“Mrs. Montero, would you care to dance?”
Chloe glanced up, unused to her new married name and surprised at the handsome man who had approached her. Andrés had introduced him to her earlier, and if she recalled correctly, Nikkos Kostopoulos was one of the competitors in the hotel business.
“She would love to,” Danielle replied and took Chloe’s plate, urging her forward.
Biting back a groan, Chloe accepted his hand and allowed herself to be escorted onto the dance floor. Nikkos slid his arm around her waist and took the lead in dancing. He was not overtly close, but still, being in anyone’s arms besides Andrés’ sent a rush of discomfort through her.
“I must say,” he murmured in what sounded like a Greek accent. “Europe will be quite shocked to learn Andrés Montero is no longer an eligible bachelor.”
Chloe forced a brief smile. “Will they? Well, I suppose they’ll simply have to use your family for fodder, Mr. Kostopoulos. The women of Europe will never be bored with the Kostopoulos brothers to swoon over.”
Nikkos threw his head back and laughed. “Indeed. I believe Andrés has done well in choosing you as a wife”
Her lips curled in amusement as the song slowed to an end. “Thank you.”
“Ah, there he is. Andrés is now coming for you, Chloe,” Nikkos said softly with a wink. “Though it took him a bit longer than I’d expected.”
Had Nikkos danced with her simply to make Andrés return to her side?
“Mind if I have the next dance with my wife?”
Chloe stiffened at Andrés’s deceptively polite request from behind her, his tone laced with just enough steel to warn of his displeasure.
“Of course,” Nikkos replied with obvious amusement. “Your wife is quite charming.”
She lifted her chin defiantly when Andrés turned her and slid his hand about her waist, pulling her close to his hard form.
Oh God, it was amazing how much she missed him. Missed any kind of intimate contact.
Her body responded immediately to his closeness, her breasts swelling and heat rocketing through her blood.
“Dancing with the enemy, Chloe?” Andrés asked softly, though inside he tried to abate the fiery burn of jealousy.
“Is he your enemy?”
“Well, I would hesitate to call us friends.”
What had Nikkos been thinking, inviting his wife to dance? No, perhaps they were not quite enemies, but nor were they friends. They held a mutual respect for each other and competitiveness in the industry that had made both of them the successes that they were today.
“What did you two talk about?” Andrés asked.
“Does it matter?”
“I don’t suppose it does.” He narrowed his eyes, observing his wife’s petite curves that swayed to the slow song the orchestra played. He tightened his hand around hers; every muscle in his body taut with the need to touch her again. To possess her. It had been too long.
Andrés came to a halt, ignoring the fact that the music was still playing. “We’re leaving.”
“So soon?”
He didn’t reply, just guided her quickly past Danielle, who appeared quite pleased, and toward the entrance to the hotel.
The paparazzi went mad with excitement. Cameras clicked and questions were shouted while they awaited their limo. A moment later, the vehicle slid to a stop in front of them and he ushered her inside.
“You’re a married woman now, Chloe. Perhaps you should stop with the flirtations,” he said once the limo was underway. “Of course, I am aware of your reputation while you were at Diablo’s Paraíso for being overtly friendly with the guests.”
“I did not flirt with Nikkos,” she snapped, her eyes sparking with fury. “And my being overtly friendly was due to that obnoxious rule set by the manager of your resort. If you don’t like your employees flirting with the guests, then take it up with Estella Martinez.”
Andrés narrowed his gaze. “What are you implying?”
“Implying?” She stared at him a moment, then laughed bitterly. “You mean you don’t know? Ask the manager of your resort about that little flirting rule. But be careful how deep you dig. You may not like some of the things you uncover about what’s going on at Diablo’s Paraíso.”
He stared at her a moment, trying to decipher what she’d have to gain by lying. Andrés knew she was jealous that he’d danced with Estella earlier, but this seemed a bit extreme.
Reaching into his tux pocket, he pulled free his cell phone and dialed Pablo. He snapped out a quick request for his assistant to do some investigating into what, if anything improper, was going on at his resort, and then disconnected the call. “I won’t take kindly to false accusations, Chloe—”