Maya. Pregnant.This can't be happening. Despite the warmth of the summer day, an uncomfortable chill settled over Maya’ skin as she settled on the bench in the small garden just a few blocks from the apartment she shared with Alex . She shivered even as the sun’s rays found her tightly clenched fingers, the heat not yet chasing away the goose bumps. Javier wouldn’t be happy over her brief disappearance. Neither would Alex when Javier reported that she hadn’t taken proper security measures. But dragging along the imposing guard to her doctor’s appointment hadn’t been an option. Alex would have known of her pregnancy before she could even return home to tell him herself. How would he react to the news? Despite the fact they had taken precautions, she was eight weeks pregnant. The best she could surmise, it had happened when he had returned from an extended business trip overseas. Alex had been insatiable. But then so had she. A bright blush chased the chill from her cheeks as she

Alex. Three months later. Alex sat in his apartment brooding in silence. He should have some peace of mind now that there was no longer any danger to his company, but the knowledge of why was hardly comforting. He stared at the pile of documents in front of him as the evening news droned in the background.His stopover in New York was going to be short. Tomorrow he would fly to London to meet with his brother Jake and have the groundbreaking ceremony for their luxury hotel, a hotel that wouldn’t have happened if Maya had gottenher way. A derisive snort nearly rolled from his throat. He, the CEO of Zionsville International, had been manipulated and stolen from by a woman. Because of her, he and his brothers had lost two of their designs to their closest competitorbefore he’d discovered her betrayal. He should have turned her over to the authorities, but he bad been too stunned, too weak to do such a thing.He hadn’t even ridded his apartment of her belongings. He bad assumed she wou

Alex. Alex stood in the darkened room and watched as Maya slept. The strain of the frown he was wearing inserted a dull ache in his temples.Her chest rose and fell with her slight breaths, and even in sleep, tension furrowed her brow. He moved closer and touched his fingers to her forehead, smoothing them across the pale skin.She was as lovely as ever, even in her weakened state. Raven curls lay haphazardly against the pillow. He took one between his fingers and moved it from her forehead. It was longer now, no longer the shorter cap of curls that had flown about her head as she laughed or smiled.Her skin had lost its previous glow, but he knew restoring her health would bring it back. Her eyes had been dull, frightened, but he remembered well the brilliant blue sparkle, how enchanting she looked when she was happy.He cursed and moved away from the bed. It had all been a ruse. She hadn’t ever been happy. Truly happy. It seemed he had been incapable of making her so.All the time

Alex. Alex slumped in his chair and ran a hand through his hair. He fingered the list of phone messages as his gaze lighted on the one from his brother Jake.There was a message from his other brother, John, as well.He shifted uncomfortably and knew he wouldn’t be able to put them off for long. They would have gotten his messages by now and be curious. How he was going to explain this mess to them and also explain why he was taking the woman who had tried to damage their business home to Greece was beyond him.With a grimace, he picked up the phone and dialed Jake’s number.He spoke rapidly in Greek when his brother answered. “How did the groundbreaking go?”“Alex , finally,” Jake said dryly. “I wondered if I was going to haveto fly over to beat answers from you.”Alex sighed and grunted in response.“Do hold while I get John on the phone. It’ll save you another call. I know he’s as interested in your explanation as I am.”“Since when do I answer to my younger brothers?” Alex growle

Maya.The next morning, Maya sat across from Alex as he watched her eat breakfast. He nodded approvingly when she managed to finish the omelet he had prepared, and he urged her to drink the glass of juice in front of her.Despite her anxiety and uncertainty, it felt good to be taken care of by this man. Even if she wasn’t entirely sure of her place in his world. He was solicitous of her, but at the same time he seemed distant. She wasn’t sure if it was out of deference to her memory loss, and he had no wish to frighten her, or if this was simply the normal course of their relationship.She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled absently. The idea that this could be ordinary bothered her. Surely she hadn’t desired marriage with someone who treated her so politely, as though she were a stranger.And yet, for all intents and purposes, they were strangers. At least he was to her. A flood of sympathy rolled through her. How awful it had to be for him to have his fiancée, a wom