The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride(13)

“I was delighted to get your letter” Grace surprised at how quickly he had received it “I particularly liked the part you offered to show me around Italy”.

She gave a small nervous laugh “Well it only seems fair as you were so kind as to show me around your underwater paradise”

His throaty chuckle had made her smile, strange warmth filling her.

“Well as it happens I have a week free, and was wondering if I could take you up on your offer. Your father has offered to let me stay at your home, but I prefer to stay in a hotel…I like my own space, but wanted to spend some more time with you…give us a chance to get to know each other”

Grace had felt the lump in her throat, her voice suddenly so weak “I…it sounds great…I would really enjoy that”

“Your father and mother have given permission for you to join me on the coast in a couple of days also because there are several parties that I am expected to attend…it seems the ideal opportunity for us to be seen together”

She had gripped the phone in both shock and surprise. Her father was allowing her to go away for a few days unaccompanied, Grace finding herself speechless.

His concerned voice had rallied her as she had made some small comment of how good that would be, her mind in turmoil. She had never spent time away with anybody, let alone a man, and not just any man the playboy billionaire Alexos Manetas, the memory of his kiss once more sending electric jolts of awareness through her.

As she had replaced the phone, her father had returned to the room, having left to allow the two to talk, she looking at him with wide eyes. “You said it was OK for me to go away for a few days?”

Her father nodding

“On my own!”

His lips had curled contemptuously as he had nodded “We don’t want you losing him because he thinks that you are too young…time for you to grow up Grace. You will do whatever is expected of you to keep him interested…do I make myself clear?”

Grace had felt the colour leave her cheeks as she had stared disbelievingly at her father. Was he really ordering her to sleep with the man? As he had turned to leave the room she had felt sick to her very stomach, pushing down the tears that filled her eyes.

With Alexos due in two days time, her father’s household had become a hive of activity as the gardens had been manicured and all the rooms cleaned. She had been taken shopping, her father’s secretary once more helping her to purchase more suitable clothing, Grace embarrassed to see the lingerie the woman had insisted that she purchase. She had been upset when her mother had not been the one to accompany her, her father looking at the older woman with disdain, his cutting remarks not caring that she had heard

“Eloise is young and sexy. You will learn a lot from her”

Grace had always disliked the woman only a few years older than herself, sure that her father’s relationship with her was more than was being admitted to, once more wondering why her mother would put up with being treated that way. Her mother was still beautiful, only 20 years older than she with looks that were classically perfect, her petit frame inherited by Grace, anger filling her at her father’s put down, he cruel and overweight.

Finally the day had arrived, and exactly to the hour he had specified Alexos had arrived at the Leotta estate. Her father had fawned over the young handsome man, offering him anything that he wanted, Alexos smiling as his eyes had fallen onto Grace. With extreme charm he had shaken the older man’s hand and lifted her mother’s hand bestowing a small kiss on it.

“It is a pleasure to see you once more Mrs Leotta” his silky voice full of real warmth, as her mother had given a return smile. Finally he had turned to Grace, taking her hand too, his mouth resting longer than was necessary on her soft skin.

“Grace. So perfectly named” his small murmur, eyes that had danced with fun, she shyly smiling back.

“I…it is wonderful to see you again Alexos” she had offered softly as his dark eyes had once more held her own hazel ones, such sensations passing between the two before he had pulled back, Grace noticing that he had seemed almost as affected as she was.

Her father had led the group onto the large terrace as Alexos had admired their home much to the pleasure of her father whose chest had swollen up with pride. Neither Grace nor her mother had commented on how his home was so much more impressive, Grace watching how easily he seemed to manage her father. After they had enjoyed homemade lemonade, her father offered their guest something stronger as he had shaken his head smiling over at Grace

“Thank you Sir, but my driving is bad enough as I am sure your daughter can confirm”