‘Feels as if she’s packed enough food for a siege. Do you want to eat now, or have a swim first?’
Alix gave up the struggle to fight through the confusion caused by his actions. Besides, she knew deep inside that she really didn’t want to have to think at all. It might be the height of foolishness, but today she was simply going to take one step at a time.
So she sent him a grin. ‘I’ve been longing for a swim,’ she admitted, and Pierce laughed.
‘I remember you were the original water baby. It was hard to get you out of the sea once you were in it,’ he responded, eyes dancing.
She gave a gasp of outrage. ‘I like that! You were just as bad, worse even. It’s a wonder you ever got any work done!’
Pierce finished stripping off his shorts to reveal ultra-brief trunks, and sent her a mocking look. ‘You didn’t try to force me very hard. In fact, you were more of a distraction than the water.’
That wiped the smile from her face, leaving it haunted. ‘Oh, I doubt that, although you did a good job of pretending,’ she returned tightly, and turned her back on him to strip off her shorts and top.
‘My passion for you was very real, Alix. That’s one thing a man can’t fake,’ Pierce answered after a pause, and she swung round, lips curved ironically.
‘But that was all. Anyway, it’s in the past now.’ Yet not forgotten. ‘I’ll race you to the beach,’ she challenged, jumping up on the side and diving cleanly into the sparkling water.
There was no contest, but she had known that when she made the challenge. It had been done solely to divert them from too painful a topic. Pierce had always been the better swimmer, but he surprised her by keeping pace with her and not forging ahead as she had imagined he would. They reached the beach together, staggering into the shallows to collapse on to the wet sand, letting the gentle waves caress their legs.
‘It was further than I thought,’ she gasped, when she had enough breath to speak. ‘I’m out of condition.’
Beside her, Pierce rolled on to his front. ‘I wouldn’t say that. You look in pretty good condition from here,’ he replied teasingly, a remark which brought her head round swiftly.
Catching his eyes warmly caressing her feminine curves brought a deeper pink to her cheeks. She could feel her body respond as it always had, and because they were alone, and the temptation was to lower her defences, she instinctively raised them. ‘There’s no need to flirt with me.’
He eyed her broodingly. ‘I know, but I enjoy it.’
She stifled a groan. ‘Well, I don’t.’
Pierce reached out to smooth a strand of hair from her cheek. ‘You never used to be such a liar.’
It wasn’t fair that even the briefest of touches could arouse her. ‘We can’t say the same about you, can we?’ she shot back, expecting to see him close up, but instead he merely nodded.
‘I amazed myself with just how good I was at it. But you know what they say—for the sins you do by two and two, you must pay for one by one.’
There was a quality to his voice which made her frown. ‘Are you paying?’
Pierce sighed and rested his chin in his hand. ‘I’ve been paying since the first lie left my lips. A fact which should please you, Alix. Don’t you want to see me hurting?’
It was a direct question, and her heart answered without equivocation. No, she didn’t want to see him hurting. After all these years she suddenly realised she had no taste for revenge. You couldn’t love someone and want to hurt them, no matter what you might say or think in the heat of the moment.
Yet she couldn’t openly admit it to him, for that would only make her more vulnerable. It was easier to raise her arm to cover her eyes and say evenly, ‘I don’t enjoy seeing anyone hurting. There’s too much pain in the world as it is.’
‘Thank you,’ he said huskily, and she had to look at him then.
‘For what?’
A wry smile twisted his lips. ‘For including me. You always were a generous and loving woman. I’m glad to see the generosity hasn’t faded. What about the loving?’
There was no way she could just lie there and answer that, and she sat up abruptly, knowing her face would be far too revealing. ‘If you’re trying to find out how many lovers I’ve had, then mind your own damned business,’ she retorted, choosing to deliberately misunderstand.
‘You haven’t had any,’ Pierce told her quietly, and her heart missed a beat before careering crazily on.
