Wife For A Night Read online

  'Oh, so there's nothing between you two?' demanded the photographer in disappointed tones.

  'No. Absolutely nothing!' agreed Kate bitterly.

  And she stormed away to rejoin Stavros.

  'I did try to warn you,' said Stavros in a subdued voice with a glance back at the photographer. 'Philip was only playing games with you, honey, but you don't want those goddamned reporters putting two and two together to make five. Act as if you're interested in me and maybe it'll throw them off the scent. OK?'

  Kate's eyes filled with angry tears, but she couldn't help seeing the sense in what Stavros said.'OK,' she agreed sulkily.

  As time wore on, her ruffled feelings were soothed a little by Stavros's attentions. She could not help but feel a blazing rage at Philip's callous betrayal, and there was a certain satisfaction in flaunting her pleasure in Stavros's company at the man who had wounded her so deeply. Several times as she sailed around the dance-floor in Stavros's arms she felt Philip's gaze scorching her like a beam from a laser. And, when Stavros made a whispered suggestion that they should go out on the terrace and look at the moonlight over the gulf, she was only too happy to agree.

  The moonlight was certainly beautiful. The sea lay spread out below them like a sheet of beaten silver, and the stars blazed in the dark sky overhead.

  Kate could not help but recall a very similar evening she had spent with Philip three weeks before in Ayia Sofia. Her cheeks flushed hotly at the memory. And when Stavros made no attempt to take her in his arms and kiss her she was not sure whether to feel glad or sorry. It would certainly be a fitting revenge on Philip, but the dreadful truth was that she only wanted to feel one man's arms around her. And Stavros was not the man. She clenched her hands so hard on the stone balustrade that her fingers hurt.

  'Don't take it so hard,' urged Stavros. 'He'll be round looking for you again tomorrow. And, anyway, you could hardly expect him to acknowledge his mistress in public when the Press were there, could you?'

  'I'm not his mistress!' flared Kate.

  'Aren't you?' said Stavros curiously. 'Hell, I'm sorry; I thought by now... Oh, well. That's OK, then, isn't it? If you're not his mistress then you're not going to get hurt, are you?'

  'No,' said Kate in a choking voice.

  But she knew she was lying. She was already so badly hurt that she couldn't bear another moment of it.

  'I'm leaving as soon as I finish the photos,' she continued bleakly.

  Stavros squeezed her hand briefly.

  'That's probably the best thing,' he agreed soberly. 'For you, for Irene, for everyone. But try not to take it so much to heart, Kate. It would only have been a light- hearted affair for Philip, and it's not worth breaking your heart over.'

  Kate swallowed hard.

  'I suppose you're right,' she sighed. 'But why are you being so nice to me about it, Stavros? You're Irene's brother. You must absolutely hate me!'

  Stavros shrugged.

  'Hell, no!' he said with embarrassment. 'I think you're a real nice girl, Kate.

  I'd like to be friends with you. Look, I'll tell you what. Why don't you and I go for a walk tomorrow up into the hills? Nothing special, just an old-fashioned hike and a picnic?'

  Kate thought for a moment, but, after all, what was the alternative? Staving in her villa and crying her eyes out?

  'All right,' she agreed tonelessly.

  It was nearly six o'clock the following evening when Kate got back to her villa, and she knew at once that something was wrong. The front door was wide open and a tense, angry figure sat at her dining table, like a jungle cat ready to pounce.

  'Philip!' she exclaimed in bewilderment. 'What are you doing here?'

  'You'll know soon enough!' replied Philip, unsmiling. 'Be good enough to come inside and shut the door. I have things I wish to say to you in private.'

  She looked uncertainly at Stavros, who was lounging beside her in the doorway with a ghost of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth.

  'I'll stay if you want me to, Kate,' he offered.'You'll get out of here and fast!'

  said Philip, springing to his feet in a single movement which took him across the floor. 'I'll speak to you later, Stavros, and I can promise you now it won't be an experience you'll enjoy. Now take yourself off before I throw you out!'

