Page 47 of Never Too Late to Date

‘Maybe keep your eyes open for a while?’

Vicky nodded into the dark. For half an hour all she could hear were Alex’s footsteps in front of her. Little by little the sun was coming up over the sea, waving goodbye to the moon. She worked out that they’d almost completed the perimeter and were now walking back towards the familiar white buildings with the beach on their left. After a couple more steps, Alex stopped abruptly again and made for a large flat rock overlooking the sea.

‘Let’s have a break and watch the sun come up. An island sunrise is one of the best sights in the world.’

If he’d said, ‘I’m secretly the King of Greece’, she would hardly have been more surprised. The man was showing a distinctly softer side. She hoped he wasn’t ill.

He patted the space next to him, and Vicky sat down as directed. The sky glowed a deep orange, which she knew from experience would become paler and paler as the sun rose, and take on tinges of pink. Broken sleep and recurring nightmares meant she often saw the sunrise from the sanctuary. It was indeed a wondrous thing to behold. She wasn’t about to disagree with him, but she was just a little surprised they had anything in common, other than a love for animals.

Alex reached into his rucksack and pulled out something that looked suspiciously like breakfast, along with a Thermos of coffee.

‘I thought we deserved this.’

He ripped open a paper bag, releasing the smell of fresh baking and sugar into the air, causing Vicky’s stomach to rumble loudly.

Alex pointed to the squat cigar-shaped parcels.

‘These are bougatsa, a traditional Greek snack of filo pastry stuffed with custard and dusted with icing sugar. Take one.’

Vicky didn’t need telling twice. The sweet custard inside the crunchy pastry was a revelation.

‘Oooh, that’s gorgeous. And they’re still a little warm.’

‘I’ve got a mate at the bakery, and I could see the lights were already on when I came past, so I thought I’d treat us.’

‘You certainly did that.’

Alex had poured them out a small cup of coffee each. The steam from the hot drink rose into the air as he passed hers to her.

‘Lovely, thanks.’

‘Take another bougatsa. I’m going to.’

Vicky dug in again and washed the mouthful down with the strong coffee. It was the best al fresco breakfast she’d ever had, simple but highly effective. You could keep your fancy hotel spreads; this was stupendous, and all the better for being unexpected. Whichever mate it was who worked at the bakery was a craftsman. She was suddenly hungry for information about the man beside her.

‘You mentioned playing up at the ruined mansion as a child. Have you ever lived anywhere other than here?’

It was easier to ask questions when they were seated side by side.

‘I went to university in Athens. And then I spent a year travelling, mainly across Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia…’

‘I adore Vietnamese food.’

It wasn’t the most articulate of responses, but at least it was honest.

‘Me too. There’s actually a place in town that does Asian food, including authentic Vietnamese dishes.’

‘Is there? I’d love to go sometime.’

The pause told her that he’d assumed she was asking him to take her.

‘Not that I’m suggesting we go together or anything.’

‘It’s not such a bad idea.’

She could hear the smile in his voice.

‘My daughter Tasha is a vet, you know.’