“Ready to go?” Antonio asked. He stood with Eva in the waiting room of a private airfield at Athens airport. On the tarmac, the Rosso jet sat, engines warming up.

Eva clutched the strap of her purse. Her stomach turned over once. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”

Antonio wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close for a hug, “I’m going to miss you.”

Eva hugged him back and let go. She lifted her chin. “I’m going to see you in a few weeks. For skiing, remember. A holiday for all of us.” But would it be a happy one? Now that she was faced with the reality of her plan she almost wanted to turn back. But she was going to prove to Antonio that she was not a little girl—and she was going to make Callum sorry he’d ever thought she was stupid. She had him now for two weeks all to herself and she was going to make him see she was a woman—a formidable woman!

With a crooked smile, Antonio touched her cheek. “You’re all grown up, zouzouni mou.”

Eva bit the inside of her lip. Tears stung her eyes. Tonio had not called her ‘my little bug’ in a long time. But she wouldn’t cry. No. She wasn’t a kid now. She punched his arm. “I’ll call you so much you’ll hate the phone bill.” She took a breath and turned to Callum, who had been staring out at the plane, his hands in his pockets.

Antonio walked over to him and shook his hand. “You’ve earned your pay, putting up with this one. Everything we discussed is in place. Look after Eva for me.”

Callum nodded, but Eva thought his smile was forced.

Tucking her arm into his, Eva headed for the plane and the long flight to New York.

* * *

The pilot announced their pending arrival over the speakers. Callum had tried to sleep during the flight, but he was too aware of Eva. While he stretched out in one of the reclining leather chairs, she moved around the plane, staring out the windows, reading, fixing light meals or hot tea. He kept his eyes closed but he always knew where she was. She’d settled at last next to him.

He sat up and glanced over at Eva. She sat with her head to the side and one hand tucked under her chin. Like this, she looked more like a kid. With a fingertip, he moved her hair back from her face. She didn’t stir.

God, she was beautiful.

She had a strong nose and dark lashes that fringed out just now. Her olive skin seemed perfect—a flawless dark honey. He brushed a finger over her cheek. It was just as soft as he’d thought.

Wetting his lips he called to her, “Eva?”

She scrunched her face up in protest. He called her name again and said, “We’re getting ready to land. You need to get your seatbelt on.”

She muttered something and shifted. Callum’s stomach lurched as the plane dropped. Cursing under his breath, he reached around her to get her seatbelt fastened. His arm brushed her breast. She stirred with a soft moan. Callum pulled in a sharp breath. He fumbled with the seatbelt and got it clicked into place. His mouth hovered close to Eva’s—another inch and he would be kissing her.

She turned and her breath brushed his face—a soft exhale. She’d worn jeans and a button-up top that gapped just enough that he could see the lacey edges of a pink bra. His throat tightened. He brushed a finger along her jaw. “Eva.” Dammit, that word had come out with need and a lot of other things he couldn’t let out.

Eva’s dark eyes blinked open. She smiled. Callum leaned back, but she stretched and he couldn’t help but watch her breasts strain against her blouse. He wanted her—badly. He glanced away, forcing himself to look out the jet window. “Almost here.”

The lights of New York had come on in the darkness, and the city twinkled, bright and beautiful. Eva rubbed her eyes and leaned across him to stare out the window. Callum bit back a groan.

“Oh, look, the Empire State Building—it’s so pretty.”

Callum tried counting to ten in Greek—he’d picked up only a smattering of the language. His words came out in a rushed breath. “I thought we’d take a taxi over and see my folks and then I’ll get you settled into the hotel.”

“Oh, Antonio will have a car waiting for us. He thinks of everything—well, almost.” Eva stretched again. Callum couldn’t help staring. Smiling at him, she asked, “What time is it here again?”

“About nine at night.” He forced the words out. His jeans had gotten very tight suddenly.

“Good, it’s almost time to go back to bed. I can’t believe how tired I am.”

Callum bit off another groan. Eva—in bed. That wasn’t the image he wanted to have right now. He started babbling, talking so he wouldn’t grab her and kiss her the way he wanted to. “It’ll take a few days before your body adjusts to this time zone, but getting plenty of sleep should help. My mom should be home.”

“You sound so certain.”

You look so lovely. Callum stopped the thought. The plane bounced down on the tarmac. Callum unbuckled and got out of his seat, heading for the bathroom. A piss and some cold water and he’d be able to face the world. And Eva. And he couldn’t wait to get her locked up in her own hotel room and get himself back under control.