Page 46 of The House Swap

She went to do as asked, opening it to find the whole compartment was full of CDs.

Curious, she started going through the titles, amused at Jem’s music collection.

‘REO Speedwagon, Celine Dion, Kenny G,’ she teased. ‘Oh, we have a winner.’

‘You know none of those are mine.’ He grinned as she held up a Chris de Burgh cover. ‘This was my dad’s car.’

‘I’m relieved to hear it,’ she said as she continued to browse. Finding another cringe classic, she took a Leo Sayer disc from the case, pushing it into the player.

‘Really?’ Jem scrunched up his nose, as ‘Thunder in My Heart’ started playing and Poppy cranked up the volume, dramatically singing the opening verse. He burst out laughing as she ignored him, not attempting to hide how out of tune she was. ‘I think we might have to stop and have a bonfire for these,’ he joked.

‘Oh no. I think you need to keep all of them. Maybe we can have a party night. I bet Sue likes a bit of Barry Manilow,’ she said, holding up another CD.

‘Now you’re really pushing the boundaries of good taste,’ he told her dryly, though he made no attempt to switch the music off. And as he flipped the indicator, taking a turn from the main coast road into Analipsi, Leo Sayer continued to blare through the speakers, and Poppy noticed that Jem was fighting to hide his smile.

The taverna was everything he had promised.

Set back from the main square and nestled close to a little church, welcoming strings of warm fairy lights looped across the entrance. Inside, a handful of tables were occupied, the conversations low and intimate as traditional Greek music played in the background.

As the waitress led them to a table for two, Poppy’s stomach rumbled. The air was rich with appealing aromas, and it made her realise she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

‘This is lovely,’ she said after they had sat down and were left to peruse the menus. ‘I like the vibe.’

Jem seemed pleased by her reaction. ‘It’s the best place I’ve been,’ he agreed.

They were ready to order food when the waitress returned to take their drinks orders, and after opting for a small carafe of white wine, they agreed to share tzatziki and pitta bread as a starter, with Jem then choosing swordfish, while Poppy picked a seafood pasta.

Over drinks, as they waited for the food to be cooked, she told him about her visit to see Sue and Ian.

‘I found Sue a bit much when I first met her, if I’m honest,’ she admitted. ‘But I misjudged her. Yes, she’s a little loud at times, but she’s friendly and she means well.’

‘She and Ian are good people,’ Jem told her. ‘They helped me a lot after Dad died, keeping an eye on his villa, and running a few errands for me when I was trying to deal with all the legal stuff while back in the UK.’

‘That was nice of them.’ Poppy sipped her wine. ‘Did they know your dad well?’

‘Yes, they were friends long before Sue and Ian retired here. They told me they got to know Dad when they used to come to the island on holiday. He was the one who persuaded them to buy a place out here. I think they used to spend a lot of time together.’

‘They must miss him,’ Poppy commented. ‘I think they are hoping you might stay.’

‘I know. They keep dropping hints.’

‘Is that an option?’ she asked.

‘I don’t think I want to move here permanently,’ Jem said, his tone thoughtful. ‘My life is back in Devon.’

‘You’re from Devon?’ Poppy repeated, realising he had never said where he lived.

‘Yeah. I have a close-knit group of friends there. Besides, I have a portfolio of work in the area. If I came here, I would have to start over.’

‘What kind of things do you take photos of?’

‘Anything and everything. I do a lot of wedding and corporate events, and some real estate too. That’s what pays the bills, but it’s also what I’m trying to get away from.’

Jem paused as their starter arrived, thanking the waitress. As he took a piece of pitta bread from the basket, broad shoulders moving beneath the linen shirt as he tore it into strips on the side plate, he continued with his answer.

‘Landscape photography is where my heart is and I’ve been getting some of my stuff into local shops over the last couple of years. I also recently started working with a company who furnish holiday lets and they’ve been buying some of my stuff.’

As he spoke about his passion, Poppy found herself studying him.