Page 41 of Love Among the Ruins
She placed a soothing hand on his arm. “Smile, you’re in danger of enjoying yourself.”
“What is with these people?”
“People?” Helen lifted an eyebrow. “My people, you mean? Or people in general?”
He huffed. “That’s not what I meant.” He wasn’t dissing the entire Greek population. But these men seemed to have a penchant for wanting to do business anywherebutaround a table.
The elevator opened to reveal a large and busy dining area at one end, and below it he could see the dancefloor.
Not this, please.
They wouldn’t hear one another over this racket. His gaze trailed up at the cages suspended in the air. People were inside them.
Dancing people.
He stopped. Stared. Then stared some more.
Was that Eleni?
Dressed in a short black dress, with earrings so large he could see them from where he stood, someone who looked very much like his newest hire was dancing like a wild shaman. He blinked, craning his neck to see if it really was her. A curtain of dark hair tumbled over her shoulders as she moved to the music.
Helen tugged at his hand. “Come on, we don’t want to keep them waiting.”
He complied but couldn’t help looking back one more time.
Itwasher.
* * *
ELENI
From inside her capsule, Eleni waved at Stefanos who had gone upstairs to their table again and was leaning over the balustrade looking down at the dance floor.
Looking for her no doubt.
She shouted his name, but with all the noise, he couldn’t hear her. Fanning her face, feeling hot, she stopped dancing when the current track finished and got out. There was a bar area outside with tables. That’s where she needed to be.
Outside the music could still be heard but it was dulled and not invasive. The fresh air soothed her. The night was hot and dry, and she eyed a group of people vacating one of the tables by the pool. She immediately rushed towards it and collapsed on a seat, desperate to catch her breath. She was hot and sticky, and her dress clung to her like a damp second skin.
Yuk.
But as she sat and people watched, the world around her started to spin. She lowered her head, wanting it to stop.
How many cocktails had they had? Her fuzzy brain couldn’t work out how many.
“Eleni?”
She looked up to find Dominic standing in front of her.
Dominic, here?
Their gazes collided and locked, like laser missiles finding their target.
Her heart seemed to be in its own little dancing cage, moving erratically to the music and the sudden appearance of Dominic. She shook her head, believing that she was seeing things. He took a step towards her, lines criss crossing across his forehead.
A black shirt fit over him like a second skin, and black pants she was sure hugged his hard-as-steel butt. Pity he didn’t have his back to her. He looked sexy as hell.
She smiled. He was here.For her.He’d come to help her celebrate. She got up, felt dizzy then flopped back down again.
