The Helen Bianchin Collection

by Helen Bianchin

  ‘Had enough?’

  She gasped at the sound of that familiar male drawl, and went under as she’d inadvertently released her hold on the pool’s edge.

  Seconds later she rose to the surface, spluttering with indignation. ‘You frightened the life out of me! How did you know I was down here?’

  ‘Sensor security,’ Nicos informed. ‘A modem beeps beside my bed if lights are activated inside the house after the alarm is set.’

  Katrina trod water as she tilted her head to look at him. It seemed a long way up! ‘So you decided to investigate.’ In the reflected pool lighting he resembled a dark angel, and his navy towelling robe made her supremely conscious she wasn’t wearing so much as a stitch.

  There were towels stacked in a nearby cupboard, but she’d have to emerge from the pool and walk several steps to reach one.

  ‘Are you through expending excess energy?’

  ‘Yes.’ Please, God, he wouldn’t guess why she’d chosen a midnight exercise stint.

  He hunkered down and extended a hand. ‘I’ll help you out.’

  ‘One way to help would be to fetch me a towel,’ she declared dryly.

  ‘Skinny-dipping?’

  Suspicion darkened her eyes. ‘Just how long have you been standing there?’

  ‘A few minutes.’

  She scooped up a handful of water and aimed it at him. ‘You fiend!’

  Nicos rose to his feet, loosened the tie on his robe, discarded it, and dived into the pool to emerge close beside her.

  ‘Now we’re on equal ground.’

  Katrina lashed out a hand, and had it caught before it could connect. ‘Let me go.’

  His smile held a dangerous quirk that made her instantly wary.

  ‘Please,’ she added quietly, desperate to put some distance between them. He was too close, too physical, too much.

  ‘Is it me you don’t trust,’ Nicos mused thoughtfully. ‘Or yourself?’

  She swallowed the faint lump that had risen in her throat. ‘I won’t play mouse to your cat.’

  ‘Is that what you think I’m doing…playing?’

  Her gaze was steady. ‘I think you’re deriving a certain amount of amusement from the situation.’

  ‘And you’d like to escape?’

  ‘I’d like to get out of the pool,’ Katrina corrected.

  ‘Then, go, pedhi mou,’ he bade. ‘I won’t stop you.’

  She watched as he moved away from her and stroked a leisurely pace towards the end of the pool.

  With quick movements she levered her body onto the tiled surround, stood to her feet and quickly pulled on her discarded robe.

  She should have felt cold, for the water had been cool, but instead heat flooded her veins and her heartbeat quickened measurably as she extracted a towel and wound it into a turban over her wet hair.

  This wasn’t the first time she’d shared the pool, naked, with Nicos. Except then… No, she determined resolutely, don’t think about then.

  Without a backward glance she quickly negotiated the two flights of stairs to her bedroom, showered and shampooed her hair before engaging the hair-drier, then she slid into bed.

  A faint groan left her lips as she caught sight of the time. In too few hours her alarm would sound and she’d need to rise, change, pack an overnight bag, and leave for the airport.

  CHAPTER SIX

  MELBOURNE was a vast, cosmopolitan city with wide, tree-lined streets, electric trams, and changeable weather.

  It was two years since Katrina had visited, and little seemed to have changed as the cab took a familiar route from the airport.

  The hotel was a modern structure on the hill overlooking the city’s heart, and within minutes of checking in Katrina and Nicos rode the glass-faceted lift to a high floor.

  Their suite undoubtedly had a stunning view but, whilst there was a lounge area containing two deep-seated chairs, a coffee table, a desk with phone and fax machine, there was only one bedroom, not two, of which the focal point was a king-size bed.

  ‘If you think I’m sharing that with you, you can think again,’ Katrina declared as Nicos deposited their hand luggage.

  ‘We share a house,’ Nicos reminded her, slanting a hard glance.

  ‘But not a room,’ she argued. ‘Especially not a bed.’

  ‘Afraid of me, or yourself?’

  She opened her mouth, then closed it again. ‘That doesn’t even qualify an answer.’

