searched her gaze, a small frown pulling his brows. “Are you saying—”
She nodded, unable to help smiling when he was so plainly taken by surprise. “I would like to marry you, Theo.”
The flash of male triumph that streaked into his fierce visage might have frightened her if there wasn’t a helping of relief beneath it, endearingly softening his ruthless expression. In the next instant, he shuttered himself so thoroughly, she wondered if she had seen any reaction at all.
“Thank you. We’ll get a ring in the morning.”
And the CFO was back, armed with his tasks. Nevertheless, she’d seen behind the curtain and knew there was something there, even if it wasn’t very clearly defined.
“I don’t need a ring,” she dismissed, and reluctantly let her hands drop. She didn’t know how to bring herself out from intense emotional intimacy to distance with the swiftness that he did. A chill made her cross her arms and self-protect.
“I want to do this properly,” he insisted, then grimaced. “I suppose that means we should wait until our wedding night. How long does it take to plan a wedding?”
“Wait for what? Oh.” She ducked her head to hide that she was blushing, partly because she was dense enough not to have got his meaning right away, but also because she was disappointed. “We don’t have to,” she murmured.
“I want you to be sure.” He pushed his hands into his pockets, but she could see he was still aroused. He was trying not to touch her, she realized, and glittering delight bounced through her at her effect on him.
“I am sure.” She lifted her face so he could see she wasn’t teasing, but she didn’t know how to flirt or invite. Arousal was still too new.
“Sure about all of it,” he clarified with a rueful look. “Given our track record, I’d knock you up by midnight. As you said, this is your first proposal. I won’t trap you.”
A small smile touch her lips at the prospect of him forcing a shotgun wedding, but another thought occurred and it was a big one. “Do you want more children?”
His expression blanked in surprise. “I haven’t given it any thought. Hell, last week I didn’t want any. Today...I don’t know. Being a single child sounds lonely for Zephyr, doesn’t it? I mean, Demitri is a complete pain in the ass, but I can’t imagine not having him around.”
“It’s open for discussion, then?” she confirmed. This was a deal-breaker for her.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “But let’s give ourselves a chance to get to know one another again first.” His gaze feathered over her cheek and lit on her mouth.
He knew how to say things that both flattered and intrigued. Despite his sweetly suggestive remark, however, a very somber mood came over him.
Her smile faded. “What’s wrong?”
“Not one thing.” He cupped her face and kissed her with startling tenderness. “You’re very lovely, Jaya. How long until I can call you my wife?”
“I don’t know.” Her heart turned over and already she wondered if she’d done the right thing. “A few months?”
He grimaced.
“Unless you want a small wedding,” she rushed to say. “That could be arranged in a week or two.”
“I want to do this right.” His hands fell to her shoulders and he looked over her head, his expression weighted by heavy thoughts. His hands massaged, but distractedly. Like he’d slipped miles away from her. “You’ll want your family to come.”
“My parents, yes, but it doesn’t have to be a big deal. I’ve never dreamed of being the center of a society wedding. I can’t imagine you have, either.” She nudged his stomach playfully.
“More like suffered nightmares.” His mouth twisted with aversion. “But we have business associates in New York and relatives in Greece who should be invited.”
“Big weddings are expensive.”
“Do not worry about the cost.” He stepped away to state decisively, “We should be able to make a strong statement in six weeks.”
“A statement?” she repeated.
“As opposed to a splash.”
“Okay.” She tried to read his inscrutable expression.
“You should get some sleep. I’ll listen for Zephyr,” he said.
“You’re staying up to work?” The way he shut her out was not the way she thought an engagement should start.
“I need to think. I’m used to having more time with my own thoughts than I’ve had in the last few days.”
“Oh. Of course.” She tried not to take that as a slight. She hadn’t initiated this chain of events. If only he’d kiss her again, so the fragile bond between them would grow another layer, rather than fade. But he didn’t.
“Good night,” she said, confidence dwindling as she went to her room.
AS SOMEONE WHOSE life had changed overnight before, Jaya had learned to prefer a gradual, thoughtful approach to making shifts in her world. After her abrupt departure from India, she’d had months of notice before her move to Bali. Once settled, she’d dug in, comfortable in her role there. France had been a culture shock, but she’d had family to cushion the blow.
Nothing could have prepared her, probably not even time, for being pulled into the Makricostas’ world. First she’d had to quit her job, which had been a tough decision even though Adara emailed with three job offers “to consider when the time is right.” Then there was the travel, flitting up to London for two nights because Theo had a meeting and a thing.
“What kind of thing?” she’d asked when he’d requested she accompany him.
“A presentation. We paid to refurbish a historical building. One of the royals will be there so I’ve been elected to represent.”
One of the royals. Like this was normal.
Which meant an upgrade to her wardrobe. No longer did she own a few nice outfits. Every time she turned around, Theo was bringing in a designer or a stylist or squiring her into a shop where the prêt-à-porters didn’t even have price tags.
“I thought women enjoyed shopping,” he said at one point.
“But the cost! I’m not even working.”
He quirked a brow at her. “Do you have any idea how much money I make? How well I invest it? I never spend any.”
Except on his fleet of airplanes and helicopters. He did some flitting of his own in those, disappearing to South America and Japan for a couple of days without her. She couldn’t complain. She put off her separation from Bina as long as she could and needed the time to pack up her life, plan a wedding and look for a suitable home in New York.
The city was incredible. They spent a week there and she looked forward to living there permanently. However, the bit where Theo ensconced her in the family suite at the Makricosta Grand and visited his apartment without her bothered her immensely. It was too small for them, even in the interim, she agreed. She also understood he was a private man who liked his own space. Plus, as he pointed out oh-so-reasonably, here at the hotel she had help on tap—boy, did she have help. She used to be the one who jumped when a Makricosta rang. It was bizarre to be on the receiving end of that level of service from people a lot further up the corporate food chain than she’d ever been.
Then, just when her insecurities began to get the best of her and she convinced herself he’d be the most hands-off, distant husband, that this whole