First impressions were everything. Betsy had only heard from Nick that the family they were going to meet were Greek and that it was essential he made a good impression. Thus, upon entering the restaurant, the only preconceptions she had were of the 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' kind.

And it wasn't that far off of the truth.

There were lots of people and there was lots of noise. Betsy could hear it before they even got close to the table but all of it was light and friendly banter that only a family could exchange with one another without causing hurt feelings or starting a brawl in the middle of the restaurant.

The small family approached the table only to find they were the last ones to the party. There were at least twelve people seated already and a few children danced between the chairs as they chattered to the adults. There were no other diners at this end of the restaurant but Betsy was glad. Whereas the rest of the restaurant had been classy and elegant yet strangely cold, this energetic and lively family gave the place a more comfortable and welcoming vibe.

Betsy was all too aware on the arm that was now wrapped around her waist as they stopped before the open chairs, the strong hold pulling her into the warmth of a very male and strong body. She knew that without her make-up she would have been displaying a rosy blush but even so her face felt hot. 

A man in an ocean blue shirt stood and smiled wide at Nicholas, his arms held wide. "You made it," he called out jovially. His cheeks flushed from either alcohol or good humour as he freed himself from his seat. "I thought for a moment you were going to chicken out."

Markos Giannopoulos stepped close and embraced Nick, wrapping his arms around. Nick, both hands occupied, was forced to take the attention. He smiled and laughed but Betsy could feel his fingers clenching painfully into her side.  It would probably leave marks but she didn't care. If she hadn't felt it, she never would have guessed that the man was in any way uncomfortable. It made him more human.

As they pulled away, Nick smiled before looking her way. "Markos, I would like you to meet my girlfriend Elizabeth Jones."

"Nicky, stop being formal." Markos teased, waving his hands through the air before he turned to look at me.  "We are old friends."

Nicholas raised his brows and smiled as Markos turned his attention to the blonde. Now she was the one clutching his hand. He held on for several seconds, his eyes looking into hers and she knew that he was judging her. She averted her gaze and her face burned hotter under the attention.

"Elizabeth, you are a beauty." Markos replied, releasing her clammy hand and then clapping Nick's shoulder. "Don't you agree Nicky?"

"Betsy, please call me Betsy." The blonde blurted, unable to stop the words from escaping her lips as she felt her boss's gave boring into the side of her face.

Nick didn't say anything and she didn't look. She felt his fingers stroking in soothing circles on her hip which comforted her and yet managed to enflame at the same time. It was an oddly dizzying mix.

"Betsy, it's a pleasure to meet you." Markos greeted, placing his hands on either side of her face and then placing a fatherly kiss on each of her cheeks, laughing when she stared up at him with wide eyes.

The Greek man chuckled and took a step away before waving them to the chairs. "Take a seat and we can eat. I'm sure the children are getting hungry – I know I am." He patted his stomach and then made his way back to his own chair.

Betsy found herself seated opposite her boss. She stared into his eyes and tried not to feel completely out of her depth. Now that all of the introductions had been made, all sense of calm was gone. Voices chattered, words being thrown in every direction. Laughter filled the air as drinks flowed and food was eaten.

Thankfully the children had been seated on either side of Betsy so she was able to hide from the embarrassing questions about her boss and focus on the children and their needs.  As the men discussed business, the blonde leant down and used a napkin to wipe red sauce from Tommy's chin, tapping him on the nose as she pulled away causing the small boy to giggle. He turned and burrowed his smiling face into her side, hugging her tightly as the rest of the red sauce was wiped on to the dress.

Gigging at his antics, Betsy wrapped an arm around his shoulders and hugged him back. She then placed a kiss on the top of his head before turning her attention to her own food. 

Casually looking up, her fork clattered down on to her plate as she found the eyes of everyone over the age of eighteen staring at her. Flustered, she wiped at her face before gulping loudly to clear her throat which had become dry. Still they stared. Markos' eyes twinkled from where he sat at the head of the table.

