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CHAPTER 10
CASSIE
Cassie approached the front desk. “Hi, Elena.”
Elena was the eldest of Stavros’s five children. All of them worked at the hotel.
Elena looked up from the computer and gave her a bright smile. “Hi, Cassie. How was your day?” Elena wore a charcoal gray business suit with her dark hair pulled into a stylish chignon. She was polished and professional and had the perfect personality to head the front desk staff.
“Great. I had lunch with a friend, did some shopping, then visited my Aunt Helen.”
“Sounds like a fun day. Are you eating here tonight?”
“I was planning on it.”
“I can reserve your favorite table. How’s nine o’clock?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll see you later.” Cassie made her way across the lobby to the elevator and stepped in. She pushed the button for her floor and saw a man rush into the hotel. It was the man from last night. Her skin tingled with awareness. His damp hair curled around his face, framing those remarkable eyes. He wore running shorts and a soaked T-shirt that revealed his muscular chest to perfection. Eros. Holy hell, he was gorgeous.
He glanced her way, and across the lobby, their eyes locked. As the doors closed, he smiled, and it electrified the distance between them. And just like that, he was gone. Would he be at the restaurant tonight? She leaned against the elevator wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
By the time Cassie reached her room, she’d convinced herself a man like that wouldn’t be interested in eating dinner here. He would be at the Kronos again, or some nightclub where women with stick-thin bodies and long legs paraded in short dresses. Like honey to the bee, those types of women were irresistible to men like him.
After a shower, Cassie wound her damp hair into a knot at the nape of her neck. She took her new dress, and held it up, trying to imagine wearing it as she’d planned. Doubt crept over her. She wasn’t going on a date. She would be eating alone tonight, just as she did last night. She glanced at her favorite gauzy gray blouse hanging in the closet. Not ready to set the world on fire, she hung the dress in the closet and grabbed the blouse.
The elevator doors opened, she stepped out into the empty lobby, and she headed for the terrace. By this time of the evening, the bar should be full. Instead, the guitarist, who normally played with a jazz combo, was playing solo. He nodded to Cassie as she passed by.
“Hi, Cassie,” said Jason, Stavros’s youngest son. He had an open face and the beginnings of a beard. He must be about twenty years old now. Jason picked up a menu at the podium. “I’m filling in for the hostess and serving tonight.”
“It’s good to see you, Jason. So, you’re doing double duty?”
“Yeah. We’re not too busy.” Jason gave her a nod and led the way onto the terrace.
She followed Jason, glimpsing the few tables of diners. Too bad. The light warm breeze and moonlight transformed the terrace into a magical location. Jason led Cassie to her preferred table at the end of the terrace, which had an uninterrupted view of the sea. She loved it because it was like having dinner on the patio of a private hillside home.
Cassie slowed her steps. A man with broad shoulders and messy hair was seated at the table next to hers. Eros was here. Her pulse raced asher mom’s words echoed in her mind.Take a chance.
She could choose to leave or to stay. Leaving meant avoiding any risk. Staying meant taking a chance to learn more about him and to see those amber eyes one more time. She took a deep breath and made her decision.
