Greek's Marriage Bargain (12 page)

He snorted. “I guess it’s a good thing I gave you one hundred percent then.”

She blinked, scanning the pages more thoroughly. “What? This is crazy.”

A harsh laugh exploded from him. “That’s what the attorneys said—especially when I insisted they draw up all the necessary paperwork within hours.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Nikos seemed defeated, and the lack of spark in his gaze was alarming. “It’s all I can think of to prove to you that I want you as my wife because I love you, not because of that damned company.”

She jerked in surprise. “What did you say?”

He sighed. “I want you to stay with me, but only because you want to. I love you, Leah. I tried trapping you and forcing you to stay, thinking having you even under duress was better than a life without you.” Nikos’s lips thinned. “I still think that, but I have no right to keep you. I have behaved boorishly, and the only way I can make up for it is to offer you your freedom.” He leaned forward, bringing his hand near hers. “With the caveat that I want you to stay, with all my heart.”

She shook her head, unable to believe what he had said. “How can you love me? I’m not the kind of woman who should be your wife.” Her calm façade slipped, making her voice crack. “And there’s Maia. If you love me, how can you still be with her?”

Nikos swore. “For an intelligent woman, you can be an idiot sometimes,
agape mou
.”

She gasped, but he continued before she could retort.

“I am not with Maia. I haven’t been in years, and I do not wish to be. She has done everything in her power to make you think we are together, because she wants you out of the picture.” He laughed harshly. “The fool actually thinks I could ever love someone else if you left me.”

Leah bit her lip, wanting to believe him, but unable to summon the necessary level of trust. “What has she done?”

“She sent you those emails, for one.” He lifted a finger, as though counting off her deeds. “Speaking of, perhaps you noticed there wasn’t one reply from me in the pile? I ignored her. I should have responded bluntly, telling her I do not want her, but I didn’t know how to deal with it.” He shrugged. “You have had me so tangled inside that I could not think logically about anything.”

She frowned at the accusation, but prompted him to continue. “What else?”

“She tricked my assistant into giving her information about us, including the miscarriage. He thought she was a friend of the family in Greece. Marco thought it was sweet that she called to discreetly check on us, because she didn’t want to intrude at such a private time.” Nikos rolled his eyes.

A sinking feeling hit her stomach, and she forced herself to ask, “When we got married, was Andrakis Corporation in trouble, capital-wise?”

Nikos frowned. “No. There were some financial difficulties years before I ever had anything to do with the company, but Dmitri had straightened it all out by the time he died.” His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“I really am an idiot.” She closed her eyes, unable to bear looking at him. How could she have believed Maia without even asking Nikos?

“What? Why?”

Haltingly, Leah relayed the conversation she’d had with Maia. “She had all the paperwork pertaining to the stocks.” Leah ran a hand through her hair, mussing it similarly to Nikos’s in the process. “She just sounded so believable.”

He cursed again, but his anger seemed to be directed at Maia. “She is a scheming, conniving piece of work, Leah. Only one thing motivates Maia and that is self-interest. I was too young to realize it when we were engaged, but maturity brought perspective and wisdom. I got over her a long time ago, even before I married you. I would not take her back under any circumstances.”

She couldn’t doubt the sincerity in his tone, or the genuine emotion in his gaze. Leah was numb with shock at her own stupidity. Why had she been so quick to believe Maia, having already ascertained what kind of woman she was?

The answer took her breath away as it came to her. She had been so quick to believe Maia because she couldn’t understand why Nikos had wanted to continue the marriage. It had seemed beyond belief that he had wanted her. In her incredulity, she had managed to find all sorts of signs and clues pointing to his ulterior motives. Still, she did have reason not to trust him….

“Why didn’t you tell me about my father’s stock, and that I had inherited it?”

He paused, seeming to be looking for an answer. Finally, Nikos said, “I would like to say it was something incredibly romantic—like my need to have you as my wife at all costs—that kept me from telling you. The truth is I didn’t love you when we got married. I barely knew you. As for the stock, I really didn’t think about it until we were about to be married. Arianna was so excited about the marriage and living with both of us. I was afraid of the setback to her recovery if you changed your mind.”

Leah nodded, knowing he was right. After telling Arianna of the forthcoming marriage, along with the white lie of leading her to believe they had been dating for a while, the other girl had seemed reenergized and determined to get out of the hospital before the ceremony. “You might not believe it, but I would have gone through with the marriage, even if you had told me about the shares at the last minute.”

He nodded. “I know that now. You love Arianna as much as I do, and you wouldn’t have let her down.”

Leah licked her lips. “Well, I’ll admit my reasons for agreeing weren’t completely altruistic, nor prompted by the need for financial security.” She locked eyes with him. “I’d had a crush on you since I was a teenager. When you offered me the chance to be your wife, a small part of me jumped at it, convinced I could make you love me." She sighed. “I let go of that illusion after our wedding night. When you rejected me, I figured out you would never see me in any way besides your convenient, temporary wife.”

