California Girl Read Free Page A

whatever.”
    * * *
     
    Veronica was laughing at Niko, mocking him. But why? Considering her conduct since she’d emerged from the shower, she’d all but put up a brick wall between the two of them. She’d agreed to go to Nice though. Maybe she thought he was bluffing. Soon she would know he never bluffed about anything.
    “I’ll call down to the concierge and have them get us a car.”
    “Oh, sure,” she said in that smart-ass tone she’d acquired while in the shower. “We are going by limo, aren’t we?”
    Niko squinted and tilted his head, scrutinizing her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
    “Good,” she said, rising. “I’m going to get dressed and go to my hotel to grab my stuff.” The woman shrugged, shot him a wry look and turned away. She grabbed her clothing from a nearby chair on her way into the bathroom.
    “No worries. We can run by Des Lices on our way out.” He stood and followed her.
    “That’s all right,” she said, closing the door between them. “You go ahead and tie up any loose ends with your affairs here and I’ll be back before you know it.”
    “If that’s what you want.” He leaned against the bathroom door. Better to let her have her way. He didn’t want to make her mad. As rude as she’d turned, he still wanted her in his bed. At the same time, he needed to charm his way out of the marriage without losing a fortune.
    The bathroom door opened and she emerged with a shy sort of smile and seemed to be having trouble looking him in the eye now. She grabbed her handbag and hurried across the room. Pausing at the door, she glanced over her shoulder. “You’ll wait here for me?”
    “Yes, my darling, I’ll wait for you here.” He stood as she slipped out into the corridor and closed the door behind her. On his own now, he looked around the empty hotel suite.
    For the first time, Niko felt alone. He strode to the window and gazed out at the ocean. For once, he wished he had a view of the hotel’s entrance instead of the Mediterranean. He’d feel better if he could see her one more time as she exited the hotel and disappeared inside a taxi.
    Niko turned from the window and took another sweeping gaze around the suite. The room seemed bigger now, lonelier somehow. A veil of emptiness bogged the air like a thick layer of gloom. The feeling of not knowing what to do or where to go washed over him. He’d never had that problem before. He liked being alone, generally. And he was never short on ideas for places to go or things to do. Until now. One place and one thing occupied his thoughts. Nice, and being there with Veronica.
    He shook his head, knowing his preoccupation with her wasn’t good. Nothing should be on his mind right now other than breaking free of these unintended bonds of matrimony.
    His cell phone vibrated on the nightstand. The humming was just loud enough to catch his attention. He grabbed it and checked the number. Stephan. Niko had been avoiding him as of late. His little brother had a way of adding new meaning to the term annoying. But right now he was glad for the interruption.
    “What is it?” Niko spewed the words in a bevy of frustration.
    “ Ade re Malaka .” Stephan snubbed him by calling him a jerk.
    Niko dropped onto the bed and sprawled out against the headboard. “You have nothing better to do than call me up and insult me?” he said in a lackluster tone. No wonder he hadn’t been answering his phone.
    “Father would like to know when you’re coming home.” Stephan relayed the inquiry in a tone familiar to Niko. Little brother enjoyed being the messenger, relished in it, and often encouraged it.
    He’d return to Greece when he was damn good and ready. “Trust me. Nobody wants me home right now.” Niko’s mouth skewed into a taut scowl as he moved the phone away from his ear and bit back spontaneous words of profanity. Answering the call was a bad idea.
    “Thad is family,” Stephan said, and Niko mouthed the words along with