The Mediterranean Tycoon

by Margaret Mayo

He saw the way she gritted her teeth, the way her fingers curled into her palms. But to give her credit her voice was quietly calm as she spoke. ‘I’d like to be alone.’

  When Andreas had gone Peta sank back into the chair and closed her eyes. What had she done? Allowing him to kiss her, not fighting back the instant he touched her, must have given him all sorts of wrong ideas. One moment they’d been talking about kidnappers, the next they’d been in a passionate clinch. How had that happened?

  Hopefully, though, he was now convinced that she held him totally responsible, that she was as angry as hell and would walk out on the job if he dared try it again. But would she? Hadn’t that kiss aroused every one of her senses? Didn’t she want more?

  The answer was painfully yes. And when Peta went to bed later that evening she was still burning from his touch. Her body felt as aroused now as it had when his lips met hers.

  She would have liked to think that it was because she was hungry for a man, not this particular man, but any man. Her mind knew, though, that this wasn’t true. She’d met plenty of men since Ben was born, and not a single one had a lit a spark inside her.

  So what did Andreas Papadakis have that these other men hadn’t? Was it because he was Greek? Because he was darkly handsome? Because he was wealthy? Because of the authority that sat so well on his shoulders? She didn’t think it was any of these. It was an indefinable something that would continue to puzzle her for the rest of her life.

  Surprisingly sleep claimed her quickly, and this time, so that she wouldn’t be late getting up, she set her alarm. The following morning she got Ben and Nikos ready and they ran downstairs to the warm kitchen, where Bess Middleton had breakfast ready. ‘Mr Papadakis has already left,’ she told Peta. ‘Says to tell you that there’s some work for you in his study. Any queries, you’re to ring him.’

  Peta nodded, but wondered why he hadn’t told her himself last night. Except that they’d both had other things on their minds. Her skin went warm at the very thought of what had happened, but she was determined not to let it bother her. There would be no repeat, she had made that very clear. She would do the job she was getting paid for and ignore completely any foolish signs her body made.

  When they left the house in the land-cruiser that Andreas insisted she use to ferry the boys around, she saw a black saloon parked a few yards from the entrance gates, the driver sitting reading a newspaper. It might be nothing, she reasoned—and yet again it could be extremely significant.

  Fear prickled her skin and as she drove away Peta constantly checked her mirror. To her relief he didn’t follow but she knew that it was imperative she constantly keep her wits about her, She wasn’t happy until Nikos was safely within the school gates and she saw a teacher keeping a vigilant eye on all of the children.

  The next few days followed a similar routine. Andreas always left her work to do, but he never came to her sitting room again. If he wanted to discuss anything he invited her into his study.

  It didn’t stop her being aware of his presence, however; she still felt a tingling awareness whenever he was close, and more than once she caught his eyes on her with such a hungry look that she needed to clench everything to stop giving herself away.

  She saw the car a couple of times more and decided to tell Andreas. It might be nothing, it might be a rep having a five-minute break, killing time before his first appointment somewhere in the city, but better to be safe than sorry.

  He nodded solemnly when she told him, his eyes narrowing. ‘There could be a simple explanation—or it might be someone monitoring your movements. You got the registration number, I take it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then I’ll get it checked.’ He looked at her gravely. ‘You’re not unduly worried? I don’t want to stress you out, but Nikos’s safety is, of course, my major concern.’

  Peta nodded. ‘I’m not frightened. I simply thought it odd seeing the car more than once.’ In fact she thought he was taking this whole kidnap thing very calmly. If it were Ben in danger she’d be paranoid. She wouldn’t let him out of her sight. She certainly wouldn’t rely on someone else to look after him.

  ‘If you’re sure.’ He closed the gap between them and put his arms around her. There was nothing sexual in the action this time; it was a simple, comforting gesture. Peta realised this as she buried her head in his shoulder. But it didn’t stop the blood shooting hotly through her veins, or her pulses frantically leaping.

  It was for only a brief moment. The next second she found herself free, and when she looked into his face there was nothing to suggest that he too had been affected. In fact his face was closed and hard and she guessed that he was worrying more about his son than he let on.

