Hidden Truths (Truths and Lies 1)

When I catch Aris eyeing my body, my neck and chest both heat up. The bikinis were all super skimpy, and even though I picked the one with the most material, it still shows off all of my assets.

After taking a sip of my lemonade, I glance around the area. The last time I was here I was upset and didn’t really pay close attention. On one side of the pool is the tiki hut and bar. On the other side, though, is a massive rock waterfall with something running through the middle of it. “Is that a waterslide?” I ask Aris, who laughs.

“Yep, you want to go?”

I haven’t been to a waterpark since I was a child. My mom and Stefano brought me, and we had a blast. “Sure!”

Aris laughs some more. “C’mon, agipénos.”

I can’t help my grin at his new nickname for me. Sweetheart. It’s not so different from what Kostas calls me, but when Aris says it, it feels sincere, sweet, genuine. He’s not trying to taunt me with his words, or scare me with his actions.

We race up the rock steps to the top of the waterfall. I didn’t realize just how tall it was, until we’re standing at the top where the entrance to the slide is. My step falters slightly, and Aris chuckles. “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

“No,” I sass. “But…you go first.”

Aris throws his head back in laughter, and I find myself smiling hard. It feels good to smile. “Okay, fine,” he says. He drops onto the beginning of the slide. “Come here real quick. I want to show you something.”

Stepping toward him, I lean down to see inside the tunnel, but it’s too dark. Before I can tell him that, he grabs my hips and throws me onto his lap. “Hold on!” he yells as we descend down the dark tube of flowing water. I scream and squeal the entire way down, and Aris laughs, holding on to me tightly.

When we reach the bottom of the slide, we fall a foot or so into the water. Our bodies splash and sink, but Aris never lets go of me. We both ascend at the same time, and my laughter can’t be stopped. “You’re such an ass!” My hair is a mess, all over my face, and I’m sure my makeup is running. I probably look like a drowned rat, but I don’t care.

“You liked it,” he says with a flirty grin. “You should see our other hotel on the other side of the island. It has an entire water park.” Aris runs his fingers through his wet hair.

I don’t mean to, but my eyes linger on his face. On his brown eyes, that are darker than Kostas’s, yet seem so much lighter. The water drips down, and his tongue darts out to lick the liquid that’s landed above his lip. His sweet lips that curl into a playful smile.

My heart pounds against my ribcage, and I have to force myself to look away. I can’t be crushing on Aris. He’s Kostas’s brother. He’s going to be the best man at our wedding in five days. I’ve seen what Kostas has done to a man who wasn’t loyal to his family. What would he do to me if he even thought I had feelings for Aris?

“I need to go,” I blurt out, and without waiting for a response from Aris, I swim over to the stairs and get out. I grab a towel and wrap it around myself. When I turn around, I find Aris standing in front of me.

“Did I do something?” he asks, his brows furrowing in confusion.

“No.” I shake my head to emphasize my answer. “I just…I should probably get home.”

“Okay.” He nods in understanding, only he doesn’t really understand. “Just let me grab my stuff and I’ll walk you back.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” The last thing I need is Kostas to spot the two of us together. Something I probably should’ve thought about before I agreed to go swimming with Aris.

“It’s no problem.” Aris shrugs. “My villa is right next door.” He winks, and I flinch. He’s not implying what I think he is, right? He’s just being his usual playful self. He doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s all in my head.

We grab our stuff, and I throw my cover-up over my still wet bikini. We walk in silence until we reach the door to my villa.

“I’m assuming my brother told you the code,” Aris jokes.

“Yeah.” I type it in, then turn around. “Thank you for…” I wave my hand toward where we came from. “I had a good time.”

“You’re welcome,” Aris says back. He steps forward and into my space. Several long seconds pass as we stare at one another, neither of us saying a word. My breathing becomes labored. Heat radiates from him, nearly luring me closer. If it weren’t for the chill of worry creeping over me that my fiancé might show up, I might just chase that warmth. But just as quickly as it came, the heat disappears as Aris takes a step back. “Anything you need…I’m here,” he says before he turns and walks away.