“I have an idea. I’ve heard mumblings here and there. Half the town thought he was gay, including me for the longest time. I know now that he wasn’t. He was just in mourning.”
“You know this because of the letters?” she asked.
“No, they were too personal for me to read. I know this because I talked with a villager who saw something one night. I’ll tell you if and when you’re ready. I don’t think we have time for you to shoot another fish if you get in another funk.”
Joanna gave him her best schoolgirl scowl. Then she yawned, stuffed after the food and nicely chilled from the beer. “Oh I could take a nap. Your bed is comfy. I can see why you don’t think you need a house. Do you have a house? Do you get a lot of visitors? I bet you do, don’t you?”
“This is your way of verifying I’m not married and that this isn’t just my bachelor apartment, isn’t it?” he said smirking.
“Well? Is it? Are you married? Is this your one-night stand bandwagon?”
“Like George, I’m sure most of the island believes I’m gay. I do not live anywhere else. I don’t have a girlfriend. But I believe you, on the other hand, do have a boyfriend.”
Joanna deflated a bit at the thought of Peter. “You’re right, I do have a boyfriend. But, things have gone a little south lately.”
“Does he know this? Men sometimes don’t know when things go south. But if you don’t mind me saying, this man must be an idiot to let that happen and risk someone like you slipping through his fingers.”
They both eyed each other intensely, the sexual tension between them growing with each passing word.
“Take a nap, Joanna,” he said quietly. “I promise to not violate you, though I have never had such a beautiful woman as you in my bed.”
“That’s not weird for you?” she asked, feeling little butterflies in her stomach at his words, and thinking that perhaps she wouldn’t mind in the least being ‘violated’ by him, as he’d put it. “Having a complete stranger sleep in your bed?”
“You were never a stranger to me. Draw the shades. You’ll be asleep in no time, dreaming of worlds within reach that have yet to be explored.”
He closed the door, and Joanna did as he recommended and closed the blinds. The gentle sway, to and fro, the constant rumble of the engine. He was right. She did fall right asleep.
But she didn’t dream of worlds yet to be explored. She dreamed of Skiathos, and in this dream she stayed on the island, and had all the time in the world to get to know Nick.
It was the loveliest dream.
Chapter Fifteen
Later, back in her room, getting ready for the wedding that evening, she got a phone call from Donna.
“Tell me about this Greek hottie I know you’re falling in love with,” her best friend demanded without even saying hello.
Joanna dropped down to the bed, gobsmacked. “What do you know? And how the hell do you know it?”
Donna cackled over the phone. “Nothing! I was just playing with you actually. But who is he? Tell me more.”
Joanna grinned and got out her nail polish. “His name is Nick. He’s charming. He’s funny. He’s smart. He’s been taking me all over Skiathos. We just went spearfishing. It was so much fun.”
“Wow, so you killed something. How romantic.” Donna deadpanned.
“Yes. And then we ate it on his boat.”
“Please tell me Peter is out of the picture then,” her friend enthused. “He’s not right for you. I know you don’t like me saying that, but he’s not. He’s a downer. And, quite frankly, he’s been turning you into one as well.”
“Well, that hurts Donna, but actually I think I do see what you’ve been trying to get me to understand. I’ve been having so much fun and I’ve only been here twenty-four hours.”
“Did you want me to break it to Peter?” Donna asked. “I’ll do it. I’ll do it in a heartbeat.”
“I didn’t say I was breaking up with Peter!” Joanna exclaimed. “I’m just… I don’t know. I don’t know what I want.”
“You will. Hopefully sooner than later. What did your father leave you in the will anyway?”
“A hotel. A rundown, beat up hotel, badly in need of a makeover.”
