At the Tycoon's Service. Maya Banks

sending Patrice to collect her? If he was so bent on her not navigating the stairs alone, then he could at least see to the task himself rather than foist her off on the hired help like she was some undesirable chore.

      She drew her shoulders up and went to the closet to choose an outfit. There were enough concerns she had to deal with without adding a surly, moody man to the equation. Whatever the reason for his fit of temper, he could damn well get over it.

      All warm and floaty feelings from the night’s lovemaking evaporated as she walked out of the bedroom. She wasn’t going to stand around like a lapdog and wait to be summoned. It was ridiculous that he insisted on having her helped up and down the stairs like a child.

      She was halfway down when she saw Chrysander standing at the bottom, his jaw set and anger flashing in his eyes. She faltered for a moment but gripped the railing and continued downward. It made her feel childish and a little petty to defy him over such an insignificant matter, but at the moment she didn’t mind irritating him in the least.

      She met his gaze challengingly as she navigated the final step. His lips thinned, but he said nothing. He put a hand to her elbow to guide her to the breakfast table, but she firmly moved her arm forward and walked ahead of him.

      They ate in silence, although she couldn’t really say she ate anything. She pushed the fruit around on her plate and sipped mechanically at her tea, but the stony silence emanating from Chrysander had her wanting to flee.

      Several times she opened her mouth to ask him what was the matter, but each time, something in his expression kept her silent. Finally, she gave up any pretense of eating and shoved her plate away.

      Chrysander looked up and gave a disapproving frown when he noted the food still on her plate. “You need to eat.”

      “It’s rather difficult to eat when a black cloud resides at your breakfast table,” she said tightly.

      His lips thinned, and his eyes flickered. He looked as though he would respond, but then she heard the sound of a helicopter approaching.

      “It’s a regular airport this morning,” she murmured.

      Chrysander stood and tossed down his napkin. “That will be the jeweler. I’ll return in a moment.”

      Jeweler? She watched him go, confusion running circles through her head. What the devil did he need a jeweler for? She sat back with a sigh and wondered where Patrice or Dr. Karounis was. At least with them present, she wouldn’t have to face Chrysander’s stormy silence.

      She stood and looked around for a moment before finally deciding to venture outdoors. The sun looked warm and inviting, and she had yet to see any of the island in daylight.

      She stepped out onto the terrace and immediately closed her eyes in appreciation as the sea breeze blew over her face. It was cool but not uncomfortably so, and sunshine left a warm trail over her skin as she sought out the stone path leading to the beach.

      The farther she walked from the house, the sandier the pathway became. She stopped on the walkway and shed her sandals, wondering how the warm sand would feel sliding over her feet.

      At the end of the pathway, there was a short drop off to the beach. When she stepped down, her toes sank into the loose grains, and she smiled.

      The waves beckoned, and so she ventured toward the frothy foam spreading across the damp sand at the water’s edge. The sea was so blue it took her breath away. Paradise. It was simply paradise. And Chrysander owned it.

      The wind picked up the curls at her neck and blew them around her face. After several attempts to tuck the wayward strands behind her ears, she laughingly gave up and let them fly.

      She glanced back toward the house, but seeing no one coming, she continued to walk down the beach, paralleling the water. The sounds of the incoming waves soothed her, and soon the tension in her shoulders began to unravel. She felt at peace here, but more than that, she felt safe.

      The word startled her, and she stopped where she was, her forehead wrinkling in consternation. Why wouldn’t she feel safe? Chrysander had a veritable mountain of security that he insisted on taking everywhere with them. If anyone was safe, she was. And yet, until they’d landed on the island, she’d felt uneasy, panic just a heartbeat away.

      “You’re losing your mind,” she muttered. “Well, you’ve already lost that. Maybe the sanity isn’t far behind.”

      Marley spied a large piece of driftwood wedged against a mound of sand, and she walked toward it. There was a place on the end that was relatively smooth, so she dusted off the sand and settled down to sit.

      She sighed contentedly. She could sit here for hours watching the waves roll in and listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean. If it was warm enough to swim, she’d be tempted to shed her clothing and wade in. But then she had no idea where all the lurking security men were, and she had no desire to give them a free show.

      Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she turned her head to see Chrysander striding down the beach.

      She grumbled under her breath even as he approached. Stopping in front of her, he fixed her with a frown. He pursed his lips then shook his head before moving to sit down beside her on the log.

      “I can see you’re going to keep my security team very busy, pedhaki mou.”

      She shrugged but didn’t say anything.

      “What are you doing out here?” he asked mildly.

      “Enjoying the beach. It’s very beautiful.”

      “If I promise to bring you out again, will you come back to the house with me? The jeweler is waiting for us, and he must return to the mainland soon.”

      She glanced sideways at him. “Why is a jeweler here, and why must we meet with him? Doesn’t one usually visit a jeweler in his shop?”

      Chrysander stood and gave her an arrogant look that suggested everyone came to him, not the other way around. He held out his hand to her, and she extended hers in resignation.

      “You’re really no fun,” she muttered as he pulled her up to stand beside him.

      “I can see I will have to change your opinion of me.”

      She tried to pull her hand away as they started back toward the house, but he held it fast. Hot then cold. At this rate, she’d never figure out the man. Memory loss or not, she couldn’t imagine not wanting to tear her hair out around him.

      They walked into the library, where an older man was arranging velvet-covered trays on Chrysander’s desk. When they entered, he looked up and beamed.

      “Sit, sit,” he encouraged as he walked around the desk to grasp Marley’s hand. He raised it to his lips and brushed a polite kiss over her skin.

      When Chrysander had settled her into a chair, he took the one beside her, and the jeweler hastened around the desk.

      Marley took in the stunning rings, the dazzling array of diamonds, in front of her, and gasped. She turned a questioning gaze to Chrysander.

      “He is here so we can choose your ring,” Chrysander said matter-of-factly. As if having a jeweler personally come out was an everyday occurrence.

      “I don’t understand,” she began lamely.

      Chrysander picked up her left hand and raised her fingers to his lips. “It is important to me that you wear my ring, pedhaki mou. We had not gotten around to choosing one when you had your…accident. I want to rectify that matter now.”

      “Oh.” As responses went, hers wasn’t terribly brilliant, but it was all she could manage.

      Chrysander urged her to turn her attention to the rings, and she did so a little nervously. They were so huge. And expensive! She didn’t even want to know how much they cost. After trying several on, she spotted one that she loved, but then wondered if he’d be offended by her choice.

      Her