style="font-size:15px;"> His eyes darkened ominously. ‘You think I would joke about such a thing?’
‘No! I just—’ She felt as though something was crumbling inside her and she rubbed her fingers across her forehead, trying desperately to pull herself together. What was the matter with her? He wasn’t her father. It was ridiculous to feel this way. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that—is he going to be all right?’
‘Why would you care?’
‘Because I liked him so much. Is he recovering?’
‘According to the doctors, his recovery so far has been nothing short of miraculous. Apparently he has been clinging to life, determined to live long enough to witness my marriage to the wonderful woman he saw me with that night at the ball.’ His tone was acid. ‘It seems that our “relationship” has given him a reason to live.’
‘I’m glad he’s going to be all right, but—’ Chantal stared at him in growing dismay as his words sunk in ‘—you didn’t—you haven’t told him the truth, then?’
‘What do you think?’
That he was a man who loved his father. Greek. Family mattered to Greeks. ‘Obviously you didn’t want to as he was poorly, and no one would blame you for that.’ Feeling awkward, she cleared her throat. ‘So that means he still thinks that we—that we’re—’
‘In love,’ Angelos slotted in helpfully. ‘Crazy about each other. All the things you told him that night. When he finally regained consciousness he distracted himself from the stresses of hospital by lying in bed naming his grandchildren.’
‘Oh—’ Chantal breathed out heavily and thought quickly. ‘So obviously you’re waiting to find the right time to explain that there was a misunderstanding?’
‘And when do you think he’d like to hear that piece of unwelcome news?’ His tone was biting. ‘Before or after his next heart attack—which, according to the specialists, is a distinct possibility.’
Chantal was horrified. ‘I seriously hope they’re wrong about that.’
‘So,’ he said grimly, ‘do I.’
‘I hope he’s resting.’
‘He is currently staying on my island in Greece.’
‘Your island?’ He had an island? It was just as well she hadn’t known who he was, Chantal thought weakly, because she never would have had the courage to talk to him in the first place. ‘He’s on his own on an island? Is that the best place for him?’
‘He has a team of nurses and doctors attending to him and I intend to join him shortly.’
‘Well, in that case—’ she licked her lips ‘—I’m sure once you’re there you’ll find the right time to tell him that we’re not exactly—together.’
‘I don’t intend to tell him. Not until he’s well. On the contrary, the doctors have instructed that he should be kept as relaxed as possible over the coming weeks. No stresses. No worries. He should be surrounded by people he loves and trusts.’
‘Right. Well, that sounds sensible.’ Chantal stared at him. ‘So—what does this have to do with me?’
His mouth tightened. ‘Unfortunately for both of us you played your game rather well the night of the ball. My father enjoyed your company enormously. He is looking forward to your arrival on the island so that he can get to know his future daughter-in-law.’
SHE LOOKEDthe picture of innocence, Angelos thought savagely. There was a gentleness in her eyes and a softness to her face that was totally at odds with her reputation as a man-eater. Not just a man-eater, he reminded himself grimly. Her tastes were more refined than that. She was a clever, manipulative, rich-man-eater.
‘He thinks we’re getting married?’ Her eyes were wide and shocked, and Angelos fought back his distaste.
He couldn’t believe he’d actually allowed himself to be manipulated in this way. Only once in his life before had he ever been taken in by a woman, and on that occasion he’d had inexperience as his excuse. He’d been just eighteen years of age, and dizzy with lust. Lust—love—how easily those two became intertwined. His mouth tightened at the thought.
He was no longer eighteen.
So what was his excuse this time?
He resisted the temptation to turn the full force of his anger onto the woman standing in front of him. ‘You told him that you were crazy about me. That we were madly in love.’ Angelos struggled to keep his voice level. ‘As far as my father is concerned, the next step is marriage.’
Her gaze softened. ‘He is such a lovely man. I thought that at the time.’
I’ll just bet you did. Angelos made a mental note not to leave her alone with his father for too long. Despite her protests, he had no doubt that once she discovered her ‘relationship’ with him had no long-term prospects she would have no compunction about turning her attentions to his more vulnerable father. ‘Before you start congratulating yourself on your success, remember that this is me you’re dealing with—not my father.’
‘You want me to go to Greece with you? That’s what you’ve brought me here to ask me?’
‘I don’t want you to go to Greece with me. But that is what is going to happen.’
Obviously the two men she’d duped hadn’t been able to see past those sapphire eyes, he thought grimly. And this time she’d obviously decided to go for the jackpot. The sheer audacity of her plan amazed even him. His views on marriage were well known, as were his views on his father’s two very public and very expensive divorces. The fact that she’d believed that she might be successful said a great deal about her ego.
‘I don’t understand why you would think it’s a good idea. Your father would never believe that we were together!’
‘Thanks to your convincing display at the ball, he already believes that we are together,’ Angelos told her. ‘Your role is simply to produce more of the same. It shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll be working for most of the day. You will get to sit by a pool with a drink in your hand and a view of the Aegean Sea, singing my praises. From what I can gather, you’re in between men at the moment. Think of it as a free holiday—which isn’t quite on the same level as a meal ticket for life, but given the stunt you pulled you’re lucky even to get that from me.’
She watched him, and he could almost see her brain working as she thought about what he’d said.
‘No.’
‘Don’t try and negotiate with me,’ he warned softly. ‘There won’t be a better offer.’
‘I’m not hoping for a “better offer”.’
‘Then why refuse?’
‘Because it wouldn’t be fair on your father. I don’t understand why you think
