Page 24 of A Grecian Getaway

Noelle shook her head. “Oh please, you were moving. I knew you were awake.”

“How do you know I wasn’t having a dream about a sexy Greek man?” Caroline pulled the pillow from her face.

“Because you weren’t moaning and panting and calling out Niko’s name,” Claire laughed and then moaned, “Oh, Niko, yes, yes, yes!”

Noelle gasped. “Oh gross! I didn’t need to hear that.”

Caroline shot up in bed. “What? I could be an expressive lover. The real question is, Claire Bear, how did you know that about me?”

Claire made a puking gesture.

“Okay, ladies, let’s focus. I have a question for you. Demetri is having a party and he invited all of us. I’d like us to go.” Noelle gave her friends a pleading look.

Caroline and Claire looked at each other.

“I told you, we agreed to be just friends. So it will be fine.”

“Caroline, she’s going to beg us until we give in. So is there really a point to us arguing with her? We may as well say yes.” Claire set her book down on her lap.

“She has a point, Caroline. I can be very persuasive when I want to be,” Noelle smiled.

“Persuasive is not the word I was thinking of describing you. More like a pita, PAIN IN THE ASS.” Caroline threw the pillow back to Noelle.

“You both want to go and you know it!” Noelle grinned and typed out a reply to Demetri. “I’m sure there will be lots of hot Greek men!”

Noelle: We would love to come to your party. Thanks for the invite. See you later, friend!

***

Later on that evening, after a day of shopping and touring a pistachio farm, the girls caught a taxi to the address Demetri had texted.

Claire blew out a long breath. “Always so happy to arrive in one piece! I don’t think I will ever get used to the driving here,” Claire whispered as the taxi drove away.

“Wow! Is that his boat? It looks awesome!” Caroline pointed to the one with a bunch of people dancing on the deck. There was a small bar setup where a bartender was making drinks. String lights twinkled all around as a DJ blasted music filling up the entire area.

“Seems to be the one, according to the taxi driver.” Noelle looked around at the crowd of people. “He really went all out, huh?”

“Come on, this looks like a good time. Sure as hell beats the pistachio farm.” Caroline put her arm around Noelle’s shoulders and they walked to the entrance.

As they came up to the boat, a man who spoke English greeted them and asked for their names. He checked them off of the list and welcomed them aboard. The girls grabbed a drink to start off their evening.

About an hour into the event, Noelle still hadn’t seen Demetri.Where is he? I can’t believe we’ve been here this long, and he hasn’t come up to see me yet. Us. He hasn’t come up to see us, his American friends.

As if reading her mind, Claire asked, “Noelle, where is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?”

“I don’t know. I thought we would’ve seen him by now. But I guess we’re just friends and he has a whole boat full of friends to mingle with.”It’s no big deal, right? There are many people here he has to see. He can’t spend all of his time with me. Though, a greeting would have been nice.

Yannis came up to them a few minutes later. “Yassas, kouklas.”

They all chatted and danced, and there was still no sign of Demetri. Noelle wanted to ask Yannis if he had seen Demetri, but she didn’t want to appear too needy. The girls met some other friendly people and enjoyed the music. A few men flirted with them, and Noelle just smiled nervously. One man got a little too close for her liking while they were dancing, so she excused herself to the restroom. While she enjoyed dancing, she’d never get used to the proximity of everyone rubbing up against each other.

She fidgeted and fanned herself. “Um, excuse me, um… sig-no-me. Where is the bathroom?”Why didn’t I ask Caroline how to say bathroom?The bartender pointed inside and she followed that direction in hopes she would find what she was looking for.I’m so stinking hot. My hair probably looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket. Oh geez, I hope I don’t smell! Ugh. My blouse is sticking to me like glue. I really hope the bartender knew what I was asking. I need to splash some water on my face, stat. Good Lord, I feel like a furnace! And where the heck is Demetri? I can’t believe he hasn’t come to at least say hi. Maybe we should go. I’m so over tonight.

Chapter 19

SPECIAL FRIENDS OR STALKERS ~Demetri~

Demetri saw Noelle arrive as soon as she checked in. He had been watching her from a distance. He needed time to get accustomed to having her on his boat. With each passing moment, he wanted her more and more, and he needed to cool himself down before he met her. He’d seen the man slink next to her, and he could feel his unwarranted jealousy building. She was sweating, and she looked amazing as she fanned herself. The pale pink tank top she wore clung to her body because of her perspiration. It was a poor choice not to wear a bra. While he enjoyed it, he wasn’t happy others could see what he wanted only for his eyes. He could tell she was uncomfortable in the heat, but she probably didn’t know how much she was revealing. When he saw her duck inside the bathroom, he decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He stood just outside.

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