Modern Romance October 2019 Books 5-8. Annie West

Чтение книги онлайн.

       CHAPTER NINE

      HANNAH STARED AT the black velvet box with a sense of disbelief. The jeweller was watching her, a smile on his face, and Hannah imagined how this must look from the outside. A tailor had arrived on the island earlier that day, armed with suitcases of couture, beautiful dresses, jeans, shirts, bathers, lingerie—everything the wife of Leonidas Stathakis might be expected to wear.

      The dressmaker had stayed for hours, taking Hannah’s measurements, and photographs of her for ‘colour matching’—whatever that was—and to discuss wedding dress options, before disappearing again. All the while some servant or other had taken the suitcases and carefully unpacked them into the room Hannah was using.

      ‘Her room,’ though she had no idea when she’d ever think of it like that.

      There had also been a doctor, who’d come to check her over and implement a new vitamin regimen, and promised fortnightly check-ups. Then there’d been a more detailed conference with Mrs Chrisohoidis regarding Hannah’s favourite foods, flowers and any other thoughts she might have as regards the running of the house.

      Hannah had changed into one of the simple white shift dresses—for comfort on a hot day—and pulled her red hair into a bun on top of her head. As she looked at the dozen engagement rings the jeweller presented, all set against signature turquoise velvet, she knew it must appear to be some kind of Cinderella fairy tale. Leonidas looked on, not exactly playing the part of Prince Charming, though what he lacked in warmth he more than made up for in physical appeal.

      He was casually dressed, in shorts and a white shirt, but that did nothing to diminish his charisma and the sense of raw power that emanated from his pores. It burst into the room, making it almost impossible for Hannah to keep her mind focussed on this task.

      ‘Just something simple,’ she said with a shake of her head, thinking that each and every ring was way too sparkly and way, way too big. ‘Maybe this one?’ She chose the smallest in the box.

      ‘Ah!’ The jeweller nodded. ‘It is very beautiful.’ He lifted it out, holding it towards Hannah. ‘Try it on.’

      This was all wrong! She didn’t want to choose her own engagement ring, and no matter how many pretty, sparkly, enormous diamonds twinkled at her, it didn’t feel right. She closed her eyes for a moment and imagined Leonidas going down on one knee, proposing as though this were a real wedding, and a bolt of panic surged inside her. But this wasn’t a fairy tale and he wasn’t Prince Charming, just as he’d said.

       We are a one-night stand we can’t escape.

      Her heart began to churn. With a sense of unease, as though she were about to commit massive tax fraud, she slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. She stared down at it and, ridiculously, tears filled her eyes. Now! Here! After becoming so adept at blocking them, she felt their salty promise and quickly sought to disguise them in what should have been a happy moment.

      ‘It’s beautiful.’

      Leonidas came to stand beside her, his presence a force, a magnetic energy, pulling her eyes upwards.

      ‘Don’t you think?’ she asked him.

      His eyes met hers and they were back on the beach, just the two of them, his body inside hers, his strength on top of her.

      ‘It is.’ He nodded, hesitation in his tone. ‘But you do not have to decide now.’

      ‘Of course not,’ the jeweller agreed. ‘I can leave the tray, if you would like to try each for a time?’

      Hannah’s head spun. Each ring had to feature a diamond of at least ten carats. What must the whole tray be worth?

      She didn’t want to spend a week prevaricating over which enormous diamond she’d drag around. She just wanted the jeweller to go. She wanted Leonidas to go. Her head was spinning; it was all too much.

       We are a one-night stand we can’t escape.

      He was right, and yet she rejected that description, she recoiled from it with everything she was.

      ‘That’s fine.’ She shook her head, the beginnings of a throb in her temples. ‘This one will be fine.’

      She wanted to be alone and perhaps it showed in her voice, because Leonidas was nodding his slow agreement. ‘Very well. Thank you for coming, Mr Carter.’

      The jeweller left and Hannah watched the helicopter lift off from the cool of the sitting room, taking him from the island and to the mainland of Greece, the sun setting in the background, casting the beautiful machinery in a golden glow.

      The day had lived up to the morning’s promise. Heat had sizzled and Hannah, having spent so much time preparing for what lay ahead, wanted to simply relax. She’d spied a pool in her explorations the day before and she thought of it longingly now.

      ‘Greg Hassan is scheduled to sit with you today,’ СКАЧАТЬ