Page 20 of Reclaimed By His Billion-Dollar Ring

‘After cataloguing and so on they ended up in the local museum. A couple of the more important pieces went to Corinth, I think.’

She wandered off, her attention apparently taken by the impressive row of columns marching along the flanks of the temple ruins. Nikos strolled after her, placing the palm of his hand on one of the fluted columns experimentally.

‘The marble is quite coarse-grained,’ he informed her, wanting to keep this normal conversation going. ‘As you’ll know, the current temple is built on the ruins of an older, Archaic period temple, which was made of limestone. The two have been very skilfully integrated.’

He pointed out areas where it was possible to discern, with a trained eye, what he meant, and saw that she was listening. It called to his mind how she’d listened at that first taverna meal all those years ago, as he’d discoursed on building methods in the ancient world.

Was that what made me want to make her think differently about me? Make her want to want me?

He looked covertly at her now. Her whole appearance was so different from what it had been eight years ago, when she was a teenager. Her outfit alone—from some pricey boutique in Kolonaki, no doubt—and her chic, poised elegance were a world away from the way she’d looked back then.

Like she was just one of those run-of-the-mill students... Not even letting on she was half-Greek. Let alone whose daughter she was.

That was definitely one of the things that had never got mentioned...

He felt emotion twist in him. Pushed it aside. He didn’t want the past making things complicated now, in the present. He’d called their affair a summer romance—and that was what it had had to be.

But now...?

Now I’m part of her world.

It had taken long studies, non-stop hard work and taking risks, unsure if they’d pay off. But they had—more than handsomely. And now he was reaping the rewards. He gave a silent nod to himself. He was doing some good in the world as well.

As if she’d caught his thoughts, Calanthe spoke. Her voice was different, somehow, from her impersonal conversational tone as they’d explored the temple ruins.

‘What you told me just now... I didn’t know about the earthquake in your childhood. That’s why you specialise in earthquake-proof housing, isn’t it, Nik?’

Her question was softly spoken, and for the first time since their paths had crossed again there was sympathy in it.

‘Because of your parents.’ She paused, a slight frown forming. ‘What happened to you after...after your parents were killed?’

‘I went to live with my maternal grandmother,’ he answered. ‘She...she was very important to me.’

He stopped. This was dangerous territory again.

Abruptly, he glanced at his watch. Changed the subject just as abruptly.

‘If you’re going out tonight I’d better run you back. I haven’t forgotten how vicious the Athens traffic is.’

He headed back down towards the car park and Calanthe followed him. As he walked he put the past behind him. His parents were long gone, his grandmother had died three years ago—he felt emotion stab at him for a moment—and his youthful romance with Calanthe had come to the end it had. For the reasons it had had to...

But those reasons no longer stand in the way. That is what I welcome. So the way ahead with her is clear.

All he had to do was convince her of that. And he would, too.

His gaze went sideways to Calanthe. Even at the end of a hot day outdoors she still looked cool and elegant. And so breathtakingly beautiful!

One thing was certain, however many years had passed. And his own words to her over lunch echoed in his head.

‘You were the most beautiful woman I’d ever set eyes on.’

And she still was. As irresistible now as she had been then...

CHAPTER FIVE

CALANTHE LEANT ON the ferry’s railings, gazing back at the port of Piraeus as it receded into the distance, the churning wake of the ferry showing its path. She was glad to be out of Athens, even if only for the weekend. She was heading for an island villa belonging to a friend who was throwing a lavish party.

Most of the guests were being flown out there, or would arrive in private yachts. Calanthe, however, was taking the public ferry quite deliberately. She lived in two worlds and always had. Her mother’s middle-class world of taking public transport and her father’s wealthy VIP world of limos, yachts and helicopters.

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