Roumelia Lane - The Scented Hills

  'And what about Barry?' Tessa said heavily.

  'He wants to do some work.' Neil crooked a smile. 'He's flying back with Tom Blakeney, my key man in London, in the morning.'

  'Barry in an office?' Tessa tilted him a glance.

  'He's got a Devereux head on him,' Neil smiled. 'Once he gets the feel for business, women will take second place.'

  'As they do with you?' Tessa looked up twinkling.

  'You've come between me and my work ever since you arrived,' he gripped her. 'I don't see anything altering in the next thirty or forty years.'

  'But you thought I was a scheming fortune-hunter until tonight,' she said, lightly accusing, 'and you've been throwing your money at me all week.'

  'I wanted you any way I could get you.' He dropped his lips in her hair.

  For one long sweet moment Tessa's heart sang, then she asked, 'Will we live at the villa?'

  'If you want to,' Neil replied, smiling. 'They don't need me in London.'

  'What about Madame Devereux?' Tessa was thoughtful.

  'Nothing need change,' Neil said. 'As long as she's with us we'll keep her happy coping with the young Stantons about the place.'

  'A dozen?' Tessa tilted an eyebrow.

  Neil tilted one too, shrugged and grinned, 'Well, maybe two dozen.'

  Holding her close, he turned back towards the villa, and switching off the car headlights and locking the door he smiled. 'Let's walk.'

  In the darkness the ribbon of road looked just as it had when she came down it, but with Neil's arm around her it was the most wonderful road in the world.