  The next morning when she walked out to the land-cruiser she found a note tucked behind the wiper blade. Her fingers shook as she opened it. ‘SOON!’ was all it said in bold black lettering, but she knew very well what it meant.

  Andreas had already left, so she tucked the note quickly into her pocket before the boys saw, but her heart was in her mouth as she drove past the gates and looked for the black car. She intended getting a good look at the driver this time. It was almost a sense of anticlimax to find he wasn’t there. Relief also, but it set her mind working.

  When she gave Andreas the note that evening his face darkened. Muscles tightened in his jaw as he screwed the piece of paper up and tossed it into his wastebin. Almost immediately he realised what he’d done and fished it out again. ‘The police will have to take it seriously now.’

  He was back within the hour, his face tight with determination. ‘Pack your bags,’ he said tersely. ‘We’re leaving.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  PETA looked at Andreas in wide-eyed shock. ‘Leaving? At this hour?’ The note must have scared him more than she’d thought. ‘What did the police say?’

  ‘They’re checking fingerprints. And they’ll take those of the owner of the black saloon—even though he’s apparently a perfectly ordinary businessman. But I’m not leaving anything to chance. They took mine as well, and they want yours, but to hell with that. Go and get the boys ready.’

  ‘But they’re in bed,’ she protested. ‘It’s unrealistic. A few more hours won’t hurt, surely?’

  Andreas drew in a deep breath, his hard-muscled chest rising. And then slowly, as he released it, some of the tension drained out of him. ‘You’re right,’ he said, dragging a heavy hand through his hair. ‘But we’ll leave early tomorrow.’

  Peta shook her head, still bemused by this sudden turn of events. ‘Have the police suggested you move?’

  ‘Hell, no. They’re doing all they can. But I’m not leaving my son in danger any longer.’

  ‘How about Linam’s—your work there? Are you going to leave it to flounder?’

  ‘Goodness, Peta, why all the questions? No, I am not. Within a few minutes I shall be on the phone, organising someone to step into my shoes. My younger brother, actually. He’s very capable. I trust him completely.’

  ‘So where are we going?’

  ‘To Greece, of course.’ He said it as though she was supposed to know.

  ‘Greece?’ she echoed shrilly.

  ‘Yes, Greece,’ he responded impatiently. ‘Is that a problem for you?’

  ‘Yes, it is, as a matter of fact. Ben doesn’t have a passport. I got mine last year, when my mother insisted I take a holiday, but—’

  ‘Then you’ll have to leave him behind until he gets one.’

  Peta couldn’t believe he’d said that. She stared at him in wide-eyed horror and anger. ‘I’m going nowhere without Ben,’ she told him coldly.

  Andreas clapped a hand to his brow. ‘Forgive me. I spoke without thinking. I’ll organise his passport first thing. You’d better get some sleep.’

  It was impossible. Peta’s mind was in a whirl. She couldn’t quite take in the situation. It was all happening too quickly. Not that Ben would mind; he’d see it as a great adventure, especially as he’d have Nikos for
company. Already he adored the other boy and they spent every minute together.

  The next day, true to his word, Andreas sorted out Ben’s passport and their schools and his own replacement. If she’d tried to do it she’d have come up against all sorts of red tape, but Andreas seemed to walk over everyone and get exactly what he wanted. This was Andreas Papadakis, action man. Not the seducer, not even the Tyrant, his mind was channelled on one thing only—getting his son away from the dangers that threatened. By the end of the day they were ready to go. ‘First light we’ll be on the move,’ he announced.

  Ben was awake before she was. He came bounding into her room, full of excitement. ‘Wake up, Mummy. I want to go. I want to go now.’

  In no time at all they were ready. Andreas drove to the airport, where he had his own jet fuelled up and waiting, but it was not until they were in the air that she saw him visibly relax. The smile came back to his face and he looked at her with a warmth that set her toes curling and her insides aflame.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said.

  Her carefully shaped brows rose. ‘For what?’

