Free The Greek's Acquisition by Chantelle Shaw

Hobbs, and they lived in England, where my mother was born. But when my grandfather died she moved back to Paris.’ Unconsciously, her hand strayed to the diamond
fleur-de-lis
as she thought of her beloved grandmother. In many ways Céline had been more of a mother to her than Tina, and Louise still missed her.
    The first course arrived, and conversation halted while the waiters fussed around them. Glancing across the table, Dimitri frowned when he saw the faintly wistful expression on Louise’s face as she touched the diamond pendant. Was she thinking of whoever had given it to her? A wealthy lover, perhaps?
    He was surprised by the sudden violent urge to wrench the necklace from around her throat. Even worse was the realisation that even if she had a dozen lovers he still wanted her. Maybe it was a stupid male pride thing, but he was certain that if she spent a night with him the other man or men in her life would be history.
    He ate automatically, without really being aware of what he was eating. He was sure the food was superb, but he could not concentrate on it when he was captivated by the woman sitting opposite him. Like him, Louise did not appear interested in the food, and only picked at her starter and main course. He glanced at her, and felt something coil deep in his gut when he found that she was watching him. Colour winged along her high cheekbones and she quickly dropped her gaze.
    ‘You must know Paris well, as you’ve spent so much time here,’ he murmured.
    She nodded. ‘It’s a beautiful city. You said you often come here on business. Have you done much sightseeing?’
    ‘Only of hotel conference facilities and company boardrooms,’ he said wryly.
    ‘That’s a pity. You should take a coach tour, or a river cruise.’
    ‘Maybe I’ll do that. But I’d need a guide—someone who knows Paris well and is knowledgeable about its history.’ He held her gaze. ‘Are you interested?’
    Maybe it was a trick of the candlelight, but there seemed to be a wicked glint in Dimitri’s eyes, and Louise sensed that his question held a double meaning. Surely it was her over-active imagination after too much champagne? she told herself. But some invisible force seemed to have welded her gaze to his, and her heart was beating so hard that it felt as though it would burst through her ribcage.
    ‘I expect you’ll have to return to Greece soon,’ she said abruptly.
    ‘I leave Paris tomorrow. But we still have tonight.’ Dimitri gave up on his
entrecôte hongroise
and reached across the table to capture her hand in his. He felt the tiny tremor that ran through her and tightened his grip a fraction to prevent her from snatching her fingers away. ‘I understand the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower at night is spectacular.’
    Louise was finding it hard to concentrate as Dimitri stroked his thumb over the pulse beating frantically in her wrist.‘You … you want to climb the Eiffel Tower?’ she asked shakily.
    Not particularly, he thought to himself, but he was reluctant for the evening to end. He had a feeling that Louise would refuse an invitation to go on to a nightclub. She seemed edgy again, although he wasn’t sure why, and his instincts told him that once they had finished dinner she would bid him goodnight. He did not want to let her go. He wanted to spend more time with her, get to know her better. Okay, if he was honest he wanted to slide that tantalising slip of black silk from her body and kiss her naked breasts before trailing his lips over her stomach and lower …
    He inhaled sharply and focused on persuading her to spend the remainder of the evening with him. ‘I confess I was hoping to take the elevator to the top.’
    Dimitri’s sexy smile made Louise’s pulse race. ‘That would be sensible, as there are well over a thousand steps,’ she said gravely. ‘And actually the only way to reach the summit
is
by lift.’
    ‘So, that’s settled. But first would you like dessert—or more