  With a faint, mocking lift of his eyebrows and a wink at Kate, Stavros turned and walked away. Left alone with Philip, Kate found that her pulse was beating frantically with apprehension. The man who faced her seemed like a total stranger, with his bronzed, hairy arms folded uncompromisingly across

  his body, his eyes narrowed into glittering dark slits and his mouth set in a stern line.

  'Sit down!' he growled.

  'Why should I?' flared Kate. 'I don't take orders from you or anybody else!'

  'Oh, don't you?' snarled Philip.

  Picking her up bodily, he thrust her into one of the dining chairs and held her there. Her heart beat more tumultuously than ever. His grip was so tight that it was painful, and yet she could not suppress a pang of excitement at his nearness. The raw, arrogant power of his masculinity had never been more apparent. It both thrilled and frightened her.

  'You're hurting me!' she whispered breathlessly.

  He released her at once.

  'I'm sorry,' he said abruptly, rising to his feet. 'I didn't intend to do that. But we need to talk.'

  He took in a long, agonised gulp of air, like a man who had just come up from a dive that tested all his strength.

  'What about?' demanded Kate warily.

  Philip stabbed at the air with his forefinger in the direction of the door where Stavros had just made his exit.

  'About that good-for-nothing young scoundrel who's been worming his way into your life!' he retorted.

  He paced angrily back across the room and slammed his hand down on the dining table.

  'Did he kiss you?' he demanded abruptly. 'Did he caress you?'

  'No!' snapped Kate. 'Although I don't see that it's any of your business anyway.'

  Philip gave a slight smile and relaxed fractionally.

  'No, I suppose he wouldn't,' he murmured half to himself. 'He has subtler ways of ruining people. Where did he take you today?'

  Kate shrugged. 'For a picnic in the hills,' she replied warily. 'And then for coffee in the village. Why?'

  'Coffee!' Philip pounced on the statement. 'Where did you have coffee?'

  'In the coffee-house, of course,' said Kate in bewilderment.

  Philip groaned.

  'Look, would you mind telling me what this inquisition is about?' she demanded with a touch of heat. 'Anyone would think I'd gone into the men's bath-house the way you're carrying on.'

  'You might as well have done!' retorted Philip fiercely. 'Don't you understand anything about Greek village life, Katarina? The cafeneion is for men, not women! Stavros understands that, even if you don't. Only a woman who was signalling her availability to every man would go into such a place.'

  Kate flinched, but stood her ground.

  'Well, how was I to know?' she demanded belligerently. 'Anyway, I doubt if Stavros even thought about it. He's been living in the States for years. He's probably forgotten how primitive people's ideas are here.'

  'He has forgotten nothing!' roared Philip. 'He did it only to ruin your reputation among the villagers, and it's just not good enough, Katarina. I warned you about Stavros and I won't have you associating with him!'

  'Oh, won't you?' cried Kate, starting to her feet. 'Won't you just? Well, it may have escaped your notice, but I'm twenty-six years old and I'll associate with whomever I want to!'

  'Oh, no, you won't!' retorted Philip with a mirthless laugh. 'If you want to try your strength of will against mine, Katarina, go ahead! But I warn you now—it's a contest you can only lose.'

  Kate gasped with rage.

  'You arrogant swine!' she cried. 'What right do you think you have to tell me who I can and can't associate with? It's nothing to do with y
ou!'

  'Oh, yes, it is!' said Philip hoarsely, and he caught her by the wrist and drew her hard against him.

  Kate felt ready to swoon with longing at the feeling of those strong, imperious arms around her body, but she struggled spiritedly.

  'Would you mind telling me why?' she demanded.

  Philip's only response was to drag her against him even harder and subject her to a long, fierce kiss. His mouth was warm and passionate, and his hands moved over her body in an urgent, desperate rhythm as if he was impelled by a blind need to possess her.

  'Because you are my woman,' he said huskily.

  As suddenly as he had caught hold of her he released her. Kate gave a small, shaky sigh and looked up at him with eyes misted with tears.

  'That's ridiculous, Philip,' she replied with a tremor in her voice. 'How can you say that when only last night you were ignoring me and making up to Irene as if she were the only woman on earth?'

  Philip looked at her with disbelief in his eyes.

