Page 87 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

Because you decided years ago to chop her from your life.

Because lingering on the past was no way to get on with the future. How much else had he deliberately forgotten?

‘No, not an artist. I don’t have enough talent. But I love art.’ Her voice lowered. ‘It can bring such solace, don’t you think?’

Lex met her earnest gaze and felt something shift between them. At last she was letting him in. When had she needed solace? Just when he left? He wanted to press for details but was wary of pushing too hard.

‘I totally agree.’

His appreciation of art had begun after meeting his father and being exposed to his private collection. Though they had differing tastes, Lex had enjoyed accompanying hisbabato exhibitions and auctions, over the years developing a particular interest in sculpture.

‘So if you don’t want to create your own art...?’

She abandoned her stirring, her expression guarded. ‘Eventually I want to work in an auction house or museum. Once I’d imagined being an art restorer but now I’ve set my sights on curation and maybe valuation.’

‘That’s very specialised.’

Her lips curved in a smile that looked more like a grimace. ‘Is that a polite way of saying my chances of getting work are slim? I already know that.’

‘It was just an observation, though I imagine it’s a small jobs pool. Lots of competition.’ It surely wasn’t the easiest of careers.

‘You think that should put me off?’

Portia’s expression was assessing.

‘Because it’s not easy?’ Lex shook his head. ‘I’m a believer in following your dreams.’

Already he was reviewing his contacts in the art world, wondering how he could help.

She sat back, nodding as if he’d given the right answer. ‘Is that why you started your business, because it was your dream?’

Once more she turned the subject away from herself. Lex itched to know more. But answering her frankly, helping her know him better, could only bring them closer.

‘I didn’t have a long-held dream to work in medical technology. I saw the opportunity and I was interested, very interested in the concept. But it was more that I wanted to shape my own destiny, not work for someone else.’

He’d had enough of taking orders in his youth, working long hours for little pay or thanks. He didn’t mind long hours. He’d never worked harder than in setting up his own business. But now he got to make the decisions.

‘Not even for your father.’

It wasn’t a question and normally he’d have left it there. But he was determined to bring Portia closer.

‘I considered it. The thought of contributing to an enterprise founded by my family and continued through the generations...’ For a guy who hadn’t even known he had a family, it was heady stuff.

Lex looked into pansy-brown eyes and decided to share something he never had before. It felt almost too intimate but the stakes were high and if opening up to her pushed through her spiky defences, it was worth it.

‘I care for my family deeply and that’s reciprocated.’ Their warmth had been remarkable. ‘I was too young when I left Greece to remember them, but my half-siblings are older and remembered me. They’d all been concerned when my mother took me and vanished. Apparently my sister had nightmares about it for years. My father spent years searching for us but in the wrong places.’

‘It must have been terrible for him, for all of them.’

Lex picked up an olive and munched on it. Once upon a time he’d wondered if his father were a brutal man who’d scared Lex’s mother into leaving. Now he believed some of her mental health issues had been exacerbated by pregnancy and the stress of adapting to a new culture and language in Greece.

He frowned. Was he asking too much of Portia, suggesting she make her life here with him? But it was the only good solution. Hehadto make her see that.

‘Lex?’

‘We were talking about the family business and why I didn’t join.’ Anything was preferable to discussing his mother. ‘I felt I had something to prove. To myself as much as anyone else. I didn’t want to be a freeloader.’

Portia’s snort startled him. ‘As if you’d ever be that. You’ve always worked hard, especially when your great-uncle grew frail. You were basically the breadwinner for three people.’

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