Yesterday's Sins (35 page)

His implication was clear. "Oh for heaven's sake, Alex, I'm not suicidal. And that reminds me, have you had one of your goons following me?"

His silence made her uncomfortable. "Why do you ask?"

"You have," she said shaking her head. "The least you could have done is told me."

"Why?" he demanded.

"He frightened the life out of me, last night," she said through her teeth, seething with anger. "You can call him off. That is, if he still wants to work for you."

"Is Nicolaides still there?" he asked, a dangerous edge to his voice. "Can I speak to him?"

"I'll get him." Kate handed the phone over to Gregori and then walked out through the terrace doors into the garden. How dare Alex have her followed without so much as a by-your-leave?

Gregori soon joined her grinning widely and shaking his head.

"What are you so happy about?"

"That
goon
you flattened last night was the head of Alex's security team. Reuben Cade will never live it down. Where did you learn dirty street fighting? You are just full of surprises."

Kate laughed and shook her head not prepared to touch that comment.

Not long after Gregori left, Kate received a huge basket of roses. Her hand shook as she opened the accompanying message.

Forgive me, Catriona. Dare I hope you've missed me? Alex.

Alex knew her so well.

Did he know she was missing him so badly she couldn't eat or sleep or work? So badly she wasn't sure how to survive the days before he came home.

Chapter Eighteen

T
he shrill ring of the doorbell startled Kate. Who was at her door at this hour of the evening? Nervous, she looked through the peephole and saw Alex and gasped with surprise. Her hand shook as she opened the door.

"Alex. What are you doing here?"

In his dark grey suit and pristine white shirt, she was suddenly far too aware this was Alexandros Korda, the wealthy, powerful businessman. He carried an odd shaped parcel wrapped in white and silver paper.

"May I come in?" His grave expression set her heart thundering.

"Of course." Kate stood back let him enter.

Alex went to the table, carefully putting the parcel down and turned to her, catching her hands and lifting them to his lips. "Please forgive me, Catriona."

Looking into his grey eyes, she saw his sincerity. But remembered hurt had her pulling her hands free. "Why have you come home early?"

Alex glanced at his watch. "It's a flying visit. I have an hour before as I need to leave. I have to be in Sydney in the morning for a crucial meeting."

"An hour." Kate stared from him to the parcel. "Why on earth?"

"I came to bring you this. And I needed to see you. In person." He indicated the parcel. "Open it, Catriona."

Kate's mind was whirling as she removed the paper. Alex had interrupted his meetings to fly home to bring her this? She frowned at the small plant in its terra cotta pot.

"What is it?" She touched a long silvery grey leaf of the small tree.

"A Calamata olive."

"An olive tree?" Bewildered, she sank into one of the dining chairs.

"Yes." He pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.

"Why?" Talk about bringing an olive branch in style.

"It's a peace offering and a gesture of good will. The olive is a powerful symbol of both." He smiled, even white teeth contrasting with his tan. He caught her hand holding it firmly. "Gregori told me. You are still legally my wife, Catriona."

Kate pulled away, fiddling with the discarded wrapping paper, embarrassed. "I didn't realize."

"Given the circumstances that's not surprising." Alex raked a hand through his hair, and one glance at him and she knew he was angry. With her or himself?

"Why didn't you divorce me?"

"You are the mother of my child. And as I literally held a gun at your head to make you marry me, how could I live with myself had I taken advantage of your disappearance to do so?" He caught her hand and held it tightly. "When you threw your ring into the sea—"

Kate flushed at the memory. She'd pulled the ring from her finger and hurled it into the sea in a futile act of defiance, soon after Alex had pushed it onto her unwilling finger. "I never bought you another one, to punish you for such a senseless act of vandalism."

She nodded in understanding. The ring had been an expensive one, the wide gold band encrusted with precious jewels. And without the outward symbol of marriage, she'd though the whole charade a sham. Kate eyed him warily.

"I have no intention of forcing you to live with me," he murmured reassuringly. "Eight years ago I forced you into marriage and a pregnancy you weren't mature enough to cope with. Now it's for you to decide where you want our relationship to go."

Kate swallowed hard as relief warred with disappointment.

"When I return, we will tell Sarah who you are. If you decide you don't want to live with us, I'll arrange a discreet divorce to protect your privacy and make access arrangements for you with Sarah."

"But—" she broke off chewing on her lower lip her mind whirling with the implications.

"But what?" he asked watching her intently.

"If I decide against living with you where will I go?" It would be impossible for them both to remain living here, in this village in such close proximity.

