Page 29 of The Forgotten Wife

One brow shot up. “Am I a distraction?”

“Not by half! You’re sitting there like some overprotective bear, and whatever was bothering you earlier has obviously still got you fired up…” When he didn’t take up the veiled invitation to share, she sighed. “Fine, let’s both choose the strong-and-silent route.”

“We could be very English and banal and talk about the weather? Or art?”

“It’s half past two in the morning. I don’t have much need for the weather. Or art for that matter.” She sank back into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. “But I do need my sleep, I guess. You don’t have to, but if you want to stay, it’s up to you.

Goodnight.”

“Kalinihta, pethi mou,” he murmured.

The endearment brought sharp tears to her eyes. Lowering her lids so he wouldn’t see, she turned away from him and concentrated on regulating her breathing. Hopefully, she could fool him into thinking she’d gone back to sleep so he’d leave. Because there was no way she could sleep with him there. No way.

Sunlight sneaking around the cracks in her curtain woke her

just after nine the next morning. Her gaze flew to the chair by her bedside.

It was empty.

“God,I haven’t slipped into a time warp, have I? Only I could’ve sworn Monday was a few days off yet.”

The sound of Liz’s voice soothed Belle’s ruffled nerves, although she knew the feeling wouldn’t last, not once her best friend realized where she was calling from.

“Nope, you haven’t fallen into a vortex. And…I’m not in Nawaka. Not anymore.”

“You’re back home? Excellent. Wine and pizza are on me

Sunday night. Seven okay with you?—?”

“I’m not back home, Liz. I’m in Greece. On Althea.”

The silence that met her declaration made her heart clench.

“You’re back with Nick? After what he did to you?” Her perplexed tone came through loud and clear.

“I’m not back with him. It’s not like that.”

“Tell me what it’s like.Dammit, Belle, don’t forget I watched you turn yourself inside out for him in six short months, and itstillwasn’t enough. He made you miserable, and now you tell me you’re back there?—”

“I was kidnapped, Liz. Nick came to rescue me.” She rushed the words, unwilling to be reminded just how much she’d diminished herself for the sake of her marriage.

“Wait. You werewhat?”

Pulling in a sustained breath, Belle quickly rehashed her ordeal.

“AndNickcame to get you?”

“Nick and Alex and a bunch of guys I wouldn’t want to meet in an alley on a dark night. Or the middle of the day, for that matter.”

“Alex, huh? I guess he’s good for something after all…” Her voice drifted off for a second, then she cleared her throat briskly. “I still don’t get why you’rethereand not here.”

She gripped the phone tighter. “I…I agreed to stay here for a while…to recover.”

“You agreed?” Suspicion bristled in her tone, rousing a touch of irritation in Belle.

“Yes, it wasmydecision. I’d rather not face anyone right now, at least not the damned paparazzi. Right or wrong, I’m staying here until I’m ready to come home, okay?”

“I guess.” Her voice softened a touch. “Sweetie, don’t get me wrong, I only want what’s best for you. For your own sake, I hope you know what you’re doing.”

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