Читать книгу Modern Romance December 2016 Books 1-4 - Кейт Хьюит - Страница 21

CHAPTER TWELVE

ANGELOS LEANED BACK against the seat in the helicopter and closed his eyes, forcing back the memories of last night, of Talia pressing herself against him, her mouth opening under his like the sweetest of flowers. It was better this way. It had to be.

‘Sir?’ The pilot’s voice broke into his thoughts and he opened his eyes, blinking in the bright sunshine of a summer morning.

‘Yes, Theo?’

Theo waved towards the tarmac surrounding the helipad, raising his voice over the loud whirring of the helicopter’s propeller. ‘There is a woman...’

Angelos leaned forward, stiffening in surprise at the sight of Talia, wearing nothing but one of her huge T-shirts and a pair of skimpy boy shorts, striding towards the helicopter, a look of fury on her face.

‘Cut the engine,’ Angelos said tersely. The last thing he wanted was for Talia to be hurt. The wind generated from the propeller’s blades was whipping her hair about her face in golden tangles, and her T-shirt to her body so Angelos could see every perfect, slender contour—and so could his pilot.

A jealousy so primal and fierce it would have shocked him had he possessed the sangfroid to consider it rose up inside him, making him leap out of the helicopter and swallow the space between him and Talia in two giant steps.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ she challenged. Her eyes glittered with golden-green fury and she jutted her chin at a proud, stubborn angle. ‘Running away?’

‘I am returning to Athens,’ Angelos bit out. ‘For business.’

‘Liar. Liar and coward.’

‘How dare you insult me in such a way,’ he snapped. ‘I am your employer—’

‘As you reminded me last night. You bring that one out whenever it suits you—’

‘This is not the place for such a conversation. Anyone can see you are barely dressed.’

She arched an eyebrow, magnificent even in a pair of pyjamas. ‘Anyone? I don’t see a crowd of bystanders.’

‘My pilot, Theo.’ Angelos gestured to the helicopter. ‘I don’t particularly want him to see what—’ He stopped, swallowing the words he’d been going to say. What is mine.

Talia wasn’t his. Not remotely. And she never could be.

‘Fine, I’ll go back to the house. But only if you’ll come with me.’ She folded her arms, chin still tilted proudly. ‘Will you?’

‘Fine,’ Angelos answered. And when they were back in the house he would make it abundantly clear that they had no relationship, and that her place in his household was only as his daughter’s nanny. Clearly last night had given Talia the presumption to take liberties with her position.

Suppressing the urge to drape his jacket over her, he strode back to the villa as Talia followed.

‘Go change,’ he instructed as they came into the house. ‘And then you will meet me in my study.’

He didn’t so much as look at her as he slammed into his study. It was time to put things back the way they were. Last night had been a moment of weakness and need that he intended never to show again.

Five minutes later a knock sounded on the door, and before Angelos could bid enter, Talia came in. She was wearing a pair of shorts that showcased her long gold legs and a T-shirt that was positively skimpy. Angelos could see the high, small breasts that he’d touched last night and, irritated, he yanked his gaze away.

‘Don’t you have any suitable clothes?’

‘I’ve been wearing these clothes since I arrived,’ Talia answered. Her voice was even but he sensed the tension and anger underneath, cracks in her calm surface. ‘Why are you harping on about my clothes anyway? They hardly matter—’

‘What matters,’ Angelos cut across her, ‘is the appalling liberties you’ve taken in your position as nanny.’

‘What?’ The word was expelled in an incredulous rush of air, Talia’s jaw slackening and her eyes going wide as she stared at him in angry shock.

Angelos stood behind his desk, one hand resting on the back of his chair. ‘I made it clear when I hired you what your position was to be. To supervise my daughter—’

‘Are you implying I have been negligent in my duties?’ Talia asked, her eyes now narrowing to golden-green slits.

‘I’m implying that you have allowed your relationship with my daughter to give you the presumption to take liberties with me—’

‘I take liberties with you?’ Talia gasped in outrage. ‘Correct me if my memory is faulty, but you’re the one who kissed me last night.’

Angelos felt heat rush into his face and he stiffened his stance. ‘I am not talking about that. In that instance I was at fault and I can assure you it will never happen again. I’m talking about your position in my family, Miss Di Sione, and the way you think you can—’

‘We’re back to Miss Di Sione?’ she interjected with a sharp laugh. ‘You really do feel backed into a corner, don’t you?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I don’t think I am.’ She took a step towards him. ‘What is this really about, Angelos? Why were you leaving this morning?’

‘I have business in Athens.’

‘Did you even say goodbye to Sofia?’

‘That is none of your concern—’

‘Yes, it is, because I’m the one taking care of her. Did you?’ Her question rang through the room and Angelos met her accusing stare unflinchingly.

‘I wrote her a letter, which suffices.’

‘You really believe that?’

‘It is not for you to question my actions.’

She shook her head slowly, disbelievingly. ‘You’re scared,’ she stated, and he stared at her coldly.

