Page 17 of Penniless Cinderella for the Greek
Savannah’s eyes flashed. ‘Alex doesn’t act like a puppy.’
‘Don’t tell me he’s your boyfriend.’
‘I’m not telling you anything. It’s no business of yours who I date.’
‘Theós!Are you sleeping with him?’
‘No.’ The angry flush on her face made her even lovelier. ‘You are the only man I’ve been to bed with, if you must know.’
He stared at her. ‘Since we last slept together a few weeks ago, you mean?’
‘I mean ever.’ She spun away from him, but he was not going to let her go after that startling piece of information. It seemed impossible, yet he believed her. He felt a stab of guilt when he remembered her faint hesitancy before he’d taken her to bed. Slipping his hand beneath her elbow, he steered her out of the room.
‘How is it that I am your only lover?’ Dimitris demanded, wondering why he felt so good about it. Possessiveness was another alien emotion to him. ‘You are a beautiful, independent woman and you caught the attention of every man at the party.’
‘I told you why. I couldn’t forget you. But now...’
‘Now?’ His tone was as dangerous as he felt.
‘Now I’m finally free to have other relationships, other lovers. The night we spent together gave me a sense of perspective. The sex was great. Clearly I’m no expert, but I’m sure you will tell me that it wasn’t out of the ordinary.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong.’ It had been the most amazing night of his life, but he wasn’t about to admit it. ‘We are highly sexually compatible.’
She shrugged. ‘You must have slept with hundreds of women, thousands.’
‘The tabloids are not a reliable source of information.’
Savannah pulled away from him and started to walk quickly along the corridor. ‘I don’t want this, Dimitris. I don’t want you.’
‘Liar.’ He fell into step beside her as she pulled her phone out of her handbag.
‘I’m calling a taxi.’
‘I told you I’ll take you home.’ The lift doors opened, and he followed her into the small space. She glared at him but must have realised that arguing was pointless. Minutes later they walked across the underground car park, and he opened the passenger door of his sleek black saloon. Savannah climbed into the car and her dress rode up, giving him a glimpse of her toned thigh. Desire shot through him, and he silently acknowledged that one night with her had not been enough to satisfy his hunger.
They were both silent on the journey across the city. Dimitris had deliberately not been back to the north London borough he’d left ten years ago, and he was surprised by how little had changed. The high street where his grandfather’s restaurant had stood was as run-down as when he had grown up in the area known for its high crime rate. But only a few miles from Camden they drove through picturesque and affluent Hampstead Village, and further out towards the heath the houses were big and gracious with expensive cars on the driveways.
At first glance Pond House looked no different than he remembered. But the shrubs in the front garden were overgrown, the once shiny black gates had rusted and there was an air of decay about the place. He parked on the driveway and switched off the engine.
He felt dangerously on edge and agonisingly aware of Savannah in the close confines of the car. Her perfume teased his senses, and he wanted to press his mouth against the pale column of her neck and feel the erratic thud of her pulse.
‘My grandmother died recently,’ he said gruffly.
‘I’m so sorry.’ Her voice was soft with sympathy. ‘I remember Hestia when I worked at the restaurant. She was tiny and fierce and kept the waitresses in order, but she was kind too, and devoted to your grandfather.’
Dimitris’s throat felt constricted. ‘My grandparents were amazing. They still worked in their eighties.’ It had been his fault that his grandparents couldn’t retire. ‘My grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep. I think she was glad to be reunited with my grandfather.’ He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, wondering what had made him open up to Savannah.
‘Would you like to come in for coffee?’
‘Sure.’
‘The house has been sold,’ Savannah explained as she opened the front door. Packing boxes were piled up in the hallway. ‘Luckily the new owners are keeping a lot of the furniture, but there’s still a ton of stuff to sort out.’
‘Have you found somewhere for you and your mother to live?’
She looked away from him, but not before Dimitris glimpsed a sheen in her eyes. Something tugged in his chest. ‘Mum has decided that due to her disabilities she needs to move permanently into a nursing home that can provide the support she needs. I’ve found a wonderful place in Windsor, near to where Mum’s sister lives. She is going to move in next week. The nursing home is expensive, but I’ve calculated that there should be enough money left after paying my father’s debts to cover the fees for a while. I’ll have to earn a decent income as a freelance photographer so that I can continue to pay for Mum to live at Willow Grange.’
‘What about you? Where will you live?’
