The Power of the Legendary Greek - By Catherine George Page 0,59

eyes. ‘Does this mean you have changed your mind?’ he panted.

‘No.’ She sucked in a deep breath. ‘Though you could be forgiven for thinking I had by the way I—I—’

‘Participated so joyously in our loving?’

She gave a choked little laugh. ‘Shamelessly, you mean.’

‘There is no shame in a man and a woman giving each other such rapture, agapi mou,’ he assured her and held her close, rubbing his cheek against hers. ‘Think of the joy we can give each other in future, Isobel. You may run away tomorrow, but I shall not give up. We were created to be together. When you were stolen from me I was in hell thinking I had lost you.’ He kissed her fiercely. ‘Fate sent you to me, and what I find I keep. It is useless to fight fate, hriso mou. You are mine.’

CHAPTER TWELVE

AS THE first light of dawn appeared Luke propped himself on one elbow to look down into Isobel’s face.

‘I will give you six weeks,’ he said imperiously. ‘At the end of that time you will come back to me, or I will fetch you.’

‘You’re very sure of yourself, Lukas Andreadis.’

‘It is the way I succeed in life.’ His eyes glittered. ‘I want you, Isobel. You are clear on this?’

She smiled wryly. ‘Yes. But what happens if I say no again at the end of six weeks?’

‘You will not,’ he said simply, and drew her down into his arms. ‘I will not allow it.’

It was a day of painful partings, starting with Eleni and Spiro, and even Milos, who came to say goodbye. Before boarding the boat there was a brief stop at the clinic for Isobel to say her goodbyes to Dr Riga, then more at the taverna, to Alyssa and her parents. By the time Luke carried her bags onto the boat, Isobel was desperate for him to leave her alone with her misery. But, to her surprise, Luke sat beside her, his arm very firmly around her waist.

‘I shall come to the airport with you,’ he said in a tone that told Isobel not to argue.

‘But how will you get back?’

‘I shall stay in Athens.’ He tightened his arm as the boat moved out to sea. ‘I will need much work to fill my days once I am without you, kardia mou.’ He smiled crookedly. ‘Did you really think I’d let you go to the airport alone? You need someone to carry your bags, ne?’

Isobel leaned against him, her heart already wanting her to change her mind and tell him she would come back and do, and be, anything he wanted. But in the end her head took over and kept her emotions firmly under wraps, even through the torment of parting with Luke at the airport.

The flight home gave Isobel much-needed time to think. Although Luke had given her six weeks to get used to the idea, she already knew that she could never agree to the role of part-time playmate. If he’d simply asked her to live with him, share his life in his Athens flat, or in Thessaloniki, or anywhere else, she would have said yes without hesitation. But languishing alone in some house in either city, waiting for him to spare time for her, was out of the question, no matter how much she loved him. Which she did, passionately. The wrench of parting from Luke had been so painful she felt as though she’d left her heart behind with him.

Isobel’s spirits rose at the airport as she saw Joanna waiting for her. Glowing and vital, chestnut hair gleaming, her friend was waving madly as Isobel steered a luggage trolley towards her. After a brief explanation of the walking stick, Isobel stayed put as ordered while Jo fetched the car.

‘Now then, Isobel James,’ said Jo, once they were on the motorway heading for home. ‘The one time you cut loose on your own on holiday you come back injured. Give me every last detail, please.’

But Isobel shook her head. ‘I’d rather you weren’t driving when I do. Are you in a hurry to get back to Arnborough?’

‘No.’ Jo shot her a worried look. ‘March knew we’d want to catch up. I’m yours for the evening.’

‘Great. Let’s buy some food on the way home and talk over supper.’

The gallery was closed for the day by the time they arrived. Isobel unlocked her private side door, gritting her teeth as she confronted two flights of steep stairs. She hooked the walking stick through the straps