Smokescreen Marriage

She drank some more of the unpleasant cocktail, then risked a swift look round, wondering resignedly if the management had already been summoned.

It was a corner table, set slightly apart from the others, and occupied by three men.

And the man watching her sat in the middle. In his early thirties, he was clearly younger than the other two, and, equally obviously, he was the one in control.

Even that first lightning assessment told her that he was good-looking, although not classically handsome. The dark face was strong, the lines of nose and jaw arrogantly marked. But more than that he exuded power, a charismatic force that could reach across a crowded room and touch its object like the caress of a hand.

She knew she should look away, but it was already too late. For an electrifying moment their eyes met, and locked, and Kate felt her breathing quicken and her throat tighten in an odd excitement.

But there was no warmth in his gaze. His expression was cool and watchful, his brows drawn together in a slight frown, as if something had displeased him.

And no prizes for guessing what that was, Kate thought, as she turned back to her companions, her face hot with embarrassed colour.

‘Who’s that?’ Lisa had noticed the direction of her gaze, and was staring herself with open interest. ‘Do you know him?’ She giggled. ‘Have you been holding out on me, Katie?’

‘Not in the least,’ Kate said crisply. ‘Nor do I want to know him. I think he feels we’re lowering the tone of the establishment.’

The fact that she thought exactly the same herself seemed paradoxically to increase her resentment.

‘But I know him.’ Stavros leaned forward, eyes gleaming. ‘That is Michalis Theodakis. His father owns the whole Regina chain of hotels, and a great deal more, but the son now runs the company.’

Kate’s brows lifted. ‘Really?’ she asked sceptically. ‘What’s he doing here?’

‘He visits all the hotels,’ Stavros explained. ‘Checking them at random.’

‘So who are the guys with him?’ Lisa questioned.

‘Who knows?’ His minders probably.’ His tone was envious. ‘He is already a multi-millionaire in his own right, but he will be even richer when he gets control of all the Theodakis holdings. If he ever does,’ he added, grinning. ‘They say he and his father have quarrelled and Aristotle Theodakis would do anything to prevent him stepping into his shoes.’

He sent Kate a sly glance. ‘Do you want him, kougla mou? Many women do, and not just for his money. He is quite a stud. You would have to stand in a long line, I think.’

‘Don’t be absurd,’ Kate said coldly, aware that her flush had deepened. ‘And do keep your voice down. I think he’s planning to have us thrown out.’

That icy considering look had thrown her badly. He had seen her companions and judged her accordingly, so naturally she was honour bound to prove to him that his low opinion of her was entirely justified.

Teeth gritted, she reached for her drink, only to find the whole nasty concoction cascading down the front of her dress as her arm was jogged by a passing waiter.

She gasped and jumped up, shaking her skirt. Stavros and Dimitris were on their feet too, shouting angrily and gesticulating at the waiter, who was apologising abjectly and proffering a clean napkin.

‘I’d better go to the powder room,’ Kate interrupted, embarrassed at the attention the accident was attracting.

She turned, and cannoned into a tall figure standing behind her. As his hands grasped her arms to steady her, she realised it was Michael Theodakis.

‘Allow me to make amends for the clumsiness of my staff, thespinis.’ He spoke excellent English, she thought, with just a trace of an accent which, allied to his low-pitched drawl, some women would undoubtedly find sexy. ‘If you will come with me, my housekeeper will attend to your dress.’

‘There’s really no need.’ She freed herself, and took a small step backwards, her face warming. Because, close to, he was formidably attractive—over six feet in height, broad shouldered and lean-hipped. And prudence suggested she should keep her distance.

‘But I think there is.’ Somehow, he had repossessed her hand, and was leading her between the tables towards the exit.

‘Will you let go of me, please?’ Kate tried to tug her fingers from his grasp. ‘I can look after myself.’

‘You are deluding yourself, thespinis, especially when you keep company like that,’ he added with a touch of grimness.

She lifted her chin. ‘It’s not for you, kyrie, to criticise my friends.’

‘They are old and dear acquaintances perhaps?’ The sardonic note in his voice was not lost on her.

She bit her lip. ‘Not—exactly.’

‘I thought not.’ He walked her across the hotel foyer to the row of lifts and pressed a button.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked in alarm, as the lift doors opened.

‘To my suite.’ He steered her inexorably inside. ‘My housekeeper will join us there.’

‘Take me back to the ground floor, please.’ Kate was shaking suddenly. ‘I want to go home—now.’

‘It will be safer for you to remain at the hotel tonight.’ He paused. ‘I have a confession to make to you, thespinis. I sent Takis to spill your drink deliberately.’

‘You must be crazy.’ Kate felt dizzy suddenly. ‘You can’t hope to get away with this—even if you do own the place.’

‘Ah,’ he said softly. ‘So you know who I am.’

‘Your fame goes before you. But I’m not interested in being added to your list of conquests.’

He laughed. ‘You flatter yourself, my red-headed vixen. My motives, for once, are purely altruistic.’

The lift doors opened, and Kate found herself being marched along a wide corridor towards a pair of double doors at the end.

‘No.’ There was real panic in her voice. ‘I want to go home.’

‘So you shall,’ he said. ‘In the morning when I am sure you have suffered no lasting ill effects.’

‘Ill effects?’ Kate echoed, as another wave of dizziness assailed her. ‘What are you talking about.’

He said flatly, ‘Your drink was spiked, thespinis. I saw your companion do it.’

‘Spiked,’ Kate repeated. ‘You mean—drugged? But—why?’

He shrugged. ‘To make you more amenable, perhaps.’ He opened the door, and guided her into the room beyond. ‘There is something called the date-rape drug. You may have heard of it.’

She said numbly, ‘Heard of it—yes. But you must be mistaken. It can’t be true…’

His mouth twisted. ‘If the man you were with had asked you to sleep with him tonight, would you have agreed?’

She gasped. ‘God—no. He’s repulsive.’

‘But might not take rejection well, all the same,’ he said drily. ‘Which is why you must not return to your apartment tonight.’