laughing at her. She opted for honesty, as usual. “I am not sure what some of these things are.”
Stephan took a seat in one of the overstuffed chairs. He leaned forward to place items on his plate as Maria had done for Cassie. Stephan started to explain. “Well, these little items, which are wrapped in grape leaves, are called dolmades. I am not sure what Maria stuffed them with today, but there has not been a dolmades that I have not liked.” Stephan popped one in his mouth and winked at her before he continued. “The white chunks are goat and feta cheese, and I am sure you know what olives are.”
Giggling, Cassie looked back at her plate. “Of course I do.”
Stephanous smiled deeply. He liked her better when she relaxed and smiled. “And in the massively large basket are different types of bread. Those round items are pita, and then you have garlic, and more than likely olive breads. Maria, as you can see, takes very good care of us.” Maria’s face beamed at the compliment.
“You are not afraid to try new things, are you?” Sakis’s voice from behind her startled her. Sakis’s energy had changed the playful mood that flowed between her and Stephan.
“Of course not,” Cassie retorted sharply, mimicking his tone. After a small bite of the dolmades, she was relieved to find that it was delicious. “Oh! This is very good.”
Sakis sat down next to her on the sofa and leaned back, his arm on the back of the seat cushion. Even though he was not touching her, for Cassie, he might as well have been. Her whole body felt as if it was electrified by his nearness. Cassie watched as Maria came up, handing Sakis a napkin, waited as he placed it over his leg before she placed several items on a plate, as she had done for her.
Sakis took the proffered plate; Cassie tried to not stare as he popped a black olive into his mouth.
Except for the noises coming from the kitchen behind her, neither man spoke to break their silence. Whatever she had expected from her time with Sakis, this definitely had not been it, and she struggled to find something to say in the awkward silence. The saltiness of the appetizers made her very thirsty. As she rose to her feet, she was startled when both men also rose.
“I am sorry; I was just going to get something to drink,” Cassie apologized. Catching the look cast between the two men, she knew she had just committed a major faux pas, but she had no idea what.
“Please, have a seat. Maria will bring you whatever you need,” Sakis replied.
Choosing to continue to stand, she looked from Sakis to Stephanous. “I am quite capable of getting something to drink.”
Stephanous threw her a look of warning and moments later, Maria was in front of her again.
“Maria, please get Cassandra a mimosa when you have a moment.”
Cassie sat as Maria hurried away. She wanted to protest—she had no idea what a mimosa was.
Sakis took a seat once again next to her but Stephanous remained standing. For several minutes, Sakis and Stephanous spoke in Greek. When they were finished, he turned to Cassie. “I have a few errands to run. Enjoy your evening.” Stephanous saw the startled look that crossed her face, and he had another surge of empathy towards her. After he shook Sakis’s hand, he left the room.
Before she could say anything, Stephanous was gone and Maria had handed her a tall champagne flute. Cassie took a long drink of the refreshing liquid, realizing too late that the majority was alcohol. She had not been expecting that. Once again, it brought to light her naivety in social situations.
“You are very expressive, Cassandra. I fear you are uncomfortable again in my presence,” Sakis stated.
Cassie made the decision that no matter what happened, she would always remain honest with this man. She nodded. “I really have no idea what I am doing here. I don’t know what you want from me and right now, I am feeling pretty socially inept. So, yes, I am uncomfortable right
Stephan took a seat in one of the overstuffed chairs. He leaned forward to place items on his plate as Maria had done for Cassie. Stephan started to explain. “Well, these little items, which are wrapped in grape leaves, are called dolmades. I am not sure what Maria stuffed them with today, but there has not been a dolmades that I have not liked.” Stephan popped one in his mouth and winked at her before he continued. “The white chunks are goat and feta cheese, and I am sure you know what olives are.”
Giggling, Cassie looked back at her plate. “Of course I do.”
Stephanous smiled deeply. He liked her better when she relaxed and smiled. “And in the massively large basket are different types of bread. Those round items are pita, and then you have garlic, and more than likely olive breads. Maria, as you can see, takes very good care of us.” Maria’s face beamed at the compliment.
“You are not afraid to try new things, are you?” Sakis’s voice from behind her startled her. Sakis’s energy had changed the playful mood that flowed between her and Stephan.
“Of course not,” Cassie retorted sharply, mimicking his tone. After a small bite of the dolmades, she was relieved to find that it was delicious. “Oh! This is very good.”
Sakis sat down next to her on the sofa and leaned back, his arm on the back of the seat cushion. Even though he was not touching her, for Cassie, he might as well have been. Her whole body felt as if it was electrified by his nearness. Cassie watched as Maria came up, handing Sakis a napkin, waited as he placed it over his leg before she placed several items on a plate, as she had done for her.
Sakis took the proffered plate; Cassie tried to not stare as he popped a black olive into his mouth.
Except for the noises coming from the kitchen behind her, neither man spoke to break their silence. Whatever she had expected from her time with Sakis, this definitely had not been it, and she struggled to find something to say in the awkward silence. The saltiness of the appetizers made her very thirsty. As she rose to her feet, she was startled when both men also rose.
“I am sorry