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from the terrace. I wil show you.'
    'I real y don't think…'
    'Is that why you came to Thania—to think?' He straightened in a leisurely
    manner, moving back a little. Offering her, she realised, free passage past
    him. 'Then stop thinking, thespinis . Learn to relax. Begin—to feel.'
    'Perhaps, then,' she said. Adding primly, 'But I don't want to take you away
    from your work.'
    'You will not,' he said. 'But my work, alas, wil take me away from you. So,
    you see,' he added gently, 'there is nothing to fear.'
    Zoe stiffened. 'I'm not in the least afraid,' she told him curtly. 'I can't believe your employer lists harassing tourists among your duties.'
    'Ah.' He sent her a glance that glinted with amusement. 'But I am not always
    on duty.' There was a tingling pause, then he turned, and walked to the main
    door. 'Make your decision, thespinis ,' he added briskly. 'I am waiting to lock up.'
    Biting her lip, she fol owed him out of the house, and round the terrace to
    the gate she'd noticed earlier, which he courteously unlatched for her.

    'I suggest you come back this way,' he said. 'The track that Stavros' wife
    uses is rather too steep.'
    'Thank you,' Zoe said coldly.
    ' Parakalo .' He grinned at her. 'It has been my pleasure.'
    As she descended the steps she was conscious of his gaze fol owing her.
    Knew the exact moment he turned away, as if a wire joining them had
    suddenly snapped.
    A few minutes later, she heard the sound of a Jeep starting up, and driving
    away.
    Alone at last, she thought. And was shocked to discover her relief tinged by
    something very like regret.

CHAPTER THREE

    I'm making altogether too much of this, Zoe told herself determinedly. He's
    gone. And it's time I pul ed myself together, and forgot about him.
    She'd had a wonderful swim, and now, having applied sun lotion to every
    exposed portion of her skin, she was stretched out on her towel with her
    book. But she could not concentrate on the printed words. They seemed to
    dance away out of reach, leaving her to focus almost helplessly on a dark
    face, with eyes that smiled, looking up at her from the foot of a marble
    staircase.
    In a way it was understandable that he should be imprinted so firmly on her
    mind. After al , he'd caught her in the act of having a humiliating snoop on
    private property. He could have handed her over to the police, or even
    exacted a very different form of retribution, she thought, swal owing.
    But she had to put al that behind her now, and plan her next move instead.
    I'm here for a purpose, she told herself strongly. And I'm certainly not a
    lonely heart tourist looking for a holiday romance with some Greek version
    of Casanova.
    Or even a mild flirtation, she made the hasty addendum. Although, to
    someone like him, it would probably be as natural as breathing. See a
    woman. Chat her up. Tel her that she's beautiful and desirable. Make her
    day.
    Wel , it hasn't made my day, she thought, broodingly.
    She sat up, rummaging in her bag for her bottle of water. There wasn't a
    great deal left, she realised with a frown. She would have to ration herself.
    She tossed her book aside, and turned onto her front, undoing the clasp of
    her bikini top. A little serious sunbathing, she decided, and then she would
    go back to the hotel, and sit in the shade with a cold drink.
    She pil owed her head on her folded arms, and closed her eyes. The
    murmur of the sea seemed to fil her head, soothing away the doubts and
    alarms of the day.
    It's just so perfect here, she thought drowsily as everything slid away. It
    seemed that she was standing in front of Gina's picture, stepping into it like
    Alice, and entering its world. Retracing her steps in slow motion through
    every room. Taking a dream-like possession.
    She did not fal deeply asleep. She was aware of sand under her fingers, the
    texture of the towel beneath her bare breasts, and the strength of the sun on
    her back, like the caress of warm hands. She sighed a little, wriggling