Read Online The Holiday by Erica James - Free Book Online Page B

it did was chip away at her self-esteem. But that was later, much later, when he must have realised that she wanted more from him than he was able to give.
    Commitment.
    That was when he must have decided it was time to move on. For him the fun was over. Commitment meant being serious. Commitment meant acting like a grown-up, and that was something Alan wasn’t very good at. He liked playing the part of charming, boyish rogue. Seemingly he could only do that by having a relationship with a girlfriend who was merely passing through rather than a wife who was here to stay.
     
    Mark saw Theo before his friend caught sight of him. Flash git, he thought, seeing how much he stood out from the crowd of stockily built taxi-drivers, the older men fingering their worry-beads, the younger ones smoking and chatting up the holiday reps. He pushed his trolley towards Theo. ‘Hasn’t anyone told you that men over forty shouldn’t wear their trousers so tight?’ he said.
    Theo’s face broke into a wide grin. He removed his sunglasses and embraced Mark in the ebullient, rousing hug Greek men find so acceptable, but which would have the majority of Englishmen running in the opposite direction.
    Mark pushed him away. ‘Get off, you exhibitionist. You only do that to annoy me.’
    ‘Yes, but it gives me such pleasure to know that I’m embarrassing you.’ Then, looking at the lone bag on Mark’s trolley and the clothes he was wearing — faded jeans with an old T-shirt, which even Mark had to admit had seen better days — he said, ‘Is that all the luggage you have brought with you?’
    ‘I’ve come here to write, Theo. Bear that in mind, won’t you? Now, can we hurry up and get the hell out of here? There’s somebody I don’t want to see again for as long as I — ’
    But he was interrupted by a loud voice he had hoped never to hear again. It was that awful dolly-babe woman yoo-hooing across the crowded arrivals hall with Silent Bob pushing a trolley of Louis Vuitton cases. She came over to him.
    ‘Gawd, it’s a real bun-fight round that conveyor belt, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘And you were so quick getting away from the carousel I thought we wouldn’t have the chance to arrange a little get-together.’ Then, peering at Theo over the top of her sunglasses and giving him a more than passing look of interest, she said, ‘Is he your taxi-driver?’
    Mark opened his mouth to put her right, but Theo was ahead of him. With a respectful click of his heels, he stepped forward and said, ‘I am Theodore Vlamakis. I am not just ordinary driver to Meester Saint James. I am his personal chauffeur. Meester Saint James very important man.’
    She stared at Mark with renewed interest. She was clearly impressed. But Mark was furious. ‘Thank you, Theodore,’ he said, with heavy emphasis. ‘Perhaps we could get going now.’
    ‘And your friends?’
    ‘My what?’ hissed Mark.
    Theo grinned like a simpleton. ‘Could we not give them a lift?’
    ‘He speaks very good English, doesn’t he?’
    ‘Better than is good for him at times,’ answered Mark coolly. ‘But he’s forgetting the size of my car. Sadly it isn’t big enough for all of us. Not with so much luggage. Isn’t that right, Theodore?’ He gave Theo a warning look that dared him to contradict what he had just said.
    Theo bowed neatly from the waist. ‘As usual, Meester Saint James, you are right and I am wrong. Come, give me your luggage and I will keep my big stupid mouth shut while you say a nice bye-bye to your friends.’
     
    ‘What the hell did you think you were doing back there?’ demanded Mark when they were driving away from the airport.
    ‘I’m sorry, but I could not help myself. Your face. Ah, it was the picture. Now tell me all about her.’
    ‘I’d rather not. She’s an experience I’d prefer to put behind me.’ Nevertheless, he told Theo about the crazy conversation he had been subjected to throughout his flight.
    ‘And her name, can it