“Does your husband not mind you being away all the time Grace?”
She had felt her stomach drop at the unexpected question as Carol had laughed loudly, Dave and Peter chuckling also.
“Grace isn’t married!”
Groaning she had seen the sudden frown come to his face, his eyes sharpened in interest “But you still wear a wedding ring”. He had said softly, his look pointedly fixed on her hand. With another chuckle Carol had given Grace a playful look “Oh…you mean her shield”#p#分页标题#e#
Grace now looking at her with confusion “What does that mean?” she had asked as the two men had joined in.
“If any man comes on hot and heavy with our Grace…she lifts her hand “ the other adding “Shields up…we all call it the Star Trek manoeuvre”
Grace had stared open-mouthed at them all in surprise “I…I do not!”
A chorus of “Yes you do” making her close her mouth, Alexos watching her thoughtfully,
“I see” his only comment as Grace had looked so nervous and uncomfortable.
“I am sorry to hear about your breakup” he had offered softly as she had taken a drink of the delicious wine “Please don’t be…Daryle and I are still very good friends”
The others had looked at each other, never having heard much about her personal life. Grace never normally one to volunteer anything about herself. Once more they had known that there was a back story to the two that they were unaware of, Carol looking innocently at Alexos as she had asked what the others all were dying to ask
“So…we hear that Grace once spent a weekend here?”
Grace had dropped her fork with a loud clatter, her fingers suddenly nervous as she had glared at Carol, Alexos however had smiled gently.
“Yes. I used to have parties here every month and Grace and her mother were guests”
Carol had smiled sweetly “That is so nice that the two of you would remember each other after such a long time”
This time she had blushed from her toes right to her very roots, Alexos’ eyes hardening as he had fixed her with an unreadable expression.
“Did Grace not explain our….relationship?” his voice smooth yet hard, the other three eyes moving to look at her as she had looked beseechingly back at him.
“I didn’t see the point…it was so long ago Alexos…some things are best left there”. The two had held the other’s gaze for seconds, each one to Grace seeming like minutes before his lips had twitched softly, the smile not reaching his dark eyes as he had drawled softly.
“Perhaps you are right” relief filling Grace as she had given a long sigh. The others however, had seemed disappointed as quickly she had changed the conversation, her voice still shaking as she had asked after his father.
Alexos had given a small grimace, a sadness coming to his eyes
“My father does not keep well, which is actually why I am here. He has a home on the mainland close by, and I am overseeing that it is ready for his visit”.
With a small frown Grace had spoken gently “I am sorry to hear that, would it not be easier for him to come here?”
Alexos had shaken his head, his eyes holding hers softly “My father has never set foot on this island since my mother died…too many memories for him”
With a small groan Carol had dropped her hand onto his, her look full of understanding, Grace’s eyes hardening as the other woman had touched him.
“That is terrible Alexos” Carol had breathed softly, a look of sympathy filling her pretty face. Biting down the need to pull the other woman’s hand from his Grace had dropped her eyes, not seeing as he had watched her, a strange expression entering his.
After the meal they had all moved to a living room she had not seen before, more intimate, where he had put on music and asked about their research. Again Grace had moved as far from him as was possible aware as her actions had not escaped his watchful eyes.
For several hours the group had talked about their findings, Alexos genuinely interested as he had admitted to having a soft spot for the animals.
“We really appreciated your agreeing to take part in the research” Grace had offered, as he had fixed her with a harder look.
“You are most welcome Dr Dionis” his emphases on her name pointedly telling her beyond any doubt that had he known who she really was he would never have agreed.
As the time had reached ten, Grace had given a small smile rising sure that she would be able to feign tiredness with some semblance of believability. “Well Alexos, I would like to thank you for your generous hospitality” her eyes taking in the rest of the group.