‘It was an infatuation.’ Jon pulled a rueful face. ‘I lived to regret leaving you.’
‘Never mind about that now. I don’t hold grudges,’ Bee interposed, feeling a shade awkward beneath the earnest onslaught of his blue eyes.
‘That’s pretty decent of you. Now let me get to the point of my invite and you are, of course, welcome to tell me that I’m a calculating so-and-so!’ Jon teased, extracting a leaflet from his pocket and passing it across the table to her. ‘I would be very grateful if you would consider becoming a patron for this charity. It does a lot of good work and could do with the support.’
Bee was taken aback, for the Jon she recalled had been too intent on climbing the career ladder to spend time raising money for good causes. Maturity, it seemed, had made him a more well-rounded person and she was impressed. He was a trustee for a charity for disabled children, similar to one she had volunteered with when she was a student. ‘I doubt that I could do much on a personal basis because I’ll be based in Greece after the wedding.’
‘As the wife of Sergios Demonides, your name alone would be sufficient to generate a higher profile for the organisation,’ Jon assured her with enthusiasm. ‘And if you were to decide to get more involved the occasional appearance at public events would be very welcome.’
Bee was relieved then that it appeared Jon’s desire to see her was professional rather than personal. She very much appreciated the fact that he studiously avoided asking her anything about Sergios. They parted fifteen minutes later but before she could turn away, Jon reached for her hand.
‘I meant what I said earlier,’ he stressed in an undertone. ‘I made a colossal mistake. I’ve always regretted losing you, Bee.’
Green eyes turning cool, Bee was quick to retrieve her hand. ‘It’s a little late in the day to tell me that, Jon.’
‘I hope you’ll be happy with Demonides.’ But the look on his face told her that he didn’t think she would be.
Unsettled by that exchange, Bee travelled back to Sergios’s house to have tea with the children. Sergios had been jetting round the world on business for over two weeks and their only contact had been by phone. After their meal Bee supervised Paris’s homework assignment and bathed Milo and Eleni before tucking them into bed. In a month’s time, Eleni was scheduled for surgery to have grommets inserted in both ears to resolve her hearing problems. Having consulted Paris’s teacher, Bee had learned that the boy was struggling to make friends at school and she had tried to improve the situation by inviting some of his classmates over to play after school. Paris was beginning to find his feet and as he did so he had become more receptive to Bee and less suspicious of her.
Just before Bee went to bed, Sergios called from Tokyo. ‘Who was the man you accompanied to the wine bar?’ he demanded.
Bee stiffened defensively. ‘So, Tom’s a spy, is he?’
‘Beatriz…’ Sergios growled impatiently, forceful as a lion roaring a warning to an unwary prey.
‘He was just an old friend I hadn’t seen since university.’ Bee hesitated but decided to say nothing more, feeling she didn’t owe Sergios any more of an explanation.
‘You’ll find that plenty of old friends will come scurrying out of the woodwork now that you’re marrying me,’ Sergios replied cynically.
‘I find that offensive. This particular friend is asking me to get involved with a children’s charity. You can scarcely find fault with that.’
‘Is that why he was holding hands with you?’
Bee flushed scarlet. ‘He grasped my hand—big deal!’
‘In public places I expect you to be discreet.’
Her anger rose. ‘You always have to have the last word, don’t you?’
‘And I’m always right, latria mou,’ Sergios agreed equably, not one whit disturbed by the accusation.
That night Bee lay in her big luxurious bed and played the game of ‘what if’ with Jon in a starring role. Well, she was only human and naturally she could not help wondering what might have happened had she met her charming ex when she was not on the brink of getting married to another man. Probably nothing would have happened, she decided ruefully, for had it not been for the pressure Sergios had put on her she would have looked like a real Plain Jane and Jon would have been less than impressed. In any case, Sergios was much better looking and had a great deal more personality…
Now where on earth had that thought come from? Bee wondered in confusion. There was no denying that Sergios was a very, very handsome guy but he was not her guy in the way Jon had once seemed to be and he never would be. Bee decided that she was far too sensible to indulge in ‘what if’ dreams. Besides she had long since worked out that if Jon had truly loved her he would never have dumped her because she had a mother who would always need her support. Jon’s rejection had shattered the dream of family, which Bee valued most.
* * *
‘That’s a very romantic dress,’ Tawny commented, studying her half-sister with frankly curious eyes, for the fitted lace gown with the flowing skirt was exceedingly feminine and not in Bee’s usual conservative style. ‘And a very thoughtful choice for a guy entering a very practical marriage of convenience.’
Bee went pink, wishing her other sister, Zara, had not been quite so frank with their youngest sister, who thoroughly disapproved of what Bee was doing in marrying a man she didn’t love. She also wished Zara had not chosen to avoid what might have been an uncomfortable occasion for her by pleading her reluctance to travel while pregnant. ‘Sergios isn’t romantic and neither am I.’
‘Granted the kids are cute,’ Tawny conceded, her coppery head held at a considering angle, blue eyes troubled. ‘And Sergios, on the outside he’s sex on a stick, but only for an adventurous woman and you’re as conventional as they come.’
‘You never know,’ Bee quipped, lifting her bouquet.
‘If I was the suspicious type I would suspect that you’re doing this for your mother’s benefit,’ Tawny commented with a frown, revealing a glimpse of wits that were sharp as a knife. ‘You’d do anything for her and she’s a lovely woman.’
‘Yes, isn’t she? My mother is also very happy for me today,’ Bee slotted in with a pointed glance. ‘Please don’t spoil that for her by giving her the wrong idea about my marriage…’