The Greek's Convenient Wife. Melanie Milburne

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СКАЧАТЬ one of his own. ‘I intend to be very happy,’ he said. ‘Very happy indeed.’

      Maddison waited until the waiter was out of earshot before she hissed across the table at him. ‘Are you crazy? That man thinks you’re marrying a prostitute! It will be all over the papers tomorrow.’

      He leaned back in his chair and studied her in a leisurely manner. ‘Isn’t that what you intended?’

      ‘No,’ she snapped. ‘I wanted to teach you a lesson, that’s all.’

      ‘You’d do well to acknowledge before we go any further with our agreement that I don’t take very kindly to being taught lessons. I left the school room a long time ago.’

      ‘You still have a lot to learn,’ she bit out.

      ‘Please enlighten me on the things I’ve neglected to take on board.’

      She hurled him a fiery look as she tore her bread into fragments. ‘For a start, I don’t like being told what to do as if I have no will of my own.’

      ‘Regrettable as that is, I’m the one who has just lost an expensive yacht. Your determination to keep your brother’s whereabouts a secret has backfired on you big time. You have only to reveal his details and I will call off the wedding immediately.’

      Maddison stared at the crumbs of bread on her plate, her stomach caving in at the thought of revealing Kyle’s current address. Could she do it? Could she save her own skin by letting her brother face the music Demetrius Papasakis was intent on personally conducting?

      She lifted her gaze to his, defiance in every feature of her expressive face. ‘I will never reveal my brother’s whereabouts, even if you try and force it out of me.’

      He reached for his glass, his eyes as they speared hers dark and dangerous. ‘Don’t tempt me, Maddison.’

      She lowered her gaze to the starched white tablecloth in front of her, her heart thumping erratically in her chest at his implied threat.

      The waiter reappeared at their table with a bottle of French champagne, expertly pouring it into the two glasses before leaving them once more to continue their perusal of the extensive menu.

      Demetrius picked up his champagne flute and held it up in a toast. ‘Here’s to us.’ His near black eyes glinted with some indefinable quality that made her stomach tighten another sharp little notch.

      She picked up her own glass and chinked it against his. ‘Here’s to my big fat Greek wedding,’ she quipped before drinking deeply.

      A flicker of amusement passed over his face as he watched her silently. He hadn’t thought he would enjoy her company as much as he had; she had a sharp wit and her flashing sapphire-blue eyes were bright with intelligence. He wondered how far she would go before she cracked under the pressure of keeping her brother’s whereabouts secret. He hadn’t really thought she’d agree to his proposal; in fact he still expected her to pull the plug at the last minute. It amused him to see her squirm, torn between her loyalty towards Kyle and her own freedom, but business was business and he could hardly overlook one point five million dollars.

      And, besides, he had to do something about the fuss the press was making. The constant intrusion into his personal affairs was becoming increasingly tiresome; hardly a day passed without his picture appearing somewhere with the usual scathing paragraph accompanying it. It was starting to affect his business reputation, which was a situation he could no longer tolerate. A temporary marriage was a stroke of genius, he congratulated himself as he took a contemplative sip of his champagne; if nothing else it would be entertaining watching Maddison Jones try to out manoeuvre him at every turn, very entertaining indeed.

      Maddison felt restless under the silent scrutiny to which she was being subjected. It was bad enough having every other diner glancing pointedly her way without having to suffer the sardonic gleam in Demetrius’s eyes as well.

      The waiter came over to take their order and close on his heels was a photographer. Maddison’s eyes widened in alarm as Demetrius gave the photographer the go-ahead, her fury towards him knowing no bounds as he sat back in his chair with a self-satisfied smile.

      The camera flashed just as she opened her mouth to protest, which made her even more annoyed. She waited until the man had moved to the next table before she spoke.

      ‘I suppose you think that was funny?’ Her eyes flashed with venomous wrath.

      ‘What’s wrong? Don’t you like having your picture taken?’ He took another leisurely sip of his champagne.

      ‘Not under these sorts of circumstances,’ she hissed. ‘Besides, I had my mouth open; I’ll look like an idiot.’

      The corner of his mouth lifted in amusement. ‘Then perhaps you should learn to keep your very pretty mouth shut,’ he advised.

      She took another piece of bread and stuffed it in her mouth to stop herself from giving him the dressing down she felt bubbling up in her throat.

      ‘Come now, Maddison,’ he chided her gently when she’d gnawed her way through another two pieces. ‘Don’t pout; you’re supposed to be madly in love with me, remember? This is our first official date; try to look as if you’re enjoying it.’

      She pushed the rest of the bread away and glared at him. ‘How am I supposed to enjoy an evening in your company? You’re the most obnoxious man I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.’

      ‘You never know, I might greatly improve on acquaintance.’

      ‘I doubt it.’

      ‘Never say never; it’s like tempting fate.’

      She gave him a caustic look from beneath her lashes. ‘You’d have to have a complete personality bypass for me to even consider changing my opinion of you.’

      He laughed as he picked up his champagne glass once more, twirling the stem with his long fingers as he watched her struggle to hold on to her temper.

      ‘Let’s wait and see, shall we?’ He raised his glass to her and, tipping back his head, tossed the contents down his throat.

      Maddison watched the up and down movement of his neck as he swallowed the liquid, her pulse suddenly feeling heavy in her veins.

      She tore her eyes away and stared at the food the waiter was placing before her, wondering if she’d be able to get a single mouthful past the tight restriction in her throat. She felt as if she’d just stepped into water too deep and dangerous for her, the prospect of escape disappearing like a lifeline carried out of reach with the tide.

      She felt sure Demetrius was laughing at her behind the cool façade of his too handsome face. She could see it in his eyes as they rested on her, and the way his mouth lifted up at one corner as his gaze travelled over her lazily, making her skin tighten all over with acute awareness. She didn’t want to react to him at all, but somehow whenever that brown-black gaze meshed with hers she felt as if her temperature were increasing, her heart-rate elevating and her legs weakening uncontrollably.

      She picked up her fork and tasted the delicious seafood pasta dish, sneaking a covert glance his way.

      ‘Would you like to taste some of mine?’ He offered her a small morsel on the tip of СКАЧАТЬ