Page 30 of Reunited By the Greek's Baby

She looked perplexed. ‘Fishing?’

Theo nodded. ‘At a place on the coast not far from where he lived.’ He grinned. ‘We had no luck, but it was marvellous. I didn’t share my mother’s reservations and the experience was new and exciting. Constantin treated me like an adult, not a kid.’

He paused, savouring the memory. ‘The next time we fished, we had no better luck, but still it was fun. The third time, he persuaded my mother to let us take his boat out, as a treat for my tenth birthday. Later he confided he hadn’t dared take me on his big cruiser earlier because my mother would assume he was trying to impress with his wealth.’

‘He took you fishing to get close to your mother?’

Theo shrugged. ‘We built up a rapport on those car trips. But yes, he did. Before you label him as ruthless, using a child to get to its mother, you should know he and I remained friends for the rest of his life. Right up until he died we went fishing together and those times were some of the happiest of my life.’

Theo held Isla’s gaze. ‘I loved the man and he loved me. Until I met him fatherhood had negative connotations for me. The man who fathered me doesn’t deserve the name. Being a father is about being there through thick and thin, the tough times as well as the good. About creating a warm, caring home.’

He watched her chest rise then lower on a huge sigh as if she only just understood how determined he was. ‘You’re telling me that’s what you want to do?’

‘Absolutely. The only things I have in common with my biological father are the genes I carry. I’m not going to turn my back on you or our child. I intend to be a proper father. Hopefully a good one.’

A spreading warmth filled Theo’s chest.

Isla and he might not be in love but they were honest, decent people. They would care for their child and create a good home. The fierce physical attraction between them was a bonus even if at the moment, Isla seemed immune to him. That was something he could work on.

He looked forward to it.

‘You look very smug. You’re so sure I’ll agree?’ Isla pursed her lips. ‘What if ours was a dysfunctional marriage? That would be no good for anyone, especially the baby.’

Theo kept his voice calm and low, as he did when reassuring Toula on one of her bad days. ‘With goodwill on both sides there’s no reason it would be dysfunctional.’

‘You think you scared me with the tale of how tough it was for your mother as a single parent? That I should marry you so I don’t have to worry about making ends meet? Do you really think not having two parents who live together is the worst thing in the world?’

He watched the unconscious lift of Isla’s chin. But in her expression was something more than accusation. Something that caught at his gut.

Fear.

A second later it was gone and she looked so calm Theo wondered if he’d imagined it. But her words echoed in his head, making him wonder anew about her upbringing. She’d had neither parent. Who had cared for her?

As for broken families, his own experience hadn’t been bad, not like Toula’s. Suffice to say he’d seen the terrible effect emotional scars from childhood could have.

‘I’m not trying to scare you. I’m explaining how I feel. I believe our child will thrive in a united family. Far better than if we’re shuttling him or her between us. Children seem to do best in a stable environment, don’t you agree?’

Unwillingly it seemed to him, Isla nodded. ‘Stability is important but that doesn’t mean we have to marry and live together. Families take lots of forms.’ She paused and Theo would have given much to know what was going through her mind. ‘If we live separate lives it means we can both pursue our own...interests.’

Interests? Did she mean lovers?

A sour taste filled his mouth. The thought of Isla with another man was unpalatable. How civilised that sounded when at a deep, visceral level, something hard and primitive exploded at the idea. Theo had never been possessive but Isla was unlike any other lover.

She’s the mother of your child. Of course you don’t want her going off with anyone else.

Theo considered himself a civilised, reasonable man but, he discovered, he wouldn’t stand for another man acting as father to his child. Surely that was at the root of his dismay, not simply the idea of Isla with someone else.

‘What interests do you have that you can’t pursue if we marry?’ He kept his voice easy, concealing his harsh jangle of emotions. ‘If you’re talking about your career in archaeology, that would be easier if you married me.’

‘Because you can pull strings to get me work?’ Her tone was cool but her eyes shone brightly. ‘I don’t like nepotism.’

‘Nor do I. I meant that if we were married, you’d have financial support to allow you to continue your studies and a family to help care for our child. You wouldn’t have to manage on your own.’

For several seconds Isla said nothing and he wondered if he’d finally convinced her, until she said in a low voice, ‘But at what personal cost?’

Theo stiffened. Was the prospect of marrying him so appalling? Despite his determination to woo her carefully, his patience frayed. Until logic overcame ego.

Why would Isla want you after the hurt you caused?

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