Page 39 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

‘No problem.’Maria went over and scooped up Niko, who had been amusing himself on his front on the playmat in Tara’s dressing room while she got ready for this…strategic date night with Dion.

She’d not seen much of him all day.He’d been in his office making calls.She’d tried not to take it personally, especially after what had happened the previous day.Maybe he regretted the spontaneous swimming and making love on the beach.He’d certainly seemed tense afterwards.And then, he’d reminded her last night of how nothing had really changed between them.

He expected her to flit off as soon as she got bored.Which only made her more determined to prove that she was here to stay.So she’d used the time today to spend it with Niko, letting Maria go down to the harbour town for a few hours, because Maria would be working tonight.

Tara was wearing the midnight-blue dress from the boutique window.It was deceptively simple—straplessand falling in a straight elegant line to the floor—but that was just an outer layer of chiffon and the dress itself was moulded to every curve of Tara’s body and so when she moved the chiffon, which was overlaid with thousands of tiny light-catching crystal beads, moved and clung to the dress, revealing the shape underneath.

Maria had blown out her hair into smooth waves and caught it back on one side with a diamanté clip that had also come from the boutique.

And then, she’d encouraged Tara to wear a simple diamond necklace and matching bracelet.Diamond drop earrings.She’d painted Tara’s nails red and they kept catching her eye now, making her feel like some kind of a fraud or someone playing dress-up.

There was a knock on the door and Tara tensed.She said, ‘Come in?’

Dion pushed the door open and Niko immediately gabbled a greeting, one arm stuck out.But Dion was looking at Tara, his dark golden gaze moving up and down.He said, ‘The helicopter is en route.’

Tara tried not to feel insecure about the fact that he’d said nothing about how she looked.He, meanwhile, looked breathtakingly gorgeous in a classic black tuxedo.

‘I’ll wait for you on the terrace.’

Tara nodded.He was gone.Maria sighed from behind her.‘It’s so romantic.’

Tara looked at her and the young woman had a dreamy look on her face.A little sharply, she said, ‘What is?’

‘The way he looks at you.’

Tara’s skin prickled.She was still feeling a little raw after the previous evening and Dion’s stubborn cynicism.She hadn’t seen anything in his look right now.For all sheknew, he’d decided thatthiswas over between them.The madness on the beach might have told him he didn’t want to indulge their desire any more.

‘How…how was it exactly?’She felt so exposed for asking but…

‘Like he wants to grab you and take you away.Like he’s never seen a woman before.’

Tara let out a slightly nervous laugh.‘I’m sure you’re imagining things.’

Maria winked at her.‘I know what I saw and I hope I find a man who looks at me like that some day.’

Niko gurgled, as if in agreement, and Tara wanted to give him a kiss but her mouth was slicked in flesh-coloured lipstick.

Maria backed away saying, ‘I have to finish packing to get Niko and I ready for Athens.’

Tara frowned.‘What do you mean?’

‘The boss wants us to go back ahead of you this evening.He said something about going to Paris?’

The faintthwack-thwacksound of a helicopter came from outside and with a little wave Maria disappeared with Niko and left Tara standing with her mouth hanging open.

Suddenly totally unconcerned with anything else, Tara went out to the terrace where Dion was waiting, hands in his pockets, back broad…and distracting even now.Annoyed with herself for being so easily dazzled, she came around and stood in front of him.

‘Why are you sending Maria and Niko back to Athens?’

He was wearing dark shades, which made him look remote.She saw him grit his jaw before he said, ‘Because I can.He’s my son.I decide where he goes.’

Now Tara grittedherjaw.‘And I’m his mother, Dion, I have a say too.I thought the point was that we’re here together.’

‘We’re not here as a family, Tara.’

Tara’s insides swooped and she went cold.Had she somehow forgotten for a moment what was really happening here?Where the power lay?

‘So what is this, then?’