Page 35 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

Ajax said, ‘This is the Parnassus villa. Leo and Angel Parnassus are hosting their annual event to raise funds for charity.’

Erin had vaguely heard of Angel Parnassus. ‘Isn’t she a jewellery designer?’

Ajax nodded. ‘Yes—very successful.’

‘And Leo is...?’

‘Like me, a Greek, who grew up mainly in America. We go back a long way. He returned here permanently some years ago, to take over the family business.’

‘You lived in Greece while you were married?’

Ajax nodded, ‘Yes, but America is my home now.’

He didn’t elaborate. Erin speculated that perhaps the long distance from here made it easier for him to deal with the loss of his son.

They were at the top of the drive now, and the villa opened out before them. It was of a more traditional design than Ajax’s. Vast, impressive.

They got out at the bottom of the steps leading up to the front door. Ajax took her by the elbow and Erin resisted the urge to pull away for fear he’d see how he affected her.

The sounds of soft jazz could be heard, and as they entered the hall behind other guests, a tall man broke away from a group of people and came over, a broad smile on his handsome face.

‘Ajax! Please tell me you’ve decided to stop pretending you prefer Manhattan to Athens and are coming home.’

The men hugged each other warmly.

Ajax said, ‘No chance.’

The man looked at her and Erin felt self-conscious.

Ajax said, ‘Leo, this is Erin Murphy.’

Leo put out a hand. ‘Erin, welcome to my home. And congratulations on your daughter. Our youngest is three, but maybe they’ll play together some day.’

Erin couldn’t help but smile at his effusive greeting. ‘Thank you. I’m sure she’d love that. She’s not walking yet, but any day now, I think.’

Leo made a face. ‘Once they’re on their feet you need eyes in the back and both sides of your head.’

Erin laughed. ‘She’s already crawling at the speed of light, so I know what you mean.’

She glanced at Ajax and saw he was looking at her with a transfixed expression on his face. Erin blushed.

A woman—stunningly pretty, in a white strapless column of a dress, with her dark hair pulled up into a classic chignon—came and joined them, sliding her arm through Leo’s. She must be Angel. Her husband looked down at her, and his look was so full of hunger and love and tenderness that Erin felt like a voyeur. She’d never seen a man look at a woman like that...

After greeting Ajax with a kiss, the woman put out her hand to Erin. ‘I’m Angel...so nice that you could come.’

Erin shook it. She noticed Angel’s jewellery—a necklace of tiny diamonds strung on several interlocking delicate silver chains. She asked shyly, ‘Is that one of your designs?’

Angel touched it and looked pleased. ‘Yes, a new one I’m trying out. Do you like it?’

‘It’s lovely.’

Angel transferred her arm from her husband’s to Erin’s and led her away, saying, ‘Then you must come with me, because these two wouldn’t know how to appreciate art and design if it jumped up and—’

Leo protested. ‘Hey, I’ve improved a lot.’

Erin let herself be led away by her hostess, charmed by her easy warmth and friendliness. They went into a huge room—a ballroom with gilt mirrors set into panelled walls and chandeliers hanging from an ornately decorated ceiling. Candles flickered from tall tables, imbuing everything and everyone with a glow.

Angel handed her a glass of champagne and said, ‘A word of warning: be on your guard. I’m afraid that high society in Athens can be a little...cut-throat, and you’ve arrived on the scene with the biggest ace up your sleeve.’

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