A waiter appeared the moment they sat down. “Good afternoon,” he greeted in slightly accented English. “Welcome to Farfalla. Have you been here before?”
No, but my husband has, Sophie swallowed the pithy remark and shook her head instead.
Olivia eyed her sister, and the worry that something was wrong was like a bullet in her chest. “We’d like to start a tab. And to be interrupted as little as possible.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a card but Sophie shook her head.
“You’ve come all this way. Allow me.” She hadn’t yet used one of the credit cards Alex had given her. She slipped one from her wallet and handed it over, a little self-conscious when she realised it was one of those ridiculous Centurion Amex cards.
The waiter took it, examined it, and handed it back. “That will not be necessary, Mrs Petrides. Mr Petrides maintains an account here. Are you celebrating? Would you like some champagne?”
Sophie’s cheeks were pink. She nodded helplessly and the waiter disappeared without pausing to confirm which label they’d prefer. When he returned, it was with the aid of another waiter, who ostentatiously held two champagne saucers while the first waiter peeled the top off the bottle. He popped it into a white-gloved hand and then handed the cork to Sophie. “It is to be kept. For luck and good memories.”
“Oh.” She slipped it into her bag with, perhaps, far less ceremony than was due, and then watched as the original waiter poured the champagne into first one glass and then the next.
“I shall keep the bottle in the fridge.”
“Leave the bottle,” Liv corrected. “We don’t want to be interrupted unless our bottle is empty. Thank you.”
Sophie shot her sister a warning glance, but the twitching of her lips spoiled the effect somewhat.
“What is this champagne?” Sophie whispered, once they’d left.
“Expensive, is what it is. At least two thousand dollars, I’d say.”
Sophie spat out the bubbles she’d been sipping and clasped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! Livvie! You’re not serious?”
Olivia shrugged. “A man bought one for me once, and that’s what he said. It was the same label. I remember, because I’d never heard of it before that.”
“Oh, Liv. We can’t drink this.”
Olivia’s smile was deliciously cheeky. “Nonsense. It’s been opened. Besides, they brought it over so naturally that one can only presume it’s what your husbands makes a habit of drinking.”
Sophie nodded. Olivia had a point. And again, she contemplated the unlikeliness of Alex drinking a bottle such as this on his own. No. It was what he shared with dates. Before he shared anything else with them. Like his home. And his body.
She flickered her gaze down to the table in a gesture designed to shield her thoughts from her sister, but Olivia knew Sophie far too well for that.
“How’s married life?” She queried with an intentionally bland tone to her voice.
Sophie nodded. “It’s good.” She smiled anxiously. “It’s just … an adjustment.”
Olivia nodded. That could be it. “In what way?” She prompted, sipping her champagne and eyeing her sister over the rim of the glass.
“You saw what just happened right?” She shook her head slowly. “I’ve gone from barely making ends meet on a dreadful salary in London to being brought two thousand dollar bottles of champagne and being told my Goddamned Amex card isn’t required here, at what my driver tells me is the most expensive bar in town.” She rolled her eyes. “You know how weird this is.”
Liv grinned. “I think I could get used to it pretty quickly.”
Sophie burst out laughing. “Yeah, you probably could.” She sobered. “You wait until you see his house. It’s like this stunning, architectural, perfect palace. And when I say perfect, I mean … magazine perfect. Like Vogue Living ready all the time. It’s … just … so much.”
“But honey, you knew when you married him that he had this kind of money. What’s the problem?”
“It’s not a problem,” she demurred quickly. “I love Alex.” And she really, really did. No matter what was going on between them, she had every faith it would be a temporary concern. “It’s just … I fell in love with him when I didn’t really have any concept of just how …”
“Nonsense! Everyone knows how wealthy Alessandros Petrides is.”
“Yes, yes. But you read a number in an article and that’s very different to living it. Look at my engagement ring.”
“I did, believe me,” Olivia teased.
