The Giannakis Bride(18)

       
           



       

He did. At very great length, and with all the fire and passion she could ask for.

Later that morning as they drove the familiar streets of Kifissia to the  clinic, he mentioned that a catering crew would be spending the day at  the villa, setting up for tomorrow's event.

She laughed. "You mean to say Erika and Alexio are going to let strangers run loose all over the place?"

"They oversee everything, but it's too big an affair for them to manage  by themselves. To give them a break, we'll have dinner in Rafina  tonight."

"Why?" she objected. "I don't mind cooking, and I'm happy to spend a quiet evening at home with you."

"That's the whole point. It won't be quiet, and the kitchen will be off-limits."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that. Well, just for the record, you don't have to wine and dine me every night of the week."

He grimaced slightly. "Keep reminding me of that, will you? It's not something I'm used to."

"Cecily needed constant entertainment, I know."

"Oh, yeah. And if I wasn't able or willing to provide it, she went looking for someone who was."

"You never told me who was with her, the night she died."

"Nobody I knew. They might have been part of her new circle of friends,  or perfect strangers. She wasn't choosy about the company she kept when  it came time to party. The police report stated only that there'd been a  fire in a night club and she was among those who hadn't made it out  alive, most likely because, as the autopsy showed, she'd consumed enough  alcohol to put someone twice her size under the table."

"It'll be different with us, Dimitrios. I know most people think a  model's life is all about wearing fabulous clothes and flying first  class from one exotic location to another, but in my case at least, the  truth is somewhat different. I'm a real homebody at heart, and never  more content than when I can shut my front door on the rest of the  world, put on a comfortable old pair of sweatpants, and curl up by the  fire with a good book."

"Don't," he said roughly. "Don't make me regret the years I've wasted with you any more than I already do."

"We'll make up for them. We've already started."

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "I guess we have. But speaking of  work, do you have outstanding assignments to complete or contracts you  need to honor?"

"As a matter of fact, I don't. Carter managed to get someone else to  stand in for the work I had coming up, and we were planning to look over  some new offers when I went home, but as far as I'm concerned, the only  thing I plan to sign in the near future is the consent form for the  transplant. Speaking of which, do you have any idea when we'll get my  test results?"

"Later in the week, according to Noelle. Listen, Brianna, if you turn  out to be a match and the transplant goes ahead, you realize what it  means, don't you? You'll be back on your feet in about a week, but  Poppy's going to take months to recuperate."

"I know, and I'm sick at the thought of what she faces."

"Me, too. But what I'm getting at is that it's taken me a long time to  find my way back to you. Will you think me very selfish if I ask you to  marry me as soon possible?"

"How soon is that?"

He turned into the clinic forecourt and killed the engine. "You're not a  Greek citizen, so there'll be some red tape to cut through, but I have  connections in all the right places that can speed up the process. I'd  say we could set a date for a couple of weeks from now. We'd have to  postpone the honeymoon, obviously, but the wedding itself can be  anything you want."

"I want you." She swiveled in her seat and let her gaze roam over him.  She'd never tire of looking at him, she thought dreamily. Nothing time  could affect would lessen the perfect bone structure that blessed him  with such elegantly sculpted features. Even in old age, he'd be  beautiful. "You and Poppy," she said, curving her hand over his thigh.  "All the rest is just window dressing."                       
       
           



       

"Stop that," he scolded, removing her hand and dropping it firmly in her  own lap. "I'm a well-respected corporate giant in these parts, not some  hormone-driven teenager with an overload of testosterone. Much more  temptation of the kind you're dishing out, though, and I won't be  responsible for my actions."

"And here I thought you couldn't wait to have at me." She sighed in mock regret. "How long must I wait?"

Choking back a laugh, he glanced at his watch. "About another twelve  hours or so, if it's up to me. But regardless of when, I guarantee it'll  be someplace a lot more comfortable and private than the passenger seat  in my car. Now take my mind off your delicious body and tell me what  you have planned for the rest of the day."

"I thought I'd be with you and Poppy."

"I hoped so, too, but a client I've been trying to hook up with for a  while now is in Athens just for the day, before he flies to the Orient,  which means there'll be no spiriting you away for a romantic lunch while  Poppy takes her nap."

"In that case, I might go shopping. You've probably noticed I didn't  bring many clothes with me. This sort of thing … " She indicated her plain  white cotton skirt and silk-screened T-shirt. "The quality might be  good, but it was never intended for a high-society garden party, but I  saw something in a boutique the other day that would be perfect. I think  you'll like it."

The look he turned on her made her quiver inside. "Haven't you figured  out yet that what's inside the clothes is all that matters to me?"

"Still, the last thing I want is to embarrass you in front of your friends and associates."

"Brianna, mana mou, you couldn't embarrass me if you tried." Stopping  her as she went to open the car door, he leaned over and dropped a kiss  on her cheek. "That's for Poppy, and this-" he kissed her again, a  lovely, hot, open-mouthed kiss that sent shock waves of delight  shimmering all the way to the soles of her feet "-is for you. Consider  it a down payment on what I owe you. Have fun shopping, treat yourself  to a nice, relaxed lunch, and I'll see you later."

She didn't immediately go up to Poppy's room after he left. She went  instead to sit by the courtyard fountain, wanting to savor the moment  and let the taste of joy linger on her tongue. How different everything  looked through the eyes of a woman in love. The sky reflected a deeper,  more intense blue, the flowers a more brilliant palette of scarlet and  purple and gold, the lawns a richer shade of emerald. If she was able to  make Poppy well again, all truly would be right with the world.

The dress-her dress-was still in the window when she arrived at the  boutique just ahead of the siesta hour, but recognizing her from a  magazine spread she'd done in Paris earlier in the year, the owner,  Elene, was more than happy to hang a Closed sign on the door and  accommodate her.

"Thavmasios!" she gushed, rolling her eyes dramatically when Brianna  emerged from the fitting room in a swirl of pale roses and fine silk  voile. "Not many women have the height and body to carry such an  ensemble, but on you, Despinis Connelly, it is perfection."

Turning slowly before the three-way mirror to get a better view of how  she looked from the back, Brianna had to agree. The entire outfit might  have been made with her in mind. The draped bodice molded softly to her  shoulders and breasts. The skirt fell in graceful folds from its high  empire waist almost to her ankles. The hat was nothing less than a work  of art. Its wide sweeping brim, anchored to the crown with one large,  perfect cream satin rose, imparted a demure air of mystery to her face.  Even the high-heeled ivory shoes were the correct size.

"You are pleased?" Elene eyed her anxiously.

"More than you can begin to imagine," Brianna assured her. "I fell in  love with this dress over a week ago, and was afraid it might have sold  before I came back. It's one of a kind, I'm sure."

"Indeed, yes. Everything you see here is unique. You needn't concern  yourself that you'll come across a duplicate on someone else. But if you  are undecided, I have other designs I can show you."                       
       
           



       

"I decided the minute I saw it. It's perfect for the garden party I'm  attending tomorrow. But I would like to look at a few other things, in  particular something suitable for evening. Next weekend, I'm also going  to the Rosegarth Clinic fund-raising gala. Perhaps you know of it?"