Chapter TWELVE
SANTORINI WAS JUST as magical as she remembered, even viewing it from onboard Ari’s immense yacht moored half a mile away from the capital, Fira.
Far from thinking she would be spending the day before her wedding in Ari’s villa, he’d brought her straight to his yacht once they’d landed.
Granted, the luxury that seemed an extension of the Pantelides name was everywhere her eyes touched.
But the feeling that she wasn’t good enough to spend time in his family home refused to leave her. It didn’t help that Brianna had been roped into keeping her company and was determined to cheer her up. It also didn’t help that another stylist had turned up that morning with three full rails of brightly coloured designer clothes.
In a fit of anger and misery, Perla had sent the stylist away. She was perfectly well-equipped to choose her own clothes. Except now she refused to wear black or the grey dress she’d bought before they left Bermuda.
Leaving the suite that seemed to close in on her, she went along the wide galley and knocked on the door.
Brianna answered with a smile. ‘I was just coming to find you. Oh, I thought you were getting dressed?’ she said as she took in Perla’s silk dressing gown.
‘I was, but everything I have in my wardrobe is black. I was wondering whether I could borrow something from you?’
Brianna’s smile widened, and she stepped back. ‘Of course. Help yourself.’ She waved her towards the walk-in closet. ‘And shoes too, if you want. I think we’re the same size.’
Perla gaped at the sheer number of clothes, her eyes widening as she spotted some seriously expensive labels.
‘Yeah, it’s something you’re going to have to get used to. I sent my stylist away a few times in the beginning too. Then I realised I was just delaying the inevitable. Our lives are too busy to accommodate spur of the moment shopping trips, and things will only get worse time-wise once the babies are born, especially if you want to continue working.’
Perla bit her lip. ‘I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know where we’ll live or even if we’ll live together. Because Ari has chosen not to discuss it with me.’ Tears surged in her throat and she whirled away from Brianna’s concerned stare. Blindly, she reached for the first thing that came to hand and pulled out a burnished orange slip dress. ‘This one?’
Brianna nodded. ‘It’s the perfect thing to go shopping in.’
Perla froze. ‘Shopping?’
‘You’re getting married tomorrow. The least you can do is invest in some knock-out lingerie that’ll blow Ari’s mind. A woman can’t have too many weapons in her arsenal.’
‘That depends on what she’s fighting for,’ Perla murmured. Dropping her dressing gown, she slipped the dress over her head. The cotton felt cool against her skin and the colour lifted her spirits a fraction.
‘Don’t give up so easily, Perla. You’ve come too far to stop now. If you want Ari, make him stand up and take notice. Sometimes it’s the only way to win against strong-willed men.’ Her expression held a determination Perla couldn’t help but admire. ‘Are you ready?’
With a last look in the mirror, she pursed her lips. ‘Almost.’ She dashed back to her room and dug through her handbag until she found it. Uncapping the scarlet lipstick she’d worn the night she met Ari, she boldly smoothed it over her lips.
Brianna was waiting for her on the deck. Her eyes widened, then her smile grew. ‘Now, you’re definitely ready. Let’s go.’
The shops weren’t as sophisticated as those on the mainland but they provided an eclectic mix that satisfied her immediate needs.
Perla bought two sundresses, one yellow, one green, and a pair of low-heeled sandals. Against her protests, Brianna dragged her to a wedding shop with every intention of forcing her to buy lingerie.
But Perla froze as she spotted a dress on the hanger. The simple cream Greek goddess-style dress could pass for evening-wear or wedding dress. The front was plain and sleeveless and its halter neck design would keep her cool in the Santorini heat. But it was the back that took her breath away.
The lace pattern travelled down the middle of the back and held the skirt that hugged the hips and flared to the floor in a tiny train.
‘Wow. With your hair caught up, that dress would look gorgeous on you. Provided, of course, you want to look fabulous for your wedding day,’ Brianna teased.
Curbing her indecision, Perla bought the dress. ‘Can we go now?’
‘Just one more stop.’ They went two doors away and entered the most unique shop Perla had ever seen. Scent candles in all shapes and colours stood on pedestals while incense burned from assorted sticks. ‘Sakis calls this my juju shop. I tend to get my way a lot when I burn a few candles on certain nights.’ She laughed.
Forcing a smile, Perla felt herself sinking deeper into misery.
Leaving Brianna to make her selection, she browsed the shop. As she made her way to the front, she met a woman in her early thirties. The hostile look she sent her stopped Perla in her tracks.
A torrent of Greek followed, to which Perla shook her head and shrugged.
Brianna turned sharply and frowned. The woman continued to speak, her voice growing louder.
‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’
Brianna rushed forward and grasped her hand. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
‘What’s she saying?’
Brianna shook her head. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ She hurried out of the shop.
‘Yes, it does. You know what she was saying.’
‘My Greek isn’t that great,’ she said, but Perla caught her guilty look.
