The Theotokis Inheritance (5 page)

Oscar turned and went towards the door. ‘I shan’t be long,’ he said, not looking back.

After he’d gone, Helena stood looking around her and marvelled again that this all now belonged to
her
… well, almost… and not just the house, but everything in it! And although it was to be only for one year, she was going to make the most of every second of the time she’d be staying here. And finding her way around the kitchen again would be a good start.

As Louise had said, the fridge was empty and had been turned off, but the freezer was still reasonably full of the usual staple items, none of which had yet exceeded their sell-by date, Helena noted, as she searched through the contents. This would still be OK for her
own use when she returned in what she hoped would only be a couple of weeks.

The numerous cupboards held everything she’d need to keep herself fed while she was living here, and she could always shop for more, she thought, as she looked along the shelves. All the basic ingredients necessary for simple cooking were there, neatly arranged in Louise’s usual way. Helena smiled briefly. She was looking forward to having some time to cook for herself here in this wonderful kitchen, where all that time ago Isobel’s housekeeper had shown her most of the tricks of the trade.

After a while, she left the kitchen and wandered again through the rooms on the ground floor, before going slowly up the wide staircase. She paused for a moment to gaze out of the long landing windows at the garden beyond, biting her lip. It was really difficult to think of this place as belonging to her, she thought, whatever it said in Isobel’s will. This was a Theotokis property—Oscar was a Theotokis so it was obviously different for him. But she was the outsider. And once the house was sold next year, there would never be a reason for her to come near the place ever again.

Back down in the kitchen, Helena glanced up at the big clock on the wall. It was almost lunch time, and Oscar still hadn’t come back. She suddenly remembered the food she’d seen in the freezer and there were several packets of unopened staples in the cupboard, and they could have tea or coffee with the milk Louise had given them. Enough for a simple meal, Helena thought, setting the things out on the table. She wondered, idly, when he intended going back to London…
He obviously wouldn’t be leaving it late because he’d said he would be flying back to Greece tomorrow, and anyway, she herself needed to leave in an hour or so. She wanted to be in the office early tomorrow, to start clearing her desk and tying up ends.

She decided to make some tea—she was certainly ready for some, she realized. She put out two mugs and plates and knives, then went over to fill the kettle, her mind going over and over all her hopes and plans and trying to keep her developing feelings for Oscar firmly out of her thoughts.

She stood waiting for a couple of minutes until the kettle came to boiling point, then she picked it up and was just starting to pour when Oscar returned, a sudden gust making the back door slam behind him loudly, and Helena automatically jumped, turning quickly, before letting out a shriek of pain as a stream of boiling water coursed over her hand and arm, almost making her drop the kettle on the floor. ‘Ow… Oh… Ow!’ she cried desperately.
‘Ow!’

Immediately seeing what had happened, Oscar cursed out loud.

‘Heleena!’
he exclaimed, reaching her in three long strides, and taking the kettle from her. Then, turning the cold tap on full, he grasped her hand and held it under the gushing water while Helena winced in agony.

For several minutes they both just stood there, Oscar not letting go of Helena’s hand from under the running water, looking down at her, his eyes intense with concern as Helena tried hard to take control of herself.

‘That was the most idiotic thing I’ve done in a long time,’ she wailed, almost crying with the unbelievable
pain. She automatically leaned into Oscar, who had put his arm tightly around her waist to support her, and presently the anguish began to lessen and he gently let her go, passing her some tissues from the box on the counter top. He bent his head to examine her reddening flesh, muttering incomprehensible oaths under his breath.

‘Oh…
agapi mou
,’ he said softly, and Helena closed her eyes at the memory of that expression of endearment she hadn’t heard for so long, and even after all this time it sent a tremor of warmth through her thighs right down to her toes.

After a few moments, seeing how shocked it had made her, he led Helena over to the table to sit down, glancing at the few things she’d laid out for their lunch. ‘You really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble,’ he joked.

She dabbed her hand very cautiously with the tissues, not looking at him. Her skin wasn’t broken, she noted gratefully. But it was bright red and the incident had given her a horrible fright, making her tremble visibly. And Oscar had seen it.

Without saying any more, he went over to make the tea, before bringing it across to Helena. ‘Here,’ he said gently, ‘drink this—it’ll help.’

After a few cautious sips, Helena pulled herself together and glanced up at him. ‘So… you obviously saw Benjamin,’ she said, trying to act normally, and Oscar nodded.

