‘Why are you here, Dido? What do you want?’

Even as he said it Panos knew the answer. It had to be what everyone else wanted. Money. He knew how venal she was. She’d proved that years ago. No doubt she thought she was entitled to something from him because he’d foiled her earlier ambitions.

It had been a lucky escape for him when her brother Charles let slip that she’d hooked up with Panos for his money. That she’d lied to him from the first, carefully planning their ‘accidental’ meeting and all that followed. She’d even expected Panos to fund her family’s failing company.

He looked away to the pristine white shore with its aquamarine shallows. Life was terribly predictable.

‘I’m here to do a job, of course. Your…fiancée…’ He didn’t miss the sour note as she said the word. Envy? After all, she’d never got her hands on his money as she’d hoped. ‘Chiara wants Weddings by Gilette to organise her wedding.’

‘So you’ve changed your name to Gilette now, have you?’

‘Cut the sarcasm, Panos. I’m not in the mood.’

She wasn’t in the mood!

He wasn’t in the mood for her games. He wasn’t happy to see the manifestation of his greatest error of judgement standing in front of him. And he particularly wasn’t happy when she called him by his first name.

Not when the sound of her husky voice scraping across the syllables made his skin prickle with awareness and some atavistic part of him growl and lick its lips hungrily, like a lion waking from slumber, eager for a meal.

His normally ordered brain reminded him how good she’d tasted and how satisfying sex had been with her.

It was enough to make any man furious, since the woman was poison.

He swung around to see her standing with hands clasped before her. If she were anyone else he’d be tempted to think she was ill at ease, shocked even. But this was Dido Jones.

He was about to lash out verbally but restrained himself.

‘Okay.’ He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. ‘Tell me your story.’

‘It’s not a story!’

Her eyes blazed with outrage but Panos ignored that. She was a consummate actress. ‘Explain yourself or I’ll have you transported off the island immediately.’

He watched her battle emotion. Finally she said, ‘I work for Graydon Gilette. Chiara engaged his company to advise on the wedding.’ Panos nodded. ‘Graydon asked me to assist him this weekend but at the last moment he became ill so I’m here in his place.’

It was plausible, he reluctantly supposed. Chiara had been thrilled to secure the prestigious company, determined to make their wedding memorable.

When he’d known her Dido had been an events planner, mainly conferences and parties, not weddings, but it wasn’t such a leap. Besides, he imagined the profits were potentially far higher with weddings. She’d be attracted by the money. And, if she were working in the luxury end of the market, by the opportunities to meet and mingle with the ultra-wealthy.

His gut clenched.

When she didn’t continue, he said, ‘You really thought I’d allow you to be part of this wedding?’

He’d met plenty of callous, self-serving people in his time but even so, that was a stretch. ‘You didn’t think I’d object?’

‘I didn’t know you were involved. Chiara kept your identity secret.’ That obstinate chin rose a fraction. ‘It was a complete nuisance, actually. I couldn’t do my background research into the groom’s likes and dislikes, to prepare for this weekend’s discussions.’

Panos felt his eyebrows lift, his hands dragging from his pockets so he could cross his arms over his chest.

Did she really think him gullible enough to believe she didn’t know he was the groom? It stretched credulity past its limits.

Besides, he knew her and what drove her.

‘Fortunately that’s no problem, since you won’t be working on the wedding. And you know my dislikes.’ Deliberately he moved into her space. ‘Liars. Conniving, greedy women.’

To his chagrin she also knew some of his weaknesses. Sex in the early morning with an eager partner who called his name in a deliciously throaty voice as she climaxed. Full breasts that fitted his hands so perfectly he was addicted to the feel of them. A warm silky mouth on his body, drawing him to completion.

There were more too, most of them involving her.

How could it be that of all the women he’d known, the one who haunted him was the one he despised?

‘If you think insulting me is going to change this situation, you’re wrong.’

She didn’t look in the least daunted by his temper. She looked almost energised. As if she too felt that flurry of arousal.

Or perhaps it was sheer fury that made her step in so they stood toe-to-toe. ‘You can’t make this go away, Panos.’

‘This? Do you mean you? Of course I can make you go away. As the person paying for this wedding I can tell you categorically your services are no longer required.’

She didn’t even flinch, but stood staring up at him with those wide eyes as if expecting more.

After a prolonged moment he added silkily, ‘One word from me and you can say goodbye to a job in the wedding industry.’

‘You’re the most despicable man I’ve ever met. I’ve done nothing wrong. Not three years ago. Not now.’

She must have risen on her toes. Her warm breath feathered his skin as he bent towards her, trying to find any sign of remorse in her eyes.

There was nothing but anger and a telltale shimmer he’d seen before. A shimmer of arousal.

That was intriguing. Not that he had any intention of dallying with someone like her. But it did his ego good to know he wasn’t the only one affected.

He dropped his voice to a whisper. ‘What do you want?’

He watched her swallow. Saw the pulse throb at her temple. Still she didn’t look away.

Maybe he should make it simple for her to show her true colours. He lowered his head until it would take only the slightest move to bring their lips together.

Any moment now she’d make that move.

She was so close he saw the darker flecks in her green eyes. Heard the hitch in her breathing and caught that other scent in his nostrils. Sexual arousal.

Triumph filled him. Whatever her scheme here, she wanted him and she couldn’t hide that. His whole body thrummed, his pulse quick and heavy with anticipation.

Panos could almost taste her mouth. Would she yield sweetly, inviting him in, or would she be voracious, claiming the pleasure she knew he could give her?

As if either would make him forget what she really was!

How long would she make him wait when they both knew she was fighting her need for him? Their relationship had been short, but long enough for him to read her body if not her brain. He knew she hovered on the brink of capitulation. She might have duped him once but her physical passion had been genuine. He saw it now in her dilated eyes and parted lips.

His patience ebbed. He lifted his free hand and stroked a knuckle down her cheek, felt her tremble. And then…

She was gone, yanking her hand free and retreating till her back hit the full-length window, eyes wide as if in shock.

Panos was the one surprised. He’d felt her eagerness, her hunger. It was there still, trembling in the air between them like a silent scream of need.

She flattened her palms against the glass as if desperate for support. Her breasts rose and fell sharply. Did she have any idea how the clinging silk outlined her hardened nipples?

His groin was tight and heavy, so much so that he felt momentary regret at her retreat. It would have been satisfying if she’d shown her true colours.

He didn’t want her, he assured himself. But it was a reminder that he’d been celibate too long. He wanted…

No, you don’t want her. You want her gone.

‘Pack your bags,’ he growled, surprised at how his voice scraped. ‘Now. You leave in half an hour.’