The Island of Love - Chapter One Part Two

Phillipa dressed for dinner. She wore a sleeveless, pink silk dress that flowed to her ankles. It, almost, covered the bandage on her leg.

She couldn't forget the tall, dark mysterious man, who had rescued her earlier. His features and the sensuous feel of his hands on her legs were still playing havoc with her mind.

Nicholas, Marina's husband arrived after eight 0'clock. He was a handsome man in his own unique way. He spoke pleasantly to Phillipa during the drive. She was still feeling depressed about her ankle.

"What's wrong with your ankle Phillipa? When did you hurt yourself?" Phillipa smiled at Nicholas' slow Greek accent. His English was not as perfect as Marina's.

"I trod on some kind of shell today. It's nothing really. I was walking along the beach when it happened."

She didn't mention the man that had helped her. She didn't think it was necessary.

"Are you fine now? If not, I can get a doctor to look at it. He's good." Phillipa shook her head.

"No, Nicholas. I'm all right. Don't worry, honestly. I'll let you know if it hurts too much, but it really is better." He nodded, understanding Phillipa's words.

The journey didn't take long. It had taken approximately thirty minutes to get to the home of Nicholas and Marina.

The house stood on its own private plot of land overlooking bright blue waters of the sea in the distance. Phillipa was astounded to see such a magnificent house. The house's white washed walls shone brightly in the day's dying sun.

As Phillipa emerged from the car, Marina came out to greet her.

"Phillipa, welcome to our home. How have you been today?" Marina gently guided her towards the house.
"Oh dear. What has happened to your leg? Did you fall?" Phillipa laughed, feeling slightly embarrassed again.

"I'm fine. I trod on a huge shell. I cut my foot and sprained my ankle. It's nothing. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I wore the bandage in case it swelled too much." She could hear laughter from inside. Peering into a large window, she could see a room full of people, laughing and chatting to one another.

"Come inside. I'll get you a drink and you can meet my family before we sit down for dinner. Come. I'll introduce you to Maman and Baba." Phillipa smiled. It seemed strange to hear her friend say mother and father in Greek. The atmosphere of Cypriot life was becoming very real and homely.

Phillipa walked up a few steps to the entrance of Marina's house. Entering into a large, bright room, she saw faces she didn't recognize, except for one. He was looking directly at her. She stared back at him. She couldn't breathe or move.

Looking at him, she could see how tall he was in a short-sleeved white shirt and cream trousers. He looked stunningly handsome. Her heart pumped erratically as her eyes stared deeply into those of the man that had helped her earlier today. She acknowledged him with a simple expression and he widened his smile making her feel like he was enjoying every minute that he was here.

His mature features and tall masculine body suggested he was in his early to mid-thirties. Phillipa stared at his clean-shaven face. His piercing brown eyes stared back at her.

Why was he here? Who was he? She didn't think her answers were going to be answered in the immediate future.

She looked at Marina, but she was too engrossed in finding her mother and father that she didn't notice Phillipa looking at someone else.

Phillipa dazedly followed Marina further into the house. Her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't think of anything else other than the man she had seen.

Marina stood at a bar and then turned to hand her a glass of white wine. She then led her to an elderly couple who were sitting outside watching some children play.

"Maman, Baba. This is my friend, Phillipa." Phillipa smiled at the elderly couple. The lady rose from her seat and pulled her towards her, kissing her on both cheeks.

"How are you dear? Very nice to meet you at last. We've heard so much about you." Marina's father stood up to kiss her too.

"Happy to meet you." Phillipa stared at the elderly man and thought she saw a resemblance of someone in him, but she couldn't think why.

"Phillipa come with me. It's time to sit down for dinner. I'll introduce you to my brother and my two sisters when we get to the dining room. In fact, you'll be sitting next to my brother, so you'll meet him soon enough." Phillipa gave Marina a curious stare. What was she up to? She had that secretive look on her face.

