Emily and Fidelio left the next morning. Standing on the dock with Tallia, Costa watched them go with a smile of pure delight. The women took their time saying their goodbyes, while he and Fidelio loaded supplies onto the small boat that had a cabin suitable for two people. Now they were finally leaving.
Costa didn't expect the lovebirds would spend much time aboard the boat. He knew his brother and Fidelio was accustomed to living in the most luxurious surroundings, even if he grew up in a simple home with people who could best be described as the salt of the earth. He suspected Fidelio and Emily would stay in hotels along the way and use the boat only to island hop. It didn't trouble him in the least, Costa was happy for them as long as they stayed gone as long as possible.
Hiding his wolfish thoughts behind a bland expression, Costa looked down at Tallia. He caught her arm and steered her around to the Range Rover as soon as Fidelio and Emily were out of sight. Tallia fell into step with him, a comfortable, almost familiar presence at his side.
Costa felt a weird sense of rightness having her near, as if she should always be there at his side. Her quiet, serene beauty suited him. After the past two peaceful days, he could see spending a great deal of time with her, years even, and the thought did not appall him in the slightest.
"I can walk on my own now," Tallia said, though she did not pull her arm away from his supporting hand.
"Yes, I know, you seem almost completely recovered," he agreed.
"So you can let go now," she remarked almost reluctantly.
"Are you quite sure that would be wise?"
She stopped on the cobblestone street to give him a questioning look, her eyes like lilacs.
"You are not fully recovered are you?"
"Well… no, I guess not," she murmured, a slight blush giving delightful warmth to her cheeks.
"No, I didn't think so," he said gravely.
"You're teasing me," she accused softly.
"I would never, not where your health is concerned," he told her in his most serious manner. "However, as long as you are not fully recovered, I think it best I keep an eye, and perhaps a hand on you?"
"Oh, of course," she agreed, her eyes sparkling as she saw through his solicitousness to the subtle flirtation.
"Would you care to see something of the village before we return to the house?" he offered, relieved when she quickly agreed. He didn't want to lose her just yet, and if they returned to the house he was afraid she would politely retire to her rooms for the rest of the day. He wouldn't have another chance to be with her until tonight. That would hardly do, Costa thought. He wanted to be with her because he craved her company and the simple gratification that came at being able to look at her.
They spent the better part of the day wandering around the tiny village, exploring at their leisure. There was very little to see, considering the population was less than fifty, but of course Costa knew everyone. And he managed to introduce Tallia to practically everyone by the time they were through.
Costa dragged the day out, strolling Tallia along the water and showing her the only building of any consequence on the island. It was an ancient church dedicated to fisherman and had once been a temple to the moon goddess Selene, after whom the island was named.
When he finally ran out of wizen old villagers who spoke not a single word of English to foist on her, and unremarkable houses to stare at, he took her to his absolute last resort. It was the village’s only restaurant, a dingy room that was part of a seldom-used inn, and ordered a bottle of the very poor wine made on the island.
Tallia sipped a glass of the sour brew valiantly, until she caught him staring at her expectantly and realized he had not touched his own glass. She burst into laughter, as it dawned on her that he had no intention of drinking the awful wine, and they darted out of the inn while the old man who owned the place wasn't looking, giggling like hooligans.
Costa took his lumps like a man, laughing and fending off her blows as Tallia punched him lightly on the arms and chest while calling him a wretch. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close and barely managed to stop himself from kissing her soundly on her smiling mouth as he playfully restrained her.
He knew he probably could have kissed her, but for some reason he hesitated, deciding it was best to go slowly with Tallia. She seemed so fey and otherworldly to him, like something precious that should be savored. He noticed already that she was not practiced or even comfortable around men, and wanted to give her time to feel totally at ease with him. After mishandling her when they first met, Costa was determined not to bungle things again with her. So he took her back to the car, jokingly telling her she had just passed another test- and perhaps, he thought privately, she had.
Costa drove them back to the house at a snail’s pace, and they laughed almost the entire way as Tallia teased him mercilessly. At the house they parted company with the understanding that they would share dinner on the terrace later.
Dinner was a lighthearted affair, even more so than the night before when they shared it with Fidelio and Emily. They talked about food and wine and travel, places they had visited and places they wished to see around the world. Sometimes they were just quiet, enjoying each other’s company and the food Calamini had prepared for them.
The food, as always, was excellent, and Costa plied Tallia liberally with wine. Once the meal was over, they lingered by the railing admiring the stars. He pointed out constellations and explained how fishermen navigated using them like a road map.
Later, as he took her upstairs, Tallia leaned heavily against his arm, but Costa left her alone at her door without so much as a peck on the cheek. It was hellish exercising such restraint, but he knew a woman like her needed to be wooed slowly, elegantly, not groped in a corridor and rushed into bed like a one-night-stand. He felt she was worth the wait. The wistful look in her eyes as he bid her goodnight made the discomfort he suffered, while he shivered through an ice-cold shower before going to bed, almost tolerable.
For Your Love Only Page 12