Read Online Those Summer Nights (Corfu, Greek Island Romance) by Mandy Baggot - Free Book Online Page A

her hand.
    ‘ Yiayia ,’ he addressed the small woman. ‘Ask Tomas to get something to clear this up.’ He stood up, taking her hand with him. ‘And the first aid kit.’
    ‘Are you alright, Immy?’ Harry was out of his chair and standing next to her but all Imogen could focus on was the man holding her hand. He had olive skin, the darkest of brown eyes and a strong jawline specked with stubble. It wasn’t the need for food that was kicking her insides into action now.
    ‘I’m fine,’ she said to Harry. She kept her eyes on the man with his fingers touching hers and then addressed him. ‘Honestly, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.’
    He snorted. ‘If it were fine I would not have asked for the first aid kit.’
    She wasn’t sure she liked his tone. ‘I can manage,’ she stated firmly. ‘I don’t need a first aid kit, just a serviette.’ She turned her head to her brother. ‘Harry, pass me a napkin.’
    The man shook his head. ‘Why are you English so stubborn?’
    ‘Why are you Greeks so sure you know how to manage everything?’ She let out an irritated sigh. ‘I’m sure that’s at the crux of the financial crisis.’
    Imogen’s face instantly flamed in shame. Why had she said that? It was completely uncalled for and she had no excuse apart from being unused to and a little uneasy about someone trying to tell her what to do.
    For a brief moment, as the man’s eyes darkened further still, she thought he was going to smash another glass in fury at her comment. But then he smiled and let go of her hand.
    ‘I apologise,’ he said, taking a step back. ‘I will leave you to your stiff upper lip and constant clock-watching.’
    She swallowed. The very first local she’d spoken to and she’d insulted him. When he was trying to help her.
    ‘Immy, let me have a look at it,’ Harry suggested.
    She watched the man turn his back on her and she took a step forward.
    ‘Excuse me,’ she called.
    He turned back to her enquiringly.
    ‘Thank you, for trying to help.’ She paused. ‘I’m sorry I was rude. It’s my first day here and to be really honest, the drive from the airport has exhausted me more than a trek across the Andes.’
    His mouth shifted from a firm line into a half smile. This was better. She stuck out her hand – the injured one – and quickly took it back, extending the other one instead.
    ‘I’m Imogen Charlton,’ she said.
    He regarded her left hand until finally he took it in his and gave it a firm shake.
    ‘Hello.’ Harry’s voice broke in. ‘I’m Harry Charlton.’ He offered his hand to the Greek. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
    The man was still holding her hand, his eyes fixed on hers and she wasn’t sure he’d even heard Harry speak. She flexed her fingers and he released his hold, quickly moving his hand to grasp Harry’s.
    ‘Dimitriou,’ he said. ‘Panos Dimitriou.’ He shook Harry’s hand.
    ‘Do you live here? In Acharavi?’ Harry continued, as bright as ever.
    The man shook his head. ‘No.’
    ‘That’s a shame,’ Harry said. ‘We’ve just moved here.’
    Imogen jumped in. ‘For a few weeks…’
    Harry looked at her defiantly. ‘For the summer.’
    ‘I have the first aid kit.’ The little woman was back with a white box bearing the Red Cross logo that looked as if it hadn’t been opened since the eighties.
    ‘Thank you,’ Imogen said. ‘But we’re OK now.’ She picked a napkin off the table and pressed it to her wound.
    ‘My name is Elpida,’ she said. ‘And this is Pano, my grandson.’
    ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ Imogen said.
    ‘I’ve just bought a restaurant,’ Harry announced.
    ‘Oh, my congratulations! That is wonderful for you!’ Elpida grabbed Harry into a fierce embrace that had him wobbling on his feet.
    ‘Thank you. We’re really looking forward to getting stuck in to the renovation work,’ Harry said, extricating himself. ‘We’re going to reopen in a week.’
    ‘What?!’ Imogen couldn’t help the