  He unfolded two shirts and hung them in the wardrobe, took his toiletry bag through to the en suite.

  Katrina mirrored his actions, shaking out the slither of uncrushable silk georgette she intended wearing to dinner and transferring it onto a hanger.

  She was damned if she’d share the same bed with him. One of the comfortable chairs in the adjoining lounge area would suffice. Better, she could push the two together and arrange a makeshift bed with a pillow and extra blanket.

  The niggle of irritation joined a deeper, more significant disturbance in the region of her heart as the reality of sharing this suite began to manifest itself.

  Oh, get a grip, she admonished silently. They were here primarily for business purposes. They’d have lunch, attend the meeting, return to the hotel to shower and change, then enjoy dinner with Nicos’s cousin, Stavros Kidas, and his wife, Eleni.

  Lunch was pleasant, the food excellent in the hotel’s exclusive à la carte restaurant, and Katrina began to relax a little.

  They didn’t linger long over coffee, and took a cab out to view the two adjoining sites.

  Activity on two adjacent blocks merely confirmed Nicos’s independent investigation, determining without doubt the intentions a major developer had for the entire block.

  ‘They’re going to rase everything,’ Katrina opined, observing two old cottages that had stood for a century. They looked vacant, and soon to follow the fate of two equally old dwellings on their eastern boundary.

  Kevin had negotiated to acquire the remaining ten cottages, with plans to remodel them into trendy boutiques, thus preserving the ambience of the surrounding area. Except a large multinational corporation had outbid him, and had offered Kevin an exorbitant sum for the corner site owned by Macbride.

  ‘I liked Kevin’s vision better,’ she declared. ‘The low-rise glass monstrosity already approved won’t blend with its surroundings.’

  Nicos threw her a calculating glance. ‘You’ve decided not to sell?’

  Her chin tilted a little, a gesture he knew well.

  ‘They’ve already acquired most of the block, and if we retain the corner site it will depreciate in value.’ Her eyes hardened, their purpose inflexible. ‘We’ll sell, but at a price. They’ll pay, because it suits them.’ She’d done her calculations. ‘I figure it’s worth another two hundred and fifty thousand.’

  Nicos placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Kevin would be proud of you.’

  Katrina hoped so. She desperately needed to establish credence in her father’s business sector. As a woman, she knew it wouldn’t be easy. Nor could she afford to make mistakes.

  ‘Okay, let’s go inspect the Toorak site.’

  She turned back towards the cab, conscious that Nicos’s hand had slid down to capture her own in a loose hold. She knew she should wrench free, but she indulged herself a few seconds of his touch, its warmth, and briefly wondered at her sanity.

  Toorak was an exclusive suburb, an eclectic mix of old money and new, established elegant homes, tree-lined avenues, and a long bustling main street filled with trendy boutiques and equally trendy cafés.

  It didn’t take long to confirm extensive renovations would turn two adjoining properties into leased boutiques that would blend in beautifully with their surroundings.

  ‘Keep these, and renovate,’ Katrina stated, mentally transferring the profit from one site to this one. She liked the odds, knew it would work, and could hardly wait to set the plans in motion. She turned towards Nicos. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Perhaps
Siobhan might care to have a leasing interest with a Melbourne branch?’

  He was good, very good, at reading her mind.

  ‘The legal eagle we have a four o’clock appointment with is within walking distance from here?’

  It took an hour of phone calls and intense negotiations, but Katrina emerged from the lawyer’s office triumphant.

  ‘We did it,’ she said with satisfaction as she preceded Nicos onto the pavement.

  Her eyes sparkled, and her smile reflected her elation.

  ‘You did,’ Nicos drawled in musing correction. ‘I merely sat in and watched you play.’

  So he had, but his presence made it easy, a backup she genuinely appreciated. She’d learned well beneath Kevin’s guidance, but not all men viewed a woman as having equal status in the business arena, and she held little doubt that she’d have had to battle harder if she’d come to this meeting alone.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Being there.’

  ‘My pleasure.’

  Nicos hailed a cruising cab, and Katrina watched it swoop to a halt at the kerb. Seconds later the driver executed a U-turn and headed into the city to their hotel.

