‘Fine, then. You’ve got yourself a deal. But don’t you start getting all starry-eyed at my witty dinner repartee.’
He grinned, feeling a lightness move through him. ‘I’ll try my hardest.’
* * *
‘This isn’t exactly what I had in mind,’ she drawled, staring out at the Acropolis. It was illuminated gently in the evening, golden lights washing over the ancient pillars.
‘It’s the best food in town.’
‘And is it always empty on a Friday night?’
‘You were worried about someone finding out about us.’
She shook her head. ‘And so what? You booked out the restaurant?’
‘Damen has known me a long time. He didn’t mind.’
She shook her head, but she smiled—how could she not? ‘Just as well I know how you feel about relationships because otherwise this could be construed as incredibly romantic.’
His skin paled so she had to bite back a laugh. ‘It’s not.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m joking.’
He relaxed visibly.
‘How was shell hunting?’
His smile was natural and she felt something like relief spread through her. Cameron had been through so much. She wanted, more than anything, for him to connect with his father. It wasn’t necessarily easy, given what he’d lost and the age he was at, but they were already making such inroads.
‘He was quite excited by several of the “specimens”, as he insisted on referring to them. I didn’t want to tell him that shells such as these wash up along the shore all summer long.’
‘He’s a budding scientist,’ she said proudly. ‘He’s got keen observation powers and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.’
‘And you are an excellent teacher to harness that.’
A man appeared, wearing dark trousers and white shirt. ‘Here we are,’ he said, a broad smile on his face. ‘For the lady.’ He placed a champagne flute in front of Amelia, and
a beer for Santos, who nodded his thanks.
‘Damen, this is Amelia Ashford, my son’s teacher. Amelia, Damen has been running this restaurant since the dark ages.’
The older man laughed, rocking back on his heels. ‘You make me feel old now, eh?’ He reached out and, to Amelia’s surprise, patted Santos on the head. He lifted a single brow but otherwise didn’t respond.
‘I’ve been coming here since I was an infant,’ Santos explained when they were alone again.
Amelia couldn’t hold back her grin. ‘That’s pretty sweet.’
‘Sweet?’ His laugh was gruff. ‘I don’t think I’ve been called that before.’
‘I was calling Damen sweet,’ she corrected with a saccharine tone. She sipped her champagne, then recalled what they’d been discussing before Damen had arrived.
‘Where will Cameron go to school?’
Something tightened on Santos’s face. A look of alertness. ‘I’ll meet with some headmasters next week.’
Her stomach rolled. ‘Here in Athens?’
‘Most likely.’