CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
STERGIOS SAT ALONE in the ornate living room in Jodie’s Upper East Side apartment as he waited for her return. He hadn’t seen her in over a week and he had been in quiet agony. His life had been in disorder and he wanted his fiancée back.
He wasn’t certain of his welcome. On his flight over, he had imagined that she was at home, pining for him. But the surprise was on him. Jodie had plunged back into her full social life as if she had to make up for lost time.
Stergios heard the front door open and he sat up straight in his chair. Anticipation beat wildly inside him when he heard Jodie’s familiar voice as she spoke on her cell phone.
“Yes!” Her laugh made his heart take a tumble. “We definitely should meet up, Henry. It’s been a long time.”
Henry? Hot, bitter jealousy rolled through him and he clenched the armrest with his fingers. Who was Henry? The security team had not mentioned this man. And why did she sound so happy talking to this Henry?
He saw Jodie stride past the door and her cheerful voice faltered. Stergios didn’t move as he waited. He kept his steady gaze on the doorway and watched her slowly retrace her steps.
Jodie looked radiant and healthy as she stood at the threshold. Her gray dress acknowledged but didn’t accentuate her full breasts and pregnant belly. Her red lips parted open but she didn’t smile. Her blue eyes sparkled with surprise and joy but immediately went blank.
“Let me call you back,” she said in a trance before she disconnected the call. She lowered her hand and stood as still as a statue. “The security team didn’t tell me you were here,” she said through bloodless lips. “I guess we know where their loyalties lie.”
“Who is Henry?” Stergios winced at his harsh tone. This was not the reunion he had intended.
“An old friend.” She tossed her phone on a nearby table and leaned against the door frame. “And what have you done to my butler and my housekeeper?”
“I’ve given them the day off.”
She arched her eyebrow with displeasure. “What brings you to New York?”
“You,” he said in a husky purr. He didn’t want to spend another day without her.
“Isn’t it dangerous to be near me?” She pursed her lips as though she was holding back what she really wanted to say. “Wasn’t that why you sent me away?”
He heard the hurt weighing down her voice. “We caught the man who made the threats. He has a history of stalking celebrities and public figures.”
“So it’s over.” She gave a sharp, decisive nod and crossed her arms. “Thanks for letting me know. There was no reason to fly all the way over here. You could have left word with your security team.”
She showed no joy or relief like he had when he’d received the news. He had rushed over to America the moment it was safe and she didn’t feel the need to cross the room for him. “I’m here to take you back home.”
She motioned at the ornate walls and painted ceilings. “I am home.”
This was not her home. She didn’t stamp her personality anywhere in this four-bedroom penthouse apartment. It was as impersonal as a hotel room.
“You have a nursery to finish and we can get back to our wedding plans. Which reminds me.” He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and held the diamond solitaire between his fingers. “You left this behind.”
He had been stunned to discover that Jodie had removed her engagement ring before she left Greece. Panic swelled deep inside him when Jodie stared wordlessly at the ring.
She glanced up and her gaze collided with his. “It no longer belongs to me,” she said in a hoarse whisper.
Stergios jumped from his seat and gripped the ring in his hands. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She thrust out her chin. “It means that I’m not returning to Greece and I’m not returning to you.”
He was losing her. The diamond bit his palm. Stergios drew in a short breath as alarm squeezed his chest. He had realized how much he needed her when they were apart. Now he couldn’t get her back. “Why?”
“Why?” Anger flashed in her blue eyes as she pushed away from the door frame. “How can you ask that? You shipped me off at the first excuse.”
“It was not an excuse!”
“If you are going to send me away every time there’s a problem, then it’s better if I stay here in New York.”
“That is not going to happen. You made promises and—”
“So did you,” she lashed out and pointed accusingly at him.
He sliced his hands in the air. “We are getting married. The sooner the better.” He needed to bind Jodie to him in every possible way.