Beauty and the Greek by Kim Lawrence Page B

take no time at all.’
    Under the table, Beth kicked his shin and said, ‘So have you set a date?’
    Having successfully diverted the conversation away from herself, Beth listened with half an ear to the discussion of spring weddings and designer wedding gowns. The starters had been removed and they were halfway through the main course and the conversation, dominated by Ariana, still revolved around weddings. Beth, who had not contributed to the discussion, jumped when directly asked her opinion by Daria.
    Daria repeated her question. ‘So what would your perfect wedding be, Beth?’
    Beth, who started at the sound of her name, responded without considering her reply. ‘I don’t think it really matterswhat sort of wedding you have; it’s what comes after that counts.’
    â€˜I thought all little girls dreamed of floating down the aisle,’ Georgios teased.
    â€˜Well, I think that’s kind of refreshing,’ Andreas said, seemingly oblivious to the icy dagger glare his fiancée was giving him as he gave Beth a warm look. ‘You know,’ he mused, resting his chin on his steepled fingers, ‘I just can’t get over it; at work you look so different, and your hair, and—’
    â€˜Andreas—’ his mother laughed ‘—the girl can hardly wear an evening dress to the office.’
    â€˜No, it’s more than that. I just can’t get over it.’
    â€˜I suggest you do.’ The level look Theo flashed his brother made the younger man straighten up. ‘There is no mystery,’ Theo added as he reached out and covered the small hand that lay on the snowy tablecloth with his own. Beth started slightly and he applied warning pressure before he lifted her hand. ‘Even today, some beautiful women think they have to hide their beauty to be taken seriously.’ Pressing a kiss to her palm, he retained her hand.
    Beth expected people to fall about laughing but instead they appeared to treat Theo’s crazy comment seriously.
    Andreas was staring at her like a man who’d just been hit over the head with something hard and heavy. ‘Yes, she is…’ He cleared his throat, lowered his gaze to his plate and added, ‘I mean you are. Beautiful, that is, Beth.’
    Beth was sure she would have enjoyed the moment a lot more had Ariana not been glaring at her in a way that made her want to request the knives on the table be removed. As it was, she felt inclined to ask Andreas why, if she was so beautiful, he had never noticed before.
    â€˜Surely it’s not still that bad,’ Daria said, permitting herself a discreet smile as her glance slid to the hand that Theo held pressed to his heart.
    â€˜How many times have you heard people say “I wonder who she slept with to get the job?”’ her husband inserted.
    â€˜Well, I think it’s a sad reflection on modern society,’ Andreas said.
    â€˜Well, I’ve never had a problem being taken seriously,’ his fiancée interjected.
    â€˜But not all women are as…confident as you are, Ariana,’ her future mother-in-law observed quietly. She turned to Beth and asked, ‘Have you never been tempted to trade on your looks, Beth?’
    Beth pulled her hand from Theo’s and tucked it safely in her lap. ‘No, I haven’t,’ she was able to respond with total honesty. She didn’t dare look at Ariana; she almost felt sorry for her— almost .
    She smiled at the waiter who took away her plate and took a sip of her wine, losing control of the glass as she returned it to the table and spilling wine on the tablecloth.
    Under cover of mopping up the spill with her napkin, she looked across at Andreas, who gazed back innocently, though his lips did twitch when her eyes widened.

CHAPTER NINE
    B ETH closed her eyes and let the cold water play over her wrists. She closed her eyes, letting her head fall. ‘What am I