  It was after five when they entered their suite, and Katrina slipped off her shoes and loosened her jacket.

  ‘Do you want to take the shower first, or shall I?’

  ‘We could share,’ Nicos declared with musing indolence.

  ‘No, we couldn’t,’ she refuted firmly, aware of tiny prickles of alarm slithering over the surface of her skin. She had no difficulty recalling how he looked sans clothes: the splendid musculature of his masculine frame, the breadth of his shoulders, the taut buttocks and powerful thighs. As to the instrument of his manhood…

  Don’t go there, she bade silently. Her heart began hammering at the memory of how it had been between them. His skilled touch, her reaction. Dear Lord, he’d never failed to send her up in flames.

  Without a further word she gathered briefs and bra, caught up a complimentary bathrobe, and entered the en suite. For a few paralysing seconds she hesitated, then she quietly slid home the lock.

  Twenty minutes later she emerged, the bathrobe securely tied, with her make-up bag in hand.

  Nicos was seated on the edge of the bed, his attention taken by a documentary on television.

  ‘Finished?’

  Katrina wasn’t conscious of holding her breath until she released it in a rush several seconds later when the bathroom door closed behind him.

  By the time he re-entered the bedroom she was dressed, her make-up complete, and she was in the process of securing small diamond studs to her ears.

  He had no inhibition at discarding his robe, and her eyes flicked over his frame, naked except for black hipster briefs, and her stomach did a backwards flip as she caught the fluid ripple of muscle and sinew as he reached for his trousers and pulled them on. A clean shirt came next, and she dragged her gaze away as he deftly attended to fastening buttons before tucking in his shirt and sliding the zip fastening home.

  The thought of previously being held in those arms throughout the night was damning. But, oh, how she longed for the comfort they’d offered. The closeness, the caring…

  What was she doing, for heaven’s sake? She didn’t, couldn’t want anything from the man who had betrayed her.

  Yet there was some intrinsic quality existent, an inherent knowledge that defied logic.

  Sexual chemistry, she dismissed as she collected her evening purse.

  ‘Shall we leave?’

  ‘We’re meeting Stavros and Eleni in the lounge bar,’ Nicos indicated as they rode the lift down.

  Katrina hadn’t seen them since she’d left Nicos. Had he told them about their separation and reconciliation?

  ‘No,’ Nicos said quietly as they entered the lounge. ‘Although I don’t doubt they’ve heard.’

  Was she that transparent?

  There was no time to cogitate Nicos’s keen ability to divine her thoughts as two people rose from their seats and moved forward to greet them.

  ‘Lovely to see you again.’ Eleni inclined with a warm smile as they settled into comfortable chairs.

  Nicos beckoned the drinks waiter and ordered champagne.

  ‘This is a celebration?’ Eleni queried.

  ‘Of a kind,’ Nicos agreed, sparing Katrina a musing glance.

  ‘I was sorry to hear about your father,’ Stavros indicated. ‘A sad loss.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Stavros turned towards Nicos and began discussing a mutual business deal, while Eleni leaned towards Katrina.

  ‘I can’t begin to tell you how happy it makes me to see you both together again.’

  What did she say to that? ‘It’s been a while,’ Katrina agreed tentatively.

  ‘Georgia is nothing but a troublemaker,’ Eleni vowed quietly. ‘She has put Nicos through hell.’

  Really? On the few occasions Katrina had seen him during the months of their separation he’d looked perfectly fine.

  ‘But then, of course you would know that,’ Eleni confirmed.

  Katrina didn’t comment, although it was difficult to contain a smile as Eleni rolled her eyes with expressive distaste.

  ‘The woman is a witch.’ Eleni appeared to pull herself together and change the subject. ‘So, you have been engaged in business matters all day. Now, it’s time to celebrate.’ Eleni’s features softened. ‘A celebration for us too. I am pregnant.’

  ‘I’m so pleased for you.’ Katrina’s enthusiasm was genuine. A child was a beautiful gift, and Eleni had wanted babies from the day of her marriage.

