Page 22 of Arrogant Arrival

Dear Journal,

I’m spending nine days in Greece with none other than the lying asshole pilot whom I stupidly get butterflies every time I look at his arrogant face. Jim’s mother Martha made it clear we’d sleep in separate beds, in separate rooms, since we’re not married. Which was more than fine with me. It was the appropriate thing to do while in the same house with his mom and grandmother. However, if his Ma only knew what her precious golden boy had been doing with me two months ago in a bed…

I wake up to find my journal still open on my bed. I must’ve fallen asleep while writing. Turns out, all of us pretty much slept in to recover from the jet lag, and after eating a delicious meal of eggs, dry toast, and the strongest coffee ever, we are ready to go out and explore. It’s almost noon, and I’m excited to walk down to the beach that I saw yesterday from the balcony. I knew my two-piece was a mistake when I walked by his grandmother and she made a cross again. Praying for my soul, as well as her grandson’s, apparently. She kept using the wordkoloas she hissed to Jim’s mother. I have to remember to ask him what that means when we are alone.

I slip off my flipflops and toss my towel onto a beach chair. As I’m applying sunscreen, I look over to Jim who is holding his towel in front of his swim trunks. “What are you doing?”

“My Ma is on the balcony watching. I’m trying to calm myself down before I lay my towel down.”

I look over to the balcony and then back to him. “W-o-w. You honestly think anyone will be able to see your erection from that far away? Please, I’m standing right here and it’s not really thatnoticeable.”

Jim chuckles and steps closer to me. “Sweetheart, I was worried about poking your eye out. I’ve calmed down now.”

“Well, sorry I was the reason for your discomfort to start with. I guess I underestimated how you’d react seeing me in a swimsuit.”

I watch as Jim removes his shirt, revealing his bronze skin and toned abs. I’d bite my tongue off before I’d admit how hot he looks right now. I quickly avert my eyes, but it’s obvious the bastard caught me. “Feast your eyes. It’s okay. And how do you know it wasyouwho got me in this predicament? Thinking mighty highly of yourself.”

I arch a brow and turn my back to him. I add a little sway to my hips as I make my way to the water and smile to myself when I hear him groan.That’s how I know.

When Jim and I are out in the water and away from everyone, I ask, “What doeskolomean?”

Jim coughs and bursts out laughing. “It means butt. Where did you hear that?”

“Your yia-yia! She kept staring at me and saying it.”

“Well, you do have a nicekolo.” I hate the way my stomach flips when he says it with his Greek accent.

“I don’t think she approves of my swimsuit.”

He swims closer to me. “I think every man here, though, most assuredly approves of it. I’ll admit that I do.”

“Stop it. You know what I mean. I don’t think she approves of me either. They are probably now gathering Greek women by the droves, and will have them waiting in the wings like a prison lineup. You might be wasting your time by having me here as yourpretendgirlfriend.”

Jim swims closer toward me and begins to circle me like a shark. “Babe, there’s worse ways to spend my time. Swimming in the Mediterranean with a gorgeous woman who has the most phenomenal kolo is not considered wasting anything.” I laugh and splash water at him. “What?” He laughs.

I swim away and Jim swims after me. We splash and swim around each other. The sun is shining with a clear sky above us and the water is so clear I can easily see our feet and the stones and shells below. This really is paradise. I can’t help but echo his comment as I think that there’s worse ways I could spend my time than splashing around with a gorgeous man in one of the world’s most gorgeous destinations.

I need to quell those thoughts, though. This is for a couple of days…nothing more, nothing less. He still lied. He’s still a pilot. The fact that he lied and isusingme this trip adds more weight to my theory about avoiding pilots.

Slowly, the rest of the family comes out to join us. Martha is in the most modest black swimsuit that appears to be more of dress. Bianca is in a one piece with a cute sheer wrap as she plays in the sand with Georgina. Dex swims around a bit, but then joins his wife and child on the beach. Even though I’m here on false pretense, it is nice to be with such a large group on vacation.

“Want to swim out to deeper waters? Maybe let me get you even more wet…”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I turn my attention back to Jim. “Jimmy, dearest, didn’t you forget your mommy is watching? I’m a good Greek girl, remember?”

I laugh to myself as I swim away and hear him grumble in Greek.

When the sun begins to set, we head back to the house. There’s only one bathroom for all four of us, so I allow Martha to go shower first. Yia-Yia didn’t swim today and doesn’t need to shower, so I head to the shower when Martha is finished. The water comes outicecold. Instead of him being concerned with my scream of complete shock, I can hear Jimmy laughing outside the door.

“Most of the homes run off solar panels. There’s probably no more hot water.”

I shut off the water and step out of the shower. I can wait until tomorrow when the sun is shining again to take a shower.

The next morning, I go to take my shower. The water pressure isn’t strong, but at least it’s nice and hot, so I’m not complaining. I lather shampoo into my hair and scrub the salt from the sea out of my scalp. I lose my balance for a moment when I feel the ground shake. What the hell was that? I hurry and try to rinse the shampoo from my face.

Bang! Bang! A fist pounds on the door so I turn off the water so I can hear. “Jolene, come on! Get out! We’ve got to hurry outside! Earthquake!”

Did Jim just say…earthquake?

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