Playing by the Greek's Rules (Puffin Island 0.50)

‘You’ve never wanted to do this for a living?’

‘What I want to do and what I can afford to do aren’t the same thing. It isn’t financially viable.’ She didn’t even allow her mind to go there. ‘And where would our soap live? Let’s talk about the wedding. A wedding is a big deal. It’s intimate and special, an occasion to be shared with friends and loved ones. You don’t even know me.’ The moment the words left her mouth she realised how ridiculous that statement was given the night they’d spent. ‘I mean obviously there are some things about me you know very well, but other things like my favourite flower and my favourite colour, you don’t know.’

Still holding her plate, he studied her with an unsettling intensity. ‘I know all I need to know, which is that you like weddings almost as much as I hate them. Did you study art?’

‘Minoan art. This is a sideline. And if I go with you, people will speculate. How would you explain our relationship to your father? Would you want us to pretend to be in a relationship? Are we supposed to have known one another for ages or something?’

‘No.’ His frown suggested that option hadn’t occurred to him. ‘There is no need to tell anything other than the truth, which is that I’m inviting you to the wedding as a friend.’

‘Friend with benefits?’

He put the plat

e back down on the shelf and replaced the earrings carefully. ‘That part is strictly between us.’

‘And if your father asks how we met?’

‘Tell him the truth. He’d be amused, I assure you.’

‘So you don’t want to pretend we’re madly in love or anything? I don’t have to pose as your girlfriend?’

‘No. You’d be going as yourself, Lily.’ A muscle flickered in his lean jaw. ‘God knows, the wedding will be stressful enough without us playing roles that feel unnatural.’

It was his obvious distaste for lies and games that made up her mind. After David, a man whose instinct was to tell the truth was appealing. ‘When would we leave?’

‘Next Saturday. The wedding is on Tuesday but there will be four days of celebrations.’ It was obvious from his expression he’d rather be dragged naked through an active volcano than join in those celebrations and a horrible thought crept into her mind.

‘You’re not going because you’re planning to break off the wedding, are you?’

‘No.’ His gaze didn’t shift from hers. ‘But I won’t tell you it didn’t cross my mind.’

‘I’m glad you rose above your natural impulse to wreck someone else’s happiness. And if you really think it would help to have me there, then I’ll come, if only to make sure you don’t have second thoughts and decide to sabotage your father’s big day.’ Lily sank down onto the edge of her bed, thinking. ‘I’ll need to ask for time off.’

‘Is that a problem? I could make a few calls.’

‘No way!’ Imagining how the curator at the museum would respond to personal intervention from Nik Zervakis, Lily recoiled in alarm. ‘I’m quite capable of handling it myself. I don’t need to bring in the heavy artillery, I’ll simply ask the question. I’m owed holiday and my post ends in a couple of weeks anyway. Where exactly are we going? Where is “home” for you?’

‘My father owns an island off the north coast of Crete. You will like it. The western part of the island has Minoan remains and there is a Venetian castle on one of the hilltops. It is separated from Crete by a lagoon and the beaches are some of the best anywhere in Greece. When you’re not reminding me to smile, I’m sure you’ll enjoy exploring.’

‘And he owns this island? So tourists can’t visit.’

‘That’s right. It belongs to my family.’

Lily looked at him doubtfully. ‘How many guests will there be?’

‘Does it matter?’

‘I wondered, that’s all.’ She wanted to ask where they’d be sleeping but decided that if his father could afford a private island then presumably there wasn’t a shortage of beds. ‘I need to go shopping.’

‘Given that you are doing me a favour, I insist you allow me to take care of that side of things.’

‘No. Apart from last night, which wasn’t real, I buy my own clothes. But thanks.’

‘Last night didn’t feel real?’ He gave her a long, penetrating look and she felt heat rush into her cheeks as she remembered all the very real things he’d done to her and she’d done to him.

‘I mean it wasn’t really my life. More like a dreamy moment you know is never going to happen again.’ Realising it was long past time she kept her mouth shut, she gave a weak smile. ‘I’ll buy or borrow clothes, don’t worry. I’m good at putting together a wardrobe. Colours are my thing. The secret is to accessorise. I won’t embarrass you even if we’re surrounded by people dressed head to toe in Prada.’

‘That possibility didn’t enter my head. My concern was purely about the pressure on your budget.’