She came to a dead stop on the pavement. ‘But you understood enough. Tell me, please.’
Brianna’s lips pursed and a look of unease crossed her face. ‘The whole island knows that Ari is getting married again. His wife, Sofia, was from a large family here in Santorini. I think that woman was her cousin. They know he’s marrying a redhead and I guess she thought it was you.’
‘Well, she was right. What exactly did she say?’
Brianna grimaced. ‘I think she said... God, if I get this wrong and Ari finds out, not even Sakis can save me.’
Ice trailed up Perla’s spine. ‘What did she say?’ she demanded.
‘She said Ari and Sofia’s love was a match made in heaven; the love of the century. She said...’
‘What?’
‘She said Ari will never love you the way he loved her.’
The sob that rose from her soul shattered her heart on its way up. She saw Brianna pale and reach for her hand but Perla shook her away. ‘If I’d understood that was what she was saying, I could’ve saved her the trouble. I already know Ari doesn’t love me. He never will.’
* * *
‘You need to get over here, fast.’
Fear spiked through Ari at Sakis’s tone. ‘What’s wrong? Is Perla okay?’
‘Yes, she’s fine physically but something happened when she went out with Brianna... Look, just get yourself over here, pronto, ne?’
Ari ended the call and glanced at the chaos all around him. Carpenters and decorators rushed to do his bidding, to set up the place for what most couples would deem the most important day of their lives.
He kissed her for a long time, only raising his head when they ran out of air.
‘The house is almost ready. But you have a free hand to change anything you want before the wedding tomorrow.’
She licked lips swollen from his kisses, making him groan. ‘Um, can I practise a woman’s right to change her mind? Blame it on all the pregnancy hormones rushing through my body right now.’
‘What do you want to change?’
She touched his face, leaned forward until their foreheads touched. Ari knew he wouldn’t like what was coming but he didn’t care. ‘The wedding date. The venue. The guest list. Everything?’
She stopped his groan of protest with her mouth. And he let her.
EPILOGUE
‘IS THIS BETTER?’
Perla placed her hand over her swollen stomach and sighed with happiness. ‘Much better. I don’t even miss the fact that I can’t have champagne at my own wedding.’ She glanced down at her hand and watched her new platinum wedding ring gleam in the setting Bermudan sun. The flash of her heart-shaped ruby engagement ring also caught the rays as Ari lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
‘You delayed us getting married for four months then refused to wait another two until the baby was here.’
‘I thought I could hold out but the thought of calling you my own got too overwhelming.’
The look that crossed his face was one she’d seen on his brother’s face as he gazed at Brianna. At that time she’d envied it. Right now, she basked in it and sent a prayer of thanks for her very own fantasy coming true.
‘You’ve owned me since the moment I saw you, wearing that lipstick you’re henceforth banned from ever wearing in public again. I just didn’t know it yet.’
‘Better late than never, I guess.’
He laughed and they both turned when Sakis and Brianna entered with their three-week-old baby. Dimitri Pantelides was fast asleep in his father’s arms, one fist curled around Sakis’s forefinger.
Brianna arranged his blanket more snugly around him, then looked up with a cheeky smile. ‘Did you guys see the woman Theo came with? She’s stunning!’
‘But she also looks as if this is the last place she wants to be,’ Sakis added, his tone displaying a keen speculation that made Ari shake his head.
‘And Theo the last person she wants to be seated next to. The spark between them could’ve rivalled last night’s pre-wedding firework display.’
‘Anyone know who she is?’ Brianna asked.
Perla shook her head and looked at Ari, who shrugged. ‘He introduced her as Inez da Costa, a business associate from Rio.’
‘If she’s a business associate, then I’m Santa’s Little Helper!’ Sakis said.
Ari grinned. ‘Think we should go jerk his chain a little?’
‘You stay here with your new wife. I’ll go put my son to bed and then I’ll get right on it. I owe him big for the ribbing he gave me during the Pantelides Oil party on my island.’ Sakis grinned with unabashed relish. He walked off and Brianna rolled her eyes and followed him.
Ari leaned down and kissed the side of Perla’s neck. ‘Before you think of leaving me because of my crazy brothers,’ he said gruffly, ‘let me tell you again how much I love you. How much I’m honoured to have you in my life and how much I adore you for giving me a chance at true happiness.’
Her heart soared, and she gasped as their baby kicked in approval.
‘I love you too, Arion. You’ve given me the same chance too and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.’
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from A QUESTION OF HONOR by Kate Walker.
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Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.
Austin Treffen has the plan… Hunter has the money… Alex has the power!
Read each of their stories in the captivating Fifth Avenue trilogy,
only from Harlequin Presents:
Avenge Me by Maisey Yates (June 2014)
Scandalize Me by Caitlin Crews (July 2014)
Expose Me by Kate Hewitt (August 2014)
And don’t miss the Fifth Avenue prequel that started it all, Take Me, by Maisey Yates!
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