Kostas's Convenient Bride: Kostas's Convenient Bride / Desert Prince's Stolen Bride

(#u89921092-0748-5178-aaca-d0e4c0453361)CHAPTER SIX (#u89921092-0748-5178-aaca-d0e4c0453361)

DESPITE THE AMAZING scenery and the fascinating narration, the rest of the cruise passed in a blur for Kayla.

Andreas never let up on his affectionate touching, eliciting a reaction in her body she did her best to ignore. Because the longer it went on, the more convinced she was that she had to tell him no.

No sex. No last night together before he moved on to marry someone else.

“Do you want lunch?” he asked as they were led to early disembarkation ahead of the other passengers.

She was about to answer in the negative when her stomach growled.

He smiled. “It seems you do.”

“Let me guess. You’ve already got reservations.”

“Naturally.”

There was no car waiting for them, but a pedicab driver stepped forward. “Mr. Kostas?”

Andreas nodded.

“This way.” The man indicated a newer cab with red leather seats and a motorized bicycle attached.

“We’re taking a pedicab?” Kayla asked.

“I thought you would enjoy the experience.” Andreas handed her up into the cab, for all the world like they were on a date.

Not that he ever treated her with a lack of courtesy, but things were feeling distinctly personal and guy-girl in the guy-expecting-sex-at-the-end-of-the-date kind of way.

The pedicab driver started peddling, weaving in and out of traffic in a truly alarming way.

Kayla gasped at a close call and Andreas took her hand. “It is all right, pethi mou.”

“Greek endearments? Really?” He was pulling out all the stops.

Andreas laced their fingers. “This is one of the company’s best drivers. I made sure of it.”

“I have been driving cab here for two years,” the man said with a slight Eastern European accent.

Kayla asked about it and learned he was from a small village in Russia. He had his engineering degree, but had to take more schooling to qualify for the jobs he wanted here in the States.

Kayla was fascinated and asked more questions until Andreas interrupted, clearly annoyed. “I believe you know enough of his life story.”

“I do not mind your lady’s interest, Mr. Kostas.”

But for some reason Andreas did. It was almost as if he was jealous, which Kayla knew was ludicrous. He was not the jealous type.

“We should be at the restaurant soon,” Andreas said to her, ignoring the cabbie’s comment.

Kayla frowned. “Don’t be rude, Andreas. That is not like you.”

Which was not strictly true. He could actually be really rude when he wanted, but he tended not to be impolite to people in a position like the cabbie’s. Andreas didn’t throw his weight around with what his family might consider the servant class. He’d seen enough of that living in Greece, he’d confided to her once.

“I will tip him extra if that will make you happy,” Andreas replied grumpily.

She frowned. “You are being crass.”

“Nothing I say will please you, but you hang on his every word.” Oh, her ex-lover sounded seriously annoyed.

“I already know your history,” she tried to explain.

“So, now I bore you?”

Oh, man. He was determined to take offense, wasn’t he? “That is not what I said.”

The cabbie coughed in a way that sounded suspiciously like he was covering a laugh.

Andreas gave him a suspicious look and Kayla knew things were going to go downhill fast if she didn’t do something.

“What restaurant are we going to?” she asked with desperate enthusiasm. “Is it another tourist attraction?”

“Not exactly.” Andreas turned his attention full on her.

She smiled up at him.

“I know when you’re faking your smiles, you know that, right?” he asked with a clear frown.

She rolled her eyes. “Give me points for trying and tell me about the restaurant.”

“I want your smiles to be real when they are pointed in my direction.”

“I cannot guarantee that.”

“That is not acceptable to me.”

“Get over it.”

“I will not get over it. You will stop giving me those fake smiles, Kayla. Save them for other people.”

“Andreas, you are not being reasonable.”

“I am eminently reasonable.”

She laughed. Loudly. She could not help herself. “I’m sure that’s exactly what Jacob thinks.”

“Jacob has no place in this discussion.”

“You do not get to tell me to just forget about someone like he never existed.”