Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Zeta is in the reception area showing off an impressive bouquet of flowers to a worker behind the desk; Takis is leaning casually on the counter beside her.
‘There she is! Good morning, Erin.’ She beams. ‘And thank you so much for the beautiful flowers.’
She kisses me on both cheeks when I approach her.
‘You are most welcome. I wanted to thank you for everything you have done,’ I tell her.
‘It was my pleasure.’ She touches my arm with her pink painted nails that match her lipstick.
‘How are you this morning?’ Takis asks me as Zeta heads off somewhere.
‘Not bad. And thanks for the florist recommendation; those flowers are beautiful.’
I glance at the gorgeous arrangement in shades of white and peach, with lots of delicate foliage.
‘And actually, I have been a little worried after a window was broken at the café last night,’ I tell him.
He frowns. ‘Has it been fixed?’
‘Yes, Jack came out and replaced the pane. Fingers crossed everything is still okay this morning,’ I say.
‘Shall we go and check?’ He glances at his watch. ‘I have an hour before my first customers.’
‘Sure, if you don’t mind. Thanks.’
‘Not a problem.’
We pull up near the village, and cut into the nearby forest path, the drive having literally taken two minutes.
Thankfully, the window is intact, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
‘I cannot imagine it was deliberate,’ he says as we walk to the rear of the café to check the doors.
‘That is what everyone else thinks,’ I tell him. Once more everything is secure.
‘I cannot believe the change from the way it was,’ says Takis as we return to the front of the café and he looks up at the sign. ‘It looks amazing.’
‘It does, doesn’t it? I can’t wait to open the doors to my first customers,’ I tell him proudly.
‘Will you be having a launch party?’ he asks.
‘I will be, yes. Athena and Ireta have offered to help with some nibbles.’
‘I would like to be there,’ he says. ‘Unless it is invitation only, of course.’
‘It isn’t, but even if it were, I would have invited you.’
He fiddles with the car keys in his hands. ‘You would?’
‘Yes. I like to think we are friends.’
I wish I could take the words back at once. Takis has only ever chatted to me in polite conversation, and the day he took me out on the boat was just business, I remind myself. We are hardly friends.
‘Friends. I like the sound of that,’ he says, holding my gaze. ‘I will definitely be there if I can. And I am hoping you will join me and Zeta for dinner.’
‘Only if I am paying. Zeta has been very good to me. I am not paying for you though,’ I joke and Takis throws his head back and laughs.
‘There you go again, always a comedian.’
‘I am being serious.’
‘I know, I am teasing you this time. Of course, I would not dream of letting you pay for my dinner.’ He smiles. ‘So, do you want to head back now?’ Takis fiddles with his car keys again and, drops them on the floor.
We both bend down to retrieve them and when our hands briefly collide, I feel the fine hairs on my arm stand on end and my stomach do a little flip. Did he feel the crackle of electricity too? I wonder.
‘Actually, I think I will walk,’ I tell him. ‘Stretch my legs a little before I start work.’
As well as give my head a wobble. What is going on here?
‘Whatever you like. Speak to you soon.’
Walking back towards the hotel, I curse the fact that Takis seems to have such an effect on me. I go over Zeta’s comments about his long-suffering girlfriend, yet he has never once mentioned her. I suppose I could ask him outright if he has a girlfriend and I am not sure what is stopping me.
Could she have got it wrong? Or does he flirt with every woman he encounters?
I wonder. Try as I might, I cannot shake the images of our day out on the boat.
I recall swimming in the glorious blue-green water, with the sun beating down on us, and the delicious picnic on the boat. It was like a dream.
Sometimes I feel that Takis is about to say something to me, then stops himself.
And his glances at me are always just a fraction too long.
I guess the hard part is knowing whether he feels the same way.
He has an easy way with everyone; I have witnessed that much myself.
I feel annoyed with myself that I seem to be having my head turned by a handsome but still unreadable Greek.
The sun is already warm as I walk, and it is barely nine in the morning. I try to clear my mind as I listen to the gentle birdsong. By the time I reach the hotel I have peeled off my thin cardigan.
‘It’s going to be a hot one today,’ says Kai as we stroll out to the pool areas a short while later.
‘I heard it is the start of a heatwave,’ I tell him. ‘I imagine that is quite unusual in early September.’
‘Not especially, according to Zeta. She tells me that the thunderstorms can be quite something after a heatwave,’ he informs me.
‘Great, can’t wait for that.’
‘Are you frightened of thunderstorms?’
‘The lightning mainly,’ I respond.
‘Shocking.’ He grins.
‘I once read of a park ranger in a national park who was struck by lightning seven times. And as I will soon be living in a forest, well…’ I pull a face.
‘Seven times, surely that can’t be true?’
‘Yep it is. Google it if you don’t believe me. He survived every strike, although he did sustain burns and hair loss. The locals avoided him like the plague if a thunderstorm was forecast.’
‘I bet they did. And I kind of wish you hadn’t told me that now,’ he says, stroking his lustrous head of hair.
A new flight arrived early this morning, and the kids pool is fairly busy, with very young children lounging in water inflatables that have shades above them and sunhats perched on their heads.
It is mid-morning and the temperature is already showing high twenties and set to hit the thirties later. I can hardly wait to head to the beach in the early evening for a cooling swim.
I take a break and sip an iced tea in a shaded area outside the hotel with my book. When I spot Zeta, I close my book and call her name.
I tell her I would like to take her to dinner. I feel the invitation ought to come from me, even though Takis has suggested a good restaurant.
‘That would be lovely. When are you thinking?’
‘Would Thursday work?’
‘Yes, Thursday is good for me, but are you sure? The flowers are more than enough.’
‘I insist. Takis tells me he knows of a good restaurant. He has kind of invited himself along too,’ I inform her.
‘Ah he probably means Aphrodite’s,’ she says.
‘I have not been there for a while, so it will be good to catch up with the owner.’ She smiles.
‘I have to say it is a good choice, if a little more expensive than some of the tavernas. It seems my nephew has expensive taste.’ She pauses.
‘I know the women who he has dined with there have been impressed.’
‘Women?’ I say in surprise.
‘Sorry, maybe that makes him sound like a womaniser.’ Zeta grins.
‘Female friends mainly, staff who work at the harbour on the boats. A bunch of them dine out together sometimes. Men and women, but Takis says the women always comment on the stylish décor, the first time they go there,’ she explains.
‘Right.’ I smile as I sip my drink.
‘Anyway, it will be lovely if he joins us. We do not get a chance to spend any quality time together. Would you like me to make the reservation?’ she offers. ‘It can get busy, but as I know the owner, I am sure he will fit us in.’ She winks.
‘Of course. Shall we say seven thirty?’ I suggest.
‘Perfect. And thank you, Erin, I shall look forward to it.’
Later, as I grab my things and head off for a beach swim, I ponder Zeta’s comments.
Once again she never spoke of his girlfriend but perhaps I can broach the subject over dinner.
One thing is for sure though, the more I learn about Takis, the less I understand our relationship. If you can call it that.