The Enigmatic Greek by Catherine George Page A

minutes,’ Eleanor promised, and hurried off to her room. Since she was finally going to enjoy her time in the sun later, she put on the relatively conservative swimwear she wore when travelling alone, covered it with a loose pink shirt and white jeans and thrust her feet into pink flip-flops. She slapped on some moisturiser and lip gloss, brushed out her hair and put sun block, book and dark glasses in the tote bag.
    ‘You’re on time,’ said Alex as she joined him in the tower room. ‘A pearl among women. You notice I said
women
?’
    She laughed, feeling suddenly euphoric now she’d achieved the impossible and not only written, but actually sent off, her exclusive about Alexei Drakos. ‘Duly noted,’ she assured him and accepted the brimming glass he handed her. ‘Thank you. I really need this.’
    ‘I asked for a salad with some of Sofia’s bread for ballast,’ said Alex, indicating the meal set out on the table. ‘We can eat something more substantial for dinner.’
    Eleanor felt a little bubble of excitement rise somewhere inside at the prospect, and sternly reminded herself that their evening together was a matter of obligation for Alexei Drakos, not a dinner date. ‘Right now a cold meal is exactly what I need.’ She raised her glass in toast. ‘Plus this, of course. You make seriously good wine here on Kirkyros.’
    ‘Dion is a notable winemaker and a hard task-master on the subject of quality. I just make sure the wine sells. And drink it,’ he added as he touched his glass to hers.
    Eleanor took another sip and rolled it round her tongue. ‘It has a flavour all its own—something like a rosé, but with more body. And,’ she added, smiling at him, ‘Delicious though it is, I’ll stick to one glass. It’s heady stuff.’
    Between them they polished off most of the savoury bread with the entire platter of crayfish salad, talking so easily together, for a change, during the meal that Eleanor almost accepted when Alex offered more wine, but then shook her head and filled a glass from a jug of ice water instead.
    ‘Prudent lady,’ he observed lazily.
    ‘I’ve been looking forward to my session in the sun too much to risk a headache!’ She got up. ‘Talking of which, if you’ll excuse me I’ll now make my way to your roof garden at last.’
    Alex offered to accompany her, but Eleanor smiled at him politely and shook her head.
    ‘I’m sure you have things to do, so I’ll leave you in peace. Tell Sofia the lunch was fabulous.’
    ‘It was.’ Alex opened the door for her. ‘But for me that had more to do with the charming company than the food.’ He touched her hair fleetingly and smiled into her eyes. ‘It would be wise to wear a hat.’
    She nodded jerkily. ‘I’ll pop into my room and collect one on the way.’
    Alex leaned in the doorway, watching her as she rushed along the hall at such speed she lost one of her flip-flops and had to bend to snatch it up. He smiled. Eleanor was very wary of him, which was all to the good. Her lack of coquetry was so appealing, he would take great pleasure in coaxing her into his bed. But instead of following her, as instinct urged, he turned away to his office to ring Stefan. He would give Eleanor her half hour in the sun before he joined her to make sure all was well with his guest, as any host worth his salt would do. After a report from Stefan, he gave his assistant a few comprehensive instructions then went back to the window to look down at the beach below, feeling restless again after the business discussion. The part of him that detested idleness was urging him to get back to take the reins in Athens, or to London to do the same there. But the part of him he usually kept in firm control was happy to stay here lotus-eating for a while.
    A pity he couldn’t take Eleanor on a tour of the island rather than keeping her locked up with him in the
Kastro
, but it was better to take no chances until he saw her off on her flight from Crete. His