Fly Me to the Moon (29 page)

“You should get them,” said a voice I recognized from the night before. And when I turned, I saw Adonis.

“Oh, well, I was just trying them on,” I said, quickly removing them while wondering how he’d found me.

“But they’re perfect on you,” he urged.

“Yeah, well.” I shrugged, thinking about my impending layoff and knowing there was no way I could splurge on a pair of earrings that resembled something Cleopatra might have worn.

“So how was the beach?” he asked, following me out of the store.

“Good,” I said, heading down a street so narrow we were forced to walk single file.

“Agios Sostis, right?”

I stopped to lean against a smooth white wall, allowing an old woman with a basket of eggs to pass. “How’d you know?”

“The island is small,” he said, looking right at me. “Everyone knows everything about everyone.” He smiled.

I gazed at him for a moment, unable to tell if he was serious or joking, and just as I started to move away, a group of mangy-looking cats ran directly across my path.

“Isn’t that bad luck?” I asked, watching as they scurried under a gate.

“Only if they’re black.” He laughed. Then reaching for my arm he asked, “Would you like to have lunch?”

I looked at him, and he was so cute, and I was kind of hungry, but I shook my head no. I had too many places to see, and I didn’t want to get sidetracked. Besides, I just didn’t see the point. I mean I was leaving in three days, and I’d already seen
Shirley Valentine.
“I’m headed over to Paraportiani,” I said. “I want to see it while the light’s still good.”

“I can show you the way,” he offered.

“No thanks, I have a map,” I said, holding it up as proof. Then, waving over my shoulder, I headed down a street I hoped would lead me to the famous old church.

After taking over twenty photos of Paraportiani, having my sales resistance severely tested by two pushy salesmen and half a glass of ouzo, and barely surviving a very embarrassing and not so charming encounter with the island mascot, Petros the Pelican, I finally found my way to Little Venice, the area on the very edge of town where the whitewashed buildings butted right up against the water.

“This is supposed to be the best spot for viewing the sunset,” I overheard a couple of tourists say, and since that sounded good enough for me, I followed them into the Caprice Bar and out onto the patio, where I grabbed a seat.

I ordered a glass of wine and retrieved the travel journal I’d been dragging around the world for the last six years. Though to be honest, it was really more a grocery list of names and places than an actual account of my experiences. And just as I wrote
Pelicans are only cute from a distance,
I heard someone ask, “Are you using this?”

And I looked up to see a blonde in a tank top and shorts, clutching the back of the empty chair.

“Um, no, you can have it,” I said, watching as she dragged it over to a crowded table where Adonis sat.

Well he certainly doesn’t waste any time,
I thought, sneaking a peek at his date before turning my back on him.
He’s probably one of those player types Kat warned me about, the ones who spend entire svimmers chasing tourists. What did she call them? Greek
kamaki? I shook my head and concentrated on my journal, feeling pleased that I hadn’t fallen for his tired old lines. All I wanted now was to finish my wine and enjoy the sunset, and hopefully without being seen.

. . .

By the time I’d filled a few pages with thoughts and illustrations and emptied my glass, the sun was reduced to a faint orangey glow at the edge of the sea. And still conscious of the sound of laughter and chatter drifting from Adonis’ table, I gathered my things and took a wide, circuitous, yet wholly necessary detour around them, determined to do whatever it took to escape undetected.

I wandered through the labyrinth of streets, amazed at how the town had transformed. Those same narrow alleys that just a short time ago had seemed so quiet and tranquil were now packed with trendy tourists, eager for a fun night out. And even though it seemed like a great town for staying out late, I knew Kat would really start to worry if I didn’t return soon. So I weaved my way through the crowds of people as I headed for the waterfront, and the end of the line at the taxi stand.

“Need a ride?”

I looked up to see Adonis standing there, smiling at me.

But I just shook my head, rolled my eyes, and moved up a spot. “You know, back home we have a law against that. It’s called stalking,” I informed him.

But he just laughed and moved right alongside me. “So, how was Paraportiani?” he asked.

“Even better than the postcards,” I said, barely glancing at him. No way would I fall for this
kamaki
crap. It was pathetic the way he lurked around town, preying on tourists.

“And how was the Caprice Bar? Did you enjoy the sunset?”

When I glanced at him, I saw he was giving me an amused look. And I have to admit, it really bugged me. “The sunset was great. And how was your date? Over already?” I asked, smirking as I moved up in line and closer to escape.

But he just laughed. “Did I do something to offend you?” he asked.

“Nope,” I said, staring straight ahead. I had just two people in front of me now, and I was hoping they were together.

“Then let me buy you a drink.”

I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. “Adonis, I—” And just as I was about to say no, we were joined by his friends from the Caprice Bar. Only the girl whom I’d thought was his date was now unmistakably with someone else.

“We’re heading over to Nine Muses. You guys want to come?” They looked at us, waiting.

“I don’t know. Do we?” Adonis asked as a vacant cab pulled up.

All around me the bars and restaurants were full, the music was blaring, people were laughing, and with no makeup and still reeking of suntan lotion I wasn’t dressed for any of it. But when I looked at Adonis—taking in his tanned skin, green eyes, dark hair, perfect lips, and strong Greco/Roman nose—I thought,
Oh, what the hell. Sometimes you just have to say yes. Besides, he’s already been fully vetted by Yanni and Kat, so how bad can it be?

