The Greek's Ultimate Revenge. Julia James

to her?

      She’d never reacted this strongly to a man! Never! But this man—this complete stranger, whose name she didn’t even know—was making the blood race in her veins, her face flush with heat…

      Just by looking at her…

      Their drinks arrived and she was grateful for the distraction. As the barman walked away she resisted the temptation to go back to gazing at the man opposite her, and instead forced herself to focus on what he had just said, not what he looked like.

      ‘Stephanos asked you to seek me out?’ she echoed dimly.

      She sank back into gazing, riveted, into those magnetic, night-dark eyes.

      They seemed to be looking into the heart of her. She felt herself go weak all over. All over again.

      Nikos flashed another smile at her—and watched the girl’s pupils flare.

      ‘I hope you do not mind,’ he said softly, ‘that I have sought you out.’

      His eyes rested on her and Janine felt her heart quicken. Oh, good grief, her bones were dissolving…. She just wanted to stare and stare.

      Forcibly she dragged her mind back, fighting for composure. He seemed to be waiting for an answer.

      ‘Oh—no. Of course not,’ she managed to say. ‘It’s very good of you, Mr—er—?’

      There was the slightest hesitation before Nikos spoke, but Janine did not notice it. Was quite incapable of noticing it.

      ‘Kiriakis,’ said Nikos smoothly. ‘Nikos Kiriakis.’

      Through veiled eyes he studied her for a reaction but saw none. The name meant nothing to her. He’d gambled that it wouldn’t. Why should Stephanos talk about his brother-in-law to his mistress?

      Nikos Kiriakis. Janine rolled the fluid syllables around in her head.

      He was speaking again, and she brought her dazed attention back to what he was saying.

      ‘Stephanos also had another suggestion,’ Nikos went on, ‘which for my part I would be very happy to comply with.’ The lie rolled as smoothly as the first.

      Janine stared. ‘What suggestion?’ Her voice still sounded totally abstracted.

      Nikos was not offended. Usually he expected—and got—a hundred per cent attention from those he spoke to. But that Janine Fareham was incapable of bringing such focus to their conversation was only a good sign. A very good sign. He wanted her dazzled by him—lured by him.

      ‘As you know, Stephanos is currently en route to the States,’ began Nikos. He studied her reaction to this information—he calculated. Stephanos would have told her he was going to be abroad, although he doubted he would have told her that the reason for his sudden trip to New York was to take his wife to a fertility expert there.

      ‘He is concerned that you may not have anything to do while he is away,’ he continued. ‘So he asked me if I would look after you while I am here—stop you getting bored.’

      Janine’s wandering thoughts snapped back. Suddenly the stomach-churning impact of Nikos Kiriakis’s physical presence vanished. There was something far more important to focus on.

      What had he just said to her? What was all that about Stephanos telling him she might be bored? Telling him to look after her? Surely, considering Stephanos’s determination to keep her role in his life quiet, it was madness to send this Nikos Kiriakis to look her up?

      Nikos saw the consternation in her face. It would not help his strategy.

      ‘Perhaps I should tell you,’ he said, his eyes resting on her, ‘that, as a close friend of Stephanos Ephandrou, I am aware of the relationship between you, Ms Fareham—’

      Her eyes widened, her consternation deepening.

      ‘You are?’