Page 8 of More Than Just Friends

The driver pulled up outside an iron gate.

‘We have arrived,’ he said in his thick Greek accent.

My heart thudded against my chest. I was so excited. I wished Sammie was here to calm my nerves.

She’d be coming to help out for the wedding but wasn’t arriving for another couple of days.

The hotel had a striking whitewashed exterior with a shiny gold The Love Hotel Santorini sign.

The gate opened and we cruised down the driveaway.

Wow.

This was even more impressive than the photos online.

Palm trees, lush greenery and pretty flowers lined both sides of the drive and in the distance, I spotted the sea, which seemed to stretch for a million miles.

The car stopped and when the driver opened the door and I stepped out, I instantly felt the sunshine tickling my skin. It was the perfect temperature.

I inhaled the salty sea air, which was mixed with the fragrant aroma of fresh flowers and herbs. Gorgeous.

‘Good afternoon, Alicia,’ a tall man with shaved dark hair and olive skin greeted me. ‘I am Petros your Love Alchemist.’

‘Hi!’ I grinned. ‘How did you know it was me?’

‘Magic!’ He smiled. ‘Well, you look like your sister Samantha and I have photos of our guests too.’

‘Ooh! That means you know what my match looks like then!’

‘Yes.’

‘He’s not a British guy living in North London is he?’ I asked. Sammie insisted she didn’t know who I’d been matched with, but Petros did so hopefully he’d spill the beans.

‘I am afraid I cannot tell you that.’ Petros shrugged his shoulders and I tried to see if I could gauge whether or not that action meant I was being matched with Noah or not.

‘Oh, come on, Petros! It’ll just be our little secret.’ I winked.

‘I am sorry,’ he repeated. ‘It will be much better if it is a surprise, no?’

Maybe, maybe not.

It was irrelevant now though because I could tell that even if I waterboarded Petros he wouldn’t tell me, so I’d just have to wait.

‘Fair enough.’

‘Come.’ He ushered me towards an elegant stone staircase, which led to what I guessed was the main building. ‘Let me check you in, then I will give you a tour of the hotel.’

Once I’d checked in, Petros led me through to the main grounds. Everything looked so impressive. The suites were actually carved into the cliff and they all had terraces.

The stunning pink flowers I always saw in pictures of Santorini, which I think were called bougainvillea spilled over the striking white walls and pergolas.

And oh, my, days. The infinity pool was even more stunning in real life. I mean, it looked amazing online, but now that I was actually here, the vistas of the deep-blue sea and cloudless sky were out of this world.

There were luxurious sun loungers and daybeds, which were of course all perfectly positioned to give guests uninterrupted views of the Aegean Sea and volcanic landscape.

The pool area also had a bar and a dedicated towel hut so that a cocktail or fresh, fluffy beach towel was only a few steps away.

As well as a luxurious spa, the hotel even had outdoor massage tables so that guests could get pampered with a view.