‘Yes, he was more than happy to be here for another year. At least he’s being given time to come to terms
with the prospect of yet another dramatic change in his personal circumstances.’

As she tried to nibble at a biscuit, Helena said, ‘And we know that he and Louise will take good care of Mulberry Court for the time being,’ she added.

Oscar took a mouthful of some of the food Helena had prepared before speaking. ‘Have you seen anything in the house that you might want to take away with you, I mean eventually, apart from the figures?’ he asked, and Helena cut in.

‘No, nothing. Anyway, I shall have more time to consider it when I come back,’ she said. ‘I intend returning to London early this afternoon… after I’ve picked up my things and paid my bill at the Inn,’ she added.

‘I’ve already settled our bill there,’ Oscar said casually, and Helena looked at him quickly. She hadn’t realized he’d already paid for their stay.

‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked, reaching for her bag.

Oscar paused. ‘I’ve forgotten,’ he said, taking another biscuit from the plate. ‘but I remember thinking it was very reasonable.’

Helena opened her purse. ‘Well, then, try and remember,’ she said firmly. He needn’t act Mr Philanthropist, she thought, just because he was unbelievably rich. She had more than enough money to pay her own way.

‘Forget it,’ he said. ‘It’s not important.’

Helena sighed, but decided to let the matter drop. She wasn’t in the mood for any arguments—and anyway, she’d never win one with Oscar. She sipped at her tea again, aware that they were now sitting so close
their knees and thighs were touching under the table. She knew she could have moved away slightly, but she didn’t want to. The warmth of him was comforting… more than comforting… and she had to choke back the sensuous thoughts that would come bubbling up every time she was anywhere near him. Fate had been kind—and cruel—at the same time, she decided. She had been left an inheritance she could never have dreamed of, but it meant that the drop dead gorgeous Greek who’d long ago stolen her heart was here with her again, temporarily part of her life. And she didn’t need it, because he didn’t want her—or any woman. Helena swallowed at the depth of her own feelings. She had to face facts. Whatever their present circumstances, there was never going to be a future for her and Oscar, so she must try and deal with the here and now sensibly…
Sensibly?
… What part did sense play where matters of the heart were concerned?

Realizing that they hadn’t spoken for several moments, he took her hand and said softly, ‘Is it still hurting very much,
Heleena?
’ And as she looked up at him Helena wanted to say,
Oh, yes, it still hurts… You’ll never know how much, Oscar…
But instead she attempted a cool reply.

‘No… no—I can hardly feel anything at all now,’ she said, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. ‘Just a very slight burning sensation, that’s all.’ And admitting the double meaning in those words made Helena’s blue eyes limpid with hopelessness.

Then, as his unflinching gaze enslaved her once more, Oscar slowly raised her hand and pressed it
gently to his lips. ‘There,’ he said huskily, looking down at her, ‘let me make it feel better…’

In the next few moments of suspended silence, broken only by the gentle ticking of the clock, nothing could have prepared Helena for what was about to happen, because, with time standing still, Oscar slowly got to his feet, scraping back his chair, and pulled her up towards him, closing his mouth over her parted lips with expert precision. She gasped, the unexpectedness of what was happening taking her completely by surprise, and something vital, electrical, leapt from her at the urgency of his kiss… leaving her breathless.

‘Oscar…’ she faltered—this was not happening! Not again! She must not let it! She couldn’t bear it!

But it was too late. Much too late. She was in his arms, surrendering to his lithe, powerful physique, helpless and ecstatic. Then, frightened at what was happening to her, she managed to pull away slightly and look up at him, at his dark eyes, aflame with desire, boring into hers…

‘Oscar… this is not… I must leave…’ Helena began, but as she tried to protest he took advantage of her open mouth to claim it again and again, his kisses deep, penetrating, leaving her breathless with longing.

‘Heleena… kardia mou.’
The dark passion in his voice sounded like the guttural growl of an animal about to claim its prey, and Helena pulled away properly, stepping back, her eyes full of fear.

‘It’s too late, Oscar,’ she whispered. ‘For us it’s much, much too late.’

* * *

An hour later, they drove back to the Inn to collect their belongings, Helena sitting silently, choking back tears.