Betsy looked at Nick for help but he was staring at her too. Yet his stare was different. There was no disbelief or wide eyes. Instead his eyes were – warm. Somehow his entire face had softened, his lips quirked up into a soft smile as he looked back at her and the arm she still had around Tommy's smaller body.

"Is that a De Marco original?" A dark haired beauty murmured into the ear of an older version of her. The grey haired woman nodded gravely in response.

Glancing down, Betsy's eyes widened. De Marco was a designer whose clothes went for nothing less than ten thousand a dress. And that was his budget brand. And there was no way that Nicholas Davenport would ever be caught buying from a budget line. Thus it was with dawning horror that her eyes noted that the side of her pale coloured dress was now stained with vivid red sauce.

She felt the blood draining from her face and was again grateful for the layers of make-up.  Biting her lip, she looked up at Nicholas once more. She expected anger but he merely shook his head and smiled at her, his eyes moving down to where her fingers were unconsciously combing through Tommy's hair. It was an unconscious action. Whether it was to comfort her or the small boy she couldn't decipher it.

She dropped her gaze, unable to sit still under the weight of his probing stare but even with the others at the table, she didn't miss the words Markos spoke to Nicholas.

"Where ever did you find her Nicholas?" The older man leant close, his eyes watching the blonde woman as she neglected her own meal and comforts to focus upon the children like a true mother.

"I am friends with her sister." Nick replied truthfully, unable to take his eyes from the show.

"She is incredible."

"I agree." Nick murmured.

"She cares for the children like they are her own. You should keep hold of her Nicky. The mother is what makes up the home. You need to keep her in your life – if not for you then for your children." Markos advised, clapping his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "But I think you know that already. I can see it on your face. You have started to realise her worth."

Nick lifted his glass from the table and took a long sip, his hand trembling ever so slightly. He placed the glass gently on the table and nodded his head at whatever the Greek man said. Not that he was listening. He couldn't concentrate on a single word escaping his lips because the moment happening before him was the biggest aphrodisiac. Never would he have thought that seeing a woman caring for his children would be enough to get his pulse racing and his stomach in knots. How his life had changed.

"Nicholas," Markos called out once more, shaking his shoulder to get his attention. "I have spoken to the others and they are impressed with your woman. If you have shown up with another play thing the deal would have been forgotten."

Nick nodded his head to show that he heard.

"If you get a ring on her finger, I think we can make this deal a sure thing." Markos advised.

The other board members were men ranging from their thirties to their late sixties, nodded their heads at this. They all smiled as they stared back over at Betsy. They all were giving the pair their blessing.

While the news that the deal was still on the table was a good thing, Nick felt his heart seize up in his chest. How far could he push Betsy to go with this charade? He couldn't deny that he enjoyed being around, loved seeing her with his children and he would never deny to himself that he found her attractive. He could think of a million worse things in a wife. But could he force this on her? He knew that she felt something for him too – even if it was only a small attraction. Yet was it too much to ask of her for the sake of a business deal? To be with him would irrevocably change her life.

"I will see what I can do." Nick stated finally. Even as he spoke the words, his shoulders felt as if a heavy weight was pressing down on his shoulders.

An hour or maybe it was two later, the party started to disband. Delilah and Tommy were both asleep, their heads resting against Betsy's stomach as she stroked her fingers through their hair. Now that she no longer had to occupy the children, she allowed herself to be drawn into conversation. She felt at ease around the women. They were all vivacious and kind – chatting about things from recipes to schools to the hot guys they had seen in the supermarkets. The men shot disgruntled looks at their partners when that particular topic started earning a few giggles.

The evening soon started to take its toll and Betsy had to cover her mouth to hide her yawn.

Coming around the table, Nick leant over her chair, placing his hands on her shoulder to get her attention. As she looked up, he could see the tiredness lingering in her gaze. Still she smiled up at him. Nick struggled to maintain his composure. That single gesture stirred more within him than any his 'dates' had managed in the months after his wife's passing. 

