Marley sat down and spread her hands over the cool stone. She stared ahead and felt a glimmer of sadness. It made no sense, but she knew she had sat here before, and she knew that she had felt fear. Uncertainty.
She raised her hands to cup her face and leaned over, huddled on the bench. It was there, just out of reach, so close she could feel the heavy weight of sadness, of indecision.
A hand touched her shoulder, and Stavros’s concerned voice reached her. “Are you all right? Do I need to call Mr. Anetakis? Perhaps I should take you to the hospital.”
She shook her head and looked up. “No. I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve been here before. I can feel it.”
Stavros nodded, though the concern didn’t leave his eyes. “You often said this was your thinking spot.”
“It would appear I had a lot to think about,” she murmured.
He checked his watch. “Let me call Mr. Anetakis and tell him to meet us at the restaurant. By the time we return to the apartment, you could already be eating.”
She didn’t object when he gently helped her up, and instead of walking just behind her, he held her elbow as they walked back to the car.
“Stavros, please don’t concern Chrysander,” she said as he put her into the car. “He’ll have me back at the apartment in bed.”
“Which is perhaps where you should be,” Stavros said.
She made a face. “You’re seriously no fun. I’m supposed to go shopping. For a wedding dress no less. I can’t very well do that if I’m in bed.”
Stavros looked to be fighting a smile as he closed the door. A moment later, the privacy glass slid down and Stavros turned to look at her. “If Mr. Anetakis asks, I’ll simply say we had a quiet day on the town.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you,” she said cheekily, her good spirits restored.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Chrysander met them at the car and promptly dismissed Stavros, saying he would have his driver take him and Marley home when they were through shopping.
Over lunch, Chrysander asked how her morning had gone, and she explained about all the places Stavros had taken her. But when she asked him about his morning, he grew silent and vague.
Not wanting to cast a pall over the day, she swiftly changed the topic to their shopping.
“Exactly how fancy is this reception we’re attending?” she asked as she savored another bite of the rich pasta.
He quirked one eyebrow. “That depends on your definition of fancy.”
“Oh, then I can wear my blue jeans and maternity top,” she said sweetly.
He laughed. “While I certainly would not object to you wearing your blue jeans, I do not want others seeing you in something that cups your bottom so lovingly.”
“Am I supposed to dress up then?” she asked with a sigh.
“Don’t concern yourself with it, pedhaki mou. I will choose the perfect dress for you.”
“I won’t wear high heels,” she said resolutely. “There is no way I’m waddling around on toothpicks.”
“Of course not,” he said in a tone that suggested she was crazy for even mentioning it. “I’m certain it’s not advisable for a pregnant woman to put herself through such torture. What if you fell?”
“Maybe I could go barefooted,” she said mischievously.
He laughed. “And maybe I should stick to a plan of keeping you at home solidly under lock and key.”
She swallowed the last bite of her pasta and reluctantly pushed the plate away. “That was so wonderful, and I ate far too much.”
“You need to gain some weight. You are too slight as it is. It is good that you ate well.”
“And if I eat any more, I won’t fit into whatever dress you plan on buying me.” She glanced down at her rounded belly. “Do they make ultra-chic wear for pregnant women?”
Chrysander gave her a patient look. “Trust me, Marley. We will find you something suitable.”
“Just how do you know so darn much about buying dresses anyway?” she grumbled as he took her out to his waiting car.
“Surely you don’t expect me to answer that?” he said with barely suppressed amusement.
She shot him a withering look and settled into the car.
As it turned out, he did indeed have a skill for choosing the perfect dress. He nailed it with the second one she tried on. White silk in a very simple design. It had spaghetti straps with a conservative bodice, and the material hugged her belly, drawing attention to the soft mound.
“It makes me look…well, very pregnant,” she said as she turned to allow Chrysander to look.
“You look absolutely exquisite,” he murmured. “I think every pregnant woman should like to look as you do right now.”
The appreciation in his eyes sold her on the dress. She had no desire to look any further. It was carefully wrapped and set aside along with the low-heeled shoes that she had chosen.
