Page 45 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

She forced a bright smile.‘I’ve always wanted to see theMona Lisapainting so maybe I’ll do that.’

‘Sounds good.It’s definitely worth it.’

‘You’ve seen it already?’

A look Tara couldn’t decipher crossed Dion’s face and he just nodded.‘Years ago.’

He put down his cup and said, ‘I’ve arranged for a team to come and help you get ready for the event from four p.m.I’ll meet you there.I won’t have time to come back here first.’

Tara immediately thought of the photographers but Dion said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll meet you at the car.’

Tara’s trepidation eased a little.‘Okay.’

When Dion had left, Tara hated the hollow feeling his absence evoked and went and got her phone.She wouldvideo-call Maria and Niko and check in with her family.By the time she’d done that it was mid-morning and she rushed to get ready to head out to sightsee, pushing all intrusive thought of one very tall, very handsome and very disturbing Greek man out of her head for as long as she could.

* * *

That evening Dion waited near the start of the red carpet where the cars were stopping to let their passengers out.He’d changed into a tuxedo at his offices.He knew Tara was almost there—she’d been texting him.He felt unaccountably nervous.All day he’d thought of how she’d looked a little crestfallen as he’d left the apartment and then he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her wandering around Paris, on her own.

He’d wanted to drop everything and go find her.He wanted to see her reaction to things.

He’d missed her.

No.That was unconscionable.It was just the sex effect.Dion did not miss people, or things.

He’d missed Niko.

That was his son.That was understandable.And it surprised him, how much he was missing him.He’d bonded with his son more in the last week than he had in the last six months.The fact that it was the arrival of Niko’s mother that had precipitated that bonding was something Dion couldn’t continue to deny.

And on that thought, a car pulled up beside him and he saw the flash of bright red hair and pale skin and gold.He stepped forward and opened the door before the driver could do it.

Dion put his hand out and Tara’s hand slipped intohis.An electric jolt went straight to his groin.He gritted his jaw.She stepped out and the breath left his body as he took her in.Her hair was pulled back and up in an elegant chignon.Smooth.She wore a strapless gold dress, fitted bodice and then falling in layers of tulle over silk to the ground.

She looked like a princess.Dion felt strangely humbled.

Tara’s eyes went wide.‘What is it?Is it the gold?I thought it might be too garish but the stylist insisted.’

From somewhere Dion found the capacity to move and shook his head.‘No…you are utterly perfect.’

A flush came into her cheeks.‘Thank you.’She looked at him, and then said a little shyly, ‘You scrub up pretty well, too.’

Dion had taken his physical looks for granted for so long.He was surprised at the little glow of pride to bask in her approval.

He was really losing it.He took her hand.‘We should go in.’

Tara took a deep breath.‘Okay, I’m ready.’Her fingers gripped his tight and as they proceeded along the red carpet he had to battle with the urge to just bundle her up and run back to the car and drive far away from here, just the two of them.

Paris was veering way out of his control and there didn’t seem to be much Dion could do about it.He assured himself that when they got back to Athens, he would be able to put the necessary distance between them.He had to.

* * *

Tara had thought she’d seen it all, at that party in Athens, where she’d met Dion first.And then the open-air operaamidst centuries-old ruins.But this…blew her mind.The Grand Palais, built over a hundred years ago for an exhibition, was a vast open space designed like a nave with an intricate glass roof, thronged with possibly the most beautiful people in the world.

After being served aperitif cocktails while being serenaded by a small orchestra playing classical music with a modern twist, they were directed to where a long banquet table was laid out with gold cutlery and crystal glasses.A centrepiece of wildflowers ran down the centre, and as the sun set outside the Grand Palais, candles were lit, imbuing the surroundings with an even more magical glow.

Tara was afraid to touch the food, it looked so perfect.She was also afraid she’d drop something on the exquisite dress, so she took just a couple of mouthfuls.

Dion was talking to someone on his left but then he turned to her.‘So how was theMona Lisa?’