LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

      AS SOON as the plane touched down in Athens Charlotte felt her stomach begin to twist and tighten with nerves. It had been a pleasant flight, all things considered. Certainly the luxury of Damon’s private jet had more than a little to do with it, but in spite of that she couldn’t help noticing a softening of his attitude towards her. He had chatted to her on neutral subjects during the times she had been unable to sleep, his demeanour showing no sign of his earlier anger or resentment. She wondered if it was for the benefit of his attentive staff or whether he was genuinely trying to put the past aside and build a bridge of friendship with her.

      Their connecting flight to Santorini was leaving in just under an hour, which meant that she would come face to face with Damon’s mother for the first time in four years. She wondered how the older woman would receive her, especially since Charlotte had kept the existence of her only grandchild a secret. She also couldn’t help wondering how Damon had explained his hasty marriage. His mother was too astute to be fooled into thinking it was a love match. Alexandrine was close to her son and would soon see for herself the cracks in his relationship with his new wife.

      ‘Are we dere yet?’ Emily asked with a sleepy yawn as their luggage was transferred by Damon’s staff.

      ‘Not quite, darling,’ Charlotte said, cuddling her close. ‘We have one more short flight and then you will be able to see your granny.’

      Damon met her eyes briefly and he gave her one of his slow smiles. ‘Would you like me to hold her for you?’ he offered. ‘You look tired.’

      ‘OK…thanks…’ She handed Emily to him, her hands brushing against his. She felt the exchange of sexual energy and her skin began to tighten all over in reaction.

      ‘My mother will be so thrilled to see Emily,’ he said as he stroked his daughter’s sleepy head where it was resting against his shoulder. ‘You have no need to be concerned over anything else.’

      She gnawed at her lip without answering.

      ‘Truly, Charlotte,’ he assured her. ‘The past is not going to be mentioned while we are here.’

      ‘That doesn’t mean it’s going to go away,’ she said as the flight crew assembled prior to boarding.

      Damon watched as she moved towards the boarding gate, her shoulders bowed with exhaustion, her chestnut hair falling in cascading waves about her shoulders, the normally smooth creamy skin of her face now looking pinched and white.

      He felt something catch in his chest, like a small sharp tug on the feelings he had locked away four years ago. Although he hadn’t told her he had loved her in so many words, her bubbly nature and enthusiasm for life had been so refreshing. She had captivated him from the very first moment their eyes had met across a crowded restaurant. He had felt a connection that had been instant, electric and enthralling and, even now, in spite of what she had done, he could still feel it beating like a pulse deep inside him.

      Maybe she was right, he thought as he moved towards the boarding gate with his tiny daughter fast asleep in his arms.

      The past was not going to go away.

      It would stay with them like a menacing presence, casting a long dark shadow of uncertainty over their lives…

      The Latousakis residence was in the traditional settlement of Finikia, just east of the village of Oia, the starkly whitewashed buildings in the bright summer sunlight making Charlotte quickly shield her eyes. The inimitable blue of the Aegean Sea sparkled below, the faint smell of donkeys and fish and salt in the air bringing back a host of bittersweet memories.

      She had arrived on the island four years ago with a backpack and had fallen in love on the second day, and with Damon as her guide had explored all the tourist spots. They had sat and watched what were reputed to be the best sunsets in the world by the Kastro walls, jostling for a position just like everyone else, their smiles only for each other.

      They had swum at the tiny port of Ammoudi, and most of the black sand beaches, glorying in the heat of the summer and the fire of their love. He had taught her the language of love and the choreography of mind-blowing sex, all within the space of a few short weeks. She had never been happier; each bright sunny day had been a gift as she had basked in the glorious experience of being adored by a man who was perfect in every way.

      It was painful to be back where it had all started. It brought the loss of it all so sharply into focus after years of trying to keep it out of sight and out of mind.

      Alexandrine was waiting for them in the doorway, her arms outstretched for Emily who had not long ago woken.

      ‘Are you my granny?’

      Charlotte saw the bright tears in Damon’s mother’s eyes as she reached for her only grandchild and felt a lump come to her already tight throat.

      ‘Oh, my darling one,’ the older woman crooned, her voice breaking over the words. ‘You are the image of Eleni.’

      Damon smiled and bent down to kiss his mother. ‘She is a beautiful child, Mama.’

      Alexandrine turned her dark brown eyes to Charlotte, her expression warm and welcoming. ‘It is good to see you, Charlotte. I am so glad you are here and a part of our family.’

      Charlotte found it hard to know what to say in response. She stretched her lips into a smile and offered a hand but Alexandrine ignored it to press a soft kiss to both of her cheeks, with Emily still locked in her embrace.

      ‘It’s good to be here again…’ she mumbled.

      Emily rubbed at her eyes. ‘Do you want to see

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