Page 69 of Memories of Santorini

The group decided on another late start at eleven o’clock, and when someone suggested a turn in the hot tub, Angela finally excused herself.

“I’m not as young as you,” she said with a smile when Carter protested.

“I’ll be quiet when I come in,” Sienna said, making it clear she was staying.

Angela laughed. “No one can be quiet after margaritas.” Carter was already making them.

Though she was tired, she wanted to call Xandros and let him know the time for tomorrow. She wanted to hear his voice, calling him after climbing into her bed.

“They’re not an early bunch,” she told him.

His deep, thrilling voice sent shivers through her. “Eleven is good. It will give me time to make a few calls after our coffee.” Then he added in a soft, delicious tone, “Come early.”

“Thank you for today. They loved it.” She’d loved it all, walking beside him, eating next to him, remembering how they used to feed each other morsels of food when they were young.

“It was my pleasure to show you.” He emphasized the word, meaning so much more than the tour. “I wish you were here now.”

“I wish I was too.”

He murmured so sensually that she felt as if he’d run his fingertips across her skin, “I could come down and pick you up. No one would ever know.”

God, how she wanted it. But… “Sienna usually peeks in when she returns. I can’t risk the bed being empty.”

“Alas, my bed is so empty.”

There was more talk, not actual phone sex, just desires to spend more time together. The call left her feeling delightfully sexual in a way she hadn’t for years.

* * *

When Sienna sawher mother was awake, she perched on the edge of the bed. “I like Xandros,” she said, her gaze a little blurred, her brain slightly fuzzy.

“I like Carter too.” Her mother touched her hand.

They weren’t touchy-feely, but this was nice. “It’s just a vacation thing.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, nervous even though she didn’t know why she should be.

“But he’s in San Jose. If you wanted…” Mom didn’t finish, but the suggestion was there.

“I’m too busy with work.” But what would it be like? She felt a giddy thrill in her stomach, even if it was impossible. She had to be satisfied with what she had now. “Do you like Xandros?”

Her mom blinked, looked up at the ceiling, as if the answer was written there. “I like him very much.”

“Did you like him when you knew him before?”

Her mother blushed, the lamplight highlighting her pinkened skin. “I did back then too.”

“But he lives out here and you’re back home. Could it turn into something more?”

Her mother’s smile lit up her face. “I chiseled your father out of a very nice settlement. If I want to come back, I can even fly first class again.”

Sienna giggled, her hand over her mouth. “It’s like a long-distance booty call, you naughty woman.”

Mom laughed with her. “We’ll have to see.” But her smile was sweet, almost secretive, as if they’d already had a booty call and that’s why they’d watched the sunrise together. Maybe Mom was having a holiday fling.

It didn’t bother Sienna the way she’d thought it might. Her relationship with her mother was changing.

She’d never had a mother she could talk to. She’d only had her aunt.

Maybe it was time to give Mom a chance.