LITMIR.BIZ

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pleasure.’

      Nicos hailed a cruising cab, and Katrina watched it swoop to a halt at the kerb. Seconds later the driver executed a U-turn and headed into the city to their hotel.

      It was after five when they entered their suite, and Katrina slipped off her shoes and loosened her jacket.

      ‘Do you want to take the shower first, or shall I?’

      ‘We could share,’ Nicos declared with musing indolence.

      ‘No, we couldn’t,’ she refuted firmly, aware of tiny prickles of alarm slithering over the surface of her skin. She had no difficulty recalling how he looked sans clothes: the splendid musculature of his masculine frame, the breadth of his shoulders, the taut buttocks and powerful thighs. As to the instrument of his manhood…

      Don’t go there, she bade silently. Her heart began hammering at the memory of how it had been between them. His skilled touch, her reaction. Dear Lord, he’d never failed to send her up in flames.

      Without a further word she gathered briefs and bra, caught up a complimentary bathrobe, and entered the en suite. For a few paralysing seconds she hesitated, then she quietly slid home the lock.

      Twenty minutes later she emerged, the bathrobe securely tied, with her make-up bag in hand.

      Nicos was seated on the edge of the bed, his attention taken by a documentary on television.

      ‘Finished?’

      Katrina wasn’t conscious of holding her breath until she released it in a rush several seconds later when the bathroom door closed behind him.

      By the time he re-entered the bedroom she was dressed, her make-up complete, and she was in the process of securing small diamond studs to her ears.

      He had no inhibition at discarding his robe, and her eyes flicked over his frame, naked except for black hipster briefs, and her stomach did a backwards flip as she caught the fluid ripple of muscle and sinew as he reached for his trousers and pulled them on. A clean shirt came next, and she dragged her gaze away as he deftly attended to fastening buttons before tucking in his shirt and sliding the zip fastening home.

      The thought of previously being held in those arms throughout the night was damning. But, oh, how she longed for the comfort they’d offered. The closeness, the caring…

      What was she doing, for heaven’s sake? She didn’t, couldn’t want anything from the man who had betrayed her.

      Yet there was some intrinsic quality existent, an inherent knowledge that defied logic.

      Sexual chemistry, she dismissed as she collected her evening purse.

      ‘Shall we leave?’

      ‘We’re meeting Stavros and Eleni in the lounge bar,’ Nicos indicated as they rode the lift down.

      Katrina hadn’t seen them since she’d left Nicos. Had he told them about their separation and reconciliation?

      ‘No,’ Nicos said quietly as they entered the lounge. ‘Although I don’t doubt they’ve heard.’

      Was she that transparent?

      There was no time to cogitate Nicos’s keen ability to divine her thoughts as two people rose from their seats and moved forward to greet them.

      ‘Lovely to see you again.’ Eleni inclined with a warm smile as they settled into comfortable chairs.

      Nicos beckoned the drinks waiter and ordered champagne.

      ‘This is a celebration?’ Eleni queried.

      ‘Of a kind,’ Nicos agreed, sparing Katrina a musing glance.

      ‘I was sorry to hear about your father,’ Stavros indicated. ‘A sad loss.’

      ‘Thank you.’

      Stavros turned towards Nicos and began discussing a mutual business deal, while Eleni leaned towards Katrina.

      ‘I can’t begin to tell you how happy it makes me to see you both together again.’

      What did she say to that? ‘It’s been a while,’ Katrina agreed tentatively.

      ‘Georgia is nothing but a troublemaker,’ Eleni vowed quietly. ‘She has put Nicos through hell.’

      Really? On the few occasions Katrina had seen him during the months of their separation he’d looked perfectly fine.

      ‘But then, of course you would know that,’ Eleni confirmed.

      Katrina didn’t comment, although it was difficult to contain a smile as Eleni rolled her eyes with expressive distaste.

      ‘The woman is a witch.’ Eleni appeared to pull herself together and change the subject. ‘So, you have been engaged in business matters all day. Now, it’s time to celebrate.’ Eleni’s features softened. ‘A celebration for us too. I am pregnant.’

      ‘I’m so pleased for you.’ Katrina’s enthusiasm was genuine. A child was a beautiful gift, and Eleni had wanted babies from the day of her marriage.

      Minutes later they gravitated towards the restaurant. The food was excellent, the service good, and the ensuing hours passed so quickly it was difficult to believe it was almost ten when Eleni indicated they should leave.

      ‘My wife tires easily,’ Stavros explained apologetically as Nicos settled the bill.

      ‘One minute I’m fine,’ Eleni said with amusement. ‘The next I can hardly keep my eyes open.’

      They walked towards the exit through the hotel lobby and Stavros organised for the concierge to fetch their car.

      ‘We will see you again soon, yes?’ Eleni embraced Nicos, then turned towards Katrina. ‘Take care, Katrina.’

      Their car arrived, courtesy of a porter, and within a few brief minutes they were gone.

      ‘Would you like to have a drink in the lounge?’ Nicos queried as they re-entered the lobby.

      ‘Okay.’ Anything to delay taking the lift back up to their suite.

      Nicos ordered coffee, and Katrina sipped hers slowly as she indulged in the idle pleasure of people-watching. Couples, singles, young and old.

      ‘Penny for them?’

      She looked at Nicos, and was unable to gain much from his expression. ‘It’s been a successful day.’

      ‘Yes, it has.’

      ‘Can I take it as joint executor, you approve my decisions?’

      ‘I have no doubt as to your ability to make them,’ Nicos said evenly.

      ‘Thank you,’ she responded solemnly.

      ‘I believe you’ve been looking at property.’

      Katrina’s eyes sharpened. ‘I’m using my own personal funds, which gives you absolutely no reason to question me.’

      One eyebrow slanted. ‘I was making an observation.’

      ‘You want addresses? So you can check them out?’ She could feel the anger begin to rise. ‘Or has your source of information already given you a full report?’

      ‘You use Kevin’s lawyer for your own affairs,’ he reminded silkily.

      ‘He contravened client confidentiality privilege?’ she queried, scandalised.

      ‘Not at all, and only in respect of commenting on your business acumen,’ Nicos said smoothly.

      Katrina took in a deep breath and released it slowly. ‘I enjoy restoring property.’

      ‘The terrace houses are a good investment.’

      ‘You know about them—how?’

      He held her gaze. ‘I’m negotiating

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