“I mean, I can’t even imagine how much he spent on it. It’s like … all this is so normal to him. And I don’t want it! I certainly don’t need it.”
“Then don’t wear the ring. Buy yourself something simple and use that instead.”
“But this is special because he gave it to me,” Sophie pointed out with a shrug. “It’s fine. I’m being silly. It’s just an adjustment.”
“Mmmm. You said that.” Olivia pursed her lips in the style that was uniquely hers. “I like your hair like this.”
Sophie might have laughed at the lightning fast conversation change, but she was used to her sister. “It’s the same as always.”
“No, it’s longer, and blonder.”
“Oh.” Sophie shrugged. “The length is laziness, and the blonde must just be from the sun.”
“It suits you. You look good.”
Sophie’s smile felt almost completely natural. “Thanks. So, are you going to tell me what adventure you’re off on this time?”
Olivia leaned forward, her eyes glinting with excitement. “Vegas.”
“I know where you’re going, but not why.”
“Why?” She scrunched up her nose as though Sophie was asking the most ludicrously simple question in the world. “Because it’s Vegas.”
“But what’s in Vegas?”
“Bright lights. Action. Fun.”
“You only got back from Rome a few months ago. Aren’t you a little sick of all that?”
“Says the girl who married a hot, billionaire stallion about three seconds after meeting him. To say nothing of your decision to up and move to his palatial home in stunning Greece.”
“We haven’t moved here,” Sophie corrected quickly, her tone distracted. “We’re just … staying here for now.”
“You’re missing my point! Your life is all about adventure! You were the first one to leave Celli. You escaped to Sydney as soon as you could and look at what you’ve done since. You’ve travelled with the bloody prime minister of England!”
“I might have been the first to leave home, but you’re definitely making up for lost time.” Sophie crossed one leg over the other with unconscious elegance.
“I know.” Olivia shrugged. “You know me. I get itchy feet if I sit still for too long.”
“What will you do for work?”
“I’ll find something. Or something will find me.” She grinned. “I have a friend who said they’re looking for someone like me.”
“You’re so like mum sometimes, Liv,” Sophie said with a shake of her head.
They were quiet for a moment, thinking of Meredith Henderson, a woman they’d loved so dearly, and had lost so tragically.
“Can you believe Cristiano’s going to be back in the valley?”
“No,” Olivia responded with a steady shake of her head. Her lips tugged downwards in one corner.
“What is it?” Sophie prompted, sipping her champagne and trying not to wonder how much that tiny amount of alcohol would have cost.
“It’s just … I don’t think Ava’s seeing the whole picture here. Cristiano’s not the kind of guy to take news of a secret child lying down. He’s going to be livid.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe he won’t even find out,” Sophie pointed out hopefully.
“They’re staying at the vineyard. Milly’s bound to make an impression on them.”
Sophie couldn’t help the smile that touched her expression. “Maybe. God, I mis
s that kid.”
“I know, tell me about it.” She ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “What are you worried about though? You know Cristiano’s got no interest in kids. He’s the proverbial bachelor. That was part of the problem.”
“Look who’s talking. You’ve gone and tamed one of those, so don’t take it for granted that leopards can’t change their spots.”
“I haven’t tamed Alessandro,” Sophie demurred.
“He’s a renowned … well … you know as much as I do, I presume. And you’ve got him stitched up and loved up.”
“But Alex is nothing like Cristiano.”
“Isn’t he?” Olivia pushed.
“No.” Sophie insisted. She drank her remaining champagne simply to break the conversation and Olivia topped their glasses up to stave off the reappearance of the over-attentive wait staff. “Cristiano’s a bastard. He broke Ava’s heart and left her pregnant and alone. Alex would never act like that. Ever. Family is hugely important to him.”
“Yes, but Cristiano doesn’t know he’s got family in Australia, remember.”
“That’s not Ava’s fault. She tried to tell him. He wouldn’t see her. You can’t possibly be defending him?”
