Page 21 of Greek Island Fling to Forever

‘Hey...sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.’ Ben pulled back, taking Jonas with him. The boy was staring at her, tilting his head to one side in curiosity.

‘Hi, Jonas... Ben...’ Arianna rubbed her eyes. ‘Sorry, is it ten o’ clock already...?’

‘Just gone. We paced up and down outside your front door a bit before we decided to come around to the back to see if we could find you.’

Arianna chuckled. ‘Don’t bother about the pacing. Turning up at my back door and giving me a shake is just fine.’ Although Ben’s gentle touch had been fine too. A lot better than fine, and Arianna hoped that her half-awake face hadn’t betrayed her pleasure.

‘Did you sleep last night?’

The opportunity to say that she’d had eight solid hours and that she was feeling entirely rejuvenated and ready to start the day was gone. ‘I went to bed straight after you left. Slept through till about three.’

He nodded. ‘That’s something. You want coffee?’

‘Yes. Please.’ Arianna remembered that the oversized T-shirt she was wearing didn’t cover her legs, and wrapped the quilt around her body, getting to her feet. ‘I’ll be back in a moment.’

‘Take your time.’ Jonas seemed about to follow Arianna indoors, and Ben caught his hand firmly. ‘Come and help me, Jonas.’

Clearly coffee-making wasn’t as interesting to Jonas as following Arianna into her bedroom, but Jonas reluctantly went with his father. Ben didn’t look back, and Arianna decided not to either.

When she arrived back on the veranda she felt a little more awake and rather more embarrassed about being caught napping. Ben said nothing, though, putting two cups of freshly brewed coffee down on the table, along with a jug of iced lemonade and some glasses. Jonas had been sitting on the steps, which led down from the veranda and onto the beach, but when he saw her he jumped up and flung his arms around her waist.

‘Are you ill?’ He looked up at her and Arianna smiled.

‘No, sweetie, I’m not ill. Just a bit tired. Your dad’s made me coffee and that’ll wake me up.’

Jonas frowned. ‘Dad says that I have to get a good night’s sleep. I’m not allowed coffee.’

Ben flashed her a get-out-of-that-one smile and sat down at the table.

‘Dad’s right. We’ll both make sure we do that, shall we?’

Jonas nodded, seemingly happy with the answer. Arianna sat down opposite Ben, picking up the small coffee cup and draining half of it in one swallow.

‘Glad I’m allowed coffee.’ She leaned forward, murmuring quietly, and Ben chuckled.

‘You’re not off the hook, though. Sleep’s better.’

‘Yes, Dad,’ Arianna teased him, and he shrugged, pulling a resigned face. ‘How’s the hotel?’

‘It’s great. Lizzie loves it and she asked me to thank you for the fruit basket.’

Arianna nodded. ‘My pleasure. So what would you like to do today? We have a whole island, and I’ll be your tour guide.’

* * *

Ben had been just about to gently put his real purpose here today to Arianna. Maybe casually and a little obliquely, a friendly reminder that a relaxing day might help her deal with her nightmares. Jonas put a spoke in the wheel of his plans.

‘Dad says that we’re going to look after you.’ He frowned, obviously trying to reconcile an inconsistency. ‘Even if you aren’t ill.’

Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Really?’

In for a penny, in for a pound. Now that Jonas had introduced this new approach, he had little choice but to go with it.

‘Yes, really. You’re tired and your nightmares are beginning to take over. You need to do something Arianna; they won’t go away all on their own.’

‘Yes!’ Jonas chimed in. ‘I don’t like nightmares. Dad has to grab the monsters and throw them out of the window.’ He illustrated his point by acting out the grabbing of a monster and its disposal out of an imaginary window.

‘You can do that?’ She looked up at Ben, her gaze softening suddenly.

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