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Everyone thanked him, even Tamryn, who gave him a hug.
They walked the streets, stopping to look at the touristy offerings. Sienna bought a royal blue and yellow scarf that would remind her of the holiday. Carter purchased a scarf for his mom, and the girls loaded up on tchotchkes, especially since Xandros got them good deals in the shops. Even the guys succumbed to Santorini key chains.
In the same shop she’d bought the scarf, Sienna looped her arm through her mother’s. “That’s pretty,” she said of the blue blouse Mom was eyeing. “You should get it.”
“You think so?”
She hadn’t given her mom the time of day since she was eight years old. She’d punished Mom for the way Dad had acted. It was only in the last few weeks that she’d realized her father might be the villain of the story. Maybe it was long past time to be kind.
“The Santorini blue complements your coloring,” Sienna said. “Xandros will like it on you.” Her words were tacit permission to have that flirtation with the handsome Greek.
She was unprepared for Mom’s broad smile and the mistiness in her eyes, as if Sienna had just given her the greatest gift. “I’m so glad you think so. Thank you.”
Sienna felt as if she’d finally done something nice for her mother, something long deserved.
* * *
The day had beenbeyond Angela’s wildest dreams. Xandros treated them all to Akrotiri, then that fabulous meal, a tour of the ancient ruins at Thera, and finally the museum housing many Akrotiri artifacts.
When he finally dropped the group off outside the villa, she stepped back onto the bus to say goodbye after the others had exited.
“Would you like a winery tour tomorrow?” he asked.
“That would be wonderful. I’ll check with everyone.” He said nothing else, and she wondered if he was waiting for an invitation. “I’d invite you in, but I’m worried about what they’ll think. At least until I’m ready to talk to Sienna.” She touched his arm. “Is that okay?”
He nodded, his beautiful smile doing things to her insides. “It’s okay, as long as you meet me for coffee before the tour. I want some alone time.” He’d been around enough Americans to know the sayings.
“Absolutely.”
Glancing at the stairs leading down to their villas, she made sure the others had disappeared. Then she cupped his cheek, leaning in for a kiss, savoring his taste, his scent, the feel of his skin beneath her palm. His tongue flitted into her mouth, his mustache soft against her, reminding her of the hours they’d spent pleasuring each other yesterday.
“Tomorrow,” was the last thing he said before she climbed off the bus and he motored away.
She and Sienna had dinner with Carter and his group, and Angela brought food up from their fridge, not wanting it to go to waste. She ate lightly, a salad, after the big lunch.
Tamryn batted her eyelashes. “Xandros is totally dishy, Angela. You work fast,” she said with what Angela thought might be a sneer.
“It was just the surprise of seeing him after we’d met when I was here before.” That didn’t truly explain why he was taking them on tours and treating them to delicious meals. “Xandros wondered if we’d like to go wine tasting tomorrow. He can reserve another bus.”
“Way cool.” Irene and Alyssa were ecstatic.
“You’re amazing,” Carter said. “Finding us the perfect tour guide.”
From her seat beside Carter, Sienna looked at her with an unreadable expression. Then she smiled. “I’d love it, Mom.”
Angela savored the infrequent use of Mom, just as she’d savored Sienna’s opinion on the blouse she’d bought, especially that Xandros would like it. It had smacked of approval.
“It’s nice that you’ve found someone your age to hang out with,” Sienna said, and Angela felt the jibe before her daughter rushed on. “He knows all the places to go to. You couldn’t have found a nicer guy.”
“I’m tired of sitting on buses,” Tamryn said huffily. “We’ve hardly had any beach time this week. I want some sunbathing.”
Carter snorted. “Hitting the beaches was all we did the first two weeks we were here.”
Bill boomed out. “You’re giving up wine tasting? Are you nuts?”
Jamal and Reed shot their fists in the air with a rousing huzzah. “Count us in.”
They shamed Tamryn into going on the jaunt. Angela almost told her to forget it. She was pretty sure the girl’s antagonism was jealousy of Carter’s attention to Sienna.