“Leah.” This time, he stretched to put his hand over hers, and she didn’t pull away. “I was so cruel to you that night.”

She nodded. “Yes, but you got the point across. I soon convinced myself that the silly crush I’d had on you that had turned to love was all in my imagination. I knew I loved you, and it took every ounce of strength and self-delusion to come to the point where I believed I didn’t anymore.”

His hand tightened on hers for just a second. “Are you still laboring under that delusion,
agape mou
?”

For a moment, she couldn’t answer. Whatever she said would determine the future for both of them. Her distrust had faded away, and her love was as strong as ever. There was no reason not to be with him.

Instead of answering immediately, Leah got to her feet, lifting the contract he’d placed before her in her hands. As he watched, looking baffled, she took the stack to the shredder and dumped it in. “No, I’m not,” she said.

“What are you doing?”

She slid around the side of the desk to settle herself on his lap. “I’m giving you back your company. I don’t want it. I don’t want any of it.” Leah put her arms around his neck. “I just want you.” She brushed her lips against his, tasting and smelling the trace of spirits remaining. “
S’agapo
,
agape mou
.”

His lips slowly formed a smile. “You have been studying, haven’t you?” At her nod, he said, “I love you too.”

She pressed her mouth to his, enjoying the sensation of being in her husband’s arms. For the first time in their relationship, she felt truly secure. Leah laid her head on his shoulder. “I don’t understand one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asked, as his hands roamed over her body.

She lightly slapped away his hand when he cupped her breast. “I’m trying to have a conversation here.”

“Talk quickly.” He tugged at the hem of her shirt and started fumbling with the buttons as he spoke.

“How did Maia get all the paperwork she brought to the house on Trini Island?”

Nikos paused, tilting his head as he considered the question. “She either paid someone to steal the forms, she stole them from the office herself, or she convinced my idiot assistant to give them to her.” He grimaced. “I would assume it was the idiot assistant.”

Leah giggled. “What will you do to him?”

“I should fire him, but I’m feeling generous.” He pushed open her shirt to tackle her bra. “I will demote the idiot to a valet in the parking garage.”

She put her hand over his to stop his fumbling. “Let me help.” To her surprise, Nikos took her left hand, examining it closely. “Is something wrong?”

“Marry me.”

With a light chuckle, she said, “You’ve had more to drink that I thought. We are married, love.”

Nikos waved a hand. “I mean in a real ceremony, with our friends and family.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I want to mark the change in our relationship. I want you to be my wife completely.”

Leah tugged her hand away gently, cupping his cheek. “I’d love to marry you.” She shifted to press her lips to his before dropping her hands to his lap, to tug at the belt. “Provided you give me a preview of the wedding night.”

Nikos changed position to allow her freer access. “For you, Leah
mou
, I would do anything.”

Epilogue

The day of the wedding was bright and surprisingly warm, without a hint of clouds in the sky. Being late October, Leah had wondered if it was wise to hold the ceremony outdoors, but Nikos had insisted she have the wedding she wanted. There had been an indoor backup plan, but it was unnecessary.

They exchanged vows as myriad guests watched. If any thought they it strange they were renewing their vows after only three years, they hadn’t said so. When Nikos kissed her, it was profoundly different than the other kisses they had shared. She had been married to him for three years, but now, she truly felt like his wife.

As they lined up to greet the guests, Leah glanced at the new wedding set on her finger. The other one had been exquisite and expensive, but Nikos had confessed his assistant—not the idiot one—had selected the set before their hasty marriage. This set, much more to her liking, had been selected by her husband personally.

Feeling warm inside, Leah did her best to get through the rest of the afternoon. She was thankful for their friends, and thrilled to have a real wedding, but she was impatient to have Nikos alone. She was looking forward to their “wedding night”, but she also had another reason for the impatience.

It was several hours later before they slipped away from the reception at the hotel and went up to their honeymoon suite. Leah squealed with surprise when he swept her into his arms to carry her over the threshold—a tradition he hadn’t bothered with the first time.

With Nikos’s assistance, she shed the heavy and complicated wedding gown, and he removed his wedding finery. The Jacuzzi-for-two in the huge marble bathroom beckoned, and they settled into it. As he adjusted the controls, Leah said, “Don’t turn up the temperature too high, love.”

Nikos grinned. “We will provide our own heat?”

Leah smiled. “No doubt, but that isn’t the reason.”

He leaned back, tucking his arms around her and pulling her down onto his lap. The light hair on his chest tickled her back. “What is your reason?” Nikos cupped her breast, lightly thumbing her nipple as he asked.

She winced slightly. “I read it wasn’t safe… for the baby.”