As Oscar had kissed her so thoroughly she had been in paradise—a paradise once lost, and so briefly regained. But wait a minute, she was not the inexperienced female she had once been, she told herself again—this was
now
! And there was no going back. That kiss had been a gesture—a gesture born of fleeting male sympathy—but then, being Oscar, it had very quickly become something much more. More vital, more intense, and yes, more thrilling. It would be wrong to deny it, wrong to pretend that she hadn’t wanted it to go on and on. She had not known another man who could match his sensitive, sensual, unforgettable technique.

She cast a fleeting glance at him, at the stern profile, the determined chin, and her shoulders drooped. For him, she thought, it would have been merely a case of déjà vu, something to be enjoyed for old times’ sake…

Today had been a bad mistake, a terrible mistake, she thought, and now she couldn’t wait to be by herself. Away from temptation, away from him.

And Oscar, keeping his concentration on the road ahead, had arrived at one of his usual, unequivocal decisions. Time was precious, and limited. Time was finite, and life was short and he didn’t intend to waste any more of it. Using every ounce of ingenuity, he would have to make her understand. And trust him. But love him?

Oscar allowed himself an inward smile. Oh, yes, he knew he could make her love him again. The memory
of the way she had responded to his ardour proved that Helena was still the warm, passionate female she’d always been. And would be again… with him.

T
HREE
weeks later, very early in the morning, Oscar took a brief glance around his large air-conditioned office high above the bustling streets of Athens, before packing his essential belongings into the large business holdall that went everywhere with him. His secretary had arranged for a car to be outside to take him to the airport where his private jet would be waiting, and now he walked swiftly towards the lift. He knew he would have to return again on Monday, but now there were other things than business on his mind. Or, rather, another person on his mind. And he knew that today she was returning to Dorset.

As the jet flew him rapidly across the ice-blue skies towards Heathrow Airport, Oscar gazed thoughtfully out of the window. Since meeting Helena again, it seemed to him that the planet had tilted somewhat on its axis, throwing things into slight confusion. He leaned back in the luxurious chair, stretching out his legs in front of him. Whatever else was happening to the world, the one thing he was certain of was that he needed to be with Helena… Being away from her was solving nothing, and he’d been away for far too long. Ten years too long.

* * *

It was turning out to be a very warm day, and Helena pushed up the sleeves of her top and went on vacuuming the carpets, before taking a final look around the cottage to make sure everything was clean and tidy, and to check that she was not leaving anything behind.

Her last weeks in the office had gone better than she could have hoped because Simon had hardly been there at all, and all the other girls had been happy for her—if rather envious at her news. They’d had a very jolly farewell lunch together, with Helena giving them the address she’d be staying at—and them threatening to visit her en masse—and as she’d waved them a last goodbye, she had to admit to a mixture of feelings. From the safety of normality and routine, she was about to tread an unknown path… and she fervently hoped she was doing the right thing.

But filling her mind and overriding every other thought was the way that Oscar had kissed her that afternoon. She’d tried to stop thinking about it ever since, tried to convince herself that it hadn’t meant anything to him. But did she want it to mean anything? Was she kidding herself that any relationship that might fleetingly blossom between them now, under these particular and very unusual circumstances, would end any differently than the last time? Helena sighed. She knew the answer to that. She knew she must force herself to be realistic.

She stopped what she was doing for a moment, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, remembering how, later, after picking up their belongings from the Inn, they hadn’t said much, making a very casual departure in their separate cars, with Oscar merely
saying a brief, ‘Take care,’ to her through her open window. And she’d only heard from him once since—a rather hurried phone call, obviously from his office because she’d heard men’s loud voices raised in the background. It was a rather blunt request that he be ‘informed’ when she expected to take up residency at Mulberry Court. She shrugged as she thought about that. Well, he did have a vested interest in the place, she thought, and was clearly anxious for it not to be unoccupied for too long. So, by going to live there temporarily, she was doing them both a favour, she told herself firmly.

Now, she picked up her duvet and went outside to put it in the back of the car, which by now was crammed to the roof. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d accumulated since she’d been living here, but at least her bedding would help to keep everything safe, she thought, as she tucked it firmly around her belongings. Her cases and bags of clothes were in the boot, and she’d wrapped towels around her few pieces of china and glassware, but she’d had to use the passenger seat and the floor-well for most of her books and CDs. It had been something of a major exercise to pack everything, she admitted, pushing back a tendril of hair from her flushed forehead.

