was talking about her. “No, of course not,” he said in a soothing voice. “I appreciate your diligence, Roslyn. You’ll be the first to know when I plan to leave the island.”
Marley looked away in disgust, no longer able to listen to his part of the conversation. A few moments later, he snapped the phone shut and put it into his pocket. As expected, when she turned back to him, his entire demeanor had changed for the worse. He looked at her almost suspiciously, though she couldn’t imagine why. But she wasn’t imagining it. There was a distinct change in his mood.
“I’m sorry for the interruption,” he said almost formally. “What were we talking about?”
“Tell me about your hotels,” she said impulsively, wanting to steer him away from his concerns.
His expression froze and wariness stole over his face. “What would you like to know?”
She found a place to sit that overlooked the tall pillars and tugged him down beside her.
“I don’t know. Anything. Where do you have hotels? Imperial Park in New York is one of yours, isn’t it?”
He nodded.
“Where else do you have hotels? Are you very international? I heard you say something about Rio de Janeiro. Do you have a hotel there?”
He’d gone completely stiff, and she puzzled over why. Did he not like to discuss his business? In truth, she craved whatever details about him she could get. He hadn’t been very forthcoming about his work life, a fact she found odd.
“We have hotels in most major international cities. Our largest are in New York, Tokyo, London and Madrid. We have several others, slightly smaller, across Europe. We’re currently working on plans for one in Rio de Janeiro.”
“But not in Paris? I think I’d like for you to have one in Paris so we could visit.” She grinned teasingly at him.
Her smile faded when his eyes went cold and hard. A shiver worked its way up her spine, and a knot formed in her stomach. He looked angry. No, he looked furious.
“No, we do not have one in Paris.”
His clipped tone had her backing away. She slid several inches down the bench. “I’m sorry…” She didn’t even know what she was apologizing for. His mood had gone black in an instant, and she had no idea why. She seemed to have a penchant for dredging up the wrong subjects. First his parents and now his business. Was there any safe topic for them to discuss?
She stood and clenched her fingers into tight balls. “Perhaps you’re right. Maybe we should go back now.” She turned swiftly, her intention to walk back toward the car, but she moved too fast and the world spun dizzyingly around her.
She thought briefly of her missed breakfast before her knees buckled and she blacked out.
When Marley regained consciousness, the first thing she heard was a furious voice rapidly firing in Greek. As her eyes opened and her gaze flickered around her surroundings, she realized she was on an exam table in what appeared to be a clinic.
Chrysander’s back was to her, and he was interrogating the doctor standing in front of him.
“Chrysander,” she murmured weakly.
He spun around immediately and hurried over to where she lay. “Are you all right?” His hands swept over her body even as his eyes bored intensely into hers. “Are you in pain?”
She tried to smile, but she felt shaky. The doctor moved in front of Chrysander and held a cup toward her.
“Drink this, Miss Jameson. Your blood sugar is too low, but I think some juice will set you to rights.”
Chrysander took the juice then curled an arm underneath her neck to help her sit up. He held the cup to her lips as she cautiously sipped at the sweet liquid.
“When was the last time you ate, Miss Jameson?”
The doctor pinned her with an inquiring stare, and she felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. She ducked her head. “I didn’t eat breakfast,” she admitted.
Chrysander bit out a curse. “Nor did you eat much dinner last night. Theos, but I should not have brought you here today. I knew you hadn’t eaten properly, and yet I didn’t think to remedy the situation.”
She gave him a wan smile. “It isn’t your fault, Chrysander. It was foolish of me. I didn’t give it much thought in my excitement over our trip to the ruins.”
“It is my job to take care of you and our child,” he said stubbornly.
The doctor cleared his throat and smiled at them. “Yes, well, no harm was done. A proper meal, and she’ll feel like a new woman. I’d suggest being off your feet for the rest of the day. No sense in chancing things.”
“I’ll personally see to it,” Chrysander said stiffly.
Marley sighed. He was taking her fainting spell personally. He fairly bristled with guilt, and she knew there’d be no swaying him from his course. She might as well resign herself to the rest of the day in bed.
“Can I take her home now?” Chrysander asked the doctor.
The doctor nodded. “Just make sure she eats promptly and that she rests.”
“You can be certain I will,” Chrysander said grimly.
Marley made to slide off the exam table, but Chrysander put out a hand to prevent her movement. Then he simply plucked her up into his arms and strode out the door.
When they got outside, a dark car pulled immediately in front of them, and a man jumped out to open the door for Chrysander. He ducked in, still holding Marley close to him.
“So much for you driving,” she muttered as they were whisked away toward the airport.
“I cannot drive and hold you at the same time,” Chrysander said patiently.
“I wasn’t aware of the need to be held.”
“I will take care of you.”
It was said with ironclad resoluteness, his voice solemn, and she knew he took his vow very seriously. Realizing she wouldn’t win any arguments with him today, she relaxed against his chest and curled her arms around his body.
He stroked her head and murmured softly in Greek. She was nearly asleep when the car came to a halt. Soon after the door opened, and a shaft of sunlight speared her eyes as she looked up.
Chrysander threw his arm up to shield her then gently turned her head back into his chest. He got out of the car still holding her and walked rapidly toward the helicopter.
“Go back to sleep if you can, pedhaki mou,” he murmured as he climbed in.
But when the whir of the blades started, the fog of sleep disappeared. She contented herself instead with snuggling into the curve of his neck as they lifted off toward the island.
He’d obviously called ahead and issued a montage of orders, because