“I need to call Kat,” I said, smiling and stepping out of line.

“How do you think I found you?” he said, grabbing my hand as we joined his friends.

“Are you going out with Adonis again?” Kat asked as she loaded up the dishwasher, pausing long enough to give me a look that said I couldn’t just brush this off.

“Yup.” I closed the fridge and leaned against the door.

We’d just finished a leisurely dinner on the patio, and it was one of the first nights Adonis hadn’t joined us. Though he’d be arriving any minute to pick me up for another late night on the town. And the truth was, I couldn’t wait to see him. I’d been in Mykonos for a full five days now, which was one day longer than I’d originally planned, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of leaving.

I mean, with long afternoons on the beach, delicious lunches, lazy siestas, cocktail hour, and dinner parties that turned into late nights in town, the idea of going back to Manhattan where all I had to look forward to was a stack of rejection letters and a furlough notice was something I didn’t want to dwell on.

And as long as I stayed put, I wouldn’t have to. Because Mykonos was like the ultimate safe haven, offering nothing but sunny days, zero crime, and a laid-back, life-affirming attitude I’d
quickly gotten used to. And as long as I carefully avoided CNN and
USA Today,
I’d never have to think outside the hubble.

Besides, I had it all worked out. I only had two more trips to work near the end of the month. So I figured I’d just call Clay, have him post them on the trip drop/swap board, and keep feeding the kitties until I returned.

Though I knew I couldn’t keep staying with Yanni and Kat; they’d put up with me long enough. And I already had a lead on a cheap room in town.

“So, is this getting serious?” she asked, closing the dishwasher and wiping her hands on a towel.

I tried to shrug casually, but I could feel my face turn every shade of red. Adonis was great. He was sweet, smart, lun to be with . . .

“Have you met his family?”

I looked at her. “We’ve known each other less than a week! He hasn’t even tried to kiss me yet!” I said, shaking my head.

“Well, then he is serious.” She smiled. “So meeting his family would be the logical next step. Relationships tend to move a little quicker here, Hailey.”

I just shrugged and poured myself a glass of water. I had no idea if Adonis was serious, or if I even wanted him to be. I was only looking for fun, and a nice little escape from reality. But dinner with his parents? Not so much. “To be honest, I don’t really want to meet them,” I said. “His mom sounds kind of scary.”

Kat laughed. “All Greek mothers are scary. Especially when it comes to their sons.”

“Did you have problems with Yanni’s mother?” I asked, taking a sip of water and looking at her, wondering if she’d been holding out on me. as she’d never mentioned it before.

But she just shook her head and laughed. “Yanni is sixty-three; his mother passed away years ago. And from what I’ve seen, that’s the best kind of Greek mother-in-law to have.”

We were having a drink at the Caprice Bar, which had become our favorite hangout even after sunset, as it was one of the few places in the nightlife-intensive town where you could actually have a conversation. Usually we were joined by several of Adonis’ friends, but tonight I was glad it was just us, as I was hoping to get to know him a little better.

I had all the basics covered. Like I knew he’d grown up in Athens, had gone to the London School of Economics, where he’d gotten his master’s in business, and that he was preparing to take over his father’s company, as his dad, in poor health and spending most of his time on the mainland, could no longer manage his properties in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Mykonos. I knew Adonis spent his summers on the island and his winters in Athens—except for the one coming up, where he planned to stick around as they broke ground on their latest hotel.

But even knowing all that, I still had a lot of unanswered questions. Like why he was still single at thirty-one when he lived in a place where most people married before their twenty-first birthday. And even more important, why hadn’t he tried to kiss me?

“So,” he said, taking a sip of his wine and gazing at me. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner tomorrow?”

“Sure.” I shrugged, wondering why he was acting so formal. I mean, we’d had dinner together every night, except tonight.

“I meant, at my home. With my family. My mother will cook.”

Oh, great,
I thought, remembering my conversation with Kat and wondering what the heck I was getting myself into. Then I looked at Adonis, nervously awaiting my response. And he was so sweet and kind, and if he wanted to bring me home so his mother could cook for me, then how could I possibly say no?

“Sounds good,” I said, smiling faintly and hoping my voice didn’t betray how I really felt.

And then he closed his eyes, leaned in, and kissed me.

“What took you so long?” I whispered, breaking away.

“I wanted you to want it as much as I did,” he said, leaning in to kiss me again.

“You’ve got to tell me everything you know about her,” I said to Kat as I dabbed on some shiny peach lip gloss.

“We’ve never met.” She shrugged, helping me fasten my necklace.

“But what’ve you heard? What’s she like? What am I up against?” I begged. Adonis would arrive any second, and I was desperate for all the heads-up I could get.

“Well, they’re quite wealthy, as you know. And even though we’ve never formally met, I’ve seen her from a distance, and she seems very . . . well . . . traditional.”

“You mean she dresses in black and rides a donkey?”

“No. More like she is the true head of the family, the matriarch, and they all do as she says.”

I collapsed onto the bed and looked at her. “That does not sound good.”

But Kat just shrugged. “Hailey, I’m no expert on Greek culture, and my situation is a far cry from yours. I’m fifty-six years old! No one’s going to mess with me. But I doubt anyone will mess with you either. Adonis is wonderful. And il he wants to bring you home to dinner, then they’ll just have to trust his judgment. Besides, you look beautiful.” She smiled.