She locked up for the last time, determined to go without a backward glance. She
had
been happy living here, she thought, but that part of her life was in the past and she had somewhere else to go now—just for a bit—and London would still be here waiting for her when she returned.

With her heart doing somersaults of excitement—
and a little apprehension—she switched on the car’s engine, her eyes widening in concern at the response. Instead of roaring into life—which, despite its age, it usually did—there was only a sort of wheeze, a cough… and nothing! Oh,
no!
The car had been so good-tempered of late.
Please, not today of all days
, she implored it. She waited a few seconds before trying again—she’d once been told that was what you should do—but the result was almost the same, except this time it didn’t even cough, and the wheeze was only a gentle breathy whisper of protest.

Since her experience of car maintenance was nil, Helena knew that she had one option—she’d have to call the road service people and hope that someone could arrive soon because, apart from wanting to get going on her journey, the inside of the car was becoming like an oven.

She took her mobile from her bag and, after a few abortive tries, she got through to someone who told her that, unfortunately, it was unlikely anyone could arrive for about two hours. The fact that she was not stranded on an isolated road and was actually outside her own front door seemed to weigh against her, Helena thought, as she gave an exasperated sigh. She rang off, biting her lip, annoyed that she hadn’t bothered to get the car serviced; she knew she should have done it by now, but it was usually so reliable and it was one of the things she’d let slip. Well, there’d been a lot on her mind lately, she excused herself, resting her head back against the seat.

Suddenly her mobile rang and she jumped, her spirits rising. Perhaps someone could come now after all.

It was Oscar! And although just to hear his voice sent her heart soaring, Helena made a face to herself. She’d have to tell him her present position, and for some reason she didn’t want to, didn’t want to sound pathetic. She should have been on her way by now.

‘Helena—have you arrived?’ The deep voice sent Helena’s nerves all over the place, as usual.

She swallowed. ‘Oh… hello… no, not yet,’ she said, clearing her throat. ‘My car refuses to start, and no one can come to sort me out for a couple of hours so I’ll just have to sit it out until…’

‘Where are you?’ Oscar cut in abruptly.

Helena gritted her teeth. She’d have to own up. ‘I’m outside my front door—my ex-front door,’ she said. ‘I haven’t been able to move as much as a yard up the road. I’m sitting here surrounded by all my stuff… In fact, there’s only just room for me,’ she added, keeping her voice deliberately light. She didn’t want to make a fuss—and anyway, she was sure to get to Mulberry Court by nightfall.

There was barely a moment’s pause before he said breezily, ‘Oh, well, that’s life.’ And with that he ended the call, and Helena smiled briefly. He really was determined to make sure he knew what was going on, she thought, but it was really good to hear from him, she admitted.

Presently, she glanced at her watch. It was gone two and, feeling thirsty, she reached for the bottle of water she’d packed and took a long drink. Surely someone should be here soon, she thought, sitting back and closing her eyes.

Even with all the windows open it was hot and sultry
in the car with not even a breath of air to relieve the humidity. After a few minutes, despite all her efforts to stay awake, Helena’s eyelids began to droop. Once or twice she made herself sit up straighter, before relapsing again into a state of torpor, until at last she couldn’t stop herself from drifting off, her semi-consciousness full of thoughts tumbling in on more thoughts and through it all the sound of Oscar’s voice, gentle but insistent. Her lips tilted in a smile as she heard him apologizing, over and over again, for disturbing her.

Then, more strongly, ‘It does seem a shame to disturb you,
Heleena
,’ the voice repeated, ‘but we have places to go, things to do…’

Suddenly, Helena woke up properly and with a gasp of amazement she found herself looking up into Oscar’s amused eyes. Several seconds passed before she gained possession of her senses and was able to speak.

‘Oscar… What on earth? I mean… why are you? What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Greece?’ she stuttered foolishly.

‘Because I’m here to make sure you get safely to Mulberry Court… today, if possible,’ he added wryly.

Helena gazed up at him unbelievingly. If you thought someone was hundreds of miles away and suddenly he appeared in front of you like an apparition, it was distinctly unnerving, she excused herself.

‘I flew in early today,’ he said. ‘I needed to see someone in the London office and thought I’d check up on you, see if you were OK,’ he added casually.

Helena got out of the car, then saw the four-by-four parked alongside and, before she could say anything,
Oscar said, ‘I knew we’d never get all your belongings in the Ferrari so I hired this instead.’ He peered into Helena’s car. ‘And I think I did the right thing,’ he added bluntly.

