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‘There’s room enough for two,’ he pointed out.
She bumped him out of the way when he tried to get in close, soaping herself vigorously. ‘Oh, no, you don’t—I know what two in a shower can lead to with you. Let’s get this meeting over with, and the contract signed.’
‘I’m all for that.’ Stretching languorously, he pushed his hair back and turned his face towards the warm cascade.
‘Doesn’t anything unsettle you?’ Lisa gazed at him.
‘You, perhaps.’
But even as he spoke she remembered his nightmare, and wished there had been time to ask him about it. Leaving him in the shower, she snatched a towel from the heated rail. ‘I’ll see you at the meeting—don’t keep me waiting.’
Lisa felt obliged to say something in answer to the look on Mike’s face as she walked past him into the boardroom. Her hair was still wet, though she had gathered it on top of her head with a tortoiseshell comb, but there had been no time for make-up. ‘I’ve been swimming, Mike.’
‘Of course you have,’ Mike said smoothly. ‘Do I take it Zagorakis has been diving too?’
‘I said swimming, Mike. In the sea.’ Lisa was relieved when Tino chose that moment to walk into the room.
‘I’m sorry to have kept you, gentlemen.’
No explanation required for his damp hair, or for the fact that Tino was fresh out of the shower. He had kept everyone waiting, and, from the almost imperceptible easing of muscles amongst his team, Lisa guessed for the first time ever.
The meeting lasted just over two hours, and then financial directors each made a closing statement. They had straightened out any remaining niggles between them.
‘Are you ready to sign the contract?’ Tino invited, looking directly at her.
Turning to her team, Lisa gazed enquiringly amongst them. There were no objections. ‘Yes, we’re ready.’
The deal was completed in seconds, and handshakes exchanged all round.
‘If you would all like to follow me out onto the veranda,’ Tino announced, ‘we will raise a toast to the future in champagne.’
Lisa waited until the last taxi had pulled away before turning back to the house. Tino had suggested they have supper in the village that evening. She knew she should feel excited about that, and exultant about the deal, but his nightmare still haunted her—and so far there had been no chance to talk to him about it. She fully expected that he would refuse to discuss it, but she had to try—someone had to try to get behind his iron façade.
The village square was packed with people, but Lisa felt wonderfully safe with Tino’s arm locked around her waist. He steered her towards a raised wooden stage in the centre of the square where a man had just removed the microphone from its stand. Silver haired, and with a magnificent moustache, he clearly commanded respect.
‘Takis Theodopoulus,’ Tino explained, whispering in Lisa’s ear. He is one of the finest folk singers in Greece. When he starts to sing he will explain everything you need to know about Greece and the Greeks.’
‘But I won’t understand him if he sings in Greek.’
‘You’ll understand Takis Theodopoulus.’
It was true, and when the folk singer began he tugged at her heartstrings in a way she’d never known before, and then Lisa noticed how captivated everyone else was—the music was like magic binding them together. Most people were holding white handkerchiefs aloft, and waving them in time to the beat, but then Tino tugged on her hand and she followed him back through the crowd.
‘Now you can see why I love Stellamaris so much,’ he said when they found a quieter spot. ‘Life is good here—everyone expresses themselves so freely.’
When he held her glance Lisa knew they were both thinking the same thing; the past had robbed them of that freedom. ‘Tino, there’s something I really want to ask you about.’
‘Not now.’
‘Why?’ Lisa dug in, prepared to be stubborn, but then she saw the hunger in his face.
‘Because I can’t wait any longer.’
‘The flower shop?’ She gazed around to make sure the
y were alone as he dragged her into the doorway. ‘No, Tino…we can’t possibly.’
‘Why not? There’s no one here. Everyone’s in the village square listening to the singing.’ Testing the door and finding it unlocked, he drew her inside.
