The Greek Bachelors Collection. Rebecca Winters

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       CHAPTER ELEVEN

      AS SOMEONE WHOSE life had changed overnight before, Jaya had learned to prefer a gradual, thoughtful approach to making shifts in her world. After her abrupt departure from India, she’d had months of notice before her move to Bali. Once settled, she’d dug in, comfortable in her role there. France had been a culture shock, but she’d had family to cushion the blow.

      Nothing could have prepared her, probably not even time, for being pulled into the Makricostas’ world. First she’d had to quit her job, which had been a tough decision even though Adara emailed with three job offers “to consider when the time is right.” Then there was the travel, flitting up to London for two nights because Theo had a meeting and a thing.

      “What kind of thing?” she’d asked when he’d requested she accompany him.

      “A presentation. We paid to refurbish a historical building. One of the royals will be there so I’ve been elected to represent.”

      One of the royals. Like this was normal.

      Which meant an upgrade to her wardrobe. No longer did she own a few nice outfits. Every time she turned around, Theo was bringing in a designer or a stylist or squiring her into a shop where the prêt-à-porters didn’t even have price tags.

      “I thought women enjoyed shopping,” he said at one point.

      “But the cost! I’m not even working.”

      He quirked a brow at her. “Do you have any idea how much money I make? How well I invest it? I never spend any.”

      Except on his fleet of airplanes and helicopters. He did some flitting of his own in those, disappearing to South America and Japan for a couple of days without her. She couldn’t complain. She put off her separation from Bina as long as she could and needed the time to pack up her life, plan a wedding and look for a suitable home in New York.

      The city was incredible. They spent a week there and she looked forward to living there permanently. However, the bit where Theo ensconced her in the family suite at the Makricosta Grand and visited his apartment without her bothered her immensely. It was too small for them, even in the interim, she agreed. She also understood he was a private man who liked his own space. Plus, as he pointed out oh-so-reasonably, here at the hotel she had help on tap—boy, did she have help. She used to be the one who jumped when a Makricosta rang. It was bizarre to be on the receiving end of that level of service from people a lot further up the corporate food chain than she’d ever been.

      Then, just when her insecurities began to get the best of her and she convinced herself he’d be the most hands-off, distant husband, that this whole thing was a terrible mistake, he reassured her. After practically ignoring her all day in front of the real estate agent, he drew her into his arms as they closed the door of the hotel suite and kissed her breathless, saying when they came up for air, “I’ve been wanting to do that all day. You look amazing.” She happened to be wearing one of her own modest navy skirts with a canary lace top over a lemon-colored cami. Nothing flashy or fantastic.

      Then, when they’d decided on a penthouse apartment a few blocks from Adara and Gideon’s, with a view of the park and a rooftop patio and pool, she’d watched him close the deal with an emotionless handshake. When the agent left them alone, an ominous silence descended, worrying her.

      She rocked Zephyr on her hip. “Are you sure? You don’t look pleased.”

      “You said you loved it.” He snapped his head around.

      “I do! You’re the one who went into lockdown when I said I thought this was the one and could we have one more look.”

      He didn’t like it when she called him on his standoffishness. She was learning his tells and noted the tick in his brow and the muscle that clenched in his jaw. But being blunt was the only way to get him to open up enough for her to understand him and not feel closed out.

      “I didn’t mean to.” He kept one hand fisted in his pocket, his mouth tense and outlined in white.

      The look he flashed at her was both impatient with himself and...not distrustful, but like he wasn’t sure of her. With a cross noise, he shrugged. He kept a proud bearing, but it was like he was headed to the gallows, he was so stiff and withdrawn as he pulled his hand from his pocket.

      “You know I’m the furthest thing from a romantic,” he said gruffly. “But I thought if we decided this would be home, it would be a good time to give you this, as a sort of... Hell, I don’t know.” He showed her the sparkle he held. “An official start?”

      She gasped. “You picked up the ring?” They’d chosen the stones two weeks ago, but she hadn’t expected to see the finished setting until right before the wedding.

      “I figured if you said yes to the apartment, you were probably going through with the wedding so...”

      He was nervous!

      Too awed to laugh, she rushed forward to kiss him. Zephyr got in the way, of course, little fists grabbing at Theo and catching a chest hair so he winced and pulled away long enough to take him. Then he pulled her back into him like a pirate grabbing a wench, angling her over his arm as he kissed her like he really meant it. Like he wanted to devour her because he desired her so much.

      Jaya straightened her ring on her finger now, the memory of their kiss embedded into the piece as irrevocably as the oval cut sapphire. The goldsmith had created a setting that looked as if he’d cut a blond band open then twisted it, setting the rare purple stone between the scrolled ends. He’d finished the tails with ever shrinking pink diamonds. The result a piece with such femininity, it made the extravagance subtle and elegant.

      Much like the stunning mini-villa behind her, she thought ruefully, lifting her gaze to the СКАЧАТЬ