Page 47 of Greek Island Fling to Forever

‘There was one.’

‘It was only superficial, though. You said so yourself.’

She threw the wipe into the bin, collecting a new one to clean his other hand. ‘What’s going on with you?’

‘I just need to see Jonas.’

Of course he did. He hadn’t once said that he needed to see her, though, even though Arianna was struggling not to think that way. Of course she came second to his child; she’d never respect a man who thought differently. Being somewhere on the list would be nice, though.

‘He needs to see you too. But not with blood all over you and not with that look in your eyes either. What’s the matter, Ben?’

He shook his head, as if maybe that might knock his thoughts into some order. ‘I’ve been thinking about what would have happened if I’d been more badly hurt. If I couldn’t get back to Jonas...’

Arianna puffed out a breath. Not being there for the people he loved was a dilemma for Ben and probably always would be. ‘You are who you are, Ben. Who you are is important for Jonas too.’

It was important to Ben. The man who believed he could no longer make a difference, and who’d made the biggest difference of all to Jem. Without Ben’s intervention, the situation would have gone bad very quickly.

‘Yeah.’ He straightened his back, as if trying to settle a weight on his shoulders. ‘It was easier when I jumped into the water after you. A lot less complicated.’

‘Maybe you just thought it was. A lot of things seem less complicated when you’re twelve.’

‘True. Another fifteen years and perhaps I won’t be worrying about Jonas so much.’

‘I wouldn’t count on it. I’ve heard reports to the contrary.’ Arianna had finished cleaning his other hand, and she threw the wipe into the bin.

‘Do you know what’s going to happen to Jem?’

‘Yes, I heard the police say that they’ll be taking him to Athens initial

ly, for a psychiatric evaluation. He’ll be in a secure facility, but he’ll be well looked after; I know the place. He will be charged, I don’t see any alternative, but he’ll have a fair hearing.’

Ben shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t like to be the one to make a decision about that. What Jem did was entirely wrong, but I can still see how it all happened.’

‘So can I. But we’re doctors and our job isn’t to make judgements; it’s to do our best for people, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done.’ She smiled at Ben. ‘So I think we’re off the hook with that, at least.’

He smiled, coiling his fingers around hers. ‘What would I do without you to dispense stitches and good advice?’

He should go and see Jonas now. Maybe the gentle walk to Andreas and Eleni’s house would finish the job of restoring his spirits. But Ben didn’t seem inclined to move just yet and suddenly he reached out, wrapping his arms around her.

‘Careful...’

‘It’s okay. I just need to hold you.’ He hugged her tight, and Arianna rested her head against his shoulder.

‘When Jem tried to get out of the bar, all I could think was that you were out there. I had to stop him from getting anywhere near you, Arianna.’

Maybe that was what any woman would want to hear. That a man’s only thought was for her, and that he’d risk serious injury to save her. The way he’d jumped into the water after her had fuelled her fascination with Ben all these years.

But things weren’t that simple now. He had Jonas to think about, and it was impossible that Ben didn’t see the conflict. The things she loved most about him, his honourable nature and his bravery, might just be the things that tore them apart.

Now, in his arms, those thoughts were easy to ignore. She looked up at him, and all the warmth that had been missing from his eyes was there once more. When she kissed him, all of the yearning she felt was in his response.

‘You know you’ll always be my hero, don’t you?’

* * *

Ben ached a little, but that was largely across his shoulders, from the tension of trying to talk Jem down. Even after the anaesthetic wore off his side didn’t hurt too much, and if he took it easy for a couple of days he’d be as good as new.

He decided to tell Jonas what had happened, carefully leaving out all of the what-ifs and might-have-beens. Arianna had told Jonas that his dad had been very brave, and that the injury was just a scratch. She’d put a very large dressing on it, just to make it look a little more serious than it was.

---