Chapter Eight
A FEW DAYS later Dido stood on her balcony, hands gripping the railing as she watched Panos in the shallow end of the pool, holding Athena who looked adorable wearing floaties on her arms and a cloth sun hat.
Dido’s fingers curled tighter at the way she’d slipped into calling her little girl by her proper name. Dido still called her Theeny from time to time but somehow Athena seemed more fitting here.
Panos’ island home had a spectacular view across the deep blue sea at the bottom of the garden.
Beyond the water the mainland stretched along the horizon, while the bright blue Greek sky made the whole scene picture perfect.
There was even an olive and pistachio grove on the far side of the house and two sand beaches perfect for swimming.
The air was warm and filled with the sound of cicadas, as if inviting her to close her eyes and relax.
Impossible!
The decision to come with Panos had been no decision at all, for what choice had she had? Every hour she watched him build a relationship with their daughter, feeling at each moment that her place in Athena’s life grew more tenuous.
A loud splash sounded and maternal instinct jerked her head back to her daughter who, it seemed, had the makings of a water baby. Dido watched her kick her chubby legs and work her arms, gurgling with delight as she sprayed her father with water.
Her father.
There was that plunging sensation again, as if a weight dropped from Dido’s chest to her hollow stomach.
After being solely responsible for her daughter for years, it was hard to accept his role in her life. She knew his fickle character, had experienced the pain of his mistrust and rejection.
How could she allow him a role in her daughter’s life?
Yet she saw his fond smile even as their baby splashed his face. He didn’t look like a man with a hair-trigger temper. He looked like a man besotted. A man with infinite patience.
Dido shook her head at the difference between Panos the father and Panos the husband she’d known. And the fierce, menacing man who’d forced her here.
Was it possible the father-daughter bond would be enough to protect her baby from his impatience?
Maybe he just didn’t care enough to trust you.
That made sense. They’d married in haste. Her dream of a happy future with a man she’d barely known had been too good to be true.
Dido had still missed her parents and the warmth that came from loving and being loved. Since their deaths she’d been conscious of something lacking. Belonging.
Curiously though, that had made her wary of relationships with men, not overeager. She hadn’t wanted to compromise her desire for a strong, lasting relationship for something less.
Had that caution fed into her impulsive response to Panos?
Had she held back too much with other men, so his devastating magnetism rocked her off balance?
Perhaps that explained her overwhelming response to his allure—too much caution and abstinence might have made her vulnerable to the intense pull of attraction.
As if sensing her regard, Panos looked up.
Her pulse quickened. She wished she could say it was because she hated him. But even after all he’d done, he still attracted her physically. More than any man ever had.
Her gaze lingered on those broad, tanned shoulders, the impressive V shape of his torso. His attention was claimed by their daughter and he rose to his feet, swinging Athena through the air until she squealed with delight.
The movement revealed the bunch and flex of muscles in his arms and body. Then there were those powerful thighs and tight buttocks in wet, black swim shorts that clung like a second skin.
Dido’s breath stalled.
He’d threatened her. Given her no option but to agree to come here. And still he stole her breath.
He’d stayed in her flat, refusing to be parted from Athena while he organised her passport in record time. Finally, faced with no other option, Dido had given in. She and her baby had been bundled out of the country to his private Greek island.
For days they’d shared his mansion, and a truce. No more accusations, no furious arguments, for Theeny’s sake. Dido feared putting a foot wrong and being expelled without her child. She’d told herself to stay calm and concentrate on finding a way out of this disastrous situation.
As for Panos, he’d dropped all overt signs of antagonism, saying he didn’t want to upset his daughter with negative emotions.
Dido would have laughed at the idea of such a censorious man lecturing her on parenting, if she hadn’t agreed wholeheartedly.
Whatever happened, her first concern was her baby’s well-being.
Even so, she’d been surprised at how seriously he took that. On the face of it, they’d established a truce and Panos treated her like a guest. They shared responsibility for looking after their daughter and slept in separate rooms.
It might almost have been relaxing, enjoying the luxury of his stunning home, except time was ticking. How long before she had to face a legal tussle for custody? How could she afford one?
