Page 17 of More Than Just Friends

‘Yes. Why do you sound surprised?’

‘Oh! Sorry. It’s just, never mind. It’s a great name. Very fitting,’ I said hoping that I didn’t seem rude. It’s just that Adonis for a guy who actually looked like a Greek god was a bit on the nose. I guessed his parents knew what they were doing when they named him.

No one could deny that he was handsome.

A stunning woman glided through the door and announced that she was here for her nine o’clock date just as Noah returned to the front of the restaurant.

‘Noah!’ Stavros smiled. ‘I am delighted to introduce you to your match.’

That was Noah’s date?

Jesus. She was gorgeous.

Long shiny black hair, supermodel figure, tall and flawless.

I thought I’d scrubbed up okay tonight, but compared to her I looked like a troll.

Noah’s face lit up and they did the whole cheek-kissing thing. I saw her looking at him like she’d just ended a year-long diet and Noah was a giant slab of chocolate cake with extra cream that she couldn’t wait to devour.

Don’t blame you, sis.

Wait, no. I didn’t mean that I wanted to devour Noah. I meant that my friend was a catch – that was all. A catch for her. Not for me obviously. I was on a date with an actual Adonis.

Oh shit. I was on a date.

‘Sorry.’ I turned my attention back to him. ‘I was just making sure my friend was okay. That’s my bestie. He’s here too. On a date. With another woman. Isn’t she gorgeous? Actually, don’t answer that. I shouldn’t be encouraging you to look at other women!’ I laughed expecting Adonis to chuckle along with me, but instead he looked over at Noah’s date and nodded his approval.

A waiter showed us to our table outside and, like a true gent, Adonis pulled out my chair before taking his own seat.

‘Thanks. So where are you from?’ I asked, deciding to get the conversation started.

‘Athens.’

‘Oh, cool! I’ve always wanted to go there. At least you haven’t had far to travel.’

‘Your eyes are very beautiful,’ he said in response.

‘Oh!’ I blushed. ‘Thank you.’

‘They sparkle like the moonlight and stars in the night sky.’ He grinned, pointing to the views.

‘Um, oh, that’s er, very kind of you to say.’

Adonis held my gaze and I wasn’t sure if I should look away. I should return the compliment, right? That was a good thing to do.

‘Your eyes are nice too. They’re blue like, er… this runner.’ I pointed to the strip of fabric draped across the centre of the table then winced.

Somehow my compliment didn’t sound quite as poetic as Adonis’s but I didn’t know what else to say. I wasn’t used to guys saying nice things about me.

‘You are so sweet,’ he said, putting me at ease. That was kind of him. See. This was already going well. ‘Is it your first time in Santorini?’

‘Yep! I haven’t been to Greece or any of the other islands either so it’s a dream come true.’

‘That is wonderful. You do not need to worry, Alicia. I will give you my own personal tour.’ He stretched across the table and put his hand on mine.

I flinched a little. I also wasn’t used to a man making personal contact within the first five minutes of knowing me.

‘Thanks.’ I pulled away gently. ‘That’d be lovely.’