Nothing Left to Lose - Part Two

Chapter Two

Despite sitting and talking to her mother into the early hours, Heidi still woke early the next morning, which she was glad about. After all, she was in a warm sun kissed paradise for a very short amount of time. Jumping up, she showered, then packed a bag for the beach. It was silent in the house as she made her way downstairs, and again Heidi was glad about that. She appreciated the chance to put some distance, some space between her and her mother or rather her intricate love life. Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, she called a taxi and left.

The closest beach was as long and as white as the beach of her memories. She stopped the cab as soon as she could see the sea, then strolled along the front enjoying the sights and sounds that confronted her. At a small booth she bought a grilled sandwich and a coffee, then carried on her route to the sand. She didn’t stop until she saw a perfectly positioned sun bed, just under a shade, equidistant between the road and the sea. It was still early, but already the tourists were flocking to the beach in droves. So she headed towards it, and settled to enjoy the warmth and the peace and quiet of the location, and to read her book. She was determined not to get embroiled in work today. This was her chance to relax. She pulled off her t-shirt and shorts and reclined in her new bikini. Not the most body confident, a designer working in a world of glamorous models was enough to make her conscious of her excess weight and curves. But no one knew her there, so she relaxed and lounged back.

Her phone buzzed after she’d been there an hour. She wasn’t going to check it, but when she glanced down she saw a message from Sadie her best mate.

                “Enjoying the sunshine girlfriend? Dying to hear all about your mother’s Lothario. Call me when you get chance?”

The message made her laugh, was there anyone as perfect as a best friend for knowing JUST what to say at the right time? She pocketed the phone after a quick response “Of course. Tonight, xxx”. Half of her had hoped that it was an apology from Casey; she’d spent part of the previous evening trying to explain her relationship with him to her mother. Badly. He’d stormed out and not even called or texted since. And it hadn’t really bothered her. Her mother had asked her if she loved him. No. Did her heart surge when he walked in the room? When her mother had asked that she’d looked at her in surprise, that had seen her mother’s face drop. Was it that bad?

Leaning back on the lounger she closed her eyes, she didn’t believe her heart would ever pound at the sight of a man, but she could accept there was no spark in her tryst with Casey.

It was wonderful to feel the sun kissing her skin, and even more the sand running through her toes. Whenever Heidi was at home, she forgot how beautiful it was to be close to beautiful beaches and warm seas. Today, this was her time. So she once again switched off, to home, to work...and to Casey.

As lunchtime approached she strolled into the sea to cool off. The sea here was shallow for as far as she could see, and she loved the warm water flowing around her ankles and calves. She was reapplying sunscreen when she spotted her mother approaching a bar on the fringe of the sand.

Pulling an aqua coloured sarong around her waist, she strolled across the beach to meet her.

                “Cesare is coming later; he called me an hour ago.” Barbara Mortimer, the epitome of glamour, was perched on a high stool at the wooden bar in a bright kaftan and wide legged white linen trousers. She’d removed the large straw sunhat, but the dark sunshades still covered her eyes.

Heidi nodded, pulling up a seat next to her, “I’m looking forward to meeting him. I need to know if he’s good enough for you!”

Barbara laughed, “Talk about role reversal!” She had a glass of some sparkling drink in front of her and sipped it through the straw. “I always did think that I’d be planning your or Lucas’ wedding by now, rather than my own...I’m starting to doubt that either of you will ever marry now, and I’ll never have grandchildren!”

Heidi bit back the pain that this conversation always brought, blinking furiously to hide tears, she turned to her mother and smiled an elusive smile, knowing deep inside that she’d likely never marry...or have children.

A taxi took them to what Heidi could only presume was a very exclusive restaurant at a small harbour town along the coast. As they entered, her mother instantly changed, her features softening as she turned to wave. Cesare was sat at a prime table overlooking the stunning coastline and he stood as they approached. Which almost made Heidi laugh, as he was a lot shorter than she expected, but with his dark curly hair without a hint of grey and thick equally dark moustache, he looked every inch the clichéd Greek man, and his smile, which widened when he saw them made him instantly likeable, instantly friendly.

                “Ah Barbara!” He gushed reaching for her hand to kiss it elegantly. “If I didn’t know different I’d swear this was your beautiful younger sister...” he turned to kiss Heidi’s hand, before raising his eyes back to her mother, “but as it is you do not look old enough to have a daughter this age!”

Heidi chuckled, for some reason this man was loveable, his flattery genuine, she knew that from anyone else she’d have raised her eyebrows and walked away. But she could see how strong the affection was between the two.

                “So!” he started pulling seats out for them both to sit, “tell me how you are agápi mou.” My love. Barbara smiled in his attention and Heidi suddenly felt like she was in the way! She was grateful for the menu that needed perusing, anything rather than watching the two make eyes at each other. She’d been studying it for just a few seconds when she felt a presence to her right, heat flushed up her face before she’d even looked up to see who was staring at her.