“God, no.” Liv shook her head. “I went with her to Rio, remember. I’ll never forget the sight of our pregnant sister waddling away from his apartment building, having been turned away by his housekeeper.” Sophie’s eyes had a faraway expression. “And we both know what state she was in afterwards.”
They didn’t need to cover that in any more detail. The recollection of those dark days in Ava’s life haunted them all. Thankfully, the sisters were so close-knit that they’d been able to pull together and help her through the post-natal depression and other complications. Between their support and the proper medical attention, Ava had come through the other side and returned to her normal self.
And Helena? Would her brother be able to help her in that unique way siblings had? Sophie leaned back into the leather seat, and focussed on one of the ornate lamps in the corner. Was she denying him the opportunity to help Helena, in a way that he’d never be able to forgive?
“Would you have told him?” Olivia wondered thoughtfully, conjuring out of nowhere an image of Cristiano’s handsome, dark face.
“Absolutely,” Sophie insisted. “He’s the father. He should, if nothing else, have had the chance to support his child.”
“Ava’s doing okay in that department,” Olivia pointed out.
“Yes, but Cristiano is a proud man. He would hate to know how she’s been struggling, and how hard she’s been working.”
“I don’t think he’d care.” Liv shook her head. “Bastard.”
“Yeah.” It was a concise ending to the conversation. However, it was not the last conversation they would have on the matter. For that afternoon though, they filed it away for later prodding, and turned to more pleasurable matters. Hours passed in the blink of an eye, and before Sophie knew it, she was pleasantly fuzzy around the edges from excellent champagne, and her sprits were high courtesy of her funny, spontaneous sister.
“Okay, Mrs Petrides, I think it’s time you took me to meet this sexy husband of yours.”
Sophie felt her heart pound sharply in her chest. Alex. And just like that, her state of relaxation evaporated, to be replaced by one of anxious uncertainty. But what could she do? Her sister was in Greece, and of course she must meet the man who had swept Sophie off her feet. Even if they were barely speaking.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Does he always work so much?” Olivia queried, stretching her legs to catch more of the sun.
“Yes,” Sophie murmured, not opening her eyes for fear of the expression she might see reflected back at her.
“I’ve been here four days and am yet to see him.”
“I’m aware of that,” Sophie’s words were sharper than she’d intended. She softened them with an apologetic smile. If she didn’t take care, Olivia would start to worry that something was wrong. “I’m sorry. I miss him. Our wedding caught him as much off guard as it did me. He can hardly put his projects aside just to wait on us hand and foot.”
“I’m not expecting him to. I only want to meet him before I go.”
“You will. You don’t have firm plans, I thought?”
“Itchy feet, remember?” She teased. “Besides, when he does get back, I don’t want to cramp your style. Having seen how little you two get to see of one another, I don’t want to be the annoying third wheel.”
Sophie reached her hand out and curled it over her sister’s. The water lapped in the pool at their feet, making a rhythmic sound that was quite soporific. “I’m glad you’re here, Liv. I feel like we haven’t just hung out like this in such a long time.”
“I know. It’s been far too long.”
Alex paused at the edge of the paved area that led to the pool. His eyes briefly took in Olivia, and then slammed into Sophie. His gut twisted uncomfortably and acid formed in his throat. Her toes were pink, her skin tanned, and her hair silky. Even at this distance, he could catch a light hint of her sweet, vanilla fragrance, blowing to him on the afternoon breeze.
“It could only be better if Ava was here,” Olivia murmured, stretched on a small sigh, and then turned around to reach for the sunblock. Only she saw the man who was on the edges of the pool deck and she smiled. “You must be Alex.” She stood quickly and walked over to him, curiosity an actual force in her body.
“And with those eyes, I have no doubt you are my wife’s sister.”
His voice sent tremors of desire spiking through Sophie’s blood. She felt her veins pounding with heat, and her throat was parched. But outwardly, she tried her hardest to stay calm.
