The Greek Tycoon's Secret Heir by Katherine Garbera Page B

important that Gui and the rest of the world know it.
    “What upset her?” he asked his friend.
    “She’s worried that you’ll be embarrassed in front of society if the wedding isn’t perfect.”
    Christos cursed under his breath. “I don’t give a crap about that.”
    “I told her. But she’s still concerned. Your father has her convinced that the Theakis set the style, not follow it.”
    “Ari couldn’t care less about fashion,” Christos said more to himself than Gui.
    “He’s making things difficult for Ava.”
    “Why?”
    Gui shrugged. “Perhaps to make sure she’ll stay. She did run away before.”
    “The paparazzi were all over her.”
    “I saw the coverage. That can be a lot to handle for a young woman.”
    “Yes,” Christos said, not enlightening his friend that Ava had been driven away by more than the tabloids—Theakis Nanny Snags Both Brothers, one headline had screamed. His anger hadn’t helped.
    Gui walked toward the stairs. “Aren’t you coming?”
    “In a minute. I want to talk to Ava alone.”
    There had been nothing untoward between Gui and Ava when he’d walked in. Ava was reserved around his friends, and he was coming to realize that that was her way around most men.
    This time he wasn’t as caught up in the white-hot passion that blazed between them. It was still there, but he had more breathing room to make sensible decisions. Like branding her with his kiss? Yeah, well, he was still possessive where she was concerned.
    Gui left and Christos looked around the sitting room while he waited for her. It wasn’t sophisticated and cool the way his rooms were. She’d left her mark on the place. Pictures of Theo were mounted on the wall, along with little sayings that she was fond of. Nestled in one corner were the big story-time pillows and against the wall a rolling laptop caddy, which he knew she’d had brought in for Theo.
    Ava was adjusting to living in his home just as she’d hoped she would.

    When she exited her bedroom, Ava was surprised to find Christos waiting for her. He sat in the nest of pillows where she usually read Theo his bedtime story.
    “Come here,” he said.
    She walked over and sat down next to him on the pillows. He drew her into his arms, gently rubbing his thumb over her lower lip.
    Her mouth was a little swollen from the powerful kiss he’d given her. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
    “You didn’t,” she said. “It made me think I’d made a mistake asking you to wait until we were married….”
    She didn’t want to tell him how she’d stood in front of Maria and Dorothea and that snooty assistant and felt like the dirty little girl from the trailer park, someone who’d never be able to win his attention, much less keep it. That feeling harkened back to something that Stavros had said to her when he’d made a pass at her years ago: Christos will never see you as anything more than some cheap American tail.
    Certainly Christos hadn’t come after her when she’d left Mykonos and Greece to return to the States. But she’d always hoped that it had been anger and not a lack of caring that had made him let her go.
    “Nothing was happening between Gui and myself. We were just talking.”
    “What about?”
    “He was giving me advice about dealing with your father.”
    “Really? What did he suggest?”
    She nibbled her lower lip. “Telling him to go to hell. But somehow I don’t think I can do that.”
    Christos smiled at that. “I can’t see you doing that either. I’ve left word with Antonio that you are in charge of our wedding. Don’t let anyone bully you into anything.”
    “That’s harder than it sounds. I’m not at all sure I can make the right choices.”
    “I’m sure you can. You’re not the same young woman you were five years ago. Don’t forget that.”
    “Does that mean you believe I’ve changed? That kiss you gave me when you came in…” Bringing it up might not be the wisest idea but nothing ventured, nothing