her.
He didnât have to do that. Look at her as if he was assessing just how much the intervening years had changed her, mentally comparing his memories of her then with the reality of her now.
âJust looking at you, I never thought for one moment that you were. But, in any event, I look forward to the challenge.â His eyes glittered, as if heâd won amajor battle rather than just readied himself for the skirmish to come.
No doubt he thought it was only a matter of time before she fell into his bed. His arrogance alone was enough to ensure she wouldnât give in to his expectations.
âThereâs no challenge, Nick. Itâs a statement of fact. Iâm not sleeping with you.â
Without waiting for his response, she willed herself to push past him and exitâonly to almost crash into Sofia, laden with shopping bags, returning from her shopping expedition.
âWait till you see what Iâve bought,â Sofia said, her smile wide and her cheeks flushed.
Normally Alex wouldnât have had the time or the inclination to be interested, but today was different. Today she could do with the diversionâand a reason for Nick not to follow her.
She smiled with a warmth she didnât feel as she ushered the girl into her office. âShow me,â she invited, closing the door firmly after them.
Â
âYou have to tell him.â Tilly positioned the three sets of knives and forks around the small dining room table as she spoke, and only then looked up at her sister, as if impatient for a response. âYou will tell him?â
Alex tried to ignore her sisterâs glare and busied herself with the plates and salad. Sheâd made it through a whole week of putting up with Nickâs constant presence in the office. A whole week of Nickâs needling barbs. A whole week of Nickâs dark eyes following her every movement.
One whole week! She wanted to congratulate herself. If she could make it through one week then maybe she could make it through two, or four, or however many weeks it took till he finally went home to Greece.
Couldnât Tilly see that? She was beginning to regret telling her sister anything. Only sheâd been bursting to confide in someone. It was simply too much information to keep to herself. She opened the fridge, extracted the salad dressing from the door, and popped it down on the table.
âAlex!â repeated Tilly, sounding more agitated by the minute. âYou are going to tell him. He has a right to know. They both have a right to know.â
âOkay, I hear you.â She stole a glance out of the window. âIs Jason still outside? He needs to wash up.â
âSo youâll tell him, then? And Jason?â
Alex sighed and licked a trace of avocado from her fingers. âYou know, Tilly, Nickâs going back to Greece. It could be in two months; it could be in two weeks. Is it really fair to tell either of them when Nick could just turn around and walk out of Jasonâs life?â
âYou donât know that. He could decide to stayâand who knows? Maybe heâll even take you both back to Greece with him. I remember he was crazy about you when we were in Crete. You seemed to have the hots for him pretty bad too.â
Alex laughedâa low, brittle laugh. Take them both back to Greece? It didnât sound like the action of a man who had offered her casual sex for the duration of his visit. It didnât sound as if she figured in any long-term plans, with or without a child. âI donât think so. Nickâs changed. He seemsâbitterâsomehow.â She tried to remember the words heâd usedâsomething about there being little pleasure in the world.
Nick had a hard edge that hadnât been there all those years ago. A hard edge no doubt caused by watching his family disappear around himâfirst his brother, then his mother and father. Aristosâs death must have