Page 32 of Forgotten Greek Proposal
Lucie looked up. The natural trail Thanasis was going to lead her on to the top of the mountain didn’t look too difficult to manage, at least not yet. The high trees surrounding them looked as if they would provide welcome shade from a sun still blazing its rays on the island. If they kept a steady pace, they’d reach the summit within the hour.
Feeling more able to breathe properly now she wasn’t trapped on the buggy with his giant body so close to hers and his body language telling her loud and clear not to even think of breaching the tiny distance between them, she looked back at him and nodded.
‘Then let’s go. Stay close.’
She snorted. ‘That’s the last thing you want me to do.’
He fixed her with a stare. ‘No, the last thing I want you to do is fall and hurt yourself. Or get bitten by a snake.’
‘There’s snakes?’
‘If snakes frighten you, tell me now and we will go back to the villa.’
The last of the tight angst she’d been carrying inside her melted away. She grinned. ‘You’re not getting out of this that easily. I’m not scared of snakes, I was just surprised when you mentioned them. I’ve never seen a snake in all my years visiting Greece.’
‘Snakes tend to avoid Athens and I can’t see them sneaking onto your stepfather’s yacht,’ he commented drily. ‘Here, in the mountains, it is different. Tread carefully, especially in non-shaded areas—they like to sunbathe.’
‘Lazy so-and-sos.’
To her delight and relief, Thanasis’s tight features relaxed into amusement and with a spring of happiness in her step, she set off beside him.
‘Do you do much hiking?’ she asked as they started up a shaded, gentle incline.
‘I used to. Not so much now.’
‘What kind of answer is that?’
He cast her with a swift glance. ‘Are we playing your game again?’
‘Too right. So proper answers, thank you.’
‘When I was at university a group of us would go camping at weekends and holidays and find new places to explore.’
‘You, camping?’ Much as she tried, she could not imagine Thanasis squeezed inside a tent.
He laughed. ‘I cannot say I enjoyed that aspect quite so much, but the camaraderie and adventure made it worth it.’
‘And the beer?’ she guessed.
‘That was part of it,’ he agreed. ‘We still try to meet up a few times a year but I’ve not been able to join the others for the last two trips. I missed a week hiking in South California earlier this year.’
‘All the stuff with the business?’
‘Yes. It has taken every minute of my time.’
‘Well, hopefully our marriage will go a long way to putting all your business troubles behind you, and you can start living your life properly again.’
‘That is mine and everyone else’s hope, and when we are all able to start living properly again, Antoniadis and Tsaliki, it will all be thanks to you.’
‘You know me, here to help,’ she jested.
He came to a sudden stop. ‘No,matia mou, do not try to downplay what you are doing. If not for your agreement to marry me, both businesses would be lucky to still be clinging on. Your selflessness has ensured our survival.’
‘Hardly selfless, and you agreed to it too.’
‘I agreed because it was the only hope we had of clawing our way out of the mess. You agreed knowing you would gain nothing from it.’
‘Other than my stepfamily’s survival,’ she pointed out.