His hand froze, and he seemed to have stopped breathing. “Baby?”

Leah nodded, turning her neck so she could see his face. “I’m pregnant.”

He cupped her stomach. “How far along?”

“About ten weeks.” Leah laid her hand over his. “I think we might have conceived the night you proposed.”

He nodded. “Ah, yes. The night when we didn’t even make it to our room.”

With a giggle, she said, “We didn’t even make it to the nearest sofa, Nikos.”

Nikos paled. “We have made love many times since. I could have hurt you, or the baby.”

She shook her head. “I talked to Dr. Anderson when I found out. She assured me it was perfectly safe to make love, even with my history. As much as I wanted to surprise you with the news on our wedding night, I wouldn’t have put our baby in danger.”

He nodded. “I know.” His eyes narrowed. “How long have you known,
agape mou
?”

“About four weeks.” Leah couldn’t help feeling a little sheepish. “It almost killed me to wait to tell you.” She had wanted to wait until the wedding night, but she’d had another reason as well. Dr. Anderson had assured her once she saw the heartbeat, there was a less than five percent chance of miscarrying. The little heart had fluttered away at her ultrasound last week.

“You deserve a sound spanking for not telling me sooner,” he said with a growl.

She grinned. “Promises, promises.”

His expression turned serious. “I will keep every promise I make to you, Leah.”

With a solemn nod, she said, “I know, Nikos. I trust you completely.” She had no hesitation at uttering the words. Nikos had proven his love and trustworthiness in a thousand tiny ways, and a few major ones—like taking her with him when he had gone to Maia’s hotel to confront her. The scene had been ugly, but they hadn’t heard a word from the other woman since that night.

“
S’agapo
, Leah.”

“
Ke ego s’agapo
, Nikos.” She turned in the water to face him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Forever.”

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Lilly LaRue lives near Victoria, British Columbia. She enjoys fishing, cruising, and whale watching. If she isn’t in the beach house her partner built with his own hands, you’ll find her on the water. She has a seafaring Newfoundland, named Newton, who loves the water almost as much as Lilly.

Please enjoy a sample from “A Royal Inconvenience”

Five years ago...Okira Fertility Center

Prince Aubosson paced around the confines of the office, where he and his wife waited for Dr. Okira. Gretel sat in a chair before the desk, her hands clasped together. He knew how badly she wanted the test to be positive, and Arkin was worried about her reaction if it wasn’t. This was their third IVF attempt in a year, and with each failure, she grew more distraught.

Arkin dropped into the seat beside her, taking her clenched hands in his own. “Whatever the results, it will be okay.”

Gretel was a small, delicate woman, with wispy blonde hair and huge blue eyes. Her smile was shaky and mainly for his benefit. “All will be well.”

He sighed, sensing her refusal to entertain any other notion except she might be pregnant this time. She had told him there could be no mistaking the signs her body was sending.

Dr. Okira’s arrival interrupted any response Arkin might have made. He was a small Asian man, with thinning hair and a kindly smile. Today, sadness tinged his smile. “Princess, I’m afraid the test was negative.”

Her face crumpled, and she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “No, I must be. I have certain symptoms, Dr. Okira.”

He shared a look with Arkin before returning his attention to the princess. “Perhaps the symptoms are a result of your desire to be pregnant. As you requested, we did an ultrasound with the blood serum test. There is no baby, Princess Aubosson.”

Gretel shook her head. “I can’t believe that. I was so certain—”

“We can try again in three months.” The set of Dr. Okira’s shoulders betrayed his defeat, and Arkin knew he was only mouthing platitudes.

She nodded, and the hand holding the tissue continued to tremble. “Yes, we mustn’t give up hope. Arkin must have an heir.”

“I’m more concerned with your health,” Arkin said, temporarily ignoring the doctor’s presence. “This may be for the best, Gretel. Your diabetes—”

“Posh. Diabetic women are capable of having healthy pregnancies.”

Arkin didn’t argue further, not feeling the need to point out Gretel’s diabetes was severe. Dr. Okira blamed it for her inability to conceive, but she refused to stop trying. She saw it as her duty to provide the future king with an heir, and nothing he said to the contrary would make her change her mind.

Dr. Okira opened his calendar. “Then you want to try again?”

“Of course.” Gretel’s mouth was firm, and her hands steadied.

“I’ll send you home with the injections today. Prince Aubosson, we’ll need you to make another deposit about two months—”

Arkin waved his hand. “Yes, yes, we know the routine.” He squirmed internally with embarrassment. Although he provided the specimen for procreation, he still felt it was unseemly.

“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“We’ll contact you.” She stood up with innate grace and allowed Arkin to assist her, leaning against him for a moment before straightening. Her spine remained stiff as they walked out of the office and down the hall. Her expression didn’t betray any emotion until she was seated in the back of the limousine. Then her face crumpled, but she turned away from Arkin, refusing to allow his comfort.

