“I’ve done very little, Morgan.”

“You’ve done everything. You’ve brought in Rowan and his team, and while they work to free Dad, you’re keeping me occupied and encouraging me to think about life, down the road. You’ve shown me incredible things today, and given me ideas for future designs, and best of all, peace of mind. You’re my hero … my knight in shining armor.”

“So much better than a husband.”

“Husbands are overrated,” she teased.

“Apparently so,” he answered drily.

And then reality hit her, and the memory of what had happened to them. Her smile slowly, painfully faded. “I’ve cost you a pretty penny, haven’t I? Four hundred million here, seven million there—”

“I don’t think about the money when I look at you.”

“What do you think about?”

“You.”

She dipped her head, and while this is what she wanted to hear, she did feel guilty. Love shouldn’t be this expensive. Love shouldn’t have cost Drakon so much. “I want to pay for Dunamas’s services.”

“They’re expensive.”

“But my father isn’t your responsibility, and I can’t allow you to keep picking up the tab, taking hits and losses, because you got tangled up with me.”

“Tangled? Is that what they call wives and weddings these days?”

“Don’t try to distract me. I’m serious about paying you back. It will take me some time. I’ll pay in installments, but I’ll pay interest, too. It’s what the banks would do. And I may be one of those entitled Copelands, but I’m not entitled to your money, and I insist on making sure you are properly compensated—”

“You’re ruining my lunch.”

“You’ve finished eating, already.”

“Then you’re ruining my coffee.”

“You’ve finished that, too.” She held up a finger. “And before you think of anything else I’m ruining, please know I’m immensely grateful, which is why I’m trying to make things right, as well as make them fair.”

“How is it fair for me to take what little money you earn over the next ten years? I’d be ashamed to take your money.”

“And you don’t think I’m ashamed that I had to come back to you, with my hand out, begging for assistance?”

Frowning, he pushed his empty cup. “We should go.”

She reached across the table and caught his hand in hers. “Don’t be angry, Drakon. Branson’s not the only one who wants to put things right. If I could, I’d pay every one of my father’s investors back—”

“You’re not your father, Morgan. You’re not responsible.”

“I feel responsible.”

“You’ll make yourself sick, obsessing about this.”

“And you don’t obsess about what my father did to you?”

Drakon looked down at their hands, where their fingers were laced together. “Yes, I did lose a fortune,” he said after a moment, his fingers tightening on hers. “But losing you five years ago was so much worse.”

“No.”

“Yes.” He squeezed her fingers again. “There is always more money to be made, gynaika mou. But there is only one of you.”