‘Scared? Of what?’

Too late he realised he shouldn’t have asked the question. He should have shut down this conversation before it had begun. Talia had no right—

‘Scared of getting close to people. To Sofia, to me—’

‘A single kiss does not mean we’re close,’ he informed her, knowing he was hurting her—and that he was a liar.

‘I’m not talking about the kiss,’ Talia answered quietly. Her face was flushed and humiliation sparkled in her eyes but she still stood straight and tall, holding his gaze, and it made Angelos feel a reluctant admiration for her. She was proud and beautiful and, considering all she’d endured, so very strong.

He wasn’t worthy of her, not remotely.

‘I’m talking about the conversations we had yesterday,’ she continued, her voice trembling slightly. ‘The things you admitted to me about your childhood, and how you feel you aren’t a good father to Sofia. You feel threatened because I know all that, and you’re wishing you hadn’t said those things.’

She was utterly right, and his sense of honour forced him to admit as much. ‘I am wishing it,’ he told her. ‘I never should have allowed us to have such...a connection.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because nothing can happen between us.’

She took a deep breath as she held his stare. ‘Why not?’

He stared at her, flummoxed by her tenacity. ‘Why not? Because...because it is simply not possible.’

‘Do I have to say it again?’

‘Why not?’ he filled in for her, irritation creeping into his voice. ‘Are you a glutton for punishment, Talia? Do you want me to spell it out for you?’

‘I don’t consider myself a glutton for punishment,’ she answered, her voice wobbling a little, ‘but yes, I do. Tell me why—why there couldn’t be anything between us. I think we like each other...’ Her face was fiery and she looked away for a few seconds, blinking rapidly, before she swung her gaze resolutely back to his.

‘Because I am not interested in a romantic relationship with you,’ Angelos informed her shortly. ‘I have my daughter to consider—’

‘I don’t think Sofia would mind—’

‘And my business,’ he cut across her. ‘In any case, you are American, and will be leaving here in a few short weeks. This whole conversation is the height of absurdity.’ He swung away from her, discomfited by how tempted he was to take her up on her blatant offer. He desired her, God knew; in the last seven years his libido had been like a dormant volcano that was now bubbling hotly to life. He wanted her very badly indeed.

And even more alarmingly, he liked her. He liked her sense of humour and her gentleness with Sofia, her understanding and her courage and her kindness.

He liked her so much that he couldn’t stand the thought of her knowing how he’d disappointed the people he loved in the worst way possible. He couldn’t stand the thought of her walking away from him.

‘You are here,’ he told her in a cold voice, his back still to her, ‘as Sofia’s nanny. That is all. Any...illusion of intimacy that occurred between us is simply that. An illusion. And you would do best to forget it ever happened.’

The silence after this pronouncement was awful, endless. Angelos could hear Talia’s soft breathing; the gentle, hitched breaths reminding him of a hurt animal, of someone in pain.

‘Very well,’ she said at last. ‘I will accept what you’ve said. I can hardly do otherwise. But I would ask, for Sofia’s sake, that you not leave Kallos just yet. It was her birthday only yesterday, and she treasures this time with you. For her sake, will you stay? I will keep myself out of the way when the two of you are together. But just...’ Her voice broke and Angelos closed his eyes, a shudder of pain ripping through him. ‘Don’t leave yet. Please.’

A long moment passed as Angelos mastered his composure. ‘Fine,’ he said, his voice toneless. ‘But I do need to return to Athens. But I’ll stay for a few more days. For Sofia’s sake.’

‘Thank you,’ Talia said softly, and then he heard the door open and click softly shut as she left the room.

* * *

She was so stupid. Slowly Talia walked upstairs, barricading herself in her bedroom as the realisation of how utterly she’d revealed and humiliated herself reverberated through her. She was so painfully, horribly stupid, to think Angelos cared about her. To demand he give a fledgling relationship between them a chance, when he obviously had no interest or intention of doing so. I think we like each other. What was she, in seventh grade?

She leaned against the door and slid slowly to the floor, cradling her head in her hands. Stupid, stupid Talia. The first time you get a taste of life and love and you go crazy. At least she was wiser now. Next time, if there was a next time, she’d know not to go begging. She’d wait for a man to show her he cared for more than just a kiss, amazing as it had been.

She heard Sofia go downstairs for breakfast, and then Angelos’s low, murmured greeting as he came out of the study. At least he’d said he would stay. If she left Kallos in a few weeks having helped to strengthen the relationship between Angelos and his daughter, she would be happy.

Almost.

The day dragged, with Talia both hopeful and afraid of seeing Angelos around the house. He closeted himself in his study, and after lunch she took Sofia swimming. They splashed around in the water for a while, enjoying the sun, joking in their strange yet workable mixture of English and Greek.

‘Sofia,’ Talia asked when they were lying on the beach, the salt drying on their skin, ‘did you like being on Naxos?’

Sofia turned to look at her in surprise. ‘Ne...’

