‘So kindly spare me the weary cynicism and stop avoiding the issue, Nik.’
Nikos accepted the reprimand with a rueful grin.
Caitlin might be his stepmother, but she was female and her stern expression briefly softened perceptively.
Even as she tartly observed, ‘You should smile more,’ she privately conceded he maybe didn’t have that much time or reason to smile since the responsibilities of the entire Lakis empire had fallen on his shoulders. No matter how broad those shoulders might be—in Nikos’s case, enough for two average men.
‘I’m not in love with Livia,’ he admitted calmly.
Being in love with Livia might have been an obstacle to their successful union, because if he’d been in love he wouldn’t have been able to see that though Livia was beautiful and accomplished she was also extremely selfish and terminally vain. This way he had no unreasonable expectations of her that might later disappoint him. And Livia, being a product of a background very similar to his own, would not make unreasonable demands on him and his time.
Caitlin gave a deep sigh of relief. ‘Then it’s not true, you haven’t been seeing her…’
‘Did I say that? Many women fantasise about marrying a rich man…’
‘My, you do have a high opinion of my sex.’
Nikos acknowledged his stepmother’s dig with a shrug. ‘I can only speak from my own experience.’
‘Which is wide and varied…’ Despite the disapproval in her tone Caitlin didn’t find it particularly surprising that her stepson had gained this jaundiced perspective of women. From the moment he hit puberty girls and women had been drawn to him like a magnet and he was selling himself short if he thought his wealth was the only thing they were after.
‘The reality of marriage to the man who is responsible for the day to day running of the Lakis business is something which many women couldn’t handle.’
‘I did,’ Caitlin reminded him. The severity of her expression softened. ‘With a little help from my friends.’
‘You are an exceptional woman. Livia is not exceptional, but she is born to the life. I think Livia and I might suit very well.’
Caitlin stared at him, horrified; it seemed there was nothing more humourless or stupid than a reformed playboy. ‘Oh, my God…!’
‘I take it you don’t like Livia,’ Nikos observed, smiling in an indulgent manner his stepmother found extremely provocative.
‘My liking her has nothing whatever to do with it.’
Nikos raised one eloquent winged brow.
‘Well, maybe a bit,’ his stepmother conceded, thinking of the perfectly groomed brunette with the calculating smile and the hard eyes. As she worriedly scanned her handsome stepson’s face her antagonism slipped away, leaving an expression of deep concern. ‘Nik, darling, she’s all wrong for you. You can’t marry her.’
‘That’s true, I can’t—not while I’m already married.’
His stepmother fell gracefully off her chair.
‘Wow, what a rock!’ Sadie breathed, catching hold of her friend’s small hand before she could hide it beneath the table. She blinked as the diamond, which seemed almost too heavy for the younger girl’s finger, caught the light. ‘It’s gorgeous,’ she said enviously. ‘Though I have to admit,’ she mused, lifting her eyes to Katie’s slightly flushed face, ‘I’d have thought you’d have gone for something a little less…’
‘Flashy…?’ Katie responded without thinking. She frowned to hear the wistful edge in her voice. There was just no pleasing some people, she chided herself irritably.
‘Less…conventional,’ Sadie contradicted tactfully. ‘Something to go with your charity-shop bargains. It’s so unfair, I spend more on clothes in a week than you do in a year and look at me!’ she invited gloomily. ‘Maybe if I didn’t eat for a month clothes would look like that on me…’ With an envious sigh she examined her friend’s tall, effortlessly slender figure. ‘No, that wouldn’t work—I’d end up with even smaller boobs than I already have!’
She eyed the younger girl’s well-defined bosom with good-natured resentment and then philosophically bit into the last cream cake on the plate.
Katie’s thoughts drifted as she sat looking at her finger, thinking a little wistfully of the ruby ring set with seed pearls she’d seen in the window of a small antique shop. The one Tom had seemed to quite like until he had got a look at the modest price tag; then he had dismissed it as a pretty trifle not worthy of consideration.
‘You pay for quality,’ he explained patiently as they left the shop empty-handed. ‘What a peculiar girl you are,’ he added with a perplexed expression on his open, good-looking face. ‘Tell most girls price is no object and they’d head for the most expensive jewellers in town. I’m not a mean man, sweetheart.’
‘I know that. In fact you’re too generous, Tom.’ A frown pleated Katie’s broad, smooth forehead. Tom just wasn’t able to accept the fact that she would have been just as happy with an inexpensive token as the extravagant gifts he showered her with.
‘Well, once we’re married you’ll have to get used to it,’ Tom announced. ‘You’re a beautiful woman, you deserve beautiful things, and I,’ he told her firmly, ‘am going to make sure you get them. Whether you like it or not,’ he added with a determined grin.
‘But all I want is you, Tom,’ she told him earnestly.
Tom looked startled and then pleased as he drew her to his side. ‘Really…?’
‘Of course really.’ Katie was uneasily aware that she sounded like someone trying to convince herself. ‘I guess I’m just not a very…demonstrative person,’ she admitted regretfully.
‘I’ve told you I don’t mind waiting,’ he told her quietly. ‘I admire your principles, darling.’
Principles or just a low sex drive…?
Katie ignored the vexatious voice in her head and reminded herself how incredibly lucky she was to have discovered such a sensitive, understanding man who loved her to distraction.
But not so much distraction that he can’t keep his hands off you… Katie muttered to herself.
With extra warmth she pressed a soft kiss to Tom’s lips.
After all, why would you want to be with a man who would be unable to restrain his base animal urges…? The sarcastic voice in her head just had to have the last word.
‘Tom really liked this one,’ she told her friend.
‘That figures.’ Sadie bit her lip and looked apologetic. ‘Sorry, love, but you have to admit he does operate on a strict “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” policy.’
Katie sighed. ‘I know, but he means well, Sadie, and he really is the kindest man I’ve ever met,’ she told the older girl earnestly.