Arkin sat beside her, their thighs touching, but feeling a distance of miles between them. He hated these treatments and what they were doing to his beloved wife.

♥♥♥

Kayla sat in the office, waiting impatiently for Dr. Okira, one of the most renowned fertility specialists in the world. Nolan was beside her, but her husband did not speak. He had been distant since Dr. Okira’s nurse called to make the appointment two days ago. He’d watched as her blood was drawn, but hadn’t offered his hand for support. He knew she hated needles and was usually right beside her, but today he had stood several feet away, his face impassive. Now he was motionless, seeming lost in thought.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

She placed a hand on his arm, but got the feeling he wanted to shrug it off. There had been a widening gulf between them this past year, since Nolan was diagnosed with a low sperm count. At first, under the treatment of Dr. Okira, he had been hopeful, dutifully following the prescribed regime. After two failed attempts at artificial insemination, he’d lost all enthusiasm for attempting to have a child.

When Dr. Okira broke the news to them that Nolan’s sperm was insufficient to conceive, he hadn’t seemed to care either way. The doctor had suggested using donor sperm, and he’d agreed. Kayla went in for the insemination last month, and since then, Nolan hadn’t been the same.

“Are you nervous?”

“No.”

“Are you worried the treatment didn’t work?”

Nolan shrugged, and the door opening drowned out any reply he might have made as Dr. Okira joined them. He shook both their hands and sat down behind the desk. From his beaming smile, Kayla knew the test was positive. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cole. You’re four weeks pregnant.”

Kayla touched her stomach, almost disbelieving a life grew there. Maybe more than one since they had used fertility drugs. Dr. Okira had wanted her to produce as many eggs as possible so they stood a better chance of conceiving. “We’re having a baby.” Tears streamed down her face. She grasped Nolan’s hand, but he didn’t squeeze back. “Can you believe it?”

“Yeah,” was his disinterested response. Some of Kayla’s happiness fled, and she frowned at her husband.

Dr. Okira was also frowning, but he quickly turned his attention elsewhere. “I’ve written a referral to an excellent obstetrician, Mrs. Cole. She’ll want to see you as soon as possible. The receptionist will give you all the details.”

“Thank you so much for everything.” Tears of joy blurred Kayla’s eyes when she grasped his hand.

“I’m happy to have helped you.” His tone was sincere. “Good luck with your pregnancy, Mrs. Cole.”

Kayla imagined he meant the words every time he said them, to whatever couple sitting in front of him. She couldn’t help wondering how he sounded when he broke bad news, but she pushed aside that thought. Their pregnancy was nothing short of joyous, and she didn’t want to dwell on the countless number of dreams that had surely died in this office in the past.

They had been driving for twenty minutes, but Nolan still hadn’t spoken. “What’s wrong?” Kayla couldn’t hide her irritation.

“Nothing.”

“You’ve been silent since we found out. Talk to me.” She hated it when Nolan retreated from her, burying his thoughts and feelings.

“I’m not happy.” His expression was aloof, and his was voice cold.

“About the baby?” asked Kayla, her stomach clenching in fear.

“No, definitely not. I thought I wouldn’t care, but now all I can think about is you’re pregnant with another man’s child. It should be mine, dammit!”

“Yes,” Kayla touched his thigh, “but this is the next best thing.”

“No, it isn’t,” he snapped. “If I couldn’t give you a child, then you shouldn’t have wanted one, or we should have adopted. I’d feel better knowing the kid didn’t belong to either of us, rather than living with this situation. We don’t even know the father.”

“We saw his stats. He’s the same height and build as you, with the same brown hair and brown eyes. No one will know the difference.”

“I’ll know.” Nolan’s mouth tightened. “I don’t think I can go through with this, Kayla.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want you to have an abortion. Maybe in a year or so, we can adopt.”

Kayla’s eyes widened. She had never expected to hear something like that from Nolan. He was a conservative Republican. He didn’t believe in abortion, and now he was suggesting she kill her child? “The baby is half me. Isn’t that good enough?”

“No.”

“I can’t do it. I can’t kill my child.”

“And I can’t live with this,” he said softly. “It’s either me or the baby, Mikayla. You have to decide.”

“How can you do this to me?” Kayla shook her head. “I thought we were in this together.”

“I didn’t plan this.” His scowl twisted his handsome countenance into something ugly. “I thought I could handle it, but now I know I can’t.”

“Why couldn’t you have decided this before I conceived?” Kayla’s voice broke. “I won’t terminate this pregnancy.”

“Then I guess you’ve made your choice,” he said, his eyes sad.

♥♥♥

Six months later...

“I officially dissolve the marriage of Nolan and Mikayla Cole. Half the marital assets are awarded to Mrs. Cole.” With a bang of the judge’s gavel, it was official.