Maybe it was the lack of sex in the past few months. Maybe it was making everything feel -- more. 

Or perhaps it was just her.

"Come on, Love." Nick murmured, slotting in the term of endearment casually. "It's time to get home."

Betsy opened her mouth to protest but quickly pressed her lips together and nodded.  The man then turned his attention to the Giannopoulos women. "Sorry ladies but I need to take her away from you all. She needs to rest and we need to get the kids home and into their beds."

"Of course, Nicholas," Markos's wife replied.  "Make sure you come by for dinner soon."

Even as she was speaking, Nick felt the attention of several dark haired beauties who leant their chins on their hands and batted their lashes at him in an over the top flirty gesture. Their husbands didn't appear jealous, they just rolled their eyes and exchanged exasperated looked with one another.

"It was good to meet you all." Nick spoke to the table in general, ignoring the women which earned chuckles from the men at the table.

Duty done, Nick lifted his daughter out of her chair as Betsy did the same with his son. The blonde wobbled as she stood for the first time in hours. Before she could wobble too far, a warm and firm hand on her back steadied her before guiding her away from the table.

Before they could get more than a few steps away, Markos called out to them.

"Nicky, don't think you are getting away with it that easy." He waggled his brows playfully, his eyes twinkling as he did so. "You must know that the way to a happy relationship is to show the woman you are with that you care. Do you know how we do that Nicky? With the kissing!"

Nick rolled his eyes and made to move away but the others at the table, caught up in the playful teasing and the effects of the many drinks they had consumed clapped their hands and chanted for the pair to kiss.

Looking down at the woman at his side, Nick felt no objections. He wanted to know what it was like to kiss her, truly kiss her. He looked sheepishly down at his housekeeper, shrugging his shoulders as he did so. She dropped her gaze, looking down at her feet for a few seconds. And then she was shyly gazing up at him through her eyelashes, her head tilted up slightly in open invitation.

For the first time, since he had experienced his very first kiss, Nick felt scared at what was to come. Never had he thought he would be completely petrified at the prospect of kissing a woman but his heart was racing in his chest, his mouth felt dry and he had clammy hands.

Aware of the people whooping and cheering behind them, Nick turned so Betsy was sheltered from their view and then he stared deep into her eyes as he leant close.

"We don't have to do this you know? You don't have to kiss me if you don't want to."

"But it will make it more believable right?" She responded, her voice coming out in a deep throaty whisper. The nerves were obviously affecting her voice but Nick could help but think that it was the sexiest thing that he had ever heard.

"I guess so." He responded, taking his time to lick his lips. Then before he could change his mind and mindful that of the children between them, Nick leant down and claimed her lips.

Nothing prepared Betsy for the sensation of having her mouth claimed by Nicholas Davenport. There was nothing hesitant or uncertain about the way that he kissed. His lips pressed against her firmly, warm tingles erupting from where their lips met, spreading outwards throughout her entire body.

It was incredible. Never had she felt like this before. No kiss with her ex had felt like this. She was sure the man was going to ruin her with one simple touch of the lips. She stepped closer, needing to be nearing to his warmth, needing more of his kiss and touch.

Tommy shifted within her hold and the whooping and hollering of the Giannopoulos family brought her crashing back to reality. Pulling away, Betsy stared at up at her fake boyfriend, her boss and the man who had more money than she would ever earn and felt as if her life had suddenly gotten a lot more complicated.

"Wow," she murmured breathlessly, her eyes unable to look at anything other than the man before her.

She was in deep trouble. There would be no forgetting the kiss – not now and not anytime soon. And judging by the slightly startled expression on his face Nick felt it too.

"Wow indeed."

A/N: Thank you for reading Betsy's story - Don't worry there is still so much more to come. Out of curiosity, which celeb would you choose to play Betsy and Nick? I'm trying to decide on a cast list and I would love your input.