“Olivia Henderson. Please, call me Liv.”
“Liv,” he agreed, shaking her hand. “I must apologise for my rudeness. I had an urgent matter in New York I had to attend to.”
“New York.” She spun to Sophie. “You never said he was in New York.”
Sophie’s bitterness was profound. She hadn’t known. Alex hadn’t told her. “No, I didn’t.” She responded casually, as though her husband’s location didn’t matter to her one bit. She couldn’t put off greeting him any longer, but she wished fervently that her sister wasn’t there, acting as a curious audience. She stood reluctantly, and began to make her way towards him. Every step made her heart race faster. She was in love with him, but she was also as mad as hell. Her eyes clashed with his, and her pulse fired loudly.
“Mrs Petrides,” he murmured, moving towards her with his long stride, to close the distance. His expression was impossible to interpret. He lifted a hand to cup her cheek and lowered his head. His kiss was slow and it was desperate at the same time. Sophie felt her whole body electrify as though she’d been shocked, and she lifted her hands and tangled them in his dark hair. How easy it was to forget anything except Alex when he kissed her like that.
He pulled away from her but moved his mouth to her ear. His words were barely a whisper. “Kiss me like that and I will take you right here on deck, with no care for who might be watching.”
Colour darkened her cheeks and she stepped away from him as though stung. Olivia, watching the interaction with unashamed curiosity, arched a brow at her sister. “I was thinking of going for a walk. Alex, perhaps you could point me in the direction of the best paths.”
“I can take you, honey,” Sophie said quickly, her body and her mind all over the place. He was back. But she was still so angry with him. And yet she needed to speak to him. Her mind was firing like a cannon.
“No,” Olivia shook her head. “I have a few calls to make.”
“Then you can use Alex’s study.”
“No,” Olivia laughed. She lifted her gaze to Alex and winked. “I think I should make myself scarce for a while.” She scooped her book up from the lounger and lifted a hand in farewell. “I’ll see you for dinner.”
“Livvie,” Sophie called after her retreating back, but Liv onl
y lifted her hand back in the air and waved.
Sophie and Alex, then, were alone.
“I like your sister. She is … perceptive.”
“I wouldn’t have said so,” Sophie corrected peevishly.
His laugh was like warm caramel on her skin. She expelled a breath and forced herself to face him. “How was New York?”
“Exhausting,” he responded honestly. “I would have called, except …”
Sophie nodded quickly, but she didn’t believe him. “Don’t worry about it. I had Liv. We’ve been having a great time.”
He had no doubt, and yet her attitude bothered him. “Have you missed me at all?”
She lifted a hand and toyed with her necklace. She wanted to deny it, because she wasn’t sure he deserved her slavish devotion. But she found herself nodding. “Alex, I wanted to talk to you that day, but you’d left already.”
He nodded, his eyes dark in his face. “I needed to get out of here.”
“You were angry with me. And I’d like to know why.”
God, but she had gall! To put him on the spot and ask to know what had bothered him, when surely she knew how very wrong her behaviour was! “I am quite certain you already know why,” he drawled, reaching down and linking his fingers through hers. Warm heat travelled the length of her arm from where they were joined. She looked down at their clasped hands, as if she might see a source of heat, like flame or fire.
She had a feeling that she was sinking into volcanic lava. Did he know? Could she gamble that he didn’t? And if it wasn’t about Helena, then what?
“I don’t know why,” she said finally. For she only suspected, and the more she thought about it, the more his anger didn’t seem to fit the situation. If he had discovered the truth about Helena, surely he would have peppered her with questions to ascertain the degree of Helena’s depression.
“I see.” He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed his teeth lightly into the soft pad of her thumb. “And so we will continue to pretend.”
The Greek's Marriage Revenge: To have and to hold until truth do them part... (The Henderson Sisters Book 1) Page 10