Page 40 of Greek Island Fling to Forever

‘Maybe not entirely but... I don’t want to define our relationship any more, Ben. You were there for me when I needed you, and I’m really grateful for that. But...’ She shrugged, not entirely sure how to explain this to him.

‘I get it. We both made very firm limits for ourselves, and I couldn’t have stayed with you all night without them. But they feel like restrictions on our friendship now.’

That was exactly how Arianna felt. Being able to hold him at night, but not able to do so for anything other than comfort. Being able to touch him, but not in the way that she wanted. The glimmer in his eyes now was telling her that it wasn’t in the way he wanted either.

‘Let’s start again, Ben. I’d rather go back to the beginning and have a friendship with you that can just go wherever it goes. One where we don’t feel we’re rescuing each other from anything.’

He chuckled. ‘Anything apart from each other, you mean.’

They were still there. Her doubts and his, about whether they’d ever be able to be more than just friends. Neither of them were ready for that yet, but at least it was something that was possible now.

Arianna turned to get into her car but he stopped her, laying his fingers gently on her arm.

‘Would it be too soon...?’

‘No. It wouldn’t.’ Not a moment too soon. Arianna stood on her toes, planting a kiss on his lips and then drawing back again.

Just a few seconds. That somehow made it even more intense. When he brushed a kiss against her cheek it felt as if the world was slowly exploding, shockwaves almost bringing her to her knees. There was something to be said for restraint, even if it was hard.

‘Goodnight. Sleep well.’ His eyes were luminous in the half light.

‘You too, Ben. Shall I call you when I get home?’

‘Yeah, I’d like that. Just to let me know that you’re okay. And if you need me...’

‘I know. You’re only a call away.’ She wasn’t going to need him tonight. Because need precluded this delicious wanting, and that was more important to her than anything.

‘Quick. Go.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Before I decide that I’m not done rushing things.’

She got into her car, reversing out of the parking space. Trying to watch Ben and drive at the same time wasn’t going to work, and so she dragged her gaze back onto the road in front of her. But when she glanced in her rear-view mirror he was still standi

ng there, watching her go.

* * *

They’d talked on the phone for an hour before Arianna had gone to sleep. Ben had been there for her when she’d needed him, and now missing him at night had become a matter of quite a different kind of longing. Arianna was determined that if he did end up in her bed again, it wouldn’t be out of pity or concern.

‘What do you reckon?’ She was walking through the reception area of the hotel with Ben, after they’d visited Eloise for the second time together.

‘She’s not well, but there’s nothing to worry about. She should be ready to travel in a little over a week, and Jem and Kriss can take her home.’

‘Yes. I think so too.’ Arianna looked up at Ben. ‘Why are we not happy about that?’

‘Because Eloise isn’t the one who needs real help.’

‘Yes. I don’t see what more we can do for Jem, though.’ He had seemed calmer and quieter today, and had been positively friendly towards Arianna. But she still had the feeling that nothing had changed with him, and he might explode into another show of anger if he felt his wife and daughter were threatened again.

‘Neither do I. Kriss has given me her mobile number and I’ll give her a call when I get back to London and see how they’re doing.’

‘That’s nice of you. At least I don’t feel as if I’m sending them off into a void.’ She sighed. Eloise was very well cared for and there really was nothing more that they could do. ‘So what are you up to now?’

‘Jonas has discovered the ball pit in the hotel basement. He’s completely lost interest in fishing now, and he wants me to build him one when we get home. I’m going to see if I can wrangle him out of there to have some lunch. You?’

‘I’m going for a bite to eat, and then picking up some trees. We’re going to plant them in the courtyard at the front of the health centre, and the land at the back as well. I’ve raised the money for it all, and people from the village are coming to help.’

Ben gave her a quizzical look. ‘Let me get this right. Your father built and equipped one of the best health centres I’ve seen anywhere, and you’re spending time raising money for a few trees?’

‘It does look like a bit of an oversight, doesn’t it? But you raise the money, and then go and plant the tree yourself, and it gives you ownership of a place.’

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