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There was no denying the guy was handsome, with smooth sun-kissed skin, a smattering of sexy stubble across his jawline, and a profusion of mahogany curls giving him that just-rolled-out-of-bed look. He wore a washed-out tee-shirt that once-upon-a-time could have been grey or pale blue, along with a pair of frayed denim shorts, and a pair of old canvas espadrilles that were clinging to their last moments of usefulness by a thread. He smelt divine, an unusual medley of fresh sea spray and pine trees, and despite her irritation at his lack of respect for other pavement users, she felt inexplicably draw to him, as though they’d somehow known each other in a previous life.
Realising that she had been staring at him, she took a quick step backwards, mortified as a whoosh of heat flooded her cheeks when she opened her mouth to say something and found her words were caught in her throat.
‘Ilikriná Signómi!’
‘Oh, erm, I’m sorry, I don’t speak Greek.’
‘English?’
‘Yes, I—’
‘I’m so sorry,’ said the reckless sprinter, looking anything but sorry as dimples appeared at the corners of his very sensual mouth when he stepped forward to offer her his palm. ‘Christos Stephanopoulos, at your service.’
She slid her hand into his, praying that he didn’t feel the same spasm of electricity she experienced when their fingers touched. ‘Suzie Sandringham.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Suzie.’ Christos indicated the gallery. ‘Do you work here?’
‘Yes, I do. I’m helping my sister out for a few weeks while she goes travelling with her boyfriend. They arrived in Thailand this morning, then they’re planning to visit Malaysia and Singapore, before ending up in Bali to visit my mum.’
Another flush of heat suffused her cheeks in consternation at her uncharacteristic openness. What was going on? Why had she felt the need to provide that level of information without being asked, and to a complete stranger, too?
However, there was something about the man standing in front of her, something that invited intimacy and the random sharing of confidences. She knew, somewhere deep down inside, that whatever happened when she was in his company, whatever she said or did, she would be safe, protected from whatever calamity the director of fate sent her way. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced before, not even when she’d been with Adam.
‘That sounds like an epic trip.’
‘Yes, yes, it does.’
A gaggle of female holidaymakers made their way down the street, pausing when they saw that their route was blocked by the fallen stepladder. Christos strode forward and, in one seamless manoeuvre, crouched down and whisked the ladder out of the way, gifting Suzie and the delighted tourists with a magnificent view of his well-toned buttocks before he propped the offending ladder against the wall next to the gallery’s front door.
‘Efharistó!’ the girls chorused.
‘Parakaló!’ Christos responded to their volley of cheerful thank yous, before returning his attention to Suzie. ‘I love the new sign, by the way.’
‘Thanks. Erm, are you okay?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What were you running away from?’
Christos hesitated and she saw him cast a quick glance from beneath his extremely long eyelashes towards the end of the street, which led to the villas, restaurants, and bars that overlooked the caldera. The pathway was deserted, save for the cats she’d seen earlier who’d been joined by a couple of friends – a chubby ginger cat and an equally rotund black cat with white paws – all of them busy investigating the contents of a large ceramic dish that had appeared on the step of the swimwear shop next door to the gallery. She made a note to put out her own water bowl for them, and maybe a few treats.
‘I wasn’t running away from anything. I was just… just out for my regular daily jog.’
Suzie wasn’t sure she believed him. After all, she’d seen the look on his face as he galloped down the alleyway towards her. However, she decided not to press him.
‘Okay, I think I’d better get back to work.’
‘Sure, and again, I’m sorry.’
‘It’s fine, no harm done—’
‘And I’d like to make it up to you.’
‘Oh, no, that’s really not necessary. I—’
‘I insist. Have you seen the sunset from the bay yet?’
‘No, not yet, but I hope to—’