He sat up and she stared at him, aghast. ‘W-what?’ How on earth could he have known that? The answer struck her almost immediately. ‘Do you mean to tell me you’ve had me followed?’ she charged wrathfully, fingers curling into the sand.
‘I prefer to call it keeping a friendly eye on you.’
Alix fumed impotently. ‘You were never my friend, Pierce, and how dare you spy on me?’
‘How else could I know you were in trouble and needed my help?’ he informed her mildly. ‘And when it comes to friendship, surely that’s rated on the willingness of those to help you when you really need it. On that scale, I’m the best friend you’ve got.’
Though it hurt to admit it, put like that, he was absolutely right, and yet... ‘You weren’t helping me, you were helping yourself to my father’s company!’
‘I neither want, nor need the company. As it is, my financial advisers think I was a fool to take it on, because it’s going to swallow money like a bottomless pit. Had it been anyone else I would have let it go to the wall,’ Pierce told her without bothering to pull his punches, and Alix felt her chin drop.
She raised a hand to her temple, staring at him in disbelief. ‘Are you saying you only saved the company because of me?’
‘Nothing else would have tempted me to touch it with a barge pole,’ he confessed drily, watching the emotions flounder across her face.
‘But...why?’
One eyebrow lifted. ‘Why? Have you ever read Lovelace?’
Her frown deepened. ‘The poet? No.’ Why on earth was he talking in riddles?
‘Then perhaps you should,’ was his only answer as he stood up and reached down a hand to her. Alix took it automatically, her eyes searching his as she stood before him. But Pierce’s only showed an enigmatic smile. ‘Let’s go back. I’m hungry, and you’re starting to go pink. You need to cover up or you’ll burn.’
As he still had hold of her hand, and was already wading back into the water, there was little Alix could do but follow him, although her mind was teeming with questions. Once again Pierce kept pace with her as they swam back to the yacht, climbing aboard first to help her up. Yet even there he forestalled her intention to question him by throwing her a towel and turning his attention to the coolbox.
In no time at all he had laid out quite an array of food on the banquette seating between them, as well as opened a bottle of wine. The sight of food made her realise just how hungry she was, and for the moment she abandoned all thought of following up his amazing statement.
Neither of them spoke very much as they helped themselves to the various salads and cold meats. Alix relaxed again, and when she unfortunately bit into a tomato and sent the seeds dripping down her chin she couldn’t help laughing.
‘It’s good to see you without a frown,’ Pierce observed, laughing himself as he squatted in front of her, holding her chin as he mopped up the mess with a napkin.
Her laughter died. ‘There hasn’t been a lot to smile about,’ she replied, more shortly than she intended, because she was very much aware of his touch.
Pierce went still. ‘I know the feeling.’
Once again her eyes searched his, meeting a look which could only have been regret. She was at a loss to understand him, and sent him a sceptical glance. ‘You do? I thought you would have been laughing all the way to the bank! I mean, the shipping line you stole from my grandfather—so it cost you nothing, but it’s made you a fortune since!’
That strange expression vanished as the shutters came down, and he regarded her
steadily. ‘Strange how everything always comes back to this. You know the truth, Alix, although you refuse to accept it.’
Her eyes became stormy. ‘It was his pride and joy!’
Anger flashed in his eyes too. ‘Then why did he let it rot? It was a symbol, Alix, a constant reminder of how he had outwitted my grandfather, his most hated enemy. In repair it could have earned him a fortune, but he chose to see it rot rather than sell it. I took nothing that didn’t rightfully belong to me.’
About to deny it vehemently, she paused, because what he said had a ring of truth. She had always assumed that her grandfather had loved the fleet of ships, but if he had why had they been rotting away? Not for want of money, for to Yannis Petrakos the cost of repairs would have been a mere drop in the ocean. It smacked more of vengeful spite. Of the hatred Pierce insisted had ruled his actions. And hadn’t she always known that her grandfather was a hard man? Generous so long as you did what he wanted and knew your place. Her father had not been willing to accept it, and had left to form his own life—a life which had included no bitterness towards the Andreas family.