  Minutes later they gravitated towards the restaurant. The food was excellent, the service good, and the ensuing hours passed so quickly it was difficult to believe it was almost ten when Eleni indicated they should leave.

  ‘My wife tires easily,’ Stavros explained apologetically as Nicos settled the bill.

  ‘One minute I’m fine,’ Eleni said with amusement. ‘The next I can hardly keep my eyes open.’

  They walked towards the exit through the hotel lobby and Stavros organised for the concierge to fetch their car.

  ‘We will see you again soon, yes?’ Eleni embraced Nicos, then turned towards Katrina. ‘Take care, Katrina.’

  Their car arrived, courtesy of a porter, and within a few brief minutes they were gone.

  ‘Would you like to have a drink in the lounge?’ Nicos queried as they re-entered the lobby.

  ‘Okay.’ Anything to delay taking the lift back up to their suite.

  Nicos ordered coffee, and Katrina sipped hers slowly as she indulged in the idle pleasure of people-watching. Couples, singles, young and old.

  ‘Penny for them?’

  She looked at Nicos, and was unable to gain much from his expression. ‘It’s been a successful day.’

  ‘Yes, it has.’

  ‘Can I take it as joint executor, you approve my decisions?’

  ‘I have no doubt as to your ability to make them,’ Nicos said evenly.

  ‘Thank you,’ she responded solemnly.

  ‘I believe you’ve been looking at property.’

  Katrina’s eyes sharpened. ‘I’m using my own personal funds, which gives you absolutely no reason to question me.’

  One eyebrow slanted. ‘I was making an observation.’

  ‘You want addresses? So you can check them out?’ She could feel the anger begin to rise. ‘Or has your source of information already given you a full report?’

  ‘You use Kevin’s lawyer for your own affairs,’ he reminded silkily.

  ‘He contravened client confidentiality privilege?’ she queried, scandalised.

  ‘Not at all, and only in respect of commenting on your business acumen,’ Nicos said smoothly.

  Katrina took in a deep breath and released it slowly. ‘I enjoy restoring property.’

  ‘The terrace houses are a good investment.’

  ‘You know about them—ho
w?’

  He held her gaze. ‘I’m negotiating to buy the remaining three in the same block. The agent rang me this morning and mentioned my wife’s expression of interest.’

  Another breach of confidentiality? Or had the agent simply assumed a husband and wife were aware of each other’s financial investments?

  ‘You intend to outbid me?’

  ‘No. I had in mind we could collaborate.’

  Her interest was piqued. ‘Harry would be delighted.’ She hastened to explain. ‘The interior decorator I use. He’s very good.’

  ‘Have him ring me.’

  A waiter hovered with a cafetière of steaming hot black coffee and offered to refill their cups, which they each declined.

  Katrina stifled a yawn, then rose to her feet. ‘I’m going up to bed.’ She was tired, and they were due to take the morning flight to Sydney.

  Nicos unfolded his length and walked with her to the lift, summoned it, and within minutes they entered their suite.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ‘WHAT do you think you’re doing?’

  ‘Organising a makeshift bed,’ Katrina informed him as she took down a blanket and snagged a spare pillow.

  ‘The bed is large,’ Nicos said with dangerous softness.

  Katrina met his gaze with open defiance. ‘I’m not sharing it with you.’

  ‘Is it me you don’t trust? Or yourself?’

  ‘You,’ she responded succinctly, and stepped through to the lounge.

  She pulled two chairs together, facing each other, and decided it should be quite comfortable if she adopted a foetal position.

  Seconds later she extracted a long cotton tee shirt from her bag and retreated to the en suite to change.

  Hmm, not so comfortable, she admitted to herself within minutes of settling herself down. She doused the lamp, and the suite was shrouded in darkness.

  Katrina reflected on the events of the day, ruminated the prospect of Siobhan’s enthusiasm at opening a Melbourne branch of her Double Bay boutique…and shifted position on the chairs.

  To no avail, for one hip soon became numb from the hard upholstering. Damn. Maybe if she lay on her back with her knees bent.