Nic wondered at Vasili’s fascination with the woman carrying his child, for at twenty-seven Tina was almost six years Vasili’s senior, and the only child of a widowed mother whose remarriage five years ago had resulted in a move to Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Tina had a record of average scholastic achievements, a love of sport, life. A flair for fashion had led to a managerial position in an up-market Double Bay boutique owned by her mother. A collection of friends, but no long-term boyfriend.
Dammit, why didn’t she answer?
Impatience creased his features as he withdrew his cellphone, hit auto-dial, and queried Paul as to when the apartment had last been checked.
His father’s answer brought forth a frown. The morning following Vasili’s death.
Two weeks ago?
‘Given the current situation,’ Paul relayed, ‘Stacey refuses to interfere with Tina’s live-in arrangement.’ His voice sharpened. ‘Give me a few minutes and I’ll call you back.’
Nic didn’t have to wait long for Paul to relay the building manager was on his way with a master-key.
The apartment offered stunning views over the bay, but Nic took little notice of the sparkling nightscape beyond floor-to-ceiling glass as he thanked the manager and closed the door behind him. Instead he walked through the lounge, eyes alert for any signs of occupation, only to discover there was none.
Vasili’s clothes hung in one of two large walk-in robes, and there was an assortment of male toiletries atop a double marble vanity unit in the master en suite.
The sight of them hurt, like a stake through the heart. Curiously more so than when he’d received the tragic call from Paul; more so even than the funeral. For now there was the visual attestation Vasili would never return to claim what was his…clothes, possessions, or the joy of holding his child.
A muscle bunched at the edge of his jaw as he crossed to the second robe, only to discover on opening the door that it was empty.
Nic moved through the apartment, checking a second bedroom, a third…and discovered both were empty. There were no clothes in either wardrobe or chest of drawers. No sign of any feminine possessions in each adjoining en suite.
A husky oath escaped from his lips.
Tina Matheson had moved out.
It was obvious Paul hadn’t considered keeping tabs on her. Dammit, he’d only given the need a fleeting thought, then dismissed it, sure she’d milk the situation, eagerly taking whatever Paul and Stacey offered. Hell, even demand more in a quest to set herself up for life by virtue of the child she carried.
He checked the dining-room, the kitchen, spotted a set of keys resting on the marble bench-top and reached for them, examining each before weighing the set in one hand. Then he slid them into his jacket pocket and made a phone call.
The name Leandros garnered respect. It also opened doors to data not easily available to the general public.
Within fifteen minutes Nic had the information he needed.
It didn’t take long to drive the few kilometres to a small private hotel where Tina Matheson was registered as a guest.
Locating her room took mere minutes, and when there was no answer to his knock he repeated the action, harder, more forceful than before.
He was about to give it another try when the security chain was removed, the lock disengaged, the door opened sufficiently for him to glimpse a female clutching a large bath-towel around her slender form.
Nic registered damp auburn curls piled high on her head, pale features, and a pair of brilliant emerald-green eyes.
Eyes that hardened somewhat as they ascertained his identity.
‘Go away.’
The door slammed shut, and he stifled a lurid oath.
‘Do that again,’ he warned with dangerous silkiness, ‘and I’ll disregard common courtesy.’
He heard the security chain engage, then the door opened a fraction. ‘I could take that as a threat and call the police.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘Don’t tempt me.’
‘Aren’t you going to ask me in?’
‘Not if I can help it.’
‘We can have a conversation now,’ Nic offered with deceptive mildness, ‘in relative privacy. Or,’ he paused slightly, ‘I’ll arrive at your place of business tomorrow and hold it there.’
There was a perceptible silence, then Nic heard the locks disengage, and the door swung open.
She was more petite than he recalled, but then she was barefoot. The bath-towel had been discarded in favour of a towelling robe.
She looked tired, and there were dark smudges beneath her eyes. The result of grief, lack of sleep…or both?
‘Another Leandros emissary?’ Tina took in the tall, broad male frame clothed in superb tailoring, forced herself to meet and hold those dark, almost black eyes…and felt all her protective self-defence instincts rise to the fore.
‘We have been introduced.’
The voice held a faint American-inflected drawl, and she suppressed a shiver of unease. Nic and Vasili Leandros might share the same father, but as men they were as chalk to cheese.
Whereas Vasili had borne an air of insouciant youth, Nic Leandros possessed an indefinable quality that meshed ruthlessness and power…and combined it with a sexual chemistry no woman could successfully ignore.
Raging hormones had to be the reason why she felt vaguely off balance. It couldn’t be the man unsettling her.
‘You want to conduct this conversation on the doorstep?’
Oh, Lord. She’d just emerged from the shower. ‘You’ll have to wait while I get dressed.’ And she shut the door in his face.
It took only minutes to step into underwear, jeans, add bra and tee shirt. She didn’t bother with her hair. As for make-up…forget it.
He was there when she pulled back the front door, his tall frame seeming even more threatening than before.
Men of Nic Leandros’ ilk weren’t used to having doors shut in their faces, she perceived with a certain wry humour as she silently indicated he could enter.
‘Thank you.’ His voice was dry, and held a degree of impatience as he followed her into the suite.
Tina turned to face him, aware of the need to take control.
‘Let’s get this over with, shall we?’
One eyebrow rose, and his gaze remained steady. ‘Dispense with polite conversation?’
She lifted a hand and smoothed back a wayward fall of hair, only to silently damn the visible indication her nerves were twisting every which way but loose.
‘Why pretend civility when we have opposing agendas?’ Tina queried, and saw those dark eyes harden fractionally.
‘Can you blame Stacey and my father for wanting to share a part of their grandson or granddaughter’s life?’ he queried quietly.
‘Do you think I don’t know where this is leading?’
‘Enlighten me.’
‘Let’s see.’ She tilted her head and began listing probable possibilities. ‘What comes next? Any minute soon you’ll present several attractive reasons why I should agree to your parents’ desire to assign the Leandros name to Vasili’s child.’ She paused and drew in a deep breath.
Nic Leandros dominated the room, his presence a compelling entity that disturbed