Playboy Boss, Pregnancy Of Passion Part 17

'You'll see when we get there' was the irritating reply.

'I thought we were checking out one of your potential hotels?'

'Nope. We're playing hooky for the weekend.'

She stared at him in surprise. 'But you don't play hooky.'

He smiled. 'Maybe you've inspired me.'

Maybe, she thought; she'd certainly noticed that he'd worked fewer hours recently.

Once they'd checked in, he bought them coffee and m.u.f.fins.

She laughed. 'So Mr Healthy does eat cake sometimes, then.'

He laughed back. 'Sometimes. And you know my weaknesses. Posh chocolate biscuits.' His eyes added the rest of it for him, and desire rippled down her spine.

The airport operated a silent terminal system; rather than a tannoy announcing the flights, there were information screens throughout the airport giving updates on arrivals and departures. There were several flights due, but Sara knew there was no point in asking him which one.

And then she saw it on the screen.

Private charter. Holloway.

'Private charter?' she asked. 'You chartered a plane just for us?'

'Don't get too excited. It's not a jumbo jet,' he said dryly. 'I know air travel isn't eco-friendly, but the rest of the trip is.'

'But...can you do that sort of thing? Charter a plane, just like that?'

'You can if you have a friend who owns an airline.'

She blinked. 'You have a friend who owns an airline?'

'A small one. We were on the same MBA course.'

She wasn't surprised that Luke had done an MBA. And she'd just bet that he'd graduated at the top of his cla.s.s.

The plane was tiny-only six seats plus the pilot-but it meant she could see everything.

Four hours later, they landed at a tiny airport. 'Where are we?' she asked.

'Samos. Greece,' he added, for good measure.

Once they'd disembarked and gone through Customs, they took a taxi to the harbour. 'Stay there a minute,' he said, and disappeared. When he returned, he picked up their cases and led her further down the marina to where a yacht was moored, its white sails unfurled.

She blinked. 'We're going on that?'

'Yup. You and me.'

'But I've never done any proper sailing.'

He looked amused. 'You don't need to.'

'You've hired a skipper?'

He smiled. 'This isn't a complicated boat, Sara. It only takes one to sail it-and, anyway, I can teach you rigging and steering, if you like.'

'You're kidding.' And he was going to sail the boat himself?

His grin broadened. 'What, you're chickening out on me? If I remember rightly, you were the one who was so keen on boats at Scarborough.'

'A boat trip,' she corrected, 'where I was a pa.s.senger and all I had to do was look at the seals.'

'You're still a pa.s.senger,' he said. 'You don't have to do anything but sit there with a book.'

'I didn't bring any books with me.'

'Then just enjoy the scenery. We're going to the next island west of here-Ikaria. Its name comes from Icarus.'

'The boy whose father made them wings to escape from prison, but he flew too high and the sun melted the wax on his wings and he drowned?'

'That's the one. Apparently he flew too high because he was so thrilled by the view-the mountains to the south, and fabulous beaches to the north.'

'How come you know about boats and the natural history around here?'

'I do occasionally take holidays.'

'And you've sailed before.'

'I learned in the same place as Admiral Nelson-the Norfolk Broads. If it was good enough for him...'

She smiled. 'That sounds like patter.'

'It is. But it's also true.' He smiled. 'Anyway, I knew you'd like this as you like things in s.h.i.+pshape order.'

She groaned. 'Your jokes are terrible.'

'I know.' He didn't look the slightest bit repentant. He carried their cases onto the yacht, then helped her on board. 'I just need to change, and then we'll go sailing and find a nice place to moor tonight. We can eat at a little taverna somewhere.'

She guessed he'd already researched the island and discovered the best places to eat.

'Just sit there and look at the boats for a minute. Oh, and change your shoes.' At her raised eyebrow, he spread his hands. 'Health and safety regulations.'

Now she knew why he'd told her to wear flat shoes. Not because they'd be walking, but because they'd be on a boat-and flat shoes with a decent grip were safer. 'My shoes are in my case,' she reminded him.

'Take those ones off-gorgeous though they are, I don't want you falling off the deck.' He blew her a kiss. 'I'll bring your sensible shoes up with me.'

When he reappeared, he was wearing a white s.h.i.+rt with the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms, black chinos rolled up to his knees and deck shoes with no socks. He was also sporting dark gla.s.ses and a red bandana over his hair. 'Now, you have to imagine the earring, the parrot and the hook,' he said.

Her pirate fantasy. She loved the fact that he'd tried to indulge her; though she also knew he'd hate it if she went all gooey on him, so she resorted to sa.s.s. 'Captain Hook wore a pirate hat, not a bandana, and he had a red velvet coat,' she countered. 'Besides, pirate captains don't wear bandanas.'

'No?' He sat down beside her, placed her flat shoes on the deck and leaned over to kiss her thoroughly.

'You lied to me,' she said when she could catch her breath.

'How?'

'You told me we were going to Norfolk.'

'No. You a.s.sumed it. I just didn't correct you.'

'You lied about the reason why I needed a pa.s.sport.'

'True, but it was a teensy fib to put you off the scent, purely because I wanted to surprise you. I'd never lie about anything important.'

She believed him. Luke was an honourable man. 'You'd never make a real pirate,' she said softly, stroking his face.

