‘Now you’re being ridiculous,’ Carrie said. ‘Anyway, I thought he was your friend. That’s not exactly very loyal of you.’
‘Acquaintance rather than friend,’ Nik replied. ‘But I do know what he’s like, and it’s fair to say he can give Lulu a run for her money. And, as I said, it was Darren’s study and you were certainly dressed to impress.’
‘If that’s the case, why didn’t he mind when you kissed me?’ Carrie threw at him.
‘He recognised he’d met his match?’ Nik asked.
‘He was virtually cheering you on!’ Carrie snapped. ‘It was humiliating!’
‘Is that how you found it?’ Nik asked.
‘Of course it was humiliating to see my photo in that trashy magazine!’ The awful full-colour image that she’d seen on those glossy pages flashed nauseatingly through her mind.
‘Oh, you saw that?’ Nik drawled, as if seeing himself portrayed like that meant nothing to him.
‘You had no right to put me in that position.’ She suddenly felt her cheeks blaze as she remembered exactly how she’d felt as he pushed her back over the desk, his leg pressed intimately between her thighs while he kissed her.
‘I got the impression that position turned you on.’ The corner of his expressive mouth twitched, as if he found her embarrassment amusing. ‘I thought you found our little encounter quite stimulating.’
‘That’s not what I meant.’ Carrie glared at him, despite the overwhelming urge to turn away and hide her blazing cheeks. ‘You had no right to drag me into your sordid little celebrity scandals!’
‘As I recall, it was your ill-advised foray into Darren’s study that led to our little clinch in the first place,’ Nik said dryly. ‘I hope you’ve learned your lesson and now realise it’s not very sensible to get involved with that kind of thing.’
‘Don’t you dare patronise me!’ Carrie gasped. ‘If I choose to do a favour for one of my friends, it’s none of your business!’
‘While you are caring for my nephew, everything you do is my business,’ Nik said.
‘And what about you?’ Carrie demanded. ‘It was your outrageous behaviour that resulted in that appalling photo. Who knows what other unsuitable activities you might have been indulging in?’
‘I do not need to make an account of myself to you,’ Nik said.
‘But you think I need to explain myself to you?’ Her eyes flew over him with irritation, standing there so cool and perfect in his immaculate designer suit. He oozed wealth and power, from the top of his arrogant head to the leather soles of his handmade Italian shoes. ‘You’ve had life so easy. You have no idea what it’s like for the rest of us—having to question our actions, worrying whether we made the right decisions.’
‘Of course I question my actions,’ Nik said coldly. ‘Having money doesn’t make you immune to difficult decisions.’
‘No, but it makes it a whole lot easier.’
‘I have to live with bad choices I’ve made, just like everybody else.’ Nik pushed his fingers roughly through his dark brown hair.
‘Poor little rich boy,’ Carrie said. ‘Do you expect me to feel sorry for you?’
‘Okay, let’s just stop it!’ He took off his jacket and slung it over his shoulder. ‘I didn’t come here to argue with you. I only wanted to ascertain where you and Danny were.’
Carrie stared up at Nik, suddenly breathing very quickly. His outburst had startled her, making her stomach feel fluttery.
He was studying her again. His full lips were pressed together and his brows were drawn down, casting his blue eyes into deep shadow. The muscles in his face were tense, pulling his bronzed skin taut across his high cheekbones and around the strong, darkly stubbled curve of his jaw line.
‘What time is your flight back to London?’ he asked, suddenly businesslike.
‘Late Friday morning,’ Carrie said warily. ‘We are all flying back together.’
‘My assistant, Spiro, will stay with you until then, to make sure you and Danny are all right,’ Nik said. ‘Unfortunately I have to return to London to sort out some business.’
‘He can’t stay here,’ Carrie said. ‘This isn’t my place, you know. I won’t have you ruin Elaine’s family holiday by leaving someone here to…to stalk me!’
‘Believe me, it’s not my first choice,’ Nik said. ‘But it will have to do. If you try to evade Spiro I shall return at once and place both you and Danny under my care, in a location where you can be closely supervised.’
‘Are you threatening to abduct us?’ Carrie gasped. It was a nasty reminder that dealing with Nikos Kristallis was dangerous. There was so much at stake.