“And this is your suite.” He shows me a generously sized double room with a sea view and en suite. It’s very inviting, with a plush white duvet and pale furnishings.
“Thanks so much. This is perfect.”
“I’ll leave you to freshen up, and I’ll be out in the living room when you’re up for some company.” Stefanos slips away.
Before I touch anything, I wash my hands and my face, then decide to go ahead and have a shower to refresh after the flight. Just like the kitchen, everything’s very modern and well appointed with extra toiletries for guests and plush towels. By the time I dress again, I feel a lot more at ease. Any fears of abductions or schemes have all been washed away.
When I rejoin Stefanos, he’s relaxing on one of the large sofas, in a soft-looking pullover in a cloud white that contrasts with his tan, even in the winter. He’s in jeans, and I’ve followed his lead for the jumper-and-jeans combo.
“I should have offered you some water or something to drink.” Stefanos shakes his head. “Or eat. My mother would be horrified. Some host.”
I laugh. “I’m fine. Though now that you mention it, I could use some of both.”
He springs into action as if he’d been waiting for this. I trail him to the kitchen. He peers at me. “Let’s start with drinks. Tea? Coffee? Wine? Or?”
His eagerness charms me. “I’ll have what you’re having.”
Stefanos tsks at me. He leans against the counter, a smile playing with the corners of his mouth. “That’s a cop-out.”
“I’m trying to be a good guest.” I grin at him. “Also, seriously, I don’t mind. Any of it sounds great. How about water to start?”
“Water.” He goes to the fridge. “Sparkling or still? Often, visitors to Greece aren’t accustomed to the tap water. Especially in smaller places. But really, what’s your preference?”
“Top-tier service. Five stars. Still water, please.”
“Coming right up.”
He gets out a large bottle of water and two glasses and pours. When he hands me a glass across the island, our fingers brush. A shiver ripples through me. He moves away quickly.
“Food.” Stefanos peers at me, as if these are life-or-death decisions he’s making on my behalf. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so taken care of. “I have a selection of mezethes if you like. Appetizers. Or we could go out.”
“If it’s all the same to you, staying in sounds great,” I confess. The travel yesterday and today has caught up with me. “It’s nice to be in someone’s home.”
“Well, it’s not really my home. It’s my parents’.”
“Close enough.”
His mouth twitches. He gestures at the island. “Please, sit.”
I pull out a stool and perch at the marble island, watching him work on preparing our meal. For someone squatting in someone else’s kitchen, Stefanos certainly seemed to know his way around it, working with great efficiency, pulling out covered platters and popping things into ovens to heat, serving up olives and bread and wine. It’s an unfamiliar feeling, being looked after like this.
“You can’t have just had this all waiting here on the off chance you decided to impulsively come to Kerkyra and collect a stray prince along the way.”
Stefanos reddens, pausing in his work. The way he glances at me does something funny to my insides. “Well, I did make arrangements. It won’t do to starve a guest.”
“I thought you’d have staff for this sort of thing,” I say lightly. “I’m very impressed you’re doing this yourself.”
He shakes his head and slides a platter closer to me. The amount of food he prepares is more suitable for a dinner party than a pair of princes. “I don’t have staff, do you? Aside from security. My parents have staff, but I’m not them.”
“Well, no. Same situation. I mean, if I was in Denmark, yes, I would at the palace. And you’ve been to my flat. No staff. Closest I’ve had is James pouring drinks.”
Stefanos’ eyes dance with amusement. “He’s very good at that.”
“He’s not a fixture in my sitting room. For the best, really. Though he’s a good friend. And Frankie, his partner.”
“It’s good to have friends you can rely on.”
“Yeah. Especially lately.” I shake my head. “If it wasn’t for them, I would have probably lost my mind.” What I don’t say is that there’s a good chance that may happen anyway, what with Freja’s decision and a new, unexpected life path shoved before me.
