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Lily, however, re so hard to understand all this Do you really want Callie sothat ht over the restaurant ether ‘If it’s just that you’re getting broody, you could easily have a child of your own’

‘But I want to be with Callie—’

‘And the oversexed billionaire?’

Reddening, Ella pushed her plate away ‘Aristandros happens to be Callie’s guardian and a non-negotiable part of her life’

‘But you do have a thing for him, don’t you?’ the brunette said suddenly

‘I don’t knohere you got that idea,’ Ella countered with a laugh that sounded more brittle than amused

‘Oh, ht tacky newspapers and azines so that you could read about him and his exploits’

‘Why not? I was curious because I o and Susie was married to his cousin!’ Ella protested

Her friend was still watching her closely ‘That last Christ you like a pariah—that hen you met Aristandros Xenakis, wasn’t it?’

More defensive than ever, for she preferred to hold on tight to her secrets, Ella shrugged a slim shoulder ‘My stepfather made sure we never missed a chance to rub shoulders with the super-rich Xenakis family I suspect we first met as kids but I don’t remember it Aristandros is four years older than I am’

‘I just feel there’s a history there that you’re not telling ht you’d had your heart broken’

Ella rolled her eyes while trying to suppress the hts she had cried herself to sleep and the days when only work had got her through the intense sense of loneliness and loss But she had chosen and accepted those consequences when she’d realised that she couldn’t marry the man she had fallen in love with In any case, he had not e her ot broken over a ed out of her heart with every woman that had followed her in Ari’s life But all that ater under the bridge now, Ella reivings about Aristandros vindicated; she had ht decision and had never doubted the fact

To, however, she would be picked up at nine, and she had no idea what happened next for Aristandros had not deigned to infor? Would she ht, watching shadows fall on the bare walls, she recalled that Christh her ed her into the past…

Susie had collected her at the airport Her sister had been single then, and in a very good mood as she’d chattered about the exclusive club she was taking Ella to that evening

‘I’ve just finished exaht just go to bed and give the socialising a miss’

‘You can’t do that!’ Susie had gasped ‘I wangled a special guest-pass for you, so you can’t let me down Ari Xenakis and his friends will be there’

Susie, with her determination only to mix with the most fashionable crowd, and her strenuous efforts to ensure that her naossip columns, was the apple of their stepfather’s eye Theo Sardelos expected women to be ornamental and frivolous Ella’s serious nature, her championship of her mother and dislike of pretension were all traits that made him feel uncomfortable

For the sake of peace that evening, Ella accompanied Susie The club was noisy and very crowded Surrounded by Susie and her pals, who had nothing more on their minds but the hottest party or man on offer, Ella was bored She listened dutifully to tales of how outrageous Ari Xenakis was He had duirlfriend by text and her parents had had to pack her off abroad to stop her stalking him As the stories of his wildness, fabled riches and volatility were traded round the table, Ella registered in aive her right arm to date him—in spite of his evident obnoxiousness When he was pointed out to her across the dance floor, she registered another reason why he was so disproportionately popular: he was breathtakingly good-looking with black hair, brooding golden-brown eyes and the fit body of an athlete