  ‘For understanding, for obliging, for everything. You’ll never know how much I appreciate it.’

  ‘So long as Ben’s OK then I am,’ she declared with a slight shrug.

  ‘That’s how I feel about Nikos,’ he admitted. ‘I know I’m guilty of sometimes neglecting him, but I love him more dearly than life itself. If anything happened…’ A dark shadow settled across his face.

  He would have lost both his son and his wife, thought Peta. She wondered whether now would be a good time to ask how she had died. But Nikos spoke and the moment was lost.

  She couldn’t help thinking as she watched the boys playing with their pocket computer games that they looked like a family. Ben’s hair wasn’t as dark as Nikos’s, but dark enough for them to pass as brothers. And anyone seeing her and Andreas with them could easily mistake them for husband and wife. It was an unreal situation.

  When they arrived at Athens a car was waiting to whisk them swiftly away from the airport. Everything had been planned down to the last tiny detail. And they didn’t have far to travel before the driver turned in through some magnificent iron gates and along a curving drive to a sprawling house which was every bit as palatial as the one they had left a few hours earlier. It had a red roof and white walls, and was built on several levels.

  ‘My family home,’ announced Andreas. ‘We’re expected.’

  Even as they approached the central door opened and a dark-haired woman, probably in her late forties, stood waiting for the car to stop. She was dressed immaculately in a scarlet, black and white dress. Her nails were polished a similar red, her lips a slash of the same colour. She stood tall and proud with a haughty lift to her chin which Peta failed to recognise as one of her own particular stances.

  She saw a strong resemblance and decided it was her boss’s sister, at the same time acknowledging how little she knew about his family. She judged Andreas to be in his mid-thirties, and she’d just discovered he had a younger brother, now here was another family member. How many more were there?

  She scrambled out of the car, calling Ben to stand by her, leaving Nikos to run across to the woman, who bent low and gathered him into her arms, smiling fondly as she did so. She greeted Andreas next; another wide smile and a hug, and a stream of Greek.

  Then it was Peta and Ben’s turn to be introduced. The woman looked at them with speculative eyes as they approached. No sign of a smile now. ‘Peta,’ said Andreas, ‘I’d like you to meet my mother. Mother, this is Peta James, the girl I told you about, and this is Ben, her son.’

  If a breath of wind had blown it would have knocked her over. This glamorous woman was Andreas’s mother! She couldn’t be; she wasn’t old enough. Either she’d been a child bride or she was very adept at hiding her real age. Peta smiled faintly and held out her hand. It was taken reluctantly and limply, reinforcing Peta’s impression that she wasn’t welcome.

  ‘So you are Nikos’s nanny?’ Her Greek was heavily accented. Brown eyes, so like her son’s, looked coldly into hers. ‘I hardly think he will have use for one here, but I have no doubt that we will be able to find something to keep you occupied.’

  Peta’s eyes flickered towards Andreas but he was busy talking to his son and gave no sign of having heard. She drew in a deep, steadying breath and held back a tart response. If she’d known they were going to be living with his parents she would have refused to come. She had, stupidly as it turned out, thought they’d be living alone, in Andreas’s house, thought she would still be needed to look after Nikos.

  ‘Come, let’s go indoors,’ Andreas said now. ‘Stavros will see to our luggage.’

  Inside the house was cool and airy. Mrs Papadakis clapped her hands and a young girl appeared on silent feet. She stood humbly in front of the older woman. ‘Anna, please show the despinis to—’

  ‘It’s all right,’ interrupted Andreas, ‘I will take Peta myself. I’ll join you in a minute, Mother.’

  They walked what seemed like endless miles of corridor before entering, much to Peta’s relief, a completely self-contained apartment. There was a well-sized living area, an enormous dining room, and a kitchen to die for. ‘Mother’s organised lunch today,’ informed Andreas, ‘but if my instructions have been carried out—’ he peeked into a cavernous fridge and freezer ‘—which they have, there’s everything we need here to be completely independent.’

  Thank goodness, breathed Peta silently. The thought of joining his mother each mealtime was not a happy one.

