plan to interest Damon in marriage to his daughter? The idea was nonsense. As if he needed help choosing a wife!
As if Angela would suit him!
Then he remembered the look on Callie’s face as she urged her cousin inside. Could she really believe he was interested in marrying Angela?
Suddenly so much made sense.
A smile of satisfaction spread across Damon’s face.
He had her.
He knew the chink in Callie’s armour. All he had to do was apply a little pressure.
‘Just who I wanted to see.’ Damon’s voice was low and intimate. The hairs on Callie’s neck rose in instant awareness. ‘We need to talk.’
It didn’t matter that he held her in contempt. Or that he threatened the fragile peace of mind she’d built up since Alkis’ death. A force stronger than reason or pride held her in thrall to Damon Savakis.
Who’d have thought desire could be so strong? In her inexperience it had seemed far more—as if in the seclusion of the pine-shaded beach, she’d connected with the only man in the world who was…right.
Her lips thinned. She’d always been too naïve. She should have stopped believing in fantasy long ago.
Slowly she turned. After a morning in her aunt’s sick room, Callie had sought the secluded platform at the end of the garden. She’d hoped its view over the village and the sea beyond would help her find the peace she’d lost.
He wore a crisp white shirt and tailored dark trousers, a jacket slung over one solid shoulder. He looked serious, a man to be reckoned with.
He’d been with her uncle for hours. What had they decided?
‘I’m leaving soon,’ he said, stepping close.
Callie’s hands tightened on the balustrade. Relief, not dismay. She told herself she wanted him to leave.
‘I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay.’ She turned, unable to hold his stare.
Instead she gazed at the distant harbour.
‘Your family’s hospitality has been most…generous.’ His odd inflection sent unease skimming down her backbone.
A vessel in the harbour, a tiny blue-hulled boat, chugged towards the open sea. Callie wished she could be on it, sailing safely away from Damon. Her lips twisted. Just the idea of going on board a small boat made her stomach cramp with fear. She couldn’t even fantasise about her escape!
‘So generous that I’m considering strengthening my connection with your family.’
She should be relieved. If the deal was favourable she might get her inheritance. Yet, turning to see his satisfied expression, she had an awful suspicion it wasn’t so simple.
‘With a merger?’ She held her breath.
He draped his jacket over the railing then leaned, arms splayed. He looked like a man who commanded all he surveyed.
Disquiet thrummed through her. Her uncle had invited a powerful predator into their midst and foolishly believed he could keep the upper hand. Instinct told her Aristides Manolis had badly underestimated Damon.
‘Not necessarily.’ Was that a hint of amusement? ‘I’m considering something more personal.’
Callie’s fingers clenched round the rail in spasm.
‘Your cousin is a lovely young woman.’ There was a purr of satisfaction in his voice that made Callie’s hackles rise.
He wasn’t serious! He didn’t need marriage to a Manolis to cement his place in society. The idea was farcical.
‘I don’t see the connection,’ she said through clenched teeth.
‘Don’t you? Odd, I thought you quite astute.’
She cast him a surprised glance then looked away.
‘Angela will make someone a fine wife,’ he mused. ‘She has the qualities a man looks for in a permanent partner.’
‘What? Timid, eager to please and biddable?’ She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice. She’d learned what men wanted. Someone to shore up their egos and obey their whims. They didn’t look beyond the surface to the woman beneath. Much less recognise her needs.
‘Trust a beautiful woman to be so scathing of another.’
‘That’s
As if Angela would suit him!
Then he remembered the look on Callie’s face as she urged her cousin inside. Could she really believe he was interested in marrying Angela?
Suddenly so much made sense.
A smile of satisfaction spread across Damon’s face.
He had her.
He knew the chink in Callie’s armour. All he had to do was apply a little pressure.
‘Just who I wanted to see.’ Damon’s voice was low and intimate. The hairs on Callie’s neck rose in instant awareness. ‘We need to talk.’
It didn’t matter that he held her in contempt. Or that he threatened the fragile peace of mind she’d built up since Alkis’ death. A force stronger than reason or pride held her in thrall to Damon Savakis.
Who’d have thought desire could be so strong? In her inexperience it had seemed far more—as if in the seclusion of the pine-shaded beach, she’d connected with the only man in the world who was…right.
Her lips thinned. She’d always been too naïve. She should have stopped believing in fantasy long ago.
Slowly she turned. After a morning in her aunt’s sick room, Callie had sought the secluded platform at the end of the garden. She’d hoped its view over the village and the sea beyond would help her find the peace she’d lost.
He wore a crisp white shirt and tailored dark trousers, a jacket slung over one solid shoulder. He looked serious, a man to be reckoned with.
He’d been with her uncle for hours. What had they decided?
‘I’m leaving soon,’ he said, stepping close.
Callie’s hands tightened on the balustrade. Relief, not dismay. She told herself she wanted him to leave.
‘I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay.’ She turned, unable to hold his stare.
Instead she gazed at the distant harbour.
‘Your family’s hospitality has been most…generous.’ His odd inflection sent unease skimming down her backbone.
A vessel in the harbour, a tiny blue-hulled boat, chugged towards the open sea. Callie wished she could be on it, sailing safely away from Damon. Her lips twisted. Just the idea of going on board a small boat made her stomach cramp with fear. She couldn’t even fantasise about her escape!
‘So generous that I’m considering strengthening my connection with your family.’
She should be relieved. If the deal was favourable she might get her inheritance. Yet, turning to see his satisfied expression, she had an awful suspicion it wasn’t so simple.
‘With a merger?’ She held her breath.
He draped his jacket over the railing then leaned, arms splayed. He looked like a man who commanded all he surveyed.
Disquiet thrummed through her. Her uncle had invited a powerful predator into their midst and foolishly believed he could keep the upper hand. Instinct told her Aristides Manolis had badly underestimated Damon.
‘Not necessarily.’ Was that a hint of amusement? ‘I’m considering something more personal.’
Callie’s fingers clenched round the rail in spasm.
‘Your cousin is a lovely young woman.’ There was a purr of satisfaction in his voice that made Callie’s hackles rise.
He wasn’t serious! He didn’t need marriage to a Manolis to cement his place in society. The idea was farcical.
‘I don’t see the connection,’ she said through clenched teeth.
‘Don’t you? Odd, I thought you quite astute.’
She cast him a surprised glance then looked away.
‘Angela will make someone a fine wife,’ he mused. ‘She has the qualities a man looks for in a permanent partner.’
‘What? Timid, eager to please and biddable?’ She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice. She’d learned what men wanted. Someone to shore up their egos and obey their whims. They didn’t look beyond the surface to the woman beneath. Much less recognise her needs.
‘Trust a beautiful woman to be so scathing of another.’
‘That’s
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