'Probably not. But, hey, I'm not the one with the Captain Hook fantasy.' He grinned. 'Oh, and for your information, pirate captains might wear bandanas if they're travelling incognito to do a bit of QC work in their fleet.'

She groaned. 'Please tell me this isn't work. You're not planning to buy a yacht? Or a spa hotel in Greece?'

'It's a thought...' Then he laughed. 'No, we're playing hooky for the weekend. Though there are various hot springs on the island. We can try them out, if you like. Or just moor at one of the harbours and paddle in the sea. Which reminds me.' He'd brought a bottle of sun cream up with the shoes. 'On a yacht, the sun's rays are reflected from the sea so they'll burn you more quickly. You need high protection factor.'

'Going to rub it on for me?' she teased.

'Now there's an offer. Be careful what you say to a pirate captain on a very secluded island,' he teased back. But he rubbed the cream into her skin, making sure it was thoroughly covered, before removing his bandana. 'I should've told you to bring a hat-I'll get you one when we moor, but in the meantime use this.'

'What about you?'

'Pirates don't need hats,' he said.

Sara felt slightly guilty, sitting there watching him do all the hard work of sailing the yacht, but as she knew practically nothing about boats she knew she'd just be in the way. Though she did enjoy the view: the blueness of the sea was stunning. And her view of the s.h.i.+p's pirate captain was even better.

He took her to Nas. 'Apparently, these are some of the best ruins in Greece,' he informed her. 'There aren't that many of them-just the pier of the ancient port and the floor of the sanctuary dedicated to Artemis survive-but you get to see them in peace and quiet because they're off the beaten track. The villagers reused most of the stone in the church tower and in a stepping-stone bridge.'

'Have you been here before?' she asked, curious.

'No, I just read up about it. It's what made me decide to bring you here. I thought this would be the kind of place you'd like.'

She loved everything about Nas, from the beautiful cove with its soft, pale sand and clear blue water lapping at the sh.o.r.e, to the huge gorge with a river cutting through it, to the ruins themselves. And, when they followed the stream, they found a deep lake with a waterfall.

'This is too good to miss,' Luke said. He removed her shoes, kicked off his own, picked her up and walked straight into the lake.

'Luke!' she protested.

'We don't have any swimming things, and we'll be arrested if we skinny-dip. And I really, really want to kiss you under a waterfall,' he said. 'So this is the best option.'

'You're...you're...' she floundered.

'What?'

Gorgeous. Kind. Thoughtful. The man she'd lost her heart to.

Not that she'd panic him by telling him so. 'Lovely,' she said.

'So are you.' He drew her over to the waterfall. 'Now kiss me.'

She did, and what started out as a warm, sweet kiss, silently telling him that she loved him, soon turned hot. To the point where they ended up running back to the yacht, and Luke made love to her thoroughly, jamming his mouth over hers to silence her cries of pleasure.

Afterwards, they found a sleepy taverna for a lunch of excellent grilled fish with herbs and salad, and tiny pastries dripping with honey.

Luke refused wine. 'Apart from the fact I'm crewing the boat so I need a clear head, I'm not a fan of retsina. But feel free to have what you like.'

She bit her lip. 'Luke, I feel bad about this. I don't have any local currency on me, and I want to pay for something.'

'Hey, I'm the one who stole your holiday in the first place. This is my way of making it up to you a little bit. Humour me.' He smiled at her. 'And to see you enjoying this is payment enough for me. Money isn't important.'

She coughed. 'Of course you can say that. It isn't an issue for you.'

'I came from nothing,' he said. 'And on the way I learned that money really isn't important. It's who you are inside that counts most.'

And Luke Holloway was a good man-one with a huge heart that he kept barricaded away. Though Sara was beginning to hope that he was slowly learning to trust her and would start dismantling the fences.

The weekend was magical, spent sailing round the island. They visited ruined castles and monasteries with beautiful frescoes and stunning views, bathed in the hot springs at Thermae, and late on Sat.u.r.day they were awed to see a school of dolphins frolicking in the sea.

'That's just...' Words failed Sara and she simply slid her arm round Luke's waist, cuddling into him. He rested his arm on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

She had no idea how long they stayed there, just watching the dolphins arcing out of the water, but she was so glad she'd shared it with Luke. They moored overnight at another village, eating a simple yet beautifully cooked meal, and watched the sun set from the deck of the boat. The stars in Greece seemed bright and clear, like they never were in London, and, best of all, she fell asleep in Luke's arms that night.

Late on the Sunday afternoon, they flew back to London.

'It's late. Why don't you stay here tonight?' Luke suggested when they were back at his flat.

He'd never asked her to stay with him in London. Another barrier down? she wondered hopefully. 'I'll need to call Justin,' she said, 'just so he doesn't worry about whether we've had an accident on the way back.'

'Sure. I'll order us a takeaway.'

It felt oddly domesticated, eating pizza with Luke in his kitchen. Even more so, putting both their clothes in his was.h.i.+ng machine. Though she knew better than to hope for too much, too soon. Right now, it was enough to lie in his arms in his enormous bed, watching the rain fall onto the windows and drifting off to sleep with her cheek pillowed against his heart.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

ON THE Monday lunchtime, Sara headed over to Greenwich to buy Luke a gift to say thank you for the weekend. Knowing how much he hated clutter, she wanted to get him something useful, which meant something for his desk, but she also wanted it to be something that would remind him of a time when he'd actually relaxed.