Cosmo was floored, he’d joined Cesare for dinner many times, but never had he seen the woman who had attracted his eyes from the very second he stepped into the restaurant. He imagined the older woman was Barbara, Cesare’s fiancée, whilst he’d not met her, that was logical. But the other woman. He sighed, from her auburn hair piled up on her head, to her slender neck, straight nose and full lips; he could only describe her as a dream. She was wearing a dress that barely concealed the luscious curves that he instantly wanted to run his hands over. He’d never felt such a strong attraction to a woman before.

Then she looked up, she’d sensed him staring. The other couple were two besotted with each other to notice. Instead, as he wove his way between the tables towards the three, he found he was getting lost in her eyes as she studied him as brazenly as he eyeballed her. And it felt as though someone had just turned the air conditioning off.

Beautiful. If he hadn’t been, then Heidi knew she’d be able to breathe, to move, to look away. But this man mesmerised her, and he was walking straight towards her, sliding elegantly between the tables. She knew she’d never seen a man this beautiful before, he was tall but he carried the suit he wore well, he was broad, yet not huge, his skin olive, and his dark hair reached to his collar. But it was those dark eyes that entranced her, warm dark eyes that fit perfectly with his angled cheek bones and square stubble-darkened jaw.

He’d almost reached the table when Cesare spotted him and jumped up, and his eyes retained that glint as he saw her still staring, then he was engulfed in Cesare’s embrace.

The hug was prolonged and Heidi could see that Cesare was whispering into the other man’s ear, but eventually they separated, and both turned to the now very curious women.

                “Beautiful Barbara, this is my son-in-law and business partner, Cosmo Fotakis. Cosmo, this is my fiancée Barbara Mortimer, and her equally beautiful daughter Heidi! I asked him to join us for dinner as both my children are away.”

Son-in-law, Heidi couldn’t fully process that, other than to realise that the title reinforced what the ring she’d suddenly spotted on the man’s left hand had hinted at. Whilst he was beautiful, god-like, he was also married. Taken.

When her mother stood to greet the man, she got to her feet too. But it was with some reluctance that she accepted the embrace and kiss of greeting from Cosmo, and as his rough cheek brushed hers, his lips connecting with her soft skin, Heidi actually gasped as a spark of electricity ravished her body. Pulling away she met Cosmo’s eyes and saw the same stunned expression on his face. He felt it too. But before she’d processed that thought he had quickly guarded his emotions and lowered himself in to the empty chair beside her.

Heidi had never struggled for conversation, she was well educated and had seen and experienced a wide variety of situations. She enjoyed debating, and was well versed on current affairs.  But as she relaxed back into her seat, she was at a loss for words, not a feeling she was exactly used to. But she needed time to compose herself, to work out what she wanted to say, so she sat back and watched the others converse. It was so obvious that Cesare was captivated with her mother, he was continually attentive to her every whim, and she noted how Cosmo’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he watched his father-in-law, at the same time revealing perfectly straight white teeth. Was there nothing imperfect about this man?

They were well into their first course when Cosmo turned to Heidi. “Are you always this quiet?”

His voice was devoid of accent, but his pronunciation was exact, a sign that English was not his natural language, not that it wasn’t impeccable. And it was husky, sensual. She had to shake herself free of that. She wasn’t someone who dabbled with married men. She wouldn’t do that. So instead, she shrugged trying to feign a casual smile, “this has all been a bit unexpected for me!” She gestured in the direction of her mother and Cesare who were embroiled in an intimate conversation.

He nodded knowingly, “it is strange also to see my grumpy father-in-law so besotted, it’s amusing!”

She gulped awkwardly, unable to avoid the topic any longer, “so you’re married to Cesare’s daughter?”

Cosmo studied her for a moment longer than necessary, then smiled an unconvincing smile, “yes, Eleni.”

She struggled to get over the disappointment that flooded through her, despite it all, she was hoping that she’d interpreted things wrongly, eventually adding, “I know so little about his family. I only found out about him yesterday, and met him an hour ago.”

 “It’s unusual, hey? For the child to have to approve the parent’s choice!” When she smiled, he leaned back in his chair, and continued, “Cesare has two children, Eleni, she’d twenty nine, and the apple of her father’s eye. And her younger brother is called Nikos. He’s twenty three and in Oxford studying Chemistry, a Masters; he has the brains of the family.”

Heidi was captivated by his attention, smiling awkwardly, she asked, “and Eleni?”

Cosmo laughed out loud, then grinned at her, “what does she do? Now I KNOW you’ve heard nothing about my wife! She’s a fulltime attraction!” When Heidi looked puzzled, he added, “She spends her life looking good, she does an occasional modelling contract, but mostly, she spends my money and shops!”

Heidi was horrified, he was married, the first man she’d felt an attraction to in years, was married, to a model...presumably an extremely beautiful woman...who had no need to work...jealous much?