‘And that is why I want to know more about this person and their ideas for the future of the hotel before Dimitria makes any kind of agreement. Because someone tried to wreck the land around Avlaki once and they very nearly succeeded. If it hadn’t been for the protests and the community coming together then there could have been the most disgustingly large marina on the side of the bay polluting just about everything.’
The narrow-minded small thinking of a close-knit village mentality, exactly like his father had always said. He had to stick to what he knew to be right, the future as he had always seen it, making amends…
‘Just because something is new and different doesn’t mean it is destructive or polluting,’ Kostas said.
‘Tell that to the wildlife.’
‘Well, there are rules for that kind of thing these days, I hear. I mean, I am not an expert.’ But someone would be and he would make sure the right boxes were ticked.
‘You think I’m overreacting,’ Faye said.
‘No,’ Kostas said. ‘I think you just care.’
‘Shouldn’t everyone?’
‘Yes. I mean, probably. But sometimes, people, they forget how to do it.’
‘I don’t want to forget how to do it,’ Faye told him. ‘And I don’t care if that’s old-fashioned or not on trend or 6–7 or whatever.’
He smiled. ‘You are a good person, Faye. And, who knows, the person wanting to buy the hotel might be a good person too.’
‘God, I really hope so.’
‘But if the worst happens and they are the kind of person who wants to build a big marina… maybe you should consider your options.’ She was great at her job, he had seen that first-hand, and there could be a place for her in his resort. Surely that would soften the loss of a few trees…
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, maybe the person with the big marina plans might be looking for a hotel manager. And, maybe, someone with your experience and unprecedented ability to providegyrosat any hour of the day might earn a great deal more money getting on board with someone like that.’
She shook her head, ice cream dripping onto her hands now. ‘They could offer me any amount of money, it wouldn’t make a difference. If they change the landscape I’ve built my new Greek life on, I’m not for sale.’ She got to her feet, shaking her ice-cream-covered fingers in the air.
OK, maybe not on his team then. ‘Here,’ Kostas said, standing up and passing her some napkins. ‘I picked them up from the shop.’
‘Sorry,’ she said as she wiped her hands. ‘I got a bit impassioned there, didn’t I?’
‘It was almost like you had a protest banner and you were waving it in my face.’ He hoped it didn’t come to that.
‘Sorry,’ she said again.
‘No, don’t be sorry.’ He sighed. ‘You know, these things, they have a way of working out for the best. Sometimes the way we see things isn’t the way that things really are.’
‘Saffron thinks it will all be fine and the new owner will take me on and everything will carry on as normal.’
He nodded. Saffron was saying all the right things.
‘However, Saffron also thinks that I had a hand in killing her guinea pig.’
‘OK…’
‘God! Stop me! Stop me talking like this! Distract me! So that?—’
Faye didn’t get to finish her sentence because suddenly Kostas’s lips were on hers delivering the hottest, sweetest, coolest ice-cream-tinged kiss under the lamplight. It was cinnamon and strawberry and definitely not vanilla, the way his tongue tantalised hers. She reached for him, hands either side of his face, smoothing his dark beard, drawing his mouth closer.
‘Stamata,’ he breathed, pulling away.
‘Signómi. We shouldn’t have?—’
‘No, Faye. I mean, we have to stop here, in this public place.’ He dropped his eyes to his waistband.
