But did he feel the same? Their time together had been packed so full of incident there had been an inevitable greenhouse effect on their relationship. Luke left her in no doubt that he wanted her physically. But whether love was part of his equation was hard to tell. Not that it mattered. Tomorrow she was going home and would never see him again.
Luke was waiting outside on the landing when Isobel emerged in a brief, filmy slip dress the colour of her eyes. He gave her a look which brought a blush to her face, and took her hand as they went downstairs together.
‘Why didn’t you just come in to wait for me, Luke?’
‘Because I would have wanted to lay you down on that bed again,’ he informed her huskily. ‘And you would have objected because you look so perfect in that delightful dress.’
Isobel smiled at him as they reached the veranda. ‘I’m glad you like it. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.’
‘Every night with you is a special occasion,’ he said, and took her hand to stroll out into the garden. ‘How is the foot, Isobel?’
‘It’s fine now, really. Which is good, because it has to get me home tomorrow.’
‘Let me fly you to the airport in the helicopter,’ he urged, but she shook her head.
‘No, thanks. I’ll go back on the boat, the way I came. The journey will get me back to normal by degrees.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Life at home is going to seem very humdrum from now on.’
‘Who will meet you at the airport?’
‘Joanna. I’ll send her a text just before I board the plane.’ Isobel breathed in the scent of the flowers as they skirted the pool to make for the row of Aleppo pines lining the cliff edge. She gazed down on the sunset-gilded beach. ‘It’s such a short time since you found me down there, yet in other ways it seems as though I’ve known you forever.’
‘I believe we met in another life,’ said Luke, and put his arm round her. ‘Come. We shall go back and toast the setting sun with a glass of wine.’
Later, Isobel had little appetite for the mezedes Eleni had left them; though the appetizers were as delicious as all her food. ‘I’m not so hungry tonight,’ she said apologetically.
‘Nor I.’ He raised her hand to his and kissed it. ‘Isobel, I need to talk to you. And the best place for that is bed.’
‘Pillow talk?’
He shook his head. ‘Vital, important talk.’
Isobel disliked the sound of this; her misgivings intensified when Luke opened the bedroom door for her, but remained outside. ‘I will join you in a few moments,’ he said, surprising her. ‘Tonight, it is better you undress yourself.’
His tone left Isobel so uneasy that, after undressing quickly, she put a nightgown over her head. Nudity was inappropriate for a serious talk. She went back to sit on the bed, and while she waited for Luke sent a text to Joanna to confirm that she was returning tomorrow on schedule, and would ring just before boarding the plane.
Luke arrived as she closed her phone. ‘Who were you telephoning?’ He was wearing a towelling robe for once, and added to Isobel’s misgivings by taking the chair beside the bed instead of joining her on it.
‘Just a text to Joanna, to confirm the travel arrangements.’ Isobel eyed him narrowly. ‘Is something wrong, Luke?’
He scowled. ‘You are leaving tomorrow and you ask me if something is wrong?’ When she said nothing, he leaned forward, his face urgent. ‘It is necessary that I talk to you like this, without touching, so you know that my words are not said in the heat of the moment.’
She stiffened. ‘Could you just get on and say these words, Luke. You’re worrying me.’
His eyes softened. ‘That was not my intention. In fact,’ he added heavily, ‘I think I have made a mistake. It would have been better to talk after making love.’
‘For heaven’s sake, Luke,’ she said in desperation. ‘Tell me what’s wrong!’
‘Nothing wrong, agapi mou. If we had more time together I would have waited longer to lead up to this, but you are leaving tomorrow. What I have to say is very simple. I want so much more of you than your holiday has allowed me,’ he said with emphasis, his eyes urgent on hers. ‘Listen to my plan, Isobel. I shall buy you a house in Athens, or Thessaloniki, whichever you prefer. You can paint there as much