  On an upper floor her bedroom and Ben’s were connected by a bathroom; big rooms, plenty of space for him to play. Andreas had his own suite, and Nikos’s bathroom was next door to his room.

  ‘I need to go and find my mother now,’ Andreas said. ‘Come and join us when you’ve freshened up.’

  ‘If I don’t get lost,’ she warned. ‘This place is huge.’

  ‘You’ll soon get used to it,’ he said with a smile.

  Peta nodded, even though she wasn’t really sure.

  Stavros brought up their cases, and after she’d unpacked Peta eventually found Andreas on the terrace, talking to his parent; Nikos was already in the pool.

  ‘Oh, Mummy!’ exclaimed Ben, his eyes wide and impressed. ‘Can I go in?’

  Andreas answered for her. ‘But of course.’

  Ben stripped down to his pants and jumped laughingly into the water to join his new friend. Peta watched him with an indulgent smile on her face. What an experience this was for him. And for her, too. Her life had completely turned around since she’d begun working for Andreas Papadakis. Who’d have thought a few short weeks ago that she’d be living here in this sun-drenched place with the man who had earned the reputation of being a tyrant? She was discovering that he was nothing of the sort. That he was a hot-blooded male who excited her beyond measure.

  Andreas patted the seat beside him. ‘Sit down. My mother wants to hear all about you.’

  Peta bet she did. She was probably wondering whether she had any designs on her son, why he had brought a nanny all the way over from England when he could quite easily have found one here. And did he even need one when he had a doting grandmother to look after Nikos? Or wasn’t Andreas’s mother the maternal kind? She certainly didn’t look it in her designer clothes and elegant sandals. It struck Peta that Mrs Papadakis was more interested in her own appearance than anything else.

  ‘My son tells me that you are an unmarried mother,’ were the woman’s first words, a shudder of distaste running right through her pencil-slim body.

  Peta lifted her chin proudly; she wasn’t ashamed of it. ‘Ben’s lacked nothing because of it.’

  ‘What happened to his father?’

  ‘Mother, is this really necessary?’ asked Andreas. ‘It’s none of our business.’

  ‘I believe in the holy sanctimony of marriage,’ declared the woman haughtily.

  ‘It wasn’t Peta’s fault
,’ declared Andreas, with a warm smile in Peta’s direction. ‘In fact I think we can admire her for bringing up her son alone. He does her credit. And it’s good for Nikos to have a companion.’

  Peta felt a rush of warmth. She hadn’t expected him to champion her.

  ‘You should get married again, Andreas, and have more children of your own,’ announced his mother.

  And get rid of this woman who isn’t necessary in your life. They were the unspoken words, decided Peta. His mother had for some reason taken an instant dislike to her. It was a wonder she was allowing her to sit with them, and if it wasn’t for Andreas she probably wouldn’t even be speaking to her now.

  A faint bell sounded from somewhere in the interior of the house. ‘Lunch is ready,’ announced Andreas with some satisfaction. ‘Come, Peta, you must be starving. Nikos, Ben, time to eat.’

  The boys hauled themselves out of the pool, catching the towels Andreas tossed to them. ‘Slip on your shirts, boys.’

  Mrs Papadakis had already walked into the house, her back straight with disapproval, and Peta wasn’t surprised when she didn’t join them.

  ‘I don’t think your mother likes me,’ she said when they had seated themselves at an oval table in a cool extension of the main kitchen.

  ‘Since my father died my mother has found life very difficult,’ he excused. ‘In one respect it’s her own fault because she doesn’t make friends easily. Once she gets to know you she’ll see what a wonderfully warm person you are. No one can help but fall for your charm, Peta.’

  His eyes met and held hers. Peta felt her stomach turn over. What was he saying? That he wanted something more from their relationship? That the kiss had meant a whole lot more than she’d ever imagined? Her toes wriggled in her sandals and she fought to suppress the heat that was stealing over her skin. She didn’t want a relationship with Andreas, not with anyone; she was happy as she was.

  If that’s the case, why did you come here? asked an inner voice. You must have known what would happen.