were occasions when he wondered if he’d dreamed the entire night, her…yet he retained a vivid memory of her scent, the clean, fresh smell of her hair, the silky smoothness of her skin beneath his hands, his mouth.
As to her response…the tentative surprise, the burgeoning sensuality beneath his touch, her generosity in giving herself up to him so completely… It had proven a powerful aphrodisiac that had changed want to need through the night, and seeded an emotion he hadn’t cared to define.
Mia glimpsed the momentary darkness evident in his dark, almost black eyes. The faint edge of mockery, and something else she was unable to determine. Anger? Why anger, for heaven’s sake?
‘Please take a seat.’ Sofia indicated a chair close by, and Mia sank into it with a feeling of relief.
‘What can we offer you to drink?’
Something strong to settle the wild tango in which her nerves were indulging would be great…except alcohol in any form was a no-no. ‘Thank you. A soda,’ she indicated. ‘Or mineral water.’
Mia was acutely aware of Cris’ interested gaze, and that of his grandmother. Sofia seemed intent on acting the gracious hostess. As to Nikolos…his part in this wretched tableau was something at which she could only hazard a guess.
What had held the portent of being a difficult evening had taken a shift for the worse.
How long before she could leave? Two hours, three?
Mia accepted a frosted glass from the proffered tray.
‘Cris has spoken very highly of you.’
She could do polite conversation. ‘We share a few classes at university.’
‘How old are you?’ Angelena Karedes demanded, and earned Sofia’s chiding protest.
‘Please. Mia is a guest.’
Oh, hell, could the evening get any worse? ‘Twenty-seven.’ She waited a beat. ‘Would you like to check my driver’s licence?’
The old lady’s eyes gleamed. ‘Sassy. I like that.’ The gaze didn’t shift. ‘What do you see in my nineteen-year-old grandson?’
Mia’s chin tilted slightly. ‘A friend.’
‘Hmm.’
One word, that wasn’t really a word at all, yet it conveyed a wealth of meaning.
‘Yiayia,’ Nikolos chided gently. ‘Enough. You embarrass our guest.’
The matriarch’s sharp gaze speared her own. ‘Are you embarrassed, child?’
‘Do you mean me to be?’
‘Dinner is served.’
Costas’ announcement was timely, and brought an inward sigh of relief that was short-lived as she found herself seated opposite Nikolos.
Accident or design?
Design, Mia decided. As the eldest male and presumably head of the family, there could be little doubt the reason for his presence was to check out his younger brother’s friend and deduce an ulterior motive for the friendship.
Familial protectiveness or necessary caution? Undoubtedly both, and, while she could see the sense of it, she abhorred the not-so-subtle interrogation.
Would she have felt differently if Nikolos weren’t present, and part of it? Innate honesty compelled an affirmative answer.
He disturbed her…mentally and emotionally. It was almost as if every nerve cell recognised him on a base level, and she had to fight to retain her composure.
Difficult when he was there, almost within touching distance on the opposite side of the dining table.
The thought of eating anything made her feel ill, yet good manners ensured she sampled a few morsels from each course…of which there seemed far too many. Or was that merely her imagination, due to her acute sensitivity of the man seated close by?
‘Are you a perpetual student,’ Angelena queried, ‘intent on gaining academic successes without putting theory to practice?’
‘If I’d known you would be so intensely interested in my background, I could have brought my CV for your perusal.’
Strike one for Mia, she accorded silently, and heard Cris’ appreciative chuckle.
‘Are you going to give it up, Yiayia?’
His grandmother lifted one eyebrow. ‘Have you known me to retreat from anything?’ She turned her attention back to Mia. ‘What field were you in before choosing to pursue a pharmacy degree?’
For one second she considered going for shock tactics, then opted for fact. ‘I was a cosmetics consultant.’
Those shrewd eyes sharpened. ‘In a department store?’
‘On referral from cosmetic surgeons to teach patients how the skilful use of cosmetics can minimise facial disfigurement.’ Exacting work, with often pleasurable results.
‘I imagine it was gratifying,’ Sofia indicated with interest. ‘Did you work with children, or mainly adults?’
‘Both.’
Between them they were gradually building up her profile, and she mentally chastised herself for her own cynicism in wondering if it wasn’t some preconceived test.
Mia sipped water from her glass, and when it came to dessert she passed on the baklava and settled for fresh fruit.
Another hour, she perceived, then she could plead a need to leave.
‘Are you intent on seducing my grandson?’
Now there was a question!
Nikolos fingered the stem of his wine goblet as he waited to see how Mia would handle the elderly lady’s irascible manner, intrigued by the slight tilt of her chin, the faint edge of defiance deepening her dark brown eyes.
‘No.’
‘You are a refreshing change from the simpering socialites who trip over themselves to attract my grandson’s attention.’
Costas’ appearance was a welcome intrusion. ‘Coffee is served in the lounge, ma’am.’
Thank heaven the evening was almost at an end. For the past few hours she’d felt like a specimen beneath a microscope…dissected, analysed, and categorised.
Mia requested tea, and when she finished she stood up, thanked Sofia, Angelena, then she turned towards Cris.
‘Would you mind calling me a cab?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ His protest was immediate.
‘I’ll drive Mia home,’ Nikolos inclined smoothly.
A
