Mistress By Arrangement. HELEN BIANCHIN

I would be interested to hear it.’

      Having set the cat among the pigeons, it’s a source of amusement for you to watch the outcome, she surmised silently. But what if one of the pigeons was unafraid of the cat? Two could play this game.

      ‘As I recall, you were never particularly interested in my mind.’

      His eyes held hers, mesmeric in their intensity. She watched as his lips parted to reveal even white teeth, and noticed the movement deepened the vertical slash on each cheek.

      ‘Could anyone blame me, pedhi mou?’

      His drawled endearment curled round her nerve-ends and sent them spiralling out of control.

      ‘I’ll serve the main course.’

      Michelle heard Antonia’s words, and watched absently as the hired help cleared plates and cutlery and replaced them.

      ‘Some more wine, Nikos?’

      Emerson, ever the genial host, merely warranted the briefest glance. ‘Thank you, no.’ He returned his attention to Michelle. ‘I haven’t the need for further stimulation.’

      This was getting out of hand. It was also gaining the interest of everyone seated at the table.

      Chicken in a lemon sauce accompanied by a selection of braised vegetables did little to tempt Michelle’s flagging appetite, and she sampled a few mouthfuls of chicken, took a delicate bite of each vegetable, then set down her cutlery.

      Water, not wine, was something she sipped at infrequent intervals as she wished fervently for the evening to end.

      Yet there was dessert and the cheeseboard to complete the meal, followed by coffee. It would be at least another hour before she could make some excuse to leave.

      Jeremy leaned towards her and placed an arm along the back of her chair.

      ‘Tell me, darling.’ His voice was a conspiratorial murmur. ‘Is he incredibly physical in bed?’

      She didn’t deign to answer, and deliberately avoided glancing in Nikos’ direction as she conversed with the guest seated next to her. Afterwards she had little recollection of the topic or her contribution.

      Dessert was an exotic creation of baklava, together with fresh fruit and brandied cream.

      Michelle passed on both, and selected a few grapes to freshen her palate.

      ‘Shall we adjourn to the lounge for coffee?’ Antonia queried when it appeared everyone had had their fill.

      They were the sweetest words Michelle had heard in hours, and she subdued her enthusiasm as she stood to her feet and joined her parents.

      Chantelle Gerard cast her daughter a thoughtful glance. ‘I had no idea you knew Nikos Alessandros.’

      Money was important. Breeding, equally so. The Bateson-Burrows possessed both. But the Alessandros’ fortune couldn’t be ignored.

      Michelle could almost see the wheels turning in her mother’s brain. ‘I intend leaving very soon.’

      ‘You’re going on somewhere with Jeremy, darling? ’

      ‘No.’

      ‘I see,’ Chantelle voiced sagely. ‘We’ll talk in the morning.’

      ‘Believe me, Maman, there is absolutely nothing to tell,’ Michelle assured with an edge of mockery, watching as her mother lifted one eyebrow in silent chastisement. ‘Nothing,’ she added quietly.

      Twenty questions at dawn wasn’t her favoured way to begin the day. However, Chantelle was well-practised in the art of subtle manipulation, and Michelle was able to interpret every nuance in her mother’s voice.

      ‘We can easily give you a lift home if you’re prepared to wait awhile.’

      She should have brought her own car. Except Jeremy had insisted he collect her. Not a wise move, she decided wryly in retrospect.

      The mild headache she’d thought to invent was no longer a figment of her imagination. And Jeremy was fast becoming a nuisance. Her apartment was less than a kilometre away, a distance she’d entertain no qualms in walking during the day. However, the night hours provided a totally different context for a woman alone.

      ‘I’ll call a taxi.’

      Antonia offered a superb blend of coffee, together with liqueur, cream, milk, exotic bite-sized continental biscuits and a variety of Belgian chocolates.

      Michelle added milk and sugar, and sipped it as quickly as etiquette allowed. Placing her cup and saucer down onto a nearby side-table, she turned towards her hosts, and her stomach executed a slow somersault as she discovered Antonia and Emerson deep in conversation with Nikos Alessandros.

      Just pin a smile on your face, thank them for a pleasant evening, and then exit the room. Two or three minutes, five at the most.

      Almost as if he sensed her hesitation, Nikos lifted his head and watched her approach.

      Jeremy appeared at her side and draped an arm over her shoulder. His hand lingered a hair’s-breadth from her breast, and she stepped sideways in an effort to avoid the familiarity, only to have Jeremy’s hand close firmly over her arm.

      ‘Finished doing the duty thing with your parents?’

      She took exception to his tone, and his manner. ‘I don’t regard talking to my parents as a duty.’

      ‘You obviously don’t suffer parental suffocation as a result of being the only child,’ he alluded cynically.

      ‘No,’ she responded evenly.

      ‘Ready to leave?’ Nikos queried smoothly as she joined Jeremy’s parents. ‘If you’ll excuse us,’ Nikos announced imperturbably to his hosts. ‘Michelle and I have some catching up to do.’ He caught hold of her hand and drew her forward, inclined his head towards a startled Jeremy, then led her from the lounge.

      ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ she hissed as soon as they reached the foyer.

      ‘Providing you with a lift to your apartment.’

      ‘Michelle.’ Jeremy drew level with them. ‘I’ll take you home.’

      She felt like hitting each of them. One for being overly possessive and childishly jealous. The Greek for his arrogance.

      ‘There’s no need to leave your parents’ guests,’ Nikos intoned pleasantly. ‘Michelle’s apartment building is almost opposite my own.’

      How did he know that?

      ‘She’s my girlfriend,’ Jeremy reiterated fiercely as he turned towards her.

      This was getting worse by the second.

      ‘Michelle?’ Nikos’ voice was silk-encased steel.

      Jeremy’s hand closed over her shoulder, as if staking a claim. ‘Damn you, tell him.’

      ‘There’s nothing to tell,’ she assured quietly, and winced as Jeremy’s hold tightened.

      ‘I don’t think so, my friend,’ Nikos drawled with dangerous softness, and Jeremy turned towards him with emboldened belligerence.

      ‘This is none of your business!’

      ‘I disagree.’

      ‘Why would you do that?’

      ‘Because Michelle is with me.’

      ‘Damned if she is!’ Jeremy’s face contorted with fury.

      ‘You want proof?’ Nikos demanded silkily.

      Michelle didn’t get the chance to say a word in protest as Nikos drew her into his arms and covered her mouth with his own.

      Possessive and frankly sensual, he took advantage of her surprise to taste and plunder at