Page 12 of A Grecian Getaway

“We need to get back to the hotel and get you ready.” Claire grabbed her bag.

“You are going to be so hot, he won’t be able to take his eyes off of you,” Caroline said with a grin.

“Yes, we will find you the perfect outfit. No shorts and t-shirt for you tonight,” teased Claire.

Back at the hotel, they all crowded around the bed, where they had laid out an assortment of their outfits.

“Here, wear this one. It will be perfect!!” Caroline said as she held up her own lilac dress to show Noelle.

The dress was strapless and was more fitted than the flowy sundresses she’d worn the last couple of days. Pulling it up around her body, Noelle shrugged. It hugged all of her curves. She tugged and squirmed in the dress. Since it was one of Caroline’s, it wasn’t as short on her, but she was curvier than Caroline, so it showed off her figure a lot more.

“I don’t know. This is a bit much for me, don’t you think?” asked Noelle. But the girls gushed over her.

“You look amazing!” said Caroline.

“Don’t be so shy. You’re gorgeous!” Claire reassured her. Claire helped her style her hair with loose waves. “Have fun and stop worrying! We won’t be far. The restaurant is nearby, right?”

Noelle nodded.

“If he tries to get handsy, text us. I’ll take care of him. And you’ll be in public. Just stay that way. Unless you decide you want to get a tiny bit freaky,” Caroline laughed and winked at her friend.

Claire and Caroline walked with Noelle until they parted ways at the end of their street. Her friends were going dancing at a club in the opposite direction. Noelle continued the short remaining walk to the restaurant Demetri described. It was a lovely place with a stone patio that had lights strung around the perimeter, with candles set atop each table. She noticed him from a distance, and her breath hitched. He looked good enough to eat!

Chapter 9

CONVERSATION AND KAKA ~Demetri~

Demetri watched as Noelle walked down the rocky street towards the restaurant. She looked more beautiful and sexier every time he saw her. Her dress looked as if it was made for her perfect little body, hugging every curve in the most delicious way.What am I doing? This was a bad idea.Why had he invited her to dinner? A few men looked her way and followed her with their eyes. A sharp twinge of jealousy that he had no right to feel struck him.

Noelle walked up to his table and he stood up to greet her. “Hello, Demetri.” Her eyes perused him from head to toe, starting with his caramel colored linen pants, moving up to his white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He saw the satisfaction in her smile when she admired his muscular arms. When her eyes landed on his, he felt a strong something inside his body. What it was, he couldn’t decide. Demetri raked his hand through his hair, sweeping aside the strands that had fallen over his eyes.

“Yassas.” He kissed each of her cheeks. The taste of her skin on his lips in that passing moment and her peachy scent stirred whatever it was inside of him even more to the surface. He pushed in her chair and took a seat across from her.

“That’s a lovely dress on you, Noelle,” he said and then winked. “You have had quite a few pairs of eyes on you already.” Noelle glanced around, fidgeted,and tugged at the top of her dress. A twinge of guilt pinched his conscience. He knew she didn’t like attention, but she needed to know about all of him. He said and did what he wanted. And she was a beautiful woman. She should feel confidence in herself.

Noelle said nothing at first. She shifted nervously in her seat before she sat up taller. “I doubt this dress would garner looks in a place that has nude beaches everywhere.”

Demetri smiled and laughed at her reply. “It is not the dress they are admiring but the beautiful woman wearing the dress.”Obviously, this woman does not know how sexy she is.

They sat looking at each other over the candlelight. The waiter broke their trance when he greeted them and spoke with Demetri in Greek.

“Is there any type of food you dislike?” asked Demetri.

“I am pretty open to anything, so please order whatever you think is good.” Once the waiter stepped away from their table, there was silence. Noelle was looking out at the sea. Demetri stared at her and was awestruck. Once again, he acted like a schoolboy around this woman. He could have any woman he wanted. And yet, this woman was all he could think about.

Demetri motioned to the wine bottle and glasses. “I hope you don’t mind. I ordered us some wine.”

“Thank you.” Noelle took a sip of wine.

He leaned back in his chair. “So, Noelle, you mentioned you graduated from a university and have sent out resumes. You want to move somewhere warm?”

“Yes. I’ve sent resumes out where I live in Illinois and also in Florida. I’ve always wanted to live in Florida. I’m really close to my family, so I think it would be hard to move. But I want to have an adventure. I love the ocean and the beach. And, of course, looking for seashells.”

They shared a few stories about their childhoods. He listened as she told him about the dog her brother got her for one of her birthdays. She shared a picture. “Niko didn’t even ask our parents if he could get her for me. Someone was giving her away, and he surprised us all on my birthday. Our parents and my friends love her as much as I do. She’s pretty old but still lives with my mom and dadsince I’ve been away at college. Many people think Scruffy is ugly.” She shrugged her shoulders. “She has crazy hair like me, but I think she’s adorable.”

“I think your hair is very beautiful,” he paused. “You are very beautiful.” He loved the wildness of her hair. He imagined her hair was a clue to a wild side she kept hidden, a wild side he very much wanted to be a part of even though he knew he shouldn’t.

“You are close with your family and friends?”

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