Page 83 of The Little Greek Guesthouse

She should go, too. She should catch up with them, she should be angry that they’d tricked her. She should walk away from this beach, from George, and put him out of her mind for good. But she found herself moving towards him.

There were so many times she’d imagined this moment, so many things she’d wanted to say. But now she found herself struck dumb.

‘Just give me a chance to explain,’ he said. ‘Please.’

It felt so long since she’d seen him and yet, as she gazed into those blue eyes, it felt like no time at all. As though he’d never been away.

‘I – I was married and –’

She stepped back, about to leave. His chance was over.

He caught her arm. ‘I should have told you, I know. I’m sorry, Nina. You deserved better.’ He gazed at her, desperation burning in his eyes. ‘But it was all over, before I even came here to look after Yia-Yia. Susan – I found out that she was cheating on me. And I walked out, I came here. It was done, as far as I was concerned. We were separated, I thought we were getting divorced; I’d never have got involved with you otherwise. I told everyone we were, I told my parents, told Yia-Yia, as far as she knew, as far as we both knew I was separated, so please don’t be angry with her. I was single. I promise.’

Nina studied his face, looking for any hint of dishonesty. She found none. The breeze lifted his hair, gold in the setting sun.

‘But Susan, she – she wanted us to try again, that’s why she came, and I thought . . . I’d made promises. You know? I felt – duty bound – to try.’

Nina swallowed. This was painful to hear. ‘And?’

‘And I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be with her after she hurt me like that, after she lied and – I couldn’t trust her. And I thought – I thought I didn’t want anyone, that I couldn’t trust anyone, I’d just get hurt again and it wasn’t worth it. But I couldn’t stop thinking about you, this woman that I met, this brave, exciting, funny, gorgeous woman. And I – I couldn’t believe my luck that I met you, and I thought I’d blown it.’ His voice shook a little and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily.

Nina’s mind was reeling. She could barely take it all in. She hardly dared to believe in it. But everything in her longed to close the gap between them, to feel his strong arms around her, his lips against her own.

‘And now?’ she asked.

‘And now I’m here. To find out . . . to ask how you feel about me.’

A question that was impossible to answer, and the easiest thing to answer in the world. She had felt everything for him: irritation, infatuation, trust, betrayal. Dare she even think the word that was in her mind now?

His eyes searched hers. ‘And I – it’s over, totally over between me and Susan now. Just so you know. I’m not – married, anymore.’

Nina wanted so badly to believe him. Surely, he wouldn’t have come all this way, wouldn’t have arranged all this, if he was lying. Surely Maria and Baba wouldn’t have tricked her into seeing him.

‘You’re divorced?’ she asked tentatively.

He nodded. ‘Paperwork’s all at Yia-Yia’s, I can show you.’

‘You’re divorced.’

She found herself smiling, and he smiled back.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’m free, to be yours, no complications. If you’ll have me.’

She stepped into his arms, and he pulled her in, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was so tender she felt dizzy, and soon became so passionate she could barely breathe.

At last they broke off, holding onto each other, smiling as though they’d never stop.

‘I can’t believe you brought a picnic,’ she said. ‘And candles!’

‘Thought I’d go old school, pull out all the stops. Bit traditional for us, I know. But I also brought these.’

He leaned down, and grabbed a couple of snorkels from behind the picnic basket. He grinned. ‘In case you fancy it?’

She laughed. ‘Can’t wait.’

And so, stripped to their underwear on the deserted beach, they ran into the sea hand in hand, diving under into the clear waters. George reached for her and pulled her in until she was held against the warmth of his muscled chest. And, as they kissed again, a turtle swam peacefully past, safe in the seas of Metalios.

Epilogue