The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride(42)

She had smiled so sensually at him as he had nodded back, Grace aware of the tension between the two, frowning as she had looked down trying not to think about its meaning. As they had moved away, she had regarded him questioningly

“I am sorry…did I say something wrong?” Alexos looked back at her with a small grimace.

“Nothing you were to know about. However, she and her husband split up last week, and they are going through a pretty nasty divorce”

Grace had looked back at the receding woman a gentler look in her eyes “No…I didn’t know…I am sorry to hear that”

Alexos had given her a warm return smile as the two had moved back to the car. He had taken her to see the small temple, gaining pleasure in acting as guide. However, both had been aware as she had become more and more uptight as the hour of the party had approached. Returning to the villa that night she had showered and pulled on the wonderful full length cocktail dress they had bought only days earlier.

The aqua silver off-the-shoulder designer dress had shown her lovely curves, the shade complementing her own natural colouring making even Grace gasp at how good she looked. Pulling her hair into a soft knot secured by an ornate comb she had taken more care than usual with her makeup, Grace not fully aware as to just how stunning she looked.

Walking into her room Alexos had stopped in his tracks. She had always been beautiful to him, but he had had to swallow the large lump in his throat seeing her stood ready to go.

“Oh my God Grace……you look….wow”

A small blush had risen to her cheeks as she in turn had admired him. Wearing a tuxedo, the suit fitting his figure so well, she had felt the all too familiar flash of desire fill her. Moving forward he had dropped his head slightly to the side, a small contemplative look on his face as she had looked back before examining the front of her dress, looking to see what was wrong a concerned frown on her lovely features.

“What…what is it?” she had questioned as he had pulled something from the inside of his jacket. Grace had watched as he had opened the large flat square box, her eyes opening wider seeing the jewellery that lay within the velvet interior

“Alexos!!”

Her eyes flying to his seeing the necklace and matching tennis bracelet “This…this is too much”

A smile turning the corners of his mouth “A perfect match for the ring Cara”

Lifting the bracelet he had secured it on her small wrist, raising it and turning her arm to lay a small kiss on the throbbing vein of her wrist, another flash flying through Grace. Taking the necklace he had moved around her, his fingers brushed gently against her neck, Grace shuddered softly at the feel of him. As he had secured it his lips had dropped to rest on the small of her back, this time Grace unable to hold back the small gasp, her body shivering as he had chuckled against her.

Turning her around to him he had looked down into her wonderful face, the green of her eyes so bright.

“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known” something wonderful in his tone as she had only been able to stare back at him, her eyes so bright with the passion for this man.

The small knock on the door had broken the moment as he had called back in Greek, the response seeing him turn to her, a small smile on his face.

“Show time Cara” concern once more etched on her features. Taking her hand in his he had whispered softly “I will not leave your side Grace…you have my word” she smiling warmly back, the thought of that somehow making what was to come seem almost bearable.

The party had only just began as together they had descended the stairs. Nikoli had greeted them both, his eyes growing softer as he had looked at Grace “You look wonderful” his comment as he had looked at Alexos.

“You look after this girl, or you will have me to deal with” Grace smiling warmly back, an uneasy prickle of guilt filling her. As she had moved away she had looked at the man at her side, her face full of concern.

“Alexos…how is your father going to take it when he finds out that our engagement is not real?”

With a small smile he had brushed the comment away “Who says he has to know? We can talk about that later”

About to argue, her eyes had fallen on the two people who had just entered the large ballroom, a small noise of pain leaving her as her hand had started to shake tightening in his. Alexos had instinctively known what the problem was, his eyes moving to where she looked, seeing her parents being welcomed by his father.

“Let’s get this over with shall we?” his soft voice in her ear as she had taken a deep breath moving beside him.