He could see her face working—see the emotions flitting through her gaze. He took a breath. Before this went further he had to speak—anything else would not be fair.
‘A holiday, Mel—that’s what I’m asking you to share with me. A holiday—fun, relaxation, good times. With each other. A few weeks in the sun. On a beautiful island which,’ he said, ‘I suspect is probably not on your itinerary but which, I do promise you, you will enjoy.’ He paused. ‘What do you say?’ he asked.
She was silent still.
His voice changed. ‘Mel, we can’t deny the charge between us—it would be pointless to do so. So let’s not deny it. Let’s have some time with each other—a holiday—and then...’ He took a breath. ‘Then you go off on your travels, as you planned, and I... Well, I go back to banking. Nothing more demanding than that.’
He watched her take it in. It had been uncomfortable to spell it out, but he knew he’d had to. He wanted no deceit, no false expectations, no hope for anything more of himself than he could give her.
She’d gone very still again. She was resting her eyes on him, but not, he thought, really seeing him. It was as if she were absorbing what he’d said to her. What was behind what he’d said.
He fixed his eyes on her, waiting for her answer. Then she spoke. There was less strain in her voice now, but her tone was serious for all that.
She lifted her chin, looked right at him. ‘Nikos... You gave me, without doubt, the most glamorous evening of my life. And you don’t need me to tell you that that goodnight kiss would have won you a gold medal.’
The slightest tinge of humour infused her voice, and then it was gone again.
‘But I really, really should say no to you now. It’s the sensible thing to do. To say thanks, but I’m going to Spain tomorrow. I’m never going to see you again.’ She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. ‘That’s what I’ve got to say to you.’
She meant it—meant every word. Of course she did. It was the only sensible thing to do. Nikos Parakis was temptation personified. How could he not be? But even with what he was offering her—a no-strings romance, a couple of weeks in the sun, in a place she’d never be likely to go to herself—she felt the ripple of danger go through her.
She’d melted like chocolate at a single kiss—what would she be like after a fortnight with him? And after a lot more than a kiss.
You melted because you haven’t been kissed for years and the man who kissed you is a world champion kisser!
Her thoughts ran on...hectic, whirling around in her head...
Don’t you deserve something like this? Something thrilling and wonderful and fantastic, with a man like Nikos? He’s offering you exactly what you want now—a carefree, no-strings holiday romance. A few weeks of bliss and fun. Fabulous while it lasts—and unregretted when it’s over.
His expression had changed. She didn’t quite know how, but it had. He was looking at her still, but there was a glint in his eye—a gleam of humour and of expectation.
‘And are you?’ he asked. His voice was limpid, his eyes lucent. ‘Are you going to say that? Say goodbye to me again?’
Mel looked at him. Heard the confidence in his voice and knew the reason for it. Knew, too, what the sensible answer was—but why should she be sensible now? Her life was her own from now on—she could make decisions that maybe weren’t sensible, but so what? So what?
A flutter of emotion went through her. She took it for excitement. Seized it. If a single evening with Nikos had been an amuse-bouche before the banquet that was to be her new life of freedom, and his melting kiss the icing on that amuse-bouche, then a holiday with him—and all that entailed—would be the most fabulous entrée.
The flutter of emotion came again. Oh, it was definitely excitement. And why not?
Nikos was a gorgeously irresistible male—why should she resist him? They both wanted the same thing from each other—so why not take it?
He was quirking an eyebrow at her, waiting for her answer. A smile was curving his mouth...his eyes glinted in the sunlight.
She took a breath, lifted her chin. Yes, she would do it!
Her mouth split into a dazzling smile.
‘So,’ she said, ‘when are we going?’
CHAPTER SIX
‘I CAN SEE IT,’ Mel’s voice sounded excitedly. ‘There—just coming into view!’
Nikos leant sideways in his seat, peering out of the porthole. ‘So it is,’ he said.