Page 15 of Possessive Greek Chef

“Yes, of course, I’d be honored to meet them. I’m sure I’ll love them, too.”

“Good. Thirty minutes,” I tell her and end the call.

Molyvos is on the island of Lesvos so the trip will take the better part of the day by car and ferry, but the view is amazing and I can’t wait for Aria to experience it for the first time. When she told me that she hasn’t left Athens since arriving in Greece, I knew I had to show her what she’s been missing.

* * *

Aria is waiting outsideon the stoop when I arrive to pick her up. She stands and picks up her bag when I pull up to the curb. Getting out of the car, I embrace her and take her backpack from her arm.

“Are you ever going to let me come inside?”

“It’s so small you might not fit,” she teases.

“Still, when we get back, I’m coming in. I need to make sure you’re secure in there. I can’t sit up all night worrying that your window latches might not work.”

“My windows lock just fine, but thank you for worrying about me.”

“As I said, I’m going to check for my peace of mind. Clear? You’re not hiding a boyfriend in there, are you?”

“Yes, sir. I mean no, I’m not hiding a boyfriend and yes, it’s clear,” she grins, “I’m excited about meeting your family and seeing where you’re from.”

I wrap my arm around her and tell her, “This is more about the journey than the destination. You’re about to see more of Greece than you could ever imagine.”

She hugs me and says, “If my boss doesn’t mind me taking the time off, I’m game.”

We drive toward the airport and take our first ferry, the Laviro-Psara.

“Have you been on a ferry before?” I ask Aria.

“Just the Staten Island Ferry in New York. That was a short ride. Since coming to Greece, I haven’t left Athens.”

The car is loaded onto the ferry and we make our way to the upper deck. It’s a clear day with a gentle breeze perfect for sightseeing. Aria’s face lights up as she sees the mountains in the distance.

“I had no idea any of this existed,” she breathes.

“One day we’ll take a vacation together and visit all of the islands,” I assure her.

After a two-hour jaunt, we switch ferries and take the second to Limenas where we’ll begin driving again.

“Limenas is also called Thassos Town. The Gate of Zeus and Hera is located there. If you’d like, we can get lunch there and have a look around.”

Aria squeezes my arm and beams, “That sounds amazing.”

It’s strange but seeing her excitement makes me feel like a conquering warrior. She’s so appreciative and easy to please that I find myself wanting to please her even more.

The ferry docks in Limenas, and I drive to the Acropolis of Thassos where Aria snaps what seems like a thousand pictures on her phone. We visit the Ancient Agora and the Gate then drive the coast to Perkospilla Beach where we’ll eat at one of the best restaurants on the island.

“How do you like the trip so far?”

“It’s incredible. It’s like stepping back in time and looking at this beach! The water is so blue. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Lunch is served beachside, and I gaze at Aria as she stares out at the water. The sun dances and shimmers in her crystal blue eyes and bathes her smooth skin in an amber glow. She’s simply amazing to me, and I can’t believe that she’s mine. I reach over to squeeze her thigh and she places her hand on top of mine.

“Thank you, Atticus. For the first time, I feel like I’m experiencing this country.”

“Anything for you, princess. I mean it.”

Fed and rested, we begin the drive to the third and final ferry.

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