Helena looked at him, slightly mystified. ‘But… what are we going to do about my car?’ she said. ‘We just can’t leave it here—and what about the person who’s supposed to be coming?’

‘Ring the company again now,’ Oscar instructed her. ‘Tell them you’ve left the keys at your local dealers—they’re only half a mile away from here—and then they can either drive it or tow it there. We’ll arrange for the garage to keep the car there until further notice and pick it up at some point in the future.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘In the meantime, I’ll start loading up.’

Feeling extremely thankful—though rather dazed—at the formidable way Oscar was taking over, Helena rang the road organization again, who seemed more than ready to do as she asked, especially as it meant that now there was less urgency for them to send out a mechanic.

She snapped her mobile shut, then began passing things to Oscar as he deftly fitted everything neatly into the four-by-four. As she started heaving one of the heavy boxes of books from the passenger seat of her car, he came up quickly behind her, taking it from her.

‘I remember you saying you had rather a lot of books,’ he said, smiling down at her briefly.

Helena took a deep breath, intensely conscious of him standing so close to her. He was wearing designer jeans and a cream rugby shirt, and his hair, shining
black and glossy, had fallen forward onto his forehead, making him look boyish and carefree—just as she remembered him…

Later, with everything safely stowed in the larger vehicle, Oscar began driving slowly away from the area. He glanced across at her. ‘Did you have a fairly smooth exit from the job?’ he enquired briefly.

‘Yes, there was no problem,’ Helena replied, remembering Simon’s very formal last few words to her in front of everyone. Still, that was all in the past, she thought, her spirits lifting at the thought of the immediate future and what lay ahead.

‘I don’t suppose you’ve been able to have anything to eat yet, have you? It’s well past lunch time… Would you like to stop somewhere?’

Helena glanced at him quickly. ‘What about you?’

He shrugged. ‘I had quite a serious meal on the flight,’ he began, and Helena interrupted.

‘I’m not a great fan of on-board food,’ she said. ‘What did they give you?’

Oscar half smiled. ‘They gave me what I ordered,’ he said briefly and, without looking at her, ‘I was using the company jet,’ he added.

Helena looked out of her window, annoyed at her stupidity. Of course. Did she imagine that Oscar Theotokis would have been mixing with the rest of humanity on a routine morning flight? Even if it would have been first class? No, he’d arrived on his very own aircraft. She sighed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. It must be weird, she thought, to have access to such incredible wealth, to give any instruction, any order, and know that money would buy it.

‘So, shall we stop for something to eat?’ he asked.

‘No, I’d rather go on,’ Helena said quickly. ‘And, anyway, I did pack a picnic. Maybe we can stop and have it later.’

They drove in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts, Oscar headily aware of how beautiful Helena was looking, dressed in a pair of white jeans and a golden yellow top, her hair tied back in one long ponytail. She always appeared so effortlessly chic, he thought, licking his top lip briefly.

Three long weeks had passed since he’d held her in his arms, since he’d felt her soft lips mould with his. Despite everything else going on, she had never left his thoughts… his desperate thoughts of wanting her. So how much longer was it going to be…? How much longer was he prepared to wait? But strategy was everything, he reminded himself, and if he moved in too quickly he might lose her again, and this time it would be for good.

Helena, her head resting back against the seat, wondered if Oscar had given so much as a single thought to the way he’d practically overpowered her, both physically and emotionally, that afternoon in the kitchen. His momentary passion had been hot, fiery, ruthlessly demanding yet exquisitely tender all at the same time. The sort of sensations that had been missing from her life for so very, very long. The sort of sensations she’d never expected to feel again. But did he remember how fired up they had both been? And if he did, had it mattered to him since? Today, his attitude had been friendly, businesslike in sorting out her problems for her, but he wasn’t here because of her. He was only in
England because of a business necessity. It was a total fluke that she was sitting here with him now.

The May weather couldn’t have been more wonderful as they drove swiftly towards their destination. They’d left the motorway a long time ago, and were now making their way through a much prettier region. Sitting on the high seat of the large vehicle, Helena was able to look right out and view the countryside as it rolled past them, most of the trees in full leaf. And every now and then she could see a hilly field dotted with sheep and dozens of tiny lambs. She took a deep breath. This sort of environment just had to be better than the stuffy streets of the city, she thought. She was going to make the most of the next couple of months, she told herself.