"I'll leave," he said grimly. "I'm sure you can resell The Birches."

Kate winced.
How can I ask that of him?

He caught both her hands shaking them gently. "Let's cross that bridge when we get there, Kate."

That was easy enough for him to say but already she could feel the pressure on her building. She frowned at him. "What's with this bodyguard racket? Your goon scared me nearly to death the other evening."

Alex grinned shaking his head. "Reuben Cade's still smarting over you setting him on his keister."

"Tough."

"You've learned street smarts. I like that. But that aside Kate, I've arranged for a woman to be your bodyguard." She bristled but the angry words died on her lips when she saw his serious expression. "No woman is safe against armed thugs. Your name is being linked with mine, and that means you too are now at risk."

Kate swallowed hard. She'd never once considered how the rumours and gossip would impact on her. Now Alex was forcing her to face yet another issue brought about by his relentless pursuit of her.

"Are you okay with this?"

"Far from it." She looked at him through her eyelashes and shrugged. "But what can I do about it."

"I will rest easier knowing you have protection." He took a step closer and cupped her face between his hands bending his dark head to kiss her, softly and tenderly. "Take care,
yataki mou.
"

And he was gone as swiftly as he had arrived.

Kate went to the window, her fingers touching her lips, watching as he stepped into the back seat of a black car. Long after he was gone, she stared at the spot, lips curved in a reminiscent smile. On Maude Island when she had fought Alex so bitterly he had called her that.
My little kitten
. When she had questioned his use of the word he had grinned unrepentantly.

Greek cats are like you, slender, predatory and with slanting eyes and feline cunning. They have vicious claws and aren't afraid to use them on their unsuspecting prey. Don't sharpen your claws on me, yataki mou.

Her smile faded. Alex had gone, leaving the decision on their future to her. Did she want to live with him as his wife?

She loved him but did he love her? As a husband should love his wife? Or did he want her to live with him to restore his honour and assuage his guilt? She looked at his gift, wondering afresh just why Alex had flown home to bring her this unprepossessing little tree.

The next morning, Kate answered the door to find a man and a woman on her doorstep together with Gregori. He introduced the pair. "Kate, this is Reuben Cade and Doris."

Heat ran up her neck as she recognized the man from the beach. He held out a tanned hand and an official ID wallet, grinning. "I've warned Doris you're one feisty broad. This is what I intended to show you the other night, Ms. Audley."

"I'm sorry about the other night." She took the wallet and studied the ID. Yep. Same pale blue eyes, rugged features and build. "You were at the zoo?"

"I was. And don't be sorry. It's good to know you can protect yourself if necessary." He took his wallet and slipped it in his pocket.

Kate turned to the woman with a grimace. "Is this really necessary?"

"Afraid so." Doris picked up the duffel bag off the porch and slung it over her broad shoulder. "Somehow the press have got wind of your existence and until the boss returns on Friday, I'm your shadow."

"We need to come in, Kate," Gregori said quietly. "Rueben is going to check the security of your cottage."

Resigned, she stepped aside and allowed them to enter.

Half an hour later, Reuben gave her the all clear. "I'll send a techie team here and we'll install outside surveillance cameras and a perimeter wire." He handed her a small electronic keypad. "Carry this at all times. If you're frightened or approached by a stranger press that button and Doris will be with you in moments."

After the men left, Kate eyed the woman who was now her shadow. About five seven, she was dark, lithe and capable. And not someone she'd care to tangle with.

"Don't mind me," Doris said with a grin. "You won't even know I'm here."

Kate doubted that, but the other woman was almost true to her word and they soon settled into a routine. Unable to concentrate on anything other than Alex's ultimatum and knowing she could never continue working with a body guard shadowing her; Kate asked Dave for indefinite leave.

She was no nearer working out the reason behind Alex's visit or his oddball gift when Paula called around for morning tea a week later.

Doris checked Paula's ID before she allowed her to enter, and then left the room while Kate entertained her visitor.

"What gives?" Paula asked when they were alone.

"Alex insists I need a body guard," she admitted with a grimace. She could see Paula's curiosity and spread her hands helplessly. "Don't ask."

Paula saw the small tree in its pot on the table and didn't recognize it either, so Kate told her.

"Let me get this right?" Paula raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Alex returned from Australia to give you this?"

Kate nodded.

"The man's a millionaire, right?"

"Billionaire." Kate grinned, wondering what Paula was getting at.

"And he gives you a twenty dollar tree?"