Beneath the calm surface, she was strained, nervous and worried.
Yet how often had she lain in bed, hyperaware of him in the next room, watching the door handle, fearing and hoping it might turn. Remembering the carnal inferno of that kiss.
He knew she’d wanted him that evening in London. She’d expected him to take advantage of that weakness. He’d been aroused too. He might have maintained his control but his reactions, not just his erection, but his savagely possessive kiss and the hunger in his eyes, had given him away.
Yet he hadn’t made a move to seduce her and that had her on tenterhooks. No lingering looks, no stray touches. It drove her crazy, first that incendiary kiss, then…nothing.
Did he think she was so desperate for him that she’d jump his bones?
He was arrogant enough.
He’s probably waiting for you to go to him.
Despite the balmy temperature, she hugged her arms around her body. Not. Going. To. Happen.
Panos sank into the water, holding Athena so she could kick her legs, delighted at the splashes she made.
Her daughter was having the time of her life, thriving on the attention of both parents and loving this new environment.
Simple things like watching butterflies and picking flowers, or toddling along the beach, looking for occasional shells and pebbles delighted her and made her crow with happiness.
Contrary to Dido’s fears, there’d been only positives for her baby. So far.
Panos continued to surprise. He seemed content to be here, not yearning for bright lights or other company. He hadn’t hired a nanny, but shared responsibility for looking after Theeny. It was just them plus the housekeeper, Evadne, whose friendliness quickly overcame Dido’s discomfort.
It felt too easy. No animosity. No overt pressure. Everything relaxed. On the surface.
From the corner of her eyes she saw Panos look up at her again. Slowly she turned. From this distance it should be impossible, yet it felt as if those piercing eyes looked straight into hers, reading her fears and doubts.
She shivered. This man made her feel vulnerable.
But it wasn’t all discomfort. Now that ripple of tension arrowed low in her body, making her shift her weight in response to the empty, achy feeling between her legs.
Her skin tightened, nipples budding. Abruptly she realised how much flesh her cut-off denim shorts and vibrant orange shirt displayed. It was warm and she’d pulled up the hem of her shirt and knotted it below her bust. It had seemed sensible in the heat. Now it felt foolhardy.
She felt the weight of his stare like a touch. A touch that, far from repelling her, made every feminine instinct purr into life.
Dido swung away and walked into her room, hating her body’s reaction. He was the enemy yet he only had to look at her to make her aware she hadn’t had sex in three years. That no one had ever brought her such physical pleasure as Panos. That she wanted…
She cut off that trail of thought.
Dido couldn’t reconcile the cold-hearted man who’d dropped her without even the courtesy of a face-to-face discussion with the man playing with their baby.
With Athena he was patience personified. He was gentle, loving and though his questions made it clear he knew little about babies, it was obvious he intended to learn.
He seemed like a man determined to do his best for their daughter. Every day convinced Dido his affection for Athena was real. But she’d never leave her daughter to his sole custody.
She needed to prepare herself for battle.
* * *
Panos rolled his shoulders as he left Athena sleeping and headed downstairs. She might be tiny but she kept him on his toes. He was amazed how much mental and physical energy he expended when he was with her. Did it become easier in time?
It wasn’t difficult and he enjoyed every moment but after his first morning alone with her, he was wearier than if he’d spent hours negotiating a tough deal.
Imagine being solely responsible for a baby while working. How had Dido managed?
Simple. She’d had her family. He’d seen her aunt support her. Then there were her siblings.
His mouth tightened at the memory of Charles Fitzallan-Jones.
The man had insisted Panos could want nothing more than to invest in his company, simply because Panos had married his half-sister.
The guy’s entitled attitude, smarmy manner and effrontery had at first surprised him. He was so unlike his half-sister.
Until Charles revealed it was Dido who’d encouraged him to put his ‘deal of a lifetime’ to her new husband as soon as possible.
He’d incidentally painted a picture of Panos’ new wife that was diametrically opposed to the woman he’d thought he’d married.
Charles had made it clear Dido assumed Panos would casually drop multiple millions of pounds to fund any worthless enterprise her family presented.