other women in Athens—’
‘In the past, yes. But there is no one in my life now, I swear. I was brought up to tell the truth, Isobel.’ He turned her face up to his. ‘And so were you, ne? So tell me, agapi mou, are your feelings warmer to me now?’
‘Warmer than what, exactly?’
‘You were very hostile towards me at first.’
She sniffed. ‘Only because you were so hostile to me, Lukas Andreadis.’
He smoothed the uneven lock of hair back from her forehead. ‘When you return, will you tell your friend Joanna about me?’
‘Of course. She’ll be only too glad that I met someone who could make me forget the Gavin episode. Joanna never liked him. Neither did March, her husband.’
‘You like your friend’s husband?’
‘Very much. Seeing them so happy together almost changes my mind about marriage.’
His eyes narrowed intently. ‘But not enough to want it for yourself.’
‘Never. As I told you before, marriage doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. I enjoy my independence too much—’ She tensed as she heard the Jeep approaching the house. ‘Luke, hurry, they’re back!’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THEY were late leaving for the taverna. Isobel had taken a shower as soon as Luke left her, and then collapsed on her bed to sleep for a while, while Luke spent the time in consultation with Andres before standing lost in thought under his own shower.
So Isobel disliked the idea of marriage. Which was good, because so did he. But there was nothing to keep them from being lovers. He smiled as he lay on his bed, which was a lot larger than the one in the guest room. He made a note to bring Isobel here to sleep with him once he had persuaded her to stay for a while. The heat and pleasure of lovemaking was something he’d experienced often enough in his life, but in the past it had soon died away, leaving nothing to replace it other than fond regret when the parting of the ways arrived, as it always did. But Isobel was different. Making love with her surpassed all other experiences in his life to such an extent it seemed to touch his soul. But he also took great pleasure in her company as they talked and ate and swam and simply spent time together. He would make her see that leaving him was not an option yet. But his persuasion must be subtle. He must accustom her to the idea by degrees, paint an irresistible picture of what they could have together. But it was best to wait until the agonising moment of their parting when her only answer could be yes. Miss Isobel James must be convinced beyond all doubt that fate had not only sent her to him, but meant her to stay here with him for the foreseeable future.
The evening at the taverna was lively. Luke and Isobel were welcomed with open arms, with much admiration for Luke’s part in the dramatic rescue of the beautiful Miss James. Nikos Nicolaides, in particular, felt a proprietorial pleasure about this, since Lukas had met the lady because she came to spend a holiday in one of his properties.
The evening was a further celebration of life for Isobel, a time to rejoice with people who so obviously thought the world not only of Luke, but had felt the same about his mother.
‘They’re all very fond of you,’ Isobel told him on the way home.
‘And I of them. This is why Chyros is such a special place to me. People here remember how hard I had to work to achieve my success; therefore no one resents it.’ His voice dropped a tone. ‘And you, Isobel? Has your experience here turned you against my island?’
‘No, of course not. I’ll always treasure my memories of Eleni and Spiro, and Alyssa and her family. And you.’ She drew in a deep breath. ‘I’d planned to do so many things while I was here, take a trip to Serifos and some of the other islands, also paint a few watercolours I could put on sale back home in the gallery.’
‘But the only trip you made was against your will, to a barren island with no legends of any kind. So I shall take you wherever you want to go,’ he promised as they turned down the tree-lined drive to the villa. ‘I spoke to Andres earlier, by the way. The Karras sisters finally confessed in their more lucid moments that they hired both men, who are workers