“Tell me, agape mou, do you want a traditional wedding dress?”
She pursed her lips then shook her head. “No, I’d prefer something simpler, I think.”
The saleslady set several really gorgeous selections in front of them, and Marley watched Chrysander closely for his reaction.
She fell in love with a peach-colored gown that scraped the floor and fell in soft waves from her waist. It accentuated her pregnancy in such a way that she truly felt beautiful and feminine. It was clear by the look on his face that Chrysander agreed.
To her surprise, instead of returning to the car, he walked her next door to a jeweler and proceeded to choose a stunning set of diamond earrings and a matching necklace to go with her wedding dress. Already speechless, she was reduced to a mere croak when he next selected a sapphire necklace and earrings that he suggested she wear with the white silk dress to the reception.
“They will look beautiful with your eyes, agape mou,” he murmured next to her ear. “And later, I’d love nothing more than to see you in these jewels and nothing else.”
Her face exploded in heat, and she looked around to make sure no one could see her furious blushing.
“You spoil me, Chrysander,” she said as they left the jewelry store.
“It is my right to spoil my woman,” he said with a shrug.
“I find I quite like it,” she said with a smile.
“That is good, because it would be a shame for you not to enjoy something I intend to be doing a lot of.”
Impulsively, she scooted against him in the seat and kissed him full on the lips. A staggered breath escaped him as his hands went out to grip her arms. Her cheek slid down his until she nuzzled against his neck and she hugged him tightly.
“Thank you for today. I had so much fun.”
His hand went to her hair and stroked softly as he hugged her back with his other arm. “You are quite welcome.”
She raised her head and started to move away, but Chrysander held her fast against him.
“Am I a good cook?” she asked, cocking her head at him.
His face registered surprise. “I’m sorry?”
“Cook. Stavros informed me that I liked to cook for you and frequently went to the market for ingredients. I wondered if I was any good at it.”
A peculiar expression lit his face. “That’s right. You did. I hadn’t thought about it in a while, but yes, you did often cook a meal for me on my first night home.”
“Were you gone very often?” she asked.
He paused for a moment then slowly nodded. “I’m afraid I was. I was often out of the country on business. Sometimes we went weeks without seeing each other.”
“I can’t imagine it,” she said softly. “I missed you in just the few hours we were apart this morning.”
He kissed her again. “And I missed you, pedhaki mou.”
She settled against his side as they continued the ride home. She was a bit tired, but there was no way she’d tell him that. The day had been nearly perfect, and they still had the evening together.
Thirteen
M arley fidgeted and tugged at her dress as she surveyed her appearance in the mirror. Sapphires glinted from both ears, and the matching necklace lay against the skin of her neck.
“You look beautiful, agape mou.”
She turned to see Chrysander behind her. She sucked in her breath as she took in his appearance. The excellently tailored black suit fit him to perfection, drawing attention to his muscular build. The white shirt contrasted with his bronze skin, dark hair and golden eyes, and quite frankly, she felt like drooling.
“So do you,” she finally managed.
He chuckled and walked toward her. “Beautiful? Surely you can do better than that.”
“Gorgeous? Devastatingly handsome? So good-looking that I’m tempted to fall on you and tear your clothes off?”
“I like the way you think.”
“I wasn’t joking,” she muttered.
“Are you ready? The car is waiting for us below.”
She took a deep breath and twisted her engagement ring around her finger with the pad of her thumb. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He reached for her hand and tugged her into his arms. “It won’t be so bad. I will be with you the whole night.”
She reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. “I’m a coward. I fully admit it.”
He took his time exploring her lips, moving with a sensual thoroughness that left her weak and breathless. When they drew apart, she could see he was as affected as she was.
“I think we should leave now,” he said hoarsely. “Otherwise we won’t be going anywhere for a very long time.”
They rode to the hotel, and Marley could see several limousines lining the circular drive outside the main entrance as they pulled up. She swallowed nervously as she saw the glitz and glamour of the people stepping from the cars and entering the hotel. She suddenly felt underdressed and unprepared.