“Promise me you’re not threatened by her,” he said, stalking closer to her, forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his eyes.

“Promise me you won’t be upset if I have to work long days, and late into the night, with her,” he added.

Morgan’s mouth opened, closed. She wanted to tell him she’d be fine, and she would try to be fine with it, but she couldn’t promise him she’d be perfectly comfortable. She didn’t know any woman who’d be perfectly comfortable with her husband being alone with a gorgeous woman night after night … day after day. Working in such close proximity created an intimacy that could lead to other things … and Morgan was sure Bronwyn did have feelings for Drakon. In fact, Morgan was sure Bronwyn was the problem here, not Drakon, but how could she tell him that?

She couldn’t. But she also couldn’t lie. And so with her heart racing, she swallowed convulsively. “I’m here for the long haul, Drakon. I’m here to stay. I’m playing for keeps.”

His amber gaze drilled into her. “Playing for keeps,” he repeated softly.

She licked her dry lips. “Yes.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?”

“It’s whatever you want it to be.”

He laughed once, the mocking sound such a contrast to the sudden fire in his eyes. And then he was gone, walking out, leaving the door wide open behind him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

HE WASN’T GONE just a few minutes. He was gone a long time, over an hour, and Morgan returned to her room, wondering if she should dress for dinner, or if dinner would even be served tonight as it was growing late, well past the time they normally gathered in the living room for aperitivos.

Morgan eventually did change and go downstairs. Rowan was in the living room, having a drink.

“Can I pour you something?” he offered as she entered the candle lit living room.

“The Campari,” she said, even as she tried to listen to the house, trying to hear where Drakon and Bronwyn might be.

Rowan filled her glass, handed her the cocktail. “They’re outside,” he said. “Or they were.”

She sipped the cocktail. Campari and orange. It was tart and sweet at the same time. “Why do you say, ‘were’?”

“A car arrived a half hour ago, and it just pulled away a few minutes ago.” Rowan turned, nodded at the hall. “And here he is. Drakon Xanthis in the flesh.” Rowan raised his glass. “I’ve a few calls to make. I’ll have more privacy elsewhere. Cheers.” And then Rowan walked out, leaving Drakon and Morgan alone.

Drakon walked past Morgan without saying a word, going to the bar where he made himself a drink. Morgan watched him, wondering what had happened between him and Bronwyn.

Drakon carried his drink to the window, where he sipped it and stared out at the dark sky.

“She’s gone,” he said at last. “Back to Athens.”

Morgan looked at his rigid back, and the set of his shoulders. “Did something happen?” she asked quietly.