  'Is that why you were dancing with Stavros last night?' he demanded savagely. 'Is that why you went off alone with him today?'

  Kate pressed her lips firmly together, trying to stop them from quivering.

  'Well, why shouldn't I?' she flared. 'Last night you made it only too plain that you didn't want anything further to do with me. I may be slow, Philip, but I'm not stupid. I realise now that you've been playing games with me ever since you met me, but when it's an official occasion you just don't want to know me, do you? As soon as I saw you putting that necklace around Irene's neck I realised that, whatever lies you might have told me, the two of you are really in love with each other. As far as you're capable of loving anyone.

  And you've just been using me.'

  'Don't be so damned ridiculous!' retorted Philip. 'Presenting that necklace to Irene was just part of a ceremony that was planned months ago, before I even met you. As for my being in love with Irene, well, you saw for yourself on your first day here how little we enjoy each other's company. And, if you're worried about Irene sobbing her eyes out because I'm here with you tonight, well, save your pity. She flew out this morning to spend a week in Monte Carlo with Yves Sauvignon!'

  Kate felt a curious lightening of her spirits at this news, but she stuck to her guns.

  'That may be true,' she said suspiciously, 'but it doesn't explain the way you gave me the cold shoulder. I've never felt as humiliated in my life as I did last night when you snubbed me in front of everybody.'

  'Humiliated?' demanded Philip incredulously. 'You felt humiliated?'

  'Yes!' cried Kate. 'I can't believe the way you behaved in front of that reporter. "Oh, yes. Ho, ho, ho! This is Kate Walsh, one of my willing slaves, who I generously took out to lunch, but Kate is getting on her bike any day now and leaving, aren't you, sweetie?" Yes, as a matter of fact, I am, Philip.

  But, never mind, I'm sure you'll soon find another willing foreign girl who'll roll over and beg whenever you snap your fingers. One who's even more

  gullible than I am!' You little fool!' whispered Philip tenderly and he drew her back into his arms, where she promptly burst into tears.

  She tried to pull away, but he stroked her hair soothingly and held her crushed against his chest so that she could hear the steady beating of his heart.

  'I hate you!' she said in a muffled voice, which only caused him to put a finger under her chin and lift her tear-stained face to his.

  'Do you?' he replied gravely. 'My poor love!'

  But there was an unmistakable twitch of his lips as he spoke.

  'I'm not your love, and it's nothing to laugh about!' retorted Kate furiously.

  'Oh, Katarina, Katarina!' mourned Philip, playing with her wild auburn curls and kissing the ends of them. 'You say you were humiliated by my behaviour last night, but did you ever stop to think how much more humiliation you would have suffered if I had given those reporters the least hint of my true feelings towards you?'

  'What do you mean?' demanded Kate, looking startled.

  Philip's eyes were serious now as he looked into hers. He gritted his teeth and then spoke with suppressed passion.

  'Supposing I had said "I love Katherine Walsh more than I have ever, ever loved another woman, and I have the gravest doubts as to whether I can bear to marry anybody else", what do you think would have happened?'

  Kate was staring at him as if she were in a trance.

  'It would be all over the papers tomorrow...' she said slowly.

  'That or something far more lurid,' agreed Philip. 'Are you ready to cope with that, Katarina? Am I? Is Irene?'

  'But is it true?' asked Kate in a dazed voice. 'Is that really what you feel about me, Philip?'

  He was silent for a moment. Then his face contorted and he nodded.

  'Heaven help me, Katarina!' he sighed. 'Yes, it is true.'

  She moved into his arms like a sleepwalker, and he crushed her in a fierce, silent embrace. After a long, long moment they moved reluctantly apart.

  'Then what are we going to do?' asked Kate.

  Philip shook his head despairingly.

  'I never thought I'd go against tradition and break an engagement,' he said half to himself. 'It doesn't seem like an honourable thing to do, but I suppose it's the only way. As soon as Irene comes back from Monte Carlo I'll talk to her about it.'

  On the morning that Irene was due back from Monte Carlo, Kate awoke with a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. All week she had been swinging from elation to despair and back again. Just when she was convinced that Philip meant every word he had said to her, a small mocking voice inside her would whisper, 'It's just a trick to seduce you!'

