The Greek Tycoon's Wife by Kim Lawrence Page B

over her lips to prevent the gurgle of laughter escaping.
    Nikos gave her a thunderous look as he visibly fought to retain control of his extremely volatile temper—only he didn’t have a volatile temper. ‘I have humoured you too long,’ he announced forcefully.
    â€˜That’s a laugh—’ she began. She let out a strangled shriek when without warning he swept her up into his arms and strode off without a single word.
    â€˜Put me down this instant!’ she hissed. His arms were muscular and extremely strong because, although Katie was slim, she was not a small woman and he barely seemed to register the burden he carried.
    â€˜What, and see you stagger along in that ridiculous manner?’
    Silently seething and reduced to winding her arms around his neck to anchor herself, Katie allowed herself to be carried to the ambulance with as much dignity as she could muster—what choice did have?
    Sadie was waiting at the steps. ‘Why did you tell them I had been in the flat?’ Katie demanded of her friend in a trembling undertone.
    Sadie looked startled at her vehemence and followed them up the stairs. ‘Sorry, but they asked.’
    Katie felt a wave of remorse. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to take it out on you. That man,’ she explained, glaring at Nikos’s ear, ‘is a manipulative snake.’ Even his hair curled perfectly into the nape of his neck.
    She held herself rigid while, apparently oblivious to her insult, Nikos deposited her on a seat and straightened with sensible caution considering the limited headroom.
    â€˜I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him— less , in fact!’ she declared loudly.
    Sadie shot a wary look in Nikos’s direction and he in his turn returned her look with a smile of spectacular charm, which much to Katie’s disgust had an immediate effect on Sadie. She melted like an ice cream on a warm day.
    â€˜A sexy snake.’
    Sadie’s sly remark earned her an amused grin from Nikos. ‘Thank you,’ he said, inclining his head. ‘And may I say that a true English rose like yourself is much admired in my country?’
    Katie shook her head as Sadie blushed. ‘What a load of b—’
    â€˜Don’t spoil it, Katie,’ Sadie interrupted, casting herfriend an irritated glance. ‘Do go on,’ she begged Nikos with a throaty laugh.
    Katie glared at her friend indignantly—she was flirting, and flirting pretty well. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re a sucker for a pretty face?’
    â€˜Frequently,’ Sadie admitted. ‘I’d better go,’ she added as the ambulance crew began to display impatience to be off. ‘Call me later.’ She smiled at the paramedic who, after checking that his passengers didn’t require anything, had taken a seat at the opposite side of the vehicle.
    â€˜I feel terrible leaving you to cope with all of this mess,’ Katie fretted.
    â€˜You know me, I thrive on challenge,’ Sadie replied, cheerily waving goodbye.
    â€˜Your friend is very nice.’
    â€˜She’s just recovering from an extremely messy divorce. So leave her alone, the last thing she needs is some slick operator moving on her,’ she warned him grimly.
    â€˜I can pass the time of day with a woman without contemplating sleeping with her, you know.’
    Katie snorted and Nikos looked amused. ‘I have never been in an ambulance before,’ he remarked, looking around with interest as the door closed. ‘Or even,’ he added with a mock growl, ‘made love in one.’
    â€˜Very funny.’ No doubt tonight’s events would be regurgitated for the amusement of his glitzy friends—with suitable witty additions—for many weeks to come. ‘I suppose you ride around in gold-plated limousines.’
    â€˜No, as a matter of fact I fly my own helicopter when possible. So do you really think I have a