Название: Blackmailed Into The Greek Tycoon's Bed
Автор: Carol Marinelli
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9781408912683
isbn:
‘Excuse me, sir…’ The hotel manager brought welcome diversion for Karin, but not Xante. ‘Another player has just arrived.’
‘Thank you.’ Xante had to go. It was right that he go, but he also wanted to return. It would be rude to take the jewel from her now and lock it up; she was staring at it so intently, enjoying its beauty, just as Xante was enjoying hers. She had the most exquisite eyes, the only flash of colour in her pale face, a rich turquoise-green, a colour that reminded Xante of the Aegean Sea of home… Dangerous seas, Xante simultaneously reminded himself and discounted. She was a lady; Xante was sure of it. In an instant he’d made up his mind. ‘Enjoy…’ He gave her another devastating smile. ‘I shall be back in just a moment.’
CHAPTER TWO
HE’D left her with it.
As Xante walked off, Karin stood reeling at the turn of events. She’d walked in here with no notion or plan, and the owner had just handed the rose to her and left her with it.
It was a sign surely that it was hers to do with as she wished.
Karin had never stolen a thing in her life. Not once had such a thing entered her head. But it entered it now. She had come here on impulse, to plead with the buyer just to see it… She truly didn’t know. She had no money to buy it back; her brother Matthew had spent it before Karin had even realised the rose was missing.
And now here it was, in her hands, and this man had no idea who she was…
Her heart was pounding, her head whirring with indecision.
It belonged in her family, Karin frantically reasoned. It had been her grandfather’s most treasured possession, and this Greek billionaire with his bags of money had just bid for it! Had just assumed his money gave him the right to own it, to display it… Well, it wasn’t his!
There was a fire-escape door to her right, but her coat was at Reception.
It was a coat, for heaven’s sake… Her mind was racing, sweat beading on her forehead and running between her breasts, as slowly she wandered nearer the door, sure everyone knew what she was contemplating. Glancing around the room, she saw the world appeared to be carrying right on as normal—men laughing, couples chatting, the chinking sound of china as afternoon tea was taken. And, with one last, furtive glance to the lobby, impulse took over for the second time that day.
Pushing open the door, Karin stepped out. The air felt cold and delicious on her burning cheeks, and she ran. Guilt and shame chased her as she dodged people, colliding with them at times, dirty water splashing her stockinged legs; her lungs felt as though they were bursting. Then stars that had been exploding in front of her eyes suddenly went black as her forward movement was rapidly halted by a huge wedge of flesh. Arms wrapped around her from behind as she was expertly tackled and brought down to the floor.
The brute of a man who had felled her, yet who had also partly cushioned her landing, spoke. ‘Going somewhere in a hurry?’
Karin recognised him as the England rugby captain, and prayed, just prayed, that he wouldn’t recognise her at that moment. She lay in stunned silence, her stockings laddered, her knee grazed and her face muddied as, less than gracefully, he hauled her up to embark on her walk of shame. Karin felt sure that her grandfather must be turning in his grave, as the granddaughter he had so proudly adored was frogmarched back to the hotel by one of his beloved England team.
It was the most humiliating walk of her life, but because it was Xante Rossi’s hotel at least the incident was dealt with discreetly—even a common thief was treated with dignity at Xante’s establishment.
She was spared the shame of being dealt with in the lobby; instead she and the captain were guided to the manager’s office. She could hear the distant sound of police sirens as the door closed; the manager stared at her grimly, the captain eyeing her with utter distaste.
‘It’s not how it looks,’ Karin croaked, still clutching the rose, holding it in her hands, the evidence irrefutable.
‘I’d say it’s exactly how it looks,’ came the captain’s surly response.
‘Let’s just wait for the police,’ the manager said politely.
For Xante, most of the event had gone unnoticed. Chatting to his staff and guests, he had been mildly aware of some activity in the lounge, but Albert’s well-oiled crisis machine meant that even he hadn’t noticed the drama. He had looked over, frowning, when he realised that she wasn’t there. His mind was not on the jewel, but the woman; he was more than ready to commence from where he had left off.
And then Albert discreetly told him what had just occurred.
He was incensed.
Not just about the trinket, not just with her, but with himself.
He read women. Apart from making an obscene amount of money, that was what he did best. He had grown up on it, thrived on it, and after his bitter breakup with Athena he had honed his skill and perfected it, determined he would never be beguiled again. Yet Karin Wallis just had.
He would press charges! Xante’s face was as black as thunder as he walked unannounced into the manager’s office. He would have her prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Let’s see how ladylike she looks being loaded into the back of a police car, Xante thought as he slammed into the office.
And then he saw her face.
Drained of colour, streaked with mud, her green eyes pleaded with him. Her legs nervously bobbed up and down as she sat, and he took in her grazed and bloodied knee. It was then that Xante remembered where he knew her name from.
Wallis.
The rose he had purchased had been awarded to the late, great Henry Wallis—and now, here before him, was the greedy seller. Even Xante had been taken aback by the high reserve-price that had been placed on the rose, but his appetite had been whetted, and he had paid the inordinate sum. Now it seemed the little vixen had decided she wanted it back.
She made him sick!
‘I saw her leaving with it,’ the captain explained. ‘I chased her.’
‘What were you thinking, Karin?’ He saw the flash of question in her eyes as to how he knew her name. Xante’s mind was working overtime. Henry Wallis was a legend, a legend who deserved protection. His intention had been to press charges, but with the England rugby team staying at his hotel he could do without this type of publicity. No. He stared into Karin’s curious eyes and decided he would deal with her himself.
‘I’m sorry.’ Her teeth were chattering so violently she could barely get the sentence out. ‘Please, I’ll do anything…’
Which was something to work with, at least!
‘My apologies, officer.’ He flashed his charming smile to the police officer present. ‘We appear to have wasted your time. There’s been a misunderstanding.’
‘She СКАЧАТЬ