‘And you, not so much?’
‘In some ways, yes. I appreciate the craftmanship, but I prefer a more modern build, with clean lines.’
‘Is your place like that?’ I blurt out. ‘I mean, assuming you have your own place. I know you are currently looking after your aunt’s house.’ Gosh why have I said that? He could still be living with his parents for all I know.
‘Yes. I have recently refurbished the apartment I bought that was a little dated. It is very masculine, I suppose. Maybe I will show you sometime,’ he says, fixing me with his deep-brown eyes as he steps a little closer.
‘Right,’ I mutter, before staring into a shop window at a tray of engagement rings.
‘Are you thinking of buying some jewellery?’
‘What? No, I was thinking of a gift for my mum.’
‘She would like an engagement ring?’ He raises an eyebrow.
‘No, of course not, perhaps a bracelet or something.’ I glance at the expensive jewellery as an immaculately made-up assistant strolls outside and asks if she can be of any help. I politely refuse and we walk on.
Half an hour later, having taken in the sights, including a very pretty church in an unusual shade of maroon and cream at the far end of the harbour, Dimitri suggests lunch.
‘Lead the way, I’m famished,’ I say, pleased to have diverted the conversation away from visiting Dimitri’s apartment as I need to keep this professional. I know he had a drink with me at my place, but it felt less personal somehow, as it’s a holiday apartment.
We head closer to the port and are soon shown to a table in a restaurant that overlooks the sparkling water.
‘So, tell more about what you do at home?’ asks Dimitri. ‘I mean, your place of work and family.’
We are sipping cold beers as a waitress has disappeared to the kitchen with our food order.
‘I process passports so that people can travel to wonderful places like Greece,’ I say, pointing around the harbour.
‘And do you enjoy it?’
‘I do, actually. It can be frustrating at times though. Some people leave so little time to send in their application, then fly into a panic as their holiday approaches and there is no passport in sight.’
‘I can imagine.’ He laughs.
‘But the wonderful thing is, as I have told you before, I can work from home some days, so I hope to do that from here eventually. Knowing I can stroll to a taverna in the sunshine after spending hours at my computer is far more appealing than walking through a park in the rain.’
‘The flights can be expensive at certain times of the year,’ he reminds me. ‘But I guess you have considered all of that.’ He takes a sip of his cold beer.
‘Of course. And my job pays well.’ There is no need to tell him about the amount of Uncle Jack’s fortune and how my inheritance was very generous.
‘Anyway, when I say tell me about your life back home, I suppose I mean all of it,’ he says, his eyes on mine.
‘What do you want to know?’ I take a sip of beer, feeling slightly flustered. What can I tell him that doesn’t sound totally boring? I live five minutes away from my parents, I’m single and don’t really have any interests apart from watching films and walking through forests or along beaches. Oh, and cooking, I quite enjoy that, and can make a curry to rival any restaurant, according to my brother and he has visited a lot of curry houses. I did once join a group of dance majorettes as a teenager and can still twirl a baton rather impressively.
‘Umm, I have a flat, old exterior, Victorian actually, but pretty modern inside, although very cosy,’ I tell him, picturing the colourful rugs and plant pots, as well as a wall hanging brought back from Thailand on my travels. ‘I like travelling, although more recently that has been mainly to Greece. I have a couple of friends and a best friend called Evie, who I have known since college. Is that enough for you?’
‘No, do go on.’
‘I drive a VW Golf and enjoy watching films, cooking, oh, and I like crafting, maybe a little knitting too. I also love walking through forests, but I’m not a great lover of hill walks.’
Dimitri puts his beer down. ‘You are kidding me.’
‘Why would I be kidding? I don’t see what’s so great about hill walking, getting aching calves and huffing and puffing, no thanks. Flat walks, yes, I’ve loved today for example, I—’
‘No.’ He shakes his head as he laughs. ‘I mean you are kidding me because you like exactly the same things as I do. Watching movies, being in the countryside, cooking. But I also like making things to relax. My aunt Lena taught me how to sew.’
‘Now it’s my turn to say, you are kidding!’
