Page 129 of Never Too Late to Date

She watched his hands curl into fists.

‘For Christ’s sake, Suze. What do you want me to do to prove how much I love you? Of course, finding Gianni is a fantastic bonus, the best, but it’s you I came for, and you alone. You are more than enough for me. Please, let’s not waste a moment of the time we have left on this planet… I want us to be together, to build a life together, the life we could have had if we’d been a bit older and wiser, and I want to do it right here on this gorgeous island, as long as you feel the same.’

The hopeful expression on his face was the final straw. The tears rushed into her eyes, and she nodded once.

‘What was that?’

He was smiling at her, that delicious smile that promised so much.

‘Yes, OK, I love you too. Always have, always will. You’ve forced a confession out of me.’

Christian picked her up and swung her around, pulling her close to kiss her thoroughly.

‘At long bloody last.’

He walked her back into the flat, still in his arms, and picked up the Limoncello bottle on the way through.

‘Am I right in thinking this door leads to the bedroom?’

Suzie nodded, unable to keep the grin off her face.

Alex had asked Vicky to meet him at nine in the sanctuary car park, and prepare for a trip to the beach, which had confused her. The poisoner had been caught and dealt with, so it couldn’t be anything to do with that.

He was waiting for her, as usual. There was a full moon tonight, so she could see his long, slim body clearly, leaning against a tree. They’d not spent any real one-on-one time together since the night that Bruce had died, and she didn’t know what she was hoping for from the meeting. He’d been extremely helpful earlier in the day with Ian, making it virtually impossible for her ex-husband to come back to the island. But Alex could have just been doing what he’d do for any colleague.

Maybe he wanted to have a go at her about investing in the sanctuary and not telling him, as Angeliki had mentioned how shocked he was. But there was no point in her usual catastrophising; she’d find out soon enough.

‘Where are we going then?’

‘It’s a surprise.’

‘I’m not big on surprises, especially after today…’

‘This, I assure you, is a nice surprise. Follow me.’

She’d just have to trust him. He hadn’t let her down yet. That was a surprise in itself. Being let down by men, or rather one man in particular, was something she’d got far too used to.

Dropping down from the headland to the beach, Alex used his torch to search the sand for something, although they could see quite well by moonlight.

Eventually he beckoned to her to sit down and pulled out a rug from his backpack, along with a Thermos and some pieces of her favourite spanakópita. He passed her a cup, which she was pleased to find contained wine, not coffee, rosé in fact. She seriously needed a drink after the day she’d had. He poured water for himself. The fact that he’d brought drink along to the picnic showed he was making a major effort to please her. It gave her a warm feeling.

‘Yamás!’

‘Yamás!’

They ate and drank in silence for a while, until Alex spoke again, a puzzling excitement in his voice.

‘Now, watch the shoreline carefully. Any moment…’

Vicky focused on the beach in front of her. Maybe her eyes were tired, because it had started rippling. Very slowly, little scaly heads were emerging from holes in the sand, followed by squirming bodies, all making for the sea.

Alex took her hand and guided her forward so she could see better.

‘They’re sea turtles, or thalássies chelónes as we say in Greece. They hatch in the evening or overnight when it’s cooler, and there are fewer predators around. I got the word from some conservationists earlier today that the process had started on this beach.’

More and more sea turtles came out from their hiding places and started their epic journeys to the sea. Vicky was moved to tears by the little creatures and their fight to get to the water.

‘They’re gorgeous. So tiny and cute.’