Free His Forbidden Bride by Sara Craven

mean—how did you happen to be here
    just in the nick of time? Isn't that rather a strange coincidence?'
    'Ah,' Andreas said softly. 'A conspiracy theory. But there is no need for
    paranoia, pedhi mou . Or to imagine that I hired those idiots to annoy you, so that I could play the part of some knight in shining armour,' he added. 'You
    needed help, and I happened to come along. That is al .'
    'You just happened to be here?'
    He shrugged. 'This is a public path, leading to a public beach,' he countered.
    'Why should I not be here?' He paused. 'Although I admit I was coming to
    look for you.'
    Her already flustered heartbeat began to pound to a different rhythm. 'Why
    should you do that?'
    And why did I ask that, she wondered despairingly, when I don't want to hear
    the answer?
    'Because the beach at the house seemed quiet without you.' He smiled at
    her. 'And yesterday you left without saying goodbye.'
    Zoe stared down at the dusty track. 'I felt embarrassed,' she said in a low
    voice. 'An intruder. I—I had no real right to be there, and I knew it.'
    'Even though I had made it clear you were a welcome guest?'
    'Wel , it was hardly your place to do that,' she returned. 'However strict he is
    about hassling women tourists, your boss might not appreciate your
    entertaining visitors in his absence.'
    'I promise you he would feel honoured.'
    She hunched a shoulder. 'Al the same, I think it would be better to keep my
    distance from now on.'
    He frowned slightly. 'So the house no longer interests you?' he queried. 'You
    have changed your mind about wishing to live there.'
    'I didn't say that.'
    'Good,' he said. 'Because I have told my employer of your interest, and he is
    looking forward to meeting you.'
    She drew a swift, astonished breath. She hadn't expected that. She'd
    intended to make her own enquiries—stay in control of the situation, yet now
    it seemed to be taken out of her hands.
    'Isn't that a little premature?' It was her turn to frown. 'I gather he's been very il .'
    'He is on the mend. Also bored. He needs entertainment—a new interest,
    which you could provide.'
    'I want to discuss business with him,' Zoe said shortly. 'I'm not a cabaret act.'
    'No,' he said, silkily. 'They tend to smile more.'
    She bit her lip. 'I'm—sorry. I'm stil rather stressed, I think.'
    'You need food,' he said. 'And a glass of wine. So, have lunch with me, and
    over the meal you can express your gratitude to me for coming to your aid,
    as I am sure you wish to do.'
    Zoe felt her jaw begin to drop, and restored it hurriedly to its correct position.
    Somehow, he'd wrong-footed her again. How on earth did he do that?
    Not that it altered a thing. She wasn't prepared to venture on another meal à
    deux with him, even if there was a table between them, and loads of other
    people around this time. It was too dangerous. Her reaction to him was too
    extreme. As it was, she was shaking inside.
    She managed a smal cool smile. 'I already have plans for lunch,' she said.
    'So I'd better say thanks here and now. You saved me from a—nasty
    situation, and I am grateful. Truly.' She contemplated offering to shake
    hands with him, and decided against it 'So, thank you again and—see you
    around.'
    She walked away, trying not to hurry, and certainly not risking even a glance
    over her shoulder to see how he had taken his rejection. Surely by now he'd
    have got the message, she argued with herself. Besides, remembering the
    prices she'd checked on the menus displayed outside the fish taverna
    earlier, she'd be doing him a favour. He couldn't afford them on a gardener's
    wage.
    The taverna was crowded, nearly all the tables being occupied, and Zoe
    was hesitating at the entrance, wondering whether to return another day
    instead, when a smiling waiter materialised beside her. 'You want good fish.
    Come, please. I have a nice table for you.'
    He whisked her under the green awning to a secluded spot in the corner,
    shaded by a flowering vine growing up a