Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

had something to hide? Already the engines were starting to rumble and she could feel the deck vibrating beneath her feet. “Stavros, maybe I should meet you there later, tomorrow or the day after.â€
    Stavros patted her hand and led her across the deck to seat her in a plush chair. “We need time together, Sheena. I want to spend a week together, just the two of us, and perhaps you’l change your mind about me.â€
    â€œI don’t have enough clothes for a week,†El e said, trying to be practical.
    â€œI’l send for them.â€
    â€œI’m not sleeping with you, Stavros. I told you I can’t be in a relationship right now. I’m not ready.â€
    â€œYou told me this man broke your heart, Sheena. Who is he?â€
    She shrugged, suddenly concerned by the steel in his eyes. She had the uneasy feeling that if she named anyone, he might turn up dead. Which was sil y when she had been very certain that Stavros was no criminal. But, then, if that was the case, why were al her internal alarms screaming at her?
    â€œHe’s of no consequence.â€
    â€œHe must be, if you won’t consider another relationship.†Stavros drummed his fingers on the table. She’d seen him do that when he was deep in thought or very agitated. “Did you live with him? How long were you with him?â€
    â€œThat isn’t your business,†El e said firmly.
    His eyes narrowed. “I can hire someone to find out these answers for me.â€
    Her heart jumped. He’d had her investigated. Dane had told her to be prepared for that. They had meticulously built her life and provided everything down to col ege pictures and records as wel as a detailed past, but would it stand up to the kind of investigation a man like Stavros Gratsos would demand? Was this the reason he was taking her to his island? He’d discovered that she was undercover?
    â€œWhy are you pushing me?â€
    Stavros leaned toward her, his gaze locking with hers. “I want you. I have never wanted a woman in the way I want you.â€
    Was that the simple truth? She doubted it. Sheena was beautiful and a woman of mystery and intel igence, the type that would attract and intrigue Stavros, but he wasn’t known for fal ing for women. He escorted them, spent time with them, but inevitably he walked away. Why was he so determined to claim Sheena for his own?
    El e sighed. “You’re going to have to get over it, Stavros. I’l be as honest as possible with you. Birth control won’t work on me. I have this anomaly that runs in my family. No form of birth control works. Even if you used a condom, chances are stil very high that I would get pregnant. I’m not doing that to myself. Or to you, for that matter.â€
    His eyes darkened even more as he searched her face for the truth. She actual y felt his mind reach out to hers and she pul ed back, afraid for the first time that he might be able to read her as she did others. She al owed only the truth of her statement in her mind where he might catch her thoughts. Not only did he look intrigued, he looked pleased.
    â€œYou speak the truth.â€
    She nodded. “I have no reason to lie. I real y can’t take the chance and as I want children someday, I can’t take care of the problem permanently.â€
    â€œSo you didn’t sleep with the man who broke your heart?â€
    She shook her head and looked out toward sea. The shore was fading as the yacht picked up speed heading toward his private island.
    Stavros let out his breath, drawing her attention back to him. “Then I wil be your first. Your only.†There was deep satisfaction in his purring voice.
    â€œI told you I wil get pregnant. Not can , Stavros, I will get pregnant.â€
    â€œI want children,†he said. “I have no problem with you getting pregnant.â€
    Her heart jumped. There it was. Stavros was handsome, charming, wealthy and he wanted children. She was certain he was psychic. Why couldn’t the Drake house choose him? Maybe there was more than one man who would fit with her, and fate had intervened to give her another choice. Stavros Gratsos, who was forcing her to accompany him home.
    â€œStavros,†she said gently, “you are the sweetest man, but you’re way out of my league. Half your guests wonder what you’re doing with me.â€
    â€œLet them wonder.â€
    Sid