What The Greek's Wife Needs - Dani Collins Page 0,29
to fly out to join u—” He swore as three different subject lines jumped out at him, all running a variation of You’re married?
“What’s wrong?”
“Secret is out on our marriage.” He explained that Cameron had been posting photos of the yacht. “She must have said something about being aboard so her husband could check on my wife.”
“So much for patient confidentiality. Why did you tell him we were married?”
“What else was I supposed to say?”
“I don’t know.” Her mouth pulled with uncertainty. “What does it mean? Will anyone care?”
“I am quoted and photographed from time to time,” he said drily. More on the business side, not as much on his pursuit of pleasure since he’d given up chasing women and regatta trophies, but he was a rich and powerful man. Did she not realize that?
She was frowning with worry, smoothing her hand over Illi’s hair.
“It’s a scoop, not a scandal,” he reassured her. “I’ll talk to my PR team, release a statement.” He shrugged it off. Even as he did, his phone pinged twice more. A fresh email from the head of a media conglomerate asked if he knew a photo of him with his baby was being shopped to news outlets.
Leon really swore.
“What?” Tanja asked, eyes popping with growing alarm.
“She didn’t delete the photo with Illi.” And this was why he hadn’t seen the value in Zach’s friendship when Zach had offered it. Leon had known Kyrkos most of his life, but the doctor was throwing away their lifelong relationship for what? Five minutes of fame for his status-seeking wife?
Tanja closed her arms around Illi. “But if it’s reported that we have a baby, what if it comes out that our situation isn’t entirely—”
“Legal?” he charged.
“By the book,” she corrected. She bit her lip before closing her eyes and turning her nose into Illi’s cheek. Her brow furrowed with deep anxiety. Fear of losing her baby.
That revelation of such deep vulnerability made the pit of his stomach churn with a primal compulsion to protect.
“My lawyer, Georgiou, is arriving tomorrow.” His voice was a bass echo from deep in his chest. “I’ll put him onto ensuring t’s are crossed and i’s dotted where Illi is concerned.”
Tension lingered around her mouth, but she spoke decisively. “Take me to Malta. I want to fly home.” Her voice caught on the word home. “If I’m there—”
“You can’t get home,” he reminded her. “Illi doesn’t have a passport. Customs agents will ask if you have permission from her father to take her overseas. They’ll want to see her paperwork and it’s not up to scrutiny.”
“Write me a letter that says you give us permission,” she demanded. “I’ll write one.”
“Another false document? Great idea. No, Tanja. I’m not like my father. I keep my nose clean, along with the rest of my life.” He was terse now, annoyed that she was resisting his help. “Given the choice between throwing fuel on a messy story about abandoning my baby to my estranged wife or a very nice story about my wife and I starting a family, I’m going with the nice one.”
“Oh, that lie is fine? She’s not yours, Leon!”
“Check the paperwork you filed,” he snapped.
She flinched with hurt and looked away, mouth trembling but jaw pugnacious.
He pushed his hand through his hair as he gathered his patience. “Look, I believe it’s in Illi’s best interest for her to be with you. I’m not going to let anyone take her from you. You have my word on that.”
“Forgive me if I don’t think your promises are reliable.”
Maybe he deserved that, but it still cut like a whip.
“Like it or not, you made me responsible for her. I won’t shirk that responsibility.” He was not like his father, disregarding the needs of a child—his own son included—because it suited him. “You and I butting heads every minute won’t help.”
“I wish I’d never m—” She sealed her lips over whatever she’d been about to say.
“Met me? Married me? Then you wouldn’t have Illi, would you?” he summed up brutally.
He took the baby from her, something she was too weak to prevent, and she could utter only a disgruntled sound.
“I’ll keep her while you rest. Do you want to sleep here? On a lounger by the pool? I can help you back to the stateroom if you need it.”
She looked between him and the baby, her body trembling with anger.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking you’re a selfish jerk who is ruthless about getting what he wants. This