At the Tycoon's Service. Maya Banks
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walked into their bedroom to escort her down the stairs, she smiled welcomingly.
He stopped in front of her and studied her for a moment. Then he brushed his lips across hers and folded her hand in his. “You look beautiful. Your color is much better, and you look rested.”
“The good doctor has proclaimed me fit as a fiddle. So there’s no cause for concern.”
“That is good, pedhaki mou. Your health is important to me.”
He tucked her arm underneath his, and they headed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. As they neared the bottom, Marley looked up and saw Roslyn standing in the entrance to the formal dining room.
Marley stiffened. The woman was immaculately turned out in a designer dress that molded to every single one of her curves. She looked down self-consciously at her own very casual slacks and maternity blouse. She felt a sudden desire to race back up the stairs and change.
Not willing to allow the woman to know how much she had rattled her, Marley tightened her grip on Chrysander’s arm and plastered a smile on her face.
“If I had known we wouldn’t be dressing for dinner, I would have chosen different apparel,” Roslyn said. She made a gesture at her outfit that drew attention to the plunging bodice. “You usually like a formal dinner.” She made her last remark directly to Chrysander and cut her eyes toward Marley as if gauging her reaction to the fact that she knew more about Chrysander’s likes than Marley did.
Chrysander ushered Marley forward, curling his arm around her waist in a casual manner. “Marley’s comfort is what is most important, and since we intend to enjoy a great deal of privacy while we’re here, it makes no sense to be so formal.”
Marley relaxed and wanted to throw her arms around Chrysander. Roslyn didn’t seem to be too affected by his statement, however.
“Come, pedhaki mou. Mrs. Cahill and Dr. Karounis are waiting on us to begin dining.”
They walked past Roslyn, leaving her to follow. Marley could feel the other woman’s malevolent stare boring into her back.
The food, she imagined, was delicious, but she didn’t register the taste for all the attention she paid it. She smiled until her jaw ached and nodded appropriately when Patrice or Dr. Karounis spoke, but her focus was on the quiet conversation between Chrysander and Roslyn.
Chrysander’s head was bent and his expression intent as the two spoke in low tones. When dessert was served and Chrysander showed no signs of turning his attention from the woman who sat a little too close, Marley scooted back in her chair, tossed her napkin down and rose.
Chrysander jerked his gaze to her. “Is everything all right?”
“Just fine,” she said tightly. “Don’t let me disturb you. I’m going upstairs.” Before he could respond, she turned and walked away as calmly as she could.
When she reached the foot of the stairs, Patrice caught up to her. “Mr. Anetakis doesn’t want you to go up the stairs alone,” she said as she took Marley’s elbow in her gentle grip.
Marley turned but saw no sign of Chrysander. He wasn’t so worried that he’d see to the task himself. Obviously Roslyn’s company was a little more important than his posturing over Marley’s safety.
Fatigue beat at her as she entered the master suite and Patrice returned downstairs. The long, hot bath she’d taken before dinner had relaxed her, and she could have gone to bed then. Dinner had just brought back the tension she’d managed to rid herself of, and she knew she wouldn’t sleep now.
She gazed down at the pool and gardens from the large window. The entire area shimmered under bright moonlight. It glowed with a magical quality, one that called to her. Maybe a walk in the garden would soothe her irritation.
She pulled a sweater from the closet and tugged it over her shoulders as she left the bedroom and headed for the stairs.
Not sparing one iota of guilt over the fact that her doting fiancé wouldn’t be pleased that she was ignoring his dictate, Marley eased down the stairs. She held tightly to the banister, cursing the fact he’d made her paranoid with his concern.
She could still hear the murmur of voices filtering in from the dining room as she stepped down into the living room. She turned left and hurriedly crossed the floor to reach the French doors leading to the patio.
When she opened the door and slipped out, a chill blew over her face and raised goose bumps on her neck. Still, it was a lovely evening, and the moon shone high overhead.
She followed the stone pathway that led beside the pool and then veered right into the winding walkway of the garden. In the distance, the faint sound of the ocean soothed her ears. As she walked farther into the garden, the sound of running water overrode the distant waves. To her delight, as she rounded the corner of a thick row of hedges, she found a fountain, illuminated by spotlights angled from the ground.
Marley moved closer and inhaled the brisk night air. The salty breeze tasted tangy on her lips, and her fingers crept higher to pull the sweater more firmly around her body. She shivered with the cold but was reluctant to depart the scenic spot so soon.
“You should not be out here.”
Chrysander’s voice startled her even as his hands closed around her shoulders, spinning her around to face him. Anger glinted in his eyes, and displeasure tightened his jaw.
“How did you find me so quickly?” she asked, refusing to apologize for her flight.
“I’ve known where you were as soon as you left the house,” he said calmly. At her confused expression, he said, “I have security posted all over the island. I was notified the moment you stepped onto the patio. You’ve been closely watched ever since.”
Her mouth turned down into a frown even as she looked around, trying to ferret out the security he mentioned.
“You were not to navigate the stairs alone, and you should not come outside in the darkness unless I am with you.”
“You could hardly accompany me anywhere, glued as you were to your personal assistant,” she said dryly. She wanted to be flip and sound like she couldn’t care less, but hurt registered in her voice, and she clenched her fingers together.
“I neglected you at dinner. For this, I am sorry. I had several things I needed to go over with Roslyn before she leaves in the morning. I will be away from my offices during our stay, and while I can work from here, I’d rather devote the time to you.”
He drew her closer as he spoke, and she felt herself go weak. She hated jealousy and would like to believe she wasn’t a jealous person, but how was she to know? Did she always feel such burning insecurity when it came to Chrysander? She hoped not. It had to be a miserable existence.
She leaned her forehead on his chest and closed her eyes. His spicy scent surrounded her, blocking out the salt in the air and the fragrance of the garden. Warmth enveloped her and bled into her body. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He pulled her away and tilted her chin up with one finger. “Promise me you won’t go off like this again. I cannot protect you and our child if you won’t heed my precautions.”
She stared up at him, watched slow desire burn its way through his eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, and all she could do was nod. She wanted him to kiss her again, touch her.
“I have spoken with Dr. Karounis,” he said huskily. His finger trailed up her jaw and then over her cheek and back to her lips.
“What did he say?” she asked breathlessly.
He reached down and swept her into his arms. She let out a startled gasp as she landed against his hard chest.
“He saw no reason I could not make love to you.”
“You asked him that?” she squeaked. Mortification tightened her cheeks, and she buried her face in his neck.
His