  Remembering Leon Clark's deception, she clung fiercely to her resolve to keep Philip at a distance until she knew the truth. If Philip really did break off his engagement with Irene, then Kate would feel free to give full rein to her passion. Until then she was determined not even to let him touch her. It was a decision they both found difficult, and Kate longed for the waiting to be over.

  Consequently, when the doorbell of her villa rang shortly before lunch on Sunday afternoon, she sprang to her feet and ran to open it. Philip stood smiling warmly at her, and her heart leapt.

  'Have you spoken to Irene yet?' she asked.

  He shook his head. 'I sent a car to meet her at the airport,' he said, 'but the driver couldn't find her, so I assume she must be catching a later plane. Don't look so disappointed, Katarina. She's bound to be here in another day or two, and then we'll get everything sorted out. And in the meantime, I've come to take you to lunch.'

  'I'm not sure that I ought to have lunch alone with you, Philip. I mean, until you and Irene--'

  'This has nothing to do with Irene,' said Philip impatiently. 'And, anyway, you won't be alone with me. In fact, I'm just the messenger boy. The invitation actually comes from the Vassiliou family. Anna told me when she arrived at work this morning that Nikos is due back from hospital today and Kyria Vassiliou wants us both to come to lunch. Particularly you.'

  'Isn't that nice of them?' said Kate, overwhelmed. 'But are you sure I wouldn't be intruding?'

  Philip gazed at her thoughtfully.

  'Greeks very rarely invite outsiders to their homes,' he said. 'The home is very private, a meeting place only for family and the closest friends. They want to honour you by inviting you and they'll be very hurt if you don't come.'

  'Then of course I'll come,' agreed Kate. 'Do you think it would be in order to bring my camera, Philip? Then I could take some photos of the family to give them later.'

  'I think they'd be delighted,' said Philip. 'I'll pick you up about one o'clock.'

  When Kate and Philip reached the village they made their way up to the Vassilious' house with an escort of dogs and children. The entire household was grouped on the terrace waiting to receive them. Nikos, looking rather pale and with his right arm in a sling, Anna, sporting a cheeky grin and for once minus her headphones, their older sister Eleni and
her baby and, of course their parents, Kyria Vassiliou, a small grey-haired woman dressed in

  black and Kyrios Vassiliou, a dignified man whose brown eyes held the same mischievous twinkle as Anna's.

  Time flew by, and Kate was overwhelmed by the hospitality of the family.

  After the disaster of her visit to the coffee house she had bought herself a book on Greek customs so that she was able to make a good impression on the family. When Eleni shyly handed over her baby to be admired, Kate cuddled the tiny bundle lovingly and stammered the appropriate good wishes in Greek.

  'Na sas zisi. May he live for you. Ptt. Ptt. Ptt.'

  As she completed the ritual pretence of spitting to drive away bad luck from the baby, there was a general murmur of astonishment and delight.

  'Well done,' whispered Philip as they went into the dining-room.

  'Everybody's thrilled with the way you're fitting in.'

  The meal was delicious and the warmth and hospitality of the family were so overwhelming that Kate felt quite sorry when it was time to go home. On Philip's suggestion, they decided to walk back to the hotel along the scenic track which led along the cliff-tops. The late afternoon sun was slanting steeply through the trees as Philip led her down the hill to the point where the village gave way to vineyards and vegetable gardens. Together they plunged into a silvery, rippling sea of olive groves, and climbed another hill overlooking the water. At this point the cleared land ended and a track wound away through thick, aromatic green scrub.

  'It's really dense and wild-looking, isn't it?' marvelled Kate.

  'That's right,' agreed Philip. 'But it's no more than a kilometre or so to the hotel, and we'll get some really spectacular views of the sea. And I can show you where I'm planning to build the marina next summer.'

  Kate fell into step beside him and trailed one hand through a glossy oleander bush, which still had a few faded pink blossoms clinging to it. Through the gaps in the shrubs she could see the sapphire-blue water of the Mediterranean down below.'Greece is a photographer's paradise!' she