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She said nothing.
‘I’ll arrange the helicopter in the morning. I can book a hotel for you in Athens.’
He didn’t quite know how to handle her silence.
‘You can raid the minibar and go crazy again.’
He found her continued silence unsettling.
‘Mary, you really don’t need to be sleeping with the likes of me.’
‘Save the pep talk,’ Mary snapped. ‘Believe me, I’ve been sent away before there was time to unpack more times than you can count. I don’t need to be told again that I’m just “not quite right”, that I “just don’t fit”.’
There were no tears and no trace of bitterness in her voice, but then she asked a question.
‘You’d really prefer me to have no feelings for you?’
‘So you do have feelings?’ he demanded.
‘Of course I do,’ Mary said. ‘I’d be crazy to be here otherwise. But you’re right—we are completely incompatible. I would never want a real relationship with you. I want a man who sends cards and flowers and balloons...’
‘Whatisyour obsession with balloons...?’ He screwed up his nose.
‘I happen to love them. And you’re right. I don’t want cold sex and no conversation. I just wanted to play at a relationship and practise on you...’
‘Practise?’
‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘I wanted fun in the sun and to make love and laugh and be close to someone—even if just for a couple of nights. But now one of those nights is about to be wasted in the guest room. Guess what, Costa? I won’t be creeping into your room in the middle of the night. I’ve been lonely nearly my whole life; one more night is neither here nor there. Nor will I be raiding the minibar in Athens. I’ll be going out clubbing...’ She glared at him. ‘I’m going to have some of that cold, meaningless sex you so clearly endorse.Gia parti mou!’
‘Are you finished?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I’ll be gone in the morning, and I’m guessing you’ll be conveniently out, so I’ll tell you a few home truths now. Your mother would have loved a card from you...’
He moved his shoulders in a silent, mirthless laugh.
‘Oh, yes, she would—and also she’d like to know what the hell happened to your face...’
‘She doesn’t need to know about Ridge—’ He couldn’t even finish saying the man’s name.
‘Just tell her you got into a fight with the guy who was making me miserable. I can assure you she’s imagining far worse.’
‘Have you quite finished?’
‘No! I would have been brilliant,’ she said. ‘I would have been the best fake girlfriend ever!I’mnot the one who’s struggling to keep up my end of the deal.You’rethe coward, Costa.You’rethe one who refuses to let loose, even for one weekend.’
He said nothing.
‘I wish you well,’ Mary said, and headed into the guest room.‘Adio.’
CHAPTER TEN
EVENTHEPLAYBOYdoesn’t want you...Mary taunted herself as she stripped off and sat on the lonely bed.
She looked through the menu, but it was all dreadfully healthy. Well, it was a health retreat after all. But then she flicked to the late-night menu, and it seemed that from eleven at night until five in the morning some of the guests caved.
There were hot chips and luxurious-looking burgers andsouvlakis, as well assokolatopita, which Mary read was an old-fashioned Greek chocolate cake, best served with vanilla ice cream.
Oh, my.
