Page 66 of Love on the Rocks
“Sea urchin? Intriguing.” I accompanied her to the door, but she splayed her hand across my chest to stop me from following her outside. My heart pounded so hard I was sure she could feel it. “You’re not walking me home this time. It’s daylight and everyone will start gossiping again.”
“Too late for that. Didn’t you see me wave to Stamatis from the boat?”
She groaned. “Small-island gossip. Just what I need.”
“See you later,asteri mou,” I called after her, leaning back in my doorway mesmerized by the graceful slide of her hips as she walked back home.
“Look, Doc’s in love! I told you so, didn’t I?” Dimitris and his friends laughed as they ran by. I tossed the dish towel at them, trying to convince myself that what they said wasn’t a little bit true.
* * *
“It was an excellent dinner, don’t you think, Pano?” Yiannis smiled as he swiped wet plaster on the new ceiling of the hotel.
I tried to ignore the twist of envy in my stomach. When I’d shown up an hour ago, Panos was telling everyone about the dinner party he’d been invited to at Callie’s house two nights ago—the day after our snorkeling session. Yiannis, Giorgos, and Stamatis were there too. And just last night she’d hosted another party for the single girls of the island. I’d been forced to listen to their out of tune rendition of “Barbie Girl” on repeat well past midnight. The annoying lyrics were still playing in my head.
It looked like she intended to invite the entire island to her place. Everyone except me, that is.
“Don’t tell my mother, but I’ve never had such good food. If I could go over there every night with my guitar, I would serenade her while she cooks.” I flung my putty knife on the floor, not missing the look Panos and Yiannis exchanged.
“Yes, we’re lucky that she likes us now.” Yiannis elbowed me in the ribs. “Maybe if I ask her nicely, she might inviteyouto the next party.”
“I have no desire to eat with you lovesick fools,” I mumbled, trying for a tone of indifference but sounding like a kid who hadn’t been invited to his popular classmate’s birthday party.
Anyway, I didn’t want to be invited to a dinner party. I wanted to have her all to myself. It’s all I could think about. I’d hang out on my terrace hoping to catch a glimpse of her, only to be greeted by the sounds of raucous laughter and music at night. So I’d close my doors and windows and try to focus on my translation work.
I don’t know what I was expecting to happen after the morning we’d spent together. I really didn’t have any ulterior motives, despite what she thought. Did I dream about her body and all the things I wanted to do to it? Sure, but I hadn’t taken her out on the boat because I wanted to sleep with her again. Iliked spending time with her, and I’d hoped after spending the morning together that she wouldn’t continue to avoid me. But here we were.
What would Angelos do if he were in my shoes? Probably tie Mia to the headboard with a silk tie and eat her pussy until she relented. I couldn’t even compare my progress to Angelos, or get any tips from him, since Callie had taken the book from me.
I went down to the kafenio to contemplate how I could get my hands on that damn book again when Callie appeared, radiant as ever, like she hadn’t hosted the loudest girls’ night ever.
That wasn’t the first thing that struck me, however. It was what she was wearing.
“You’re wearing jeans,” I said as she came near enough to catch a whiff of her rosemary mint shampoo. “And sneakers.”
“Wow, there you go again, amazing me with your powers of observation.” She pulled at her worn Stevie Nicks concert T-shirt.
“It’s just surprising. You did go hiking in a storm in ballet flats and a flowy dress, you know.”
“I dress to fit my mood. It doesn’t have to make sense to you.” She glanced at her watch.
“Want a coffee?”
“Yes, excellent idea.” I went inside and ordered from Takis.
“Getting along now?” he asked with a wink. I shook my head. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m pretty sure she still hates me.”
I brought the coffee out to the table where she’d planted herself to have a good view of the incoming ferry and sat down. “Thank you.”
“Congratulations, your plan to conquer the island through your food appears to be working,” I told her and she smiled. “Sounded like you were having a good time last night. Did it turn into a slumber party?”
“Believe it or not the girls wanted to sleep in their own beds.” She sipped her coffee and eyed me over the rim of her cup. “They had a lot to say about you.”
“I can’t imagine why. It’s not like I see them much outside of a professional setting.” I shrugged.
“That’s precisely the problem. You’re not friendly enough. Oh!” She jumped up and clapped her hands together as the ferry came around the bend in the cove. She looked like a kid on Christmas morning, and I wondered who the hell was on that ferry.
I didn’t have to wait long to find out. After a few older locals got off, a younger couple emerged, and Callie squealed as she rushed to hug the dark-haired young woman. “Chicken! Oh my God, look at you! There’s really someone in there.”
