Irresistible Greeks: Unsuitable and Unforgettable: At His Majesty's Request / The Fallen Greek Bride / Forgiven but not Forgotten?. Jane Porter
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of a nation on his shoulders.
More than that, he acted like a man who intended to support the weight of that nation for the rest of his life. A man prepared to tailor his every decision to suit that responsibility.
“Hello, Jessica,” he said, a smile curving his lips.
“Prince Stavros,” she said, reverting because last night had gotten a bit too intimate and she had no desire to go there again. Well, that was a lie. She did want to go there again. But she couldn’t.
“Demoted, I see.”
“What?”
“Back to a title.”
“Oh …” Why did he have to notice all these little things about her? Why did he have to care at all? “Sorry.”
“How are things going?”
“Good. Great. Looking forward to you thinning the herd tonight.”
“You make it sound like there are a lot more than three.”
She sighed. “They feel like more than three. In my experience, the women haven’t been so catty. But then, I normally don’t do this with them in such close proximity to each other. I’ve also never tried to match a crown prince.”
He looked past her, into the spa. “Let’s leave them in there.”
“What?” She looked behind her.
“If we hurry, they won’t know I was here.”
She laughed. “You’re not serious.”
He frowned. “No. I’m not. Things are getting … I need to make a decision.”
“Because of Eva?” she asked, remembering his mood at his sister’s wedding.
“Everyone in Kyonos was happy for Eva. They love to see their princess in love. But I have to be sure that I make them feel like there’s stability.”
“You’ve been the rock for Kyonos for a long time,” she said, not quite sure why she felt compelled to offer him … not comfort … support, maybe.
“And I will continue to do it. With a wife by my side.”
“A most suitable wife.”
“Yes.” He looked back in the spa. “Will they be done soon?”
“Soon.
“It’s not too late to go another route,” she said, not sure why she was offering her client an out from a program she publicly professed, and privately believed, to be the best way to find a mate.
He shrugged. “Why would I?”
“You could still fall in love.” She wrapped both hands around her paper cup and hugged it close to her body.
“No. I can’t.”
“I’m sure you could. What if you met the perfect woman and she was wholly suitable?”
He shook his head. “It isn’t that I don’t think it’s possible. It’s that I won’t. Love weakens a leader. You know of Achilles and his heel, I assume?”
“Of course.”
He frowned, his expression intense. “One weakness is all it takes to crumble a man who is strong in all other areas. And a weak leader can destroy what was a strong nation. I will never have part in that.”
He was serious again. Like last night. Not a hint of flirtation. She was starting to wonder if that was really him at all. Or if it was who he thought he was supposed to be.
“Is that really what you think?”
“I know it. I saw it happen, in my family, in Kyonos. When my mother died everything fell apart. My father could not function. He … We made Xander the scapegoat for it, all because grief could only give way to anger. I had to set it aside. I had to move on for the good of the country. It took my father years to do it. He is a king, he did not have the luxury of grief, or pain. It’s different for us.”
She studied his face, so hard and impassive, as though it were carved from marble. “Feeling pain is the only way I know to deal with it.” Sometimes she wondered if she clung to pain. If she turned it over and dissected more than she needed to. If she used it to protect herself.
“I have gotten to the point where I don’t feel it at all. Kyonos comes first, and everything else comes second. That will include a wife. She’ll have to understand that. She’ll have to understand that her role is not to love me, but to love my country.”
Bone deep sadness assaulted her. He deserved more than that. More than this.
Her phone buzzed and she pulled up her text messages.
We’re done. Where are you?
The message was from Victoria.
Out front. She typed out the note and then hit Send.
“They’re done,” she said. “Brace yourself.”
He straightened his shoulders, his expression changing, that wicked charm back in place. She had to work hard to suppress a smile.
As if on cue the three women walked out of the spa, sunglasses fixed firmly on flawless faces. Victoria was the first to spot Stavros, the first to smile widely. “Prince Stavros. How lovely.”
Like she was surprised. Like she hadn’t been briefed by Jessica early that morning.
“Lovely to see you, Victoria,” he said, inclining his head. “Cherry, Amy.”
Cherry and Amy didn’t look thrilled at being afterthoughts, but they managed to smile, too, and offer platitudes about what a lovely day it was.
“I’ve made reservations at a café down by the water,” he said.
“Sounds lovely,” Amy said, taking her chance to be the first to speak.
“My car is just this way,” he said, leading down the narrow street and to a black limo idling at the curb. The security detail opened the back doors on both sides. The women slid in and took their positions on the bench seats that ran the length of the car.
Jessica got in and sat on the bench facing them, and Stavros slid in beside her. The doors closed and the air-conditioning provided immediate relief from the heat. Or, rather, it would have, if Stavros himself wasn’t so hot.
A thick, awkward silence settled into the air and Jessica worked to find her social ease. She was good with people. It was one of her strengths. But Stavros had her in the throes of her first sexual attraction in years and his potential brides were sitting a foot away.
It was more awkward than any situation had the right to be.
“I …” She cleared her throat. “I’m really looking forward to lunch.”
“I’m looking forward to dinner,” said Cherry, flashing Stavros a smile.
From awkwardness to greater awkwardness.
“I imagine everyone will be eating dinner tonight,” Jessica said, a bit too brightly. Some will be eating alone, though.
Stavros laughed … easy, charming. False. He did that so well. No matter the situation he seemed to be in control. More than that, he seemed to distance himself. The flirtier and friendlier he seemed, the less present he actually was. And that seemed to be his default setting.
Not always. Her mind flashed back to the kiss. That hadn’t been emotionless at all. Or distant. That had been … amazing. And wild. She sneaked a peek at him from the corner of her eyes, her line of sight connecting her with the strong column of his throat. She was willing to bet he tasted like salt. Clean skin and man.
“I’m certain everyone will,” he said, earning a delicate blush from Cherry.
The limo stopped