‘Would you like to go to school there? I saw there was a school in Chora. It’s not so far in a boat, and you could have friends, then, besides us boring old grown-ups.’

Sofia frowned, trying to make out Talia’s meaning, and so she explained it more clearly. ‘School,’ she said. ‘Scholeio? In Chora?’

Understanding brightened Sofia’s face before it fell and she shook her head. ‘Papa ohi,’ she said. ‘No.’

‘Papa said no?’

‘He not...want.’ She shrugged, and Talia nodded in understanding.

‘You think your father doesn’t want you to go to school in Chora,’ she surmised, and after a brief pause Sofia touched her scarred cheek, her fingers brushing the ridged flesh as she gazed at Talia with wide, sorrow-filled eyes. ‘Because of that?’ Talia exclaimed in surprise and dismay. ‘Sofia, no. Ohi. Your papa doesn’t care about that.’

But Sofia just shook her head and looked away.

* * *

The conversation lingered with her for the rest of the day, and after a sleepless night Talia decided she would have to confront Angelos about this latest revelation. She knew he would not take kindly to her interference, and worse, she was afraid the idea that Sofia thought he wanted her to hide away because of her scar would hurt him. But he had to realise how his behaviour was affecting his daughter.

It took three more days before she was finally able to find a moment alone with Angelos. He’d gone off the island for an overnight; Maria had said he was having a quick trip to Athens before returning, an explanation that satisfied Talia as she suspected previously he would have gone for weeks.

When he came back he spent his time with Sofia and she tried to make herself scarce. She watched from her bedroom window as they built a sandcastle together, a ridiculously elaborate construction that made her smile even as her heart gave a little pulsing ache of sorrow. She wanted to be down there on the beach with them. She wanted Angelos to want it, but she knew he didn’t.

Finally, the next morning while Sofia was at her lessons, Talia confronted Angelos in his study.

His gaze sharpened and his mouth thinned as she stepped into his inner sanctum, trying not to let her fear show at his unwelcoming look.

‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘I trust nothing is wrong with Sofia?’

‘Actually,’ Talia said as she closed the door, ‘something is.’

Angelos straightened in his chair. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I spoke with her a few days ago, Angelos, and she said something that I think you need to know about.’

‘Which is?’

‘I asked her about going to school on Naxos...’

‘You what?’ His voice came out like a boom of thunder, and made her tremble nearly as much. ‘You had no right—’

‘I wanted to know if she’d ever considered going to school,’ Talia replied stubbornly, locking her knees and lifting her chin. ‘She had fun when we were on Naxos, and it seemed like a reasonable question to me...’

‘You know why she doesn’t want to go,’ Angelos said in a low voice that thrummed with anger.

‘I do now,’ Talia returned. ‘But do you?’

He glared at her, fury simmering in his eyes and a muscle flickering in his temple. Even angry he was gorgeous, and she still longed for him. ‘What do you mean by that question?’

‘Sofia told me you don’t want her to go to school on Naxos.’

‘I want her to be comfortable,’ Angelos snapped. ‘And protected. I’ve seen how she is when we’re out in public. She hides her face—’

‘From you.’ Talia took a deep breath, knowing her next words would hurt, and perhaps even get her fired. ‘I think she believes you are ashamed of her, Angelos. Of her scar.’

‘What!’ Angelos’s voice came out in a crack like a gunshot, and he jerked back as if she’d been the one to fire the bullet. ‘How can you even...? I have never been ashamed of it. Never. Why would she think such a thing?’ He shook his head, his eyes snapping with fury and hurt. ‘Why would you think it? Is that—is that the kind of man you believe I am?’

‘No,’ she said, her voice rising, ringing with sincerity, as tears pricked her eyes. ‘No, Angelos, I don’t. But when you are with her, you scowl and frown and seem very fierce—’

‘If I scowl, it’s because I hate the thought that she is self-conscious about it,’ Angelos bit out. ‘That she is ashamed. She has no reason to be. None. If anyone does, it is me.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ Talia asked. ‘Why should you be ashamed, Angelos? What is it that keeps you—?’

‘I failed her,’ he said flatly. ‘In the fire.’

‘Because you couldn’t protect her from getting hurt?’ Talia surmised. ‘But it wasn’t your fault—’

‘Actually, it was. But we will not discuss it.’

‘Maybe you need to discuss it—’

‘Did you not understand what I said to you before?’ Angelos cut across her, his voice hard and flat. ‘You are taking liberties, Miss Di Sione.’

‘Don’t “Miss Di Sione” me,’ Talia snapped. She hated how Angelos hid behind cold formality. She knew he was hurting and afraid, but there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. She wouldn’t humiliate herself again by insisting he really cared about her, or begging him to unburden himself to her. ‘Just think about what I said. And maybe ask Sofia if she would like to go to school on Naxos.’

Not trusting herself to say anything more or to keep herself from breaking down, Talia strode from the room, slamming the door with satisfying force behind her.