The Greek's Acquisition by Chantelle Shaw Read Free Book Online Page B

the canvas.’
    ‘You love your work, don’t you? I can hear the passion in your voice.’
    Something in Dimitri’s tone caused Louise’s heart to skip a beat. Passion was such an evocative word. It brought back memories of the wildfire passion they had shared on Eirenne—memories she had never been able to forget and which now flooded her mind with such shocking clarity that once again she felt herself blush. She darted him a glance, startled to find that his eyes were focused on her, and she felt certain that he was also remembering the past.
    ‘I feel very privileged to work at the Louvre,’ she admitted, thankful that she sounded cool and composed even though she did not feel it. ‘But I’m surprised you decided to join the tour. Are you interested in art?’
    He shrugged. ‘It’s not a subject I have ever studied in great detail, but even for a layman it is impossible not to be awed by the beauty and the history of the masterpieces on display. I enjoyed the tour. You have a way of bringing the works of the Great Masters to life with your expertise and enthusiasm.’
    Louise’s melodious voice and her impressive knowledge of the historical artworks housed in the Louvre
had
made the tour fascinating, but if Dimitri was honest he had spent more time studying the attractive guide than the paintings. She was seriously beautiful, and he was slightly ashamed of his erotic fantasy in which he ripped off her prim skirt andblouse and had hot, hungry sex with her on one of the plush red velvet bench-seats that were dotted around the gallery.
    He didn’t even understand what he was doing here, he thought irritably. He was interested in buying the island, but in truth he was intrigued by Louise. Seeing her again had awoken memories of the brief time they had spent together, and he had come to Paris and spent the past hour looking at paintings of fat cherubs when he should be working on the Russian deal.
    He hadn’t been able to get her out of his thoughts since she had turned up at his office. He had never forgotten what had happened between them on Eirenne. But seven years was a long time. During those years he had been focused on establishing his own company and then proving that he was a worthy successor to his father at Kalakos Shipping, and his memories of the pretty nineteen-year-old girl he had known as Loulou had faded.
    The grown-up Louise was an attractive woman no red-blooded male would forget in a hurry, Dimitri mused. But since he was a young man he’d had more beautiful mistresses than he cared to remember. He couldn’t explain what it was about Louise. All he knew was that his trousers felt uncomfortably tight, and he did not dare to meet her cool gaze in case she guessed he was fantasising about making love to her right here in the most famous art gallery in the world.
    He cleared his throat. ‘I come to Paris frequently for business, but I’ve never had time to visit the Louvre.’ He glanced at his watch and grimaced. ‘Regrettably, my free time rarely lasts for long. I’m due to hold a conference call in half an hour, and I must to go back to my hotel.’
    There was a hint of weariness in his voice, and the fine lines fanning around his eyes told of someone who worked long hours and no doubt spent too much time in front of acomputer screen. Louise felt an unwanted tug of sympathy for him. But perhaps he was tired for a different reason, she reminded herself sharply. He had a reputation as a playboy, and his numerous affairs were discussed with frenzied interest in the gossip columns. She was ashamed of the little stab of jealousy she felt when she pictured him making love to one of the gorgeous, glossy-haired American supermodels he seemed to favour. How Dimitri lived his life was of no interest to her, she reminded herself. Yet something intrigued her …
    ‘I heard that your father named you as his successor to run Kalakos Shipping, despite his threat to disinherit you,’ she murmured.
    She