Page 15 of All You Need is Greece

He walks towards me, looking smart and sexy, dressed in dark jeans and a patterned, fitted shirt that shows off his toned physique.

‘Where did you have in mind?’ I’m trying to play it cool, but there is no doubt that Artemis looks seriously hot this evening.

‘A little restaurant I know, on a beach.’ As he walks closer, I notice that he smells wonderful too. ‘That is, if you haven’t already eaten? If so, maybe a drink?’

‘Actually, no I haven’t eaten.’

I must admit, I decided not to eat, in case Artemis had a restaurant in mind.

‘So would you like to join me? The food is very good.’

He holds my gaze with his large, dark-brown eyes.

‘Okay sure, why not,’ I find myself saying, before stopping myself from adding, ‘How could I resist?’

I nip inside and tell Judith I will be dining out with a friend I met at the bar. She tells me to be careful and asks if I am sure I know what I am doing, going off with someone I barely know.

Maybe she has a point. I don’t really know this guy, but I figure as his mother lives around here he isn’t likely to try anything untoward.

‘Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure he can be trusted,’ I tell her as I grab my bag. ‘He said his mother lives in the village.’

‘Oh, right.’ Judith looks a little puzzled, but tells me to have a nice evening all the same.

‘You look good,’ Artemis comments on my cotton dress, as I climb into the passenger seat. ‘Black looks great against your wonderful hair colour.’

‘Thank you. And you look good too, I like your shirt,’ I say, feeling flattered by his remark.

I wonder whether his wife chose it for him, but decide not to ask.

We drive for around fifteen minutes, before pulling into a quiet beach as the light is beginning to fade. Stepping out of the car, I notice a string of bulb lights stretched across the entrance to a beach bar gives it a romantic feel. Several tables sit outside on a wooden decking area, overlooking the sea and the gently rolling waves.

‘This is nice,’ I say when we arrive at the restaurant and are quickly shown to a table by a young waitress. Looking around, I spot a couple walking hand in hand further along the beach.

‘I like it here,’ he says, ordering some drinks from the waitress, who hands us a menu. I wonder whether this is where he brings all of his dates and half imagine the staff in the kitchen gossiping about his latest squeeze.

‘Do you come here often?’ I ask, and he smiles. Gosh, that’s a damn perfect smile.

‘Not at all,’ he says, just as the waitress arrives with our drinks. ‘I have been here with my wife, but not for a long time. Even then it was only occasionally.’

‘How long have you been on your own?’ I ask, and he takes a few seconds to answer.

‘I will be honest with you, not long.’ He takes a sip of his beer. ‘But things haven’t been right for a while. As I said, she prefers the company of her friends these days. Things can change between people over time.’

He manages a bright smile. ‘How about you? I take it you are single too?’

I’ve just quizzed him about his personal life, yet I don’t feel like discussing my own situation right now. Maybe it’s best to stay away from the subject of relationships and just enjoy the evening.

‘Single, yes,’ I say, perusing the menu. ‘Shall we order?’

Maybe this evening should be all about relaxing and having a pleasant evening, not discussing our love lives. I came here to get away from thinking about that, after all. Marco and I are over and I don’t see how we can ever reach a compromise.

‘Of course,’ he says, snapping the menu shut and not asking me any more questions, probably feeling relieved that I am not doing the same.

When the waitress returns, he orders our food in Greek. Then I watch his gaze follow the pretty young waitress as she returns to the kitchen with the order.

‘You really do have beautiful hair,’ he says, lifting a strand and letting it run through his fingers, and I wonder how many women have fallen under his spell. He does seem rather taken with my hair, but maybe he doesn’t come across too many redheads in Greece.

‘Thanks. I have my mother to thank for it,’ I tell him.

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