Will’s voice now held a touch of anger.
‘Absolutely nothing? Not even some snogging?’
She not only apparently looked like a teenager but sounded like one now.
‘No, not even some “snogging”.’
That grin needed to be wiped off Will’s face somehow. But before she could fire back, he took her hands in his, so she was forced to face him.
‘The only person I wanted in my bed that night was you…’ Will gave her a look that travelled all the way through her body, ‘But you weren’t available. Now do you believe me?’
Grace thought about it. She actually did believe him. She’d seen how conniving Celine could be. The woman was desperate. But did she trust him? That was the bigger question. She wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily. Celine had obviously thought that she’d still be welcome in Will’s bed. Something or someone must have given her that idea.
‘I’m thinking about it.’
Will sighed. ‘Just now I repeated what I said to her that morning, that I didn’t see a future with her, and that she had to stop giving people the impression we were still together.’
No wonder the woman had been on the verge of tears. Grace started to feel some sympathy for her. Only a little, because of the way Celine had behaved. But to have had Will in the palm of one’s hand and then to have lost him would be tough to get over. It was almost better not to get involved in the first place.
‘I see. Poor woman. Having anything to do with you is obviously dangerous.’
‘It doesn’t have to be.’
He was giving her that look again. But she needed time to think. For once, she wasn’t going to rush in all guns blazing and make a decision that she’d up end regretting. This might be the most important decision she had to make for the rest of her life. Grace plastered on a jolly smile.
‘I’m hungry. What do you fancy for lunch? There’s some spinach pie and salad left over from yesterday.’
Will’s employers had arranged for homemade meals to be delivered from the grandma’s cooking place in town fresh each day, so that she didn’t have to worry about cooking as well, which was a relief.
‘Yeah, sounds fine.’
Grace could hear the disappointment in his voice.
* * *
By the weekend Will was strong enough to make it downstairs and onto the terrace in the afternoons, leaning on her arm. He still spent every morning in bed, but Grace felt confident enough now to leave him and go for long swims. The temperature was still in the late twenties during the day, and it only dropped by a few degrees at night. She was barely out of a bikini and a sarong unless they had visitors.
Those she was monitoring very carefully. Angeliki and Nick were welcome any time, because she could see how much Will enjoyed their company, and luckily Celine hadn’t dared show her face again.
Grace had had her own visitors, when Charlie, Sarah and Buster had turned up one morning, once they realised where she was staying. Charlie had taken over her lessons and filled her in on Irene’s progress, plus that of Stelios and his parents. He was also surprised at how far Nick had come on in such a short space of time. Having a girlfriend who was fluent in English was obviously the key to unlocking the businessman’s potential.
The three of them spent ages playing with Karen, throwing little balls for her and pulling her onto their laps for long strokes. Grace had been worried that Buster would be jealous and go for the kitten, but he was as gentle as a lamb.
Grace was sad to see them leave, as she might not see them again for quite some time. She only had a week left on the island, and a decision about the next step was looming fast. These lazy days with Will would come to an end before she knew it. She hoped he’d be well enough to cope on his own if she went back to England, or with a little help, as long as that help wasn’t coming from Celine.
Not that it would be any of her business who was looking after him if she decided to leave. They’d kept things light ever since the Frenchwoman’s visit, but Grace wasn’t getting much rest these days. Being across the corridor from Will wasn’t exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep. She’d been awake most of last night.
A snooze on the terrace in the afternoon heat would do them both good. Before she closed her eyes, Grace noticed that Will was already well away.
The sound of a car on the road above pulled her out of a dream in which a dark-haired man had gathered her up in his arms and was about to kiss her.
Grace reached for the robe she kept hanging up behind the table and went to investigate. A sleek black BMW had stopped, and she was surprised to see Elena, and a well-dressed man she didn’t recognise, get out of the car.
She shook her sleeping beauty awake.
‘Will!’
‘What?’
