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‘Pass?’ Alexei lifted one eyebrow. ‘My mother is expecting you. My sister-in-law will be delighted to have you there to tone down what she refers to as excessive male testosterone.’ A faint smile curved the edges of his mouth. ‘Despite qualifying affection for her two brothers-in-law.’
‘I don’t think it’s appropriate.’
‘What are you afraid of, Natalya?’ His eyes held a glimmer of dark humour. ‘We might be issued an invitation to stay overnight?’
In the same bedroom? How much of her former relationship with Alexei was his family aware of?
Almost as if he knew the passage of her thoughts, he offered quietly, ‘Any fears you might have are completely groundless.’
Were they? So why this feeling of heightened awareness? She didn’t want or need a reminder of what they’d once shared. She’d dealt with the past, moved on, created a pleasant life for herself.
Who do you think you’re fooling?
‘I agree,’ she managed firmly. ‘For each of us.’
Alexei moved in close before she had time to draw breath and laid his mouth over her own in what began as an explorative kiss that soon changed and became something else.
She wanted to protest, and lifted both hands to create a distance between them, only to have them falter as the years melted away as she was transported back to a place and time where everything was right between them.
She had no recollection of the passage of time...only the assault on her senses as he brought her emotions alive in a manner that tripped her heart into rapid beat.
Heaven, and then some, as she began to respond, uncaring at that moment where it might lead...and if it did, would she gain the emotional strength to step away?
Then he released her, and the room came into focus...together with reality.
There was a need to breathe in a conscious effort to still each throbbing pulse in her body...acutely sensitive to the once familiar touch personally geared to send her totally undone. As it had in the past.
‘An experiment, Alexei?’ She even managed to inject a shred of disdain into her voice, caught the dark glitter in his gaze before it was masked, and she valiantly ignored the sudden lump that rose in her throat.
There was only the heavy thud of her heartbeat as she sought to bring wildly swirling emotions under control. The words I hate you remained unsaid...just.
Or was it herself she hated? For momentarily succumbing to the special magic they’d once shared. And its vivid reminder.
‘An answer.’
Which didn’t sit well with her at all. ‘You think?’
With forced calm she crossed to the mirror, extracted her lipstick, repaired the damage, then she caught up her satchel, included her laptop, recording device, added sundry necessities...and moved towards the front door of their hotel apartment, all too aware of his close proximity as they rode the elevator down to lobby level. Prepared, in essence, to become the quintessential PA as business meetings were due to unfold for the day ahead.
CALISTA DELANDROS RESIDED in an elite part of Georgetown.
A slender elegantly attired woman who welcomed her son with a warm hug, before extending a hand in greeting to the young woman who stood at his side.
‘Natalya. Welcome to my home.’ Her smile was genuine. ‘The family are waiting in the lounge. Let’s join them, shall we?’
Beautifully appointed, fine handcrafted furniture, framed family pictures on the walls. Warm, welcoming, Natalya perceived as Calista indicated a large comfortably furnished lounge where two men stood... Alexei’s brothers, without doubt, given the likeness in height, stature, and facial features. A young woman displaying the slight emerging bump of early pregnancy held the small hand of a young girl.
‘Cristos,’ Alexei greeted and clasped his brother in a brief hug before indicating, ‘Cristos’s wife, Xena, and their daughter, Gigi. My younger brother, Dimitri.’ He turned to include Natalya. ‘Natalya. My PA.’
Natalya smiled...a smile was good. Polite, professional.
It was Xena’s daughter who captured Natalya’s attention. Petite, dark curls framing beautiful features, offering a smile to melt hearts.
‘Gigi is a lovely name,’ Natalya said gently.
She was rewarded with a polite, ‘Thank you.’
For a few fleeting seconds it proved difficult to ignore the faint wistful ache in the region of her heart.
It was relatively easy to converse, to fit in, as the evening progressed. A skill she’d mastered since mid-teen years, together with an interest in current world affairs and a degree of genuine charm.
She accepted a small measure of wine, which she sipped as she observed family dynamics, their affection, and genuine interest in the current play in each of their lives.
Cristos headed the New York arm of the family business, while Dimitri travelled to interstate branches, and maintained an active social life...very social, Natalya surmised from the slightly wicked gleam in his eyes.
A family originating in Greece, as had Calista’s late husband. Evident in some of the classical pottery on display in a few of the glass cabinets.
A faint lilt, not exactly an accent, in Calista’s speech on occasion.
Xena, who was charming, and delighted the babe she carried was a boy.
The food was superb, and Natalya felt at ease...comfortable, she amended silently. Gigi began to tire, willingly retiring to bed for an overnight stay at her grandmother’s home.
They were a pleasant family, Natalya perceived, extending polite interest in Natalya’s role as Alexei’s PA, her familiarity with the field of electronics...although not why, how or where she’d gained that knowledge.
It was after eleven when the evening drew to a close.
‘You seem surprised,’ Alexei drawled as the car cleared the drive and headed towards the inner city.
Perhaps because she’d expected...what? Cool reserve?
Why, when Alexei hadn’t imagined it necessary to mention her existence in his life?
‘In what way?’ She could do cool, and tempered it with a touch of deliberate sweetness. ‘Because you chose not to out me as my father’s daughter?’
He shot her a quick glance before returning his attention to the traffic. ‘Would you have preferred me to do so?’
‘Perhaps I should СКАЧАТЬ