain might be damaged.' Brittany looked so frustrated Lily almost felt like smiling.

‘Your brain seems fine to me, but I'm glad they're treating you with care.'

‘I want to go home!'

‘To our cramped, airless apartment? Brittany, it will be horribly uncomfortable.'

‘I don't mean home to the apartment. I mean home to Puffin Island. There is no point in being here now I can't dig. If I've got to sit and brood somewhere, I'd rather do it at Castaway Cottage.'

‘I thought you said a friend was using the cottage.'

‘Emily is there, but there's room for two. In fact it will be three, because—' She broke off and shook her head dismissively, as if realising she'd said something she shouldn't. ‘Long story. My friends and I lurch from one crisis to another and it looks as if it's my turn. Can you do me a favour, Lil?'

‘Anything.'

‘Can you book me a flight to Boston? I'll sort out the transfer from there, but if you could get me back home, that would be great. The doctor said I can fly tomorrow if I feel well enough. My credit card is back in the apartment.' She lay back and closed her eyes, her cheeks pale against the polished oak of her hair.

‘Have they given you something for the pain?'

‘Yes, but it didn't do much. I don't suppose you have a bottle of tequila on your person? That would do it. Crap, I am so selfish—I haven't even asked about you.' She opened her eyes. ‘You look terrible. What happened? How was the wedding?'

‘It was great.' She made a huge effort to be cheerful. ‘I had a wonderful time.'

Brittany's eyes narrowed. ‘How wonderful?'

‘Blissful. Mind-blowing.' She told herself that all the damage was internal. No one was going to guess that she was stumbling round with a haemorrhaging wound inside her.

‘I want details. Lots of them.' Brittany's eyes widened as she saw the necklace at Lily's throat. ‘Wow. That's—'

‘It's one of Skylar's, from her
Mediterranean Sky
collection.'

‘I know. I'm drooling with envy. He
bought
you that?'

‘Yes.' She touched her fingers to the smooth stone, knowing she'd always remember the night he'd given it to her. ‘He had one of her pots in his villa—do you remember the large blue one? She called it
Modern Minoan
I think. I recognised it and when he found out I knew Skylar, he thought I might like this.'

‘So just like that he bought it for you? How the other half lives. That necklace you're wearing cost—'

‘Don't tell me,' Lily said quickly, ‘or I'll feel I have to give it back.' She'd intended to, but it was all she had to remind her of her time with him.

‘Don't you dare give it back. You're supporting Sky. Her business is really taking off. It's thrilling for her. In my opinion she needs to ditch the guy she's dating because he can't handle her success, but apart from that she has a glittering future. That is one serious gift you're wearing, Lily. So when are you seeing him again?'

‘I'm not. This was rebound sex, remember?' She said it in a light-hearted tone but Brittany's smile turned to a scowl.

‘He hurt you, didn't he? I'm going to kill him. Right after I put a deep gouge in his Ferrari, I'm going to dig out his damn heart.'

Lily gave up the exhausting pretence that everything was fine. ‘It's my fault. Everything I did was my choice. It's not his fault I fell in love. I still don't understand how it happened because he is
so
wrong for me.' She sank onto the edge of the bed. ‘I thought he didn't fit any of the criteria on my list, and then after a while I realised he did. That's the worst thing about it. I've realised there are no rules I can follow.'

‘You're in love with him? Lily—' Brittany groaned ‘—a man like that doesn't
do
love.'

‘Actually you're wrong. He loves his father deeply. He doesn't show it in a touchy-feely way, but the bond between them is very strong. It's romantic love he doesn't believe in. He doesn't trust the emotion.' And she understood why. He'd been deeply hurt and that hurt had bedded itself deep inside him and influenced the way he lived his life. His security had been wrenched away from him at an age when it should have been the one thing he could depend on, so he'd chosen a different sort of security—one he could control. He'd made sure he could never be hurt again.

She ached for him.

And she ached for herself.

Brittany took her hand. ‘Forget him. He's a rat bastard.'

‘No.' Lily sprang to his defence. ‘He isn't. He's honest about what he wants. He would never mislead someone the way David did.'

‘Not good enough. He should have seen what sort of person you were on that very first night and driven you home.'

‘He did see, and he tried to.' Lily swallowed painfully. ‘He spelled out exactly what he was offering but I didn't listen. I made my choice.'

‘Do you regret it, Lil?'

‘No! It was the most perfect time of my life. I can't stop wishing the ending was different, but—' She took a deep breath and pressed her hand to her heart. ‘I'm going to stop doing that fairy-tale thing and be a bit more realistic about life. I'm going to “wise up” as you'd say, and try and be a bit more like Nik. Protect myself, as he does. That way when someone like David comes into my life, I'll be less likely to make a mistake.'

‘What about your checklist?'

‘I'm throwing it out. In the end it didn't prove very reliable.' And deep down she knew there was no chance of her making a mistake again. No chance of her falling in love again.

‘Does he know how you feel?'

‘I hope not. That would be truly embarrassing. Now let's forget that. You're the important one.' Summoning the last threads of her will power, Lily stood up and picked up her bag. ‘I'm going to go back to our apartment, pack you a case of clothes and book you on the first flight out of here.'