Page 60 of Greek's Temporary Cinderella

It was Leandros.

‘Hello, Eliana.’

Leandros made his voice even, as if turning up on her doorstep was an unexceptional circumstance.

She was staring at him, her hand flying to her throat, shock on her face.

‘May I come in?’ he asked.

Numbly, she stood aside, and he walked in.

In the living room, he nodded politely to Miki’s grandmother.

‘Good evening—I am sorry to disturb you unexpectedly, but I would like to take Eliana out to dinner. I hope that will not inconvenience you?’

His entry had made both Miki and his grandmother look up. An expression of interest formed on Miki’s face. And then recognition.

‘That man,’ he announced, pointing at Leandros.

Leandros smiled at him. ‘Yes, that man who came to the park with you. You went on the slide.’

‘Whee!’ corroborated Miki happily.

Then he went back to watching his cartoon.

His grandmother, Leandros could see, was looking across at Eliana, an uncertain look on her face.

Then: ‘You should go,’ she said. ‘I’ll be fine with Miki.’

Leandros looked at Eliana. She was looking fraught.

‘Please,’ he said to her. ‘I thought we might go back to that place we tried last time—the fish was good.’

She opened her mouth. ‘I... I...’

‘Good,’ he said. ‘That’s settled.’ He smiled. ‘Do you want to get Miki to bed first? I can help if so.’

His smile encompassed Miki and his grandmother as well.

‘I was about to cook dinner,’ Eliana said.

Miki’s grandmother shook her head. ‘I’ll have soup later on. You go. Go on—it will do you good.’

She sounded more encouraging now, though Leandros could see she was uneasy, and wondered why.

‘It will indeed,’ Leandros agreed smilingly.

He looked questioningly at Eliana.

She seemed to hesitate, as if she were trying to come up with another reason not to go with him. Then she simply turned round.

‘I’ll need a jacket,’ she said.

She disappeared—presumably into her bedroom—and emerged a moment later with a short jacket. A cheap one, from a chain store, like the trousers and jumper she was wearing. Her hair was tied in a knot on the back of her head, and she wore no make-up.

Yet she is as beautiful as the moon and the stars...

His expression softened. ‘Right, then, off we go.’

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