Page 67 of The Little Greek Guesthouse

She tried not to think about Heather’s words. It was all very well that George had a hundred thousand followers and books and talks and a YouTube channel, but that all rather proved her point, didn’t it? Where was the room for a girlfriend in among all that? She would be the lowest priority again.

She knew she didn’t want that.

No, it was better they just stay friends. The other day was a near miss, and she was glad that he’d walked away before anything happened. The last thing they needed was to complicate their friendship.

The climb was arranged for an early morning again. Nina offered to forgo it while Heather was staying, but her friend insisted she go.

‘You know I’m happy having a lie-in; I’ll snooze away and then hang out with Theo until you’re back.’

‘Are you sure? I don’t have to go.’

Heather laughed. They had walked to the top of the hill, and sat gazing out at the sea view below. ‘Don’t be daft, I don’t need babysitting! I know you love climbing, it’s great you’re getting back into it. This is the closest I want to get to doing that, thank you very much.’

She lay down on her back, shading her eyes against the sun. ‘My god, this place is stunning. No wonder you want to stay,’ she murmured.

Minutes later Nina heard the gentle sound of Heather’s snores. Propped on her elbows, she watched the sea far below, the blue-green waters cresting into white surf against the golden sand. Heather’s words about double-checking the hotel’s environmental credentials were nagging at her; she must ask Eirini for help, and soon. Theo’s meeting with the hotel owners was in a just over a week.

Heather stirred in her sleep, grunting. ‘No, darling,’ she muttered. ‘Don’t pick your – and don’t eat it!’

She jerked awake, blinking and sitting up, her hair askew.

‘Must have dropped off,’ she said. ‘I was just having the cutest dream.’

Nina wasn’t convinced. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a job for you.’

Having Heather to stay gave Nina the perfect excuse to leave Theo to the finishing touches of the house preparation, meaning they were able to go and buy the rug she’d seen at the market while he was busy. Heather was enchanted by the market, getting distracted by all the delicious food, buying pastries and fruit, trying samples of feta and mizithra, fussing over Milo as she tried to chew on Heather’s t-shirt.

‘Don’t buy too much, I need you to help me carry this home,’ Nina said, pointing out the rug.

‘Ooh, that’s gorgeous!’ Heather said, reluctantly shaking her head at the offer of more cheese.

‘I’m glad you think so,’ Nina said as she paid and the stall owner rolled and tied the rug. ‘Because we have to get it back without Baba seeing.’

Heather frowned. ‘What the hippos for?’

‘Well, it’s . . .’ Nina staggered as she heaved the rug onto her shoulder, and Heather hastily grabbed the other end. They turned, unsteadily, causing the people around them to duck and cry out. ‘I’ll tell you later,’ Nina puffed, as they staggered out of the market, Milo trotting at her side, attempting to chew the rug. Crossly, she shooed the little goat away.

At last they made it to the house, hot, tired and grumpy.

‘Right,’ Nina said. ‘You go and distract Baba, I’ll get this upstairs.’

‘Gladly.’ Heather dropped her end of the rug unceremoniously, and Nina squeaked as it landed on the dusty road.

When she heard them in the courtyard, she lugged the rug up the stairs, at last reaching the room she’d been working on, and rolling it out. Exhausted as she was, she still got a thrill when she saw the effect – the room sprang to life, a warm, tasteful, welcoming haven for anyone. Her stomach flipped as she glanced around. Surely this would convince Theo to stay. She just needed to pick her time to reveal it.

Smiling, she thumped down the stairs and joined Heather and Theo, gratefully sipping the chilled Mythos they had waiting for her. She’d developed a taste for beer in the last few weeks, no longer craving a dry wine in a posh bar.

Theo stared at her, frowning. ‘Thought you were having a shower?’

Heather caught her eye; obviously this was how she’d explained Nina’s absence.

‘Changed my mind.’

He wrinkled his nose and shifted his chair a little further away. ‘Not your best decision.’

She rose while the rest of the house was sleeping. Theo’s snores were strong and rhythmic as she tiptoed past his door. The floorboard creaked and she froze, listening as his snoring stuttered and then started up again. Relieved, she moved on.

There was only silence from behind Heather’s closed door, and Nina knew she would be sleeping soundly. There was a good chance she’d still be there when Nina returned.