Pierce, who had watched the play of emotions across her face as her silence lengthened, gave her a tiny shake. ‘Now do you understand?’
She did, but there was so much more than that. ‘What if I do? It excuses nothing. The end can never justify the means. It doesn’t excuse the way you used me to get the ships back for nothing!’ she countered shakily.
Releasing her, Pierce stood up, expression mocking. ‘On the contrary, I paid a very high price.’
The simple statement stunned her, and she shot to her feet. ‘What do you mean? I was there, remember? No money changed hands.’
There was a cruel twist to his lips as he regarded her. ‘There are more important things than money,’ he said softly, and began to pack away the remains of their meal.
Alix watched him in mounting irritation. ‘What does that mean? Damn you, Pierce, you can’t possibly make a statement like that and not explain it.’
He laughed rather grimly. ‘Haven’t you learned yet that I can do anything I want to? Besides, you aren’t yet ready to hear my explanation,’ he commented over his shoulder. Ignoring her, he glanced up at the sun. ‘It’s about time we got on our way. We’re going to be late as it is, and I don’t want them sending out a search party.’
Balked by the wall he threw up, Alix could only choke on her anger. ‘That would never do,’ she sniped, and received an old-fashioned look for her pains.
‘Don’t be bitchy. You’ll have me thinking you’re frustrated.’
Alix ground her teeth. ‘Sometimes I really loathe you, Pierce Martineau!’
Picking up the coolbox, he came across and held it out to her, yet didn’t immediately release it when she took it. ‘But what about the other times? What do you feel for me then, Alix?’ he taunted softly.
God, he was impossible! ‘Other times I try not to think of you at all!’ she retorted, tugging at the box, which he finally let go.
He laughed low in his throat. ‘Then there’s hope for me yet. While you’re still trying, I know you haven’t succeeded,’ he declared with satisfaction, and lowered his head towards hers.
Instantly Alix brought her free hand up to hold him off. ‘You said you wouldn’t lay a finger on me!’ she reminded him, albeit far too breathlessly, and his smile widened.
He held his hands away from his body. ‘Look, no hands,’ he taunted, and ducked his head to take her parted lips in a kiss that stole her breath and sent liquid fire zinging along her veins. She trembled as his tongue sought hers, stroking until she could no longer hold back the response he demanded, and which her body ached to give. She knew that if she hadn’t been holding the box nothing could have stopped her pressing herself closer. As it was, she was thankful she hadn’t gone so far when Pierce drew back mere seconds later.
Blue eyes revealed leashed passion. ‘I always keep my word, Alix...unless you want me to go on?’
She did want him to, and he knew it, and it was that which forced shaky legs to take a step backwards. ‘You said we have to get back.’
He straightened, passion giving way to amusement. ‘You could change my mind.’
Alix took in a wobbly breath. ‘I don’t want to.’
‘One of these days I’m going to do what your eyes tell me, rather than your lips. And you know something, Alix? You won’t even struggle,’ he declared, and went to raise the anchor.
She was left gazing at his back, knowing it was true. It was getting harder and harder to fight when she was her own worst enemy. With a heavy sigh, she went below.
CHAPTER NINE
IT WAS almost dinnertime when they finally moored the yacht in the harbour. Pierce hadn’t offered to let her have another attempt at steering, and Alix had been too sunk in her own thoughts to even dream of asking. She had had plenty to think about. A lot of things had finally become clear to her, but she felt as if she was locked in a game of pass the parcel. Only a small portion was revealed every time a layer was removed, and she had a growing presentiment that, when the final layer was removed, what it hid would prove to be vitally important.
There was no question about not believing his story regarding the shipping line. Thinking about it now, without the pain of his betrayal clouding her judgement, she knew Pierce had always spoken the truth. But, as she had told him, it didn’t excuse what he had done. Yet even now that had become less clear. Adding it to what he had said about helping her father for her sake...suddenly she didn’t know what to think. The edges of her anger had become blunted.
