‘She’s a nice girl.’

His strong fingers tightened slightly on the wheel. ‘I feel somewhat out of my depth,’ he admitted wryly, sounding very Greek and very, very male. ‘Dealing with twelve-year-old girls is new to me.’

His broad shoulders were only inches away from hers and she shifted slightly in her seat to try and create some distance.

‘How did she come to be living with you?’ Maybe if she stuck to neutral subjects she’d be able to forget how good-looking he was. ‘She said something about her grandmother deciding that she was too old to look after her.’

Andreas gave a short laugh. ‘My mother isn’t too old for anything,’ he said dryly. ‘She was just playing games.’

‘What sort of games?’

He hesitated and then cast her a smile. ‘It’s history now.’ There was a brief silence and he returned his attention to the road ahead. ‘I was very grateful for your help tonight. She seemed happy by the time we left her and that was because of you.’

Libby frowned slightly, wondering what he’d meant by the statement that his mother had been playing games. ‘It’s early days,’ she said. ‘It always takes a while to settle into a new school, particularly when you start halfway through a term.’

She gave a little shudder, remembering all too well the nightmares of school.

‘You sound as though you’re speaking from experience.’

‘I am.’ Libby stared out of the window into the darkness. ‘We all went to boarding school. Alex was fine—he’s as tough as nails—but Katy and I hated it.’

‘Katy is your sister?’

Libby nodded. ‘She works in A and E. She’s married to Jago Rodriguez, the consultant.’

‘Really?’ Andreas pulled up outside her building and switched off the engine. ‘I met him earlier tonight. Bright chap. But at least you and Katy had each other at school. Adrienne has no one. That worries me. And I hate her boarding. As soon as I find a suitable housekeeper she can live at home with me.’

‘She’s a lovely girl,’ Libby said. ‘She’ll make friends, I know she will. She just needs a little more confidence and her appearance needs a bit of a tweak. I must admit I’m surprised that your mother expects you to keep an eye on her. You’re a single guy and teenagers can be a handful at the best of times.’

‘My mother is a master manipulator,’ Andreas remarked. ‘She is desperate for me to mend my wicked ways and settle down. She thought Adrienne might fulfil that purpose.’

Libby saw the amusement in his dark eyes and felt her heart lurch. It would be so easy to fall for him.

Why was she feeling like this? she wondered helplessly. She had more sense than to fall for a handsome face and a luscious body.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t English. All that bronzed virility and exotic sexuality was getting to her.

But she had it under control, she told herself firmly, dragging her mind back to the conversation.