Page 34 of Reunited By the Greek's Baby

Isla planted her hands on the balustrade of the apartment’s landscaped roof terrace. But it wasn’t the spectacular view of evening descending over Athens that she saw, it was the light in Theo’s face as he talked about his parents.

She bit her lip. What must that feel like? She’d been drawn to him then, as strongly as in the days when she’d thought he was falling in love with her too.

She sighed. Was she still so needy? Just because she’d never had parents. She’d always dreamed of belonging, not out of a conscious act of charity but because she mattered. Because she was loved.

But you’re going to have a child.

A bubble of excitement rose. For the first time in her life she’d have someone to love, who’d love her back.

She clung to the railing. The thought rocked her back on her feet, making her feel physically weak for the first time since arriving in Greece.

Every day her stress levels and tiredness were easing. Even her nausea abated.

Maybe the baby likes being in Greece.

Isla scotched that thought. Her physical improvement was more likely because she was ending the morning sickness stage and she’d done nothing but rest. A housekeeper produced gourmet meals and wouldn’t let Isla lift a finger, not even make her bed. The shock on the woman’s face the first morning when she’d found Isla tidying the bed had been priceless. And had led to Theo stressing again the doctor’s orders that she rest.

Now she felt more energised. And more aware of Theo than ever. His smile made her stomach flip. The way he held back from pushing her about his proposal made her think maybe hedidcare, though not in the way she’d once hoped.

On those rare occasions when his hand brushed hers—for he usually kept his distance—Isla felt a tremor through her whole body.

Just thinking about it made her quiver.

‘You’re cold.’ The deep voice came from behind her and sure enough, there it was, that tiny, delicious shudder of recognition. ‘What are you doing here without a jacket?’

Isla drew a slow breath, schooling her features so as not to betray the needy woman she became in unguarded moments. His concern added to the illusion of tenderness.

‘It’s far warmer than London in early spring and the sun shines more.’

She was turning when heat enveloped her. The warmth of his silk-lined suit jacket, imbued with that indefinable seaside pine scent that made her nostrils flare and longing pierce her.

For a second Isla indulged herself, imagining it wasn’t his jacket enveloping her but loving arms.

Horror rose. How could she let her guard down like that?

She swung around, shoring up her defences, only to discover in his stern face an expression that made her soften. Isla revelled in it, her heart rising to her throat.

Until she understood what she was doing. Beginning to fall for this man all over again. She reached up to dislodge the jacket.

Adrenaline shot through Theo’s blood as he saw Isla’s face wearing that dreamy look, the one that had undone him so often.

His heart jolted with an emotion that had nothing to do with her pregnancy. But before he could identify it her expression blanked and she reached up to push his jacket off.

‘Don’t!’ His hand closed on hers. They stilled, gazes locked. Did Isla feel it? The thundering pulse? The coiling, weighted sensation in the groin? The yearning?

Abruptly he stepped out of reach. But his palm tingled from the contact and his breath trapped in his lungs, swelling against his ribs.

‘Leave it, Isla.’

She looked like she was going to object then thought better of it. Silence expanded as they stared at each other, a silence filled with his thudding pulse.

One touch had done that. One look.

Such power this woman had. It was unprecedented.

Because there’d been no one since her? Could it be that simple?

He couldn’t trust himself to maintain the façade of disinterested concern if he got too close. It had taken all his resolution to leave her behind each day and head for the office even though he was wrangling several crises as other companies thought twice about doing business with him and hungry competitors snapped at his heels. Any thought that being freed from prison would end the nightmare had died as Stavroulis’s continuing media hate campaign affected confidence in the company.

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