The Greek's Bought Wife. Helen Bianchin
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is neither the time nor the place,’ Tina protested quietly, silently hating him for placing her in such an invidious position. She made an instant decision. ‘Give me five minutes.’
She made it in four, spoke briefly to Lily, preceded him from the boutique, and waited until they reached the pavement before demanding, ‘What do you want?’ She kept her voice low, but her pent-up anger was an audible force.
‘To continue the discussion you walked out on last night.’
His drawled tone held a steely quality she chose to ignore. ‘You’re giving me a choice?’
There were a few trendy cafés and restaurants dotting the street, and Nic indicated one close by.
She wanted to turn and retrace her steps, and almost did. Except he’d probably follow.
Within seconds he caught a waiter’s attention, sought a table, and waited until they were seated before venturing, ‘It’s possible the media will make contact with you at some stage this afternoon.’
Tina was unable to prevent a cynical element tinging her voice. ‘For this I need your help?’
Nic’s gaze remained steady. ‘Regarding my statement announcing our imminent marriage.’
A waitress crossed to their table and stood with pen and pad poised as Nic placed an order for two.
‘I may not want the chicken Caesar salad,’ Tina stated, and fixed Nic a deliberate glare before turning towards the waitress. ‘Don’t you just hate it when a man thinks he knows a woman’s mind?’ A double-edged query, if ever there was one.
The waitress, having undoubtedly witnessed the behaviour of numerous patrons during her employment, merely flicked Tina a glance that clearly queried Tina’s sanity.
What woman wouldn’t give her eye-teeth to have a man of Nic Leandros’ ilk appear so…in control?
Damn. She liked Caesar salad. ‘Make mine spinach and fetta tortellini with the mushroom and bacon sauce.’
Tina met Nic’s hooded gaze. ‘We can argue this back and forth for ever.’ She wanted to hit him…or, failing that, go several rounds in verbal battle. ‘Give me one good reason why I should agree to marry you, aside from being pregnant with Vasili’s child.’
He regarded her thoughtfully. ‘Protection.’ He could promise her that. ‘Loyalty. Trust,’ he endorsed quietly.
Sans love or fidelity.
Get real, a silent voice taunted. Neither love nor fidelity enter the equation. Nor do you want them to. So why even go there?
‘And the child? You intend claiming it as your own?’
Nic’s eyes narrowed. ‘Foster the illusion I’m the child’s biological father?’
Her chin tilted a little. ‘Yes.’
‘I will delight in my wife’s pregnancy, and initiate adoption proceedings immediately following the birth.’
Ensuring the legalities were neatly taken care of.
‘You avoided answering the question.’
‘The child will be born a legitimate Leandros, with two parents.’ His eyes speared hers. ‘No one, apart from Paul and Stacey, need know personal details.’
‘And Claire.’ Dear heaven, she had yet to enlighten her mother of the pregnancy. She eyeballed the man seated opposite. ‘I won’t keep the truth from her.’
‘I wasn’t going to suggest you do.’
There were a few other conditions she needed to voice, and she paused as the waitress presented their meals.
‘Claire’s boutique is my responsibility,’ Tina insisted as soon as the waitress was out of earshot. ‘Don’t expect me to give up work and assume a social butterfly persona.’
‘No objection, with one proviso.’ Dark eyes lanced her own. ‘Unless the medics advise otherwise.’
She wanted to argue, and her eyes darkened to a deep emerald-green. Something that fascinated him. She was fire and ice, and a complex mix of strength and vulnerability.
‘I want a prenuptial agreement protecting my interests.’
That was his criterion, surely? ‘Anything else?’
‘What if either one of us chose to file for divorce?’
‘I doubt the possibility will occur.’
‘But if it does?’ Tina persisted, and met his hard, level look.
‘Be aware I’d fight you in court to assume full custody of the child.’
‘You’d never get it,’ she said with certainty. ‘The courts generally favour the mother, especially when the male parent is not even the child’s biological father.’
One eyebrow arched in silent cynicism. ‘You doubt my ability to prove a case against you?’
A chill shiver feathered its way down her spine. Nic Leandros had both wealth and power in his favour. Sufficient of both to employ the finest legal brains in the country.
‘No.’ She paused imperceptibly. ‘But don’t underestimate my determination to oppose you.’
Brave words from a brave woman. He selected his cutlery and indicated she should do the same. ‘Let’s eat, shall we?’
The tortellini looked and smelt delicious, but Tina’s appetite had gone on strike. Instead, she cast an envious glance at the crisp cos lettuce in Nic’s bowl, the croutons and sliced chicken, the delicate sauce…and caught the faintly humorous twist at the edge of his mouth.
Without a word he signalled the waitress, ordered another chicken Caesar salad, and met Tina’s glare with equanimity.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘Ensuring you have what you’d prefer to eat.’
Her glare intensified. ‘And you know this because?’
One eyebrow rose. ‘Can I look forward to a battle-field with every meal we share?’
‘Count on it if you intend overriding every choice I make!’
Nevertheless the Caesar salad, when it arrived, was too tempting to resist, and she ate in silence while steadfastly ignoring the man seated opposite.
‘No polite conversation?’
Tina offered him a level glance. ‘I was trying to avoid indigestion.’
His soft laughter surprised her, and her eyes widened fractionally as she caught a gleam of humour in those dark eyes.
‘Our relationship will be an interesting one.’
His drawled observation attacked her equilibrium, and she fought to retain it. ‘A qualification…I’ve yet to agree.’
‘But you will.’
‘Why so sure?’
‘Because in your heart you know Vasili would see our liaison as an ideal solution.’
It didn’t help Nic Leandros was right. ‘Together with your assurance the alternative isn’t something I’d want to contemplate?’
He took his time. ‘Precisely.’
Tina wanted to throw something at him, and almost did. ‘I don’t like threats.’
‘Believe it’s a statement of fact.’
The icy certainty in his voice was a vivid reminder she didn’t stand a chance against the wealth and influence of the Leandros family.
This…marriage, Tina qualified, was merely a business arrangement, with advantages for her, a child who surely deserved