‘I’ll help,’ he said, quick as a flash.
Her heart sank, but what could she do? She didn’t want to make a scene. Jon started to follow her outside.
‘Me too!’ Louise said, trailing after them both with a jug of iced water.
Stella was grateful to her friend for saving her from another awkward encounter, but wondered how long they could keep this up. Louise couldn’t be her minder for the rest of the trip. They’d just have to hope Jon would see sense.
Supper in fact turned out to be quite a jolly affair. Surrounded by people, Jon couldn’t moon after Stella or make reproachful digs. Instead, he sat quietly, playing around with his food and drinking more than his fair share of the wine.
Having recovered from the walk back to the villa, the girls talked animatedly about their daytrip and the snorkelling.
‘Can we go to a different beach tomorrow?’ Lily asked. ‘It’s so fun exploring new places.’
Louise suggested having a quiet day round the pool to recuperate instead, and visiting a gorge the day after.
‘It’s called the Aradena Gorge and it’s supposed to be stunning. There’s a beach at the end of the walk and a taverna. I suggest we set off early and have lunch there. It’s quite a tough hike – very steep in places. It’ll take us three to four hours.’ She looked pointedly at Hector. ‘I hope you’ll come this time? It’ll be worth it, I promise.’
He picked something out of a tooth, which he examined, before putting it back in his mouth.
Stella winced but managed not to comment.
‘Dunno. Maybe,’ he said.
‘Great!’
Unlike Stella, Louise didn’t get angry or frustrated with him. Stella wished she could be as cool headed. His behaviour wound her up so much and left her utterly humiliated.
The others all agreed with Louise’s plan and the girls and Will decided to wake up early tomorrow and look round the shops in Porto Liakáda.
‘I want a hat,’ Lily announced. ‘A straw one. I saw a stall selling them.’
‘Will you be all right, Will?’ Louise asked with an amused smile. ‘Trailing round with the girls while they try on endless stuff?’
He grinned. ‘Yeah. I’ll probably end up sitting in a café. I need to call some people. I’ll be fine.’
Everyone helped clear the table. Even Hector carried out more than just his own plate and glass.
As Stella crouched down to stack the dishwasher, she was aware of Jon standing close behind her, just that bit too close for comfort. She almost stepped on him when she stood up and he backed away wordlessly.
He followed her again when she went outside to shake the tablecloth and blow out the candles. It was like having a tiresome puppy at her heels.
While he hovered nearby as she folded up the covering, she prayed he wouldn’t say anything. They were alone and she desperately wanted someone to join them.
Without any warning, he suddenly stepped forward and put his hand on hers, pinning it to the table.
She jumped – ‘Oh!’ – and her heart flew into her mouth.
‘Can we talk somewhere in private?’ He nodded at a shadowy area to their left with olive trees and bushy shrubs.
‘I don’t think—’ she began feebly, but she didn’t get to finish as a noise behind made them both turn and stare.
Hector had left the kitchen and was striding towards them. He glanced quickly at them and spotted Jon’s hand on Stella’s just before it was whipped away.
Stella’s stomach turned over and her legs felt wobbly.
‘What’s going on?’ Hector sounded angry and uncertain in equal measure. ‘Have I interrupted something?’
The air seemed to turn cold and he gave a fake laugh, which made it even chillier.