She began to remember how Marina had smiled like that once, when she'd set Phillipa up with a boy at college in England. It'd been embarrassing, but funny afterwards. Poor Marina. She was such a lovable person, but her match making hadn't been that impressive.

Phillipa was shown to her seat at the dinning table. She looked around, watching eagerly for the tall, dark stranger to appear. She wanted to know who he was and she was determined to find out.

It was not too long, for as she began sipping her wine, he sat down next to her.

"We meet again." He whispered gently into her ear, so nobody could hear.

"You can't sit there. This seat is taken. Marina's brother will be sitting there." She smiled carefully and tried to look calm in front of everyone.

"I think I should introduce myself if we are going to be bumping into one another like this. I am Demetri. You are Phillipa, Marina's friend from England? Am I right?" She nodded, her mouth wide open, unable to believe that this man was who he said he was.

"Are you sure you said your name was Demetri?"

"Yes. That's right." She couldn't believe it.

"So, you are Marina's brother? Am I right?" His smile told her how much he resembled his father.

"You are correct. I'm pleased to meet you at long last. I've heard a lot about you from Marina. She's shown me many pictures of you too." She felt embarrassed all of a sudden. He had known who she was earlier today, but he hadn't said a word to her. Her cheeks turned red, as she remembered how he had touched her.

"Well, that's nice to know. Why didn't you tell me that earlier? You've obviously, had a good laugh about me by now." He touched her hand gently, whilst it lay on her lap under the table. Her heart missed a beat and pumped erratically.

"Look, I didn't have a choice. You were so angry with me, because I carried you that I didn't have time to tell you who I was. Anyway, your ankle was in a bad way. I had to see to that first." She smiled, not wanting anyone to hear or see what they were discussing. She pushed his hand away quickly.

Dinner went well. Marina introduced her to her two sisters, Sara and Despo. They were very charming and polite to her. Their children were seated on another table in the garden. The atmosphere was delightful and easy-going. She was finally enjoying herself again and thoughts of Jake didn't enter into her mind once.

Although, she sat next to Demetri, they didn't talk to one another again. He was busy talking to his father and sisters in Greek and she was chatting to Marina's mother, who spoke English very well. The sound of Demetri's Greek accent was deep and clearly spoken words were slowly said. She watched him speak and laugh. There was something about him that appealed to her, but she wasn't sure what it was.

Later, after desert and coffee, she strolled into the garden. It was dark and the moon was full, as she strolled down the large garden. There was a bench seat surrounded by trees and flowers at the far end. She sat down listening to the crickets. It was the most peaceful part of the garden. There was nobody else outside. The children had gone inside long ago.

She sat thinking of her first day in Cyprus. Although, she had sprained her ankle, she was still glad she had come.

She lay her head back with her eyes closed. After a couple of minutes, she heard footsteps.

"There you are. My sister sent me to look for you." It was Demetri. She sat up and straightened herself.

"Did she? Tell her, I'll be there in a minute." He sat next to her.

"Look, we haven't exactly started off too well, so I want to make it up to you. Have you been to Cyprus before?" She shook her head. "I didn't think so. I can show you some fabulous places Phillipa. I'd feel very happy to take you on a tour of Cyprus. What do you say?" She shivered. She felt excited at the idea, but she couldn't go anywhere with this man.

"I don't think so. Marina said she would organize something for us to do whilst I was here." She lied to him.

"Marina knows she is pregnant and due any day. She isn't able to go out in the heat for too long. Once she has the baby she won't have time on her hands to take you sight seeing. Look, I insist. I'll meet you on the beach outside your bungalow tomorrow morning at ten 0'clock."

She was about to say 'no' when he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. She could not move a muscle. She just sat there letting him kiss her. His mouth was smooth and soft. He moved his lips gently over hers and then lifted his head.

"Now remember. Tomorrow morning at ten 0'clock on the beach. All right?" It didn't matter anymore. She gave in, nodding her head slowly, in a trance, as he moved away from her and walked off down the garden and into the house.

To be continued.........