How she wished he had told her before, but honesty had her admitting that she wouldn’t have believed him. He had said she wasn’t ready to hear what he had to say, and she hadn’t been. But she was getting there now. Even a week ago it would have been different, but now she wanted to listen...if only he would speak.
She stumbled as she stepped on to the jetty, and it was only Pierce’s quick action which stopped her from hitting the concrete. He swept her up tightly to his firm body, so that Alix found her face pressed against his chest. She breathed in sharply, senses spinning at the heady mixture of sweat, salt, and his own particular scent. Swallowing hard, she looked up, straight into fathomless blue eyes, while their lips hovered only a tantalising breath apart.
‘Are you OK?’ Pierce asked, his voice sounding scratchy, and Alix forced a tense laugh from her tight throat.
‘I don’t think I’ve got my land legs back yet,’ she joked, even as a devilish voice told her all she had to do was close that tiny gap and press her lips to his, and the long torment would be over.
‘Then I’ll just have to carry you, won’t I?’ he declared, fitting the action to the words before Alix could form a word of protest. Not that she would have done anyway. What energy she might have had to fight him must have drained away on the long trip home. She simply slipped her arms about his neck as he carried her to the buggy they had driven down in, giving herself up to the pleasure which being held so close afforded her.
Depositing her in her seat, Pierce remained leaning over her. ‘Do I get a thank-you?’ he asked softly, eyes dropping to her lips in a visual caress.
Alix suddenly decided she had had enough of thinking twice. This time she didn’t think at all, just used the arm still circling his neck to pull his head down to hers, and brushing her lips over his. ‘Will that do?’ she queried, equally softly, and he straightened with a groan.
‘Not by a long way, but here, in public, it’s about all I can hope for,’ he returned with gentle irony, and walked round to take his seat, leaving Alix with a soft flush warming her cheeks.
The journey up to the villa was short, just long enough for her to acknowledge that she had come a long way since yesterday, even from this morning, that she was openly contemplating things which she would have fought against tooth and nail only hours ago. Perhaps it was the island, or Pierce’s relaxed hostility, but she knew she no longer cared as much ab
out her pride. Somehow it was seeming to become not so important.
A visibly anxious Katina met them when they entered the villa, launching into a voluble flood of Greek which left Alix mystified and brought a deep frown to Pierce’s forehead.
‘Problems?’ she asked, when the housekeeper went back to the kitchen.
‘I hope not,’ he answered, sounding thoughtful. ‘The company have been trying to contact me, that’s all. I’d better go and find out what it’s all about.’ Looking at her, and finally seeing her, he smiled. ‘It shouldn’t take long, then I’ll join you for dinner.’
Alix watched him walk away, then headed for their bedroom. As she showered and changed, she was very much aware that they were at a turning-point. There was expectancy in the air, yet dared she make that vital move just on the evidence of one day? She wanted to, because she loved him, but she needed to know that he at least cared for her a little. So far there had been scant evidence of it, and that was why she hesitated still.
Although Pierce hadn’t returned to the bedroom before she left it, he was not long in joining her in the lounge. However, he remained preoccupied throughout the meal. His replies to her attempts at conversation became increasingly monosyllabic, and Alix finally gave up. But the silence lengthened when they went out on to the terrace for coffee, and she found herself staring at Pierce’s back as he stood staring broodingly out to sea. That was when she decided enough was enough.
‘What’s wrong, Pierce?’ she asked, eyes running over the tense line of his back beneath his white dinner-jacket.
He must have been miles away, for he started at the sound of her voice, and turned to her with an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, was I ignoring you?’
Alix’s teeth came together in a tiny irritated snap. ‘Don’t be so damned patronising. There’s something wrong, isn’t there? Can’t you talk about it?’
Though his brows rose at her tone, he said nothing, merely came across to take the empty seat beside her, crossing one long leg over the other. ‘There’s nothing for you to trouble your head about. This is supposed to be a holiday.’
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