The Holiday Read Online Free PDF Page B

her that Theo was about to make his entrance. ‘Act one, scene one,’ she muttered to herself, getting up from her chair and going to meet him.
    On seeing him she burst out laughing: he was carrying a bottle in each hand and between his teeth there were two long-stemmed roses. She took the wine from him and led him to where Max was opening another beer.
    ‘Oh, Theo,’ gushed Max, ‘red roses! How sweet! Really, you shouldn’t have.’
    ‘Ignore him,’ said Laura. ‘It’s the fumes from the barbecue coals, they go straight to his head. One of those roses for me?’
    ‘But of course, my darling Laura. Though only if I am permitted a kiss in exchange.’ He leaned into her, was about to kiss her mouth when she neatly twisted her head and he had to make do with her cheek.
    ‘She’s getting too quick for you, Theo,’ laughed Max. ‘Now what can I get you to drink? Beer, wine, ouzo, gin and ... Ah, Izzy, there you are.’
    Both Laura and Theo turned to see Izzy coming towards them. She was dressed in a black camisole top with a calf-length flowing skirt, also in black, and on her feet she wore a pair of espadrilles. Even though she had spent scarcely any time in the sun that day, she was already exhibiting a tan. With her shoulder-length dark brown hair pulled back into a loose plait, she looked all of twenty-five. Laura would have liked to study Theo’s face closely to see what his initial reaction was, but the telephone rang inside the villa.
    ‘Can you get that, love?’ Max said. ‘I’ve just put the kebabs on. If it’s for me,’ he shouted after her, ‘and it seems urgent, tell them I’ll call back later.’
    ‘It looks as if we shall just have to introduce ourselves,’ said Theo. ‘Theo Vlamakis, friend to Max and Laura Sinclair, and hopefully soon to become your friend.’ He offered Izzy the rose. ‘To wish you a relaxing holiday here in Áyios Nikólaos. May today be the start of a happy love affair.’
    Izzy took the rose from him, ‘A love affair?’ she repeated, thinking that he was George Clooney to a T. He had the same short dark hair, flecked with grey, and the same thick eyebrows above a pair of magnetic black eyes. Dressed in cream linen trousers with a pale peach short-sleeved shirt that showed a finely worked gold chain at his throat, there was no mistaking the aura of natural glamour and appeal about him.
    ‘Yes, a love affair with Corfu and its beguiling people, of course,’ he said. ‘Now it is your turn. You have to introduce yourself.’
    Self-conscious, but charmed by his words and manner, Izzy held out her hand and said, ‘Izzy Jordan, friend to Max and Laura Sinclair, and I’ve a confession to make. I’ve heard a lot about you already.’
    He gave a ceremonious little tilt of his head, took her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘I am very pleased to meet you, Izzy Jordan. Though it seems you have the advantage. I know hardly anything about you. Is it very bad what Laura has confided in you about me? Does she make me sound like the empty-headed buffoon?’
    Izzy laughed and withdrew her hand. Goodness, he was smooth. ‘She speaks very highly of you, as a friend and a neighbour.’
    ‘That’s good. That means we step out in the right direction, you and me.’
    ‘Theo, if you could lay off the Ionian charm for a couple of seconds, perhaps you’d be kind enough to get Izzy a drink.’
    Dutifully leading her over to the table of drinks, Theo said, ‘That Max, he has such a sharp tongue on him. Like so many English men, he is jealous of his Greek counterpart. We Greek men, we cannot understand how the English ever reproduce, especially the ones with the stiff-upper-lip public-school background. You know, Izzy, a night of passion for Max is sharing a beer with his highly esteemed Fergie.’
    ‘What? The Duchess of York?’ said Izzy, trying hard not to laugh.
    ‘No,’ grinned Theo, ‘your great man of the people, Sir Alex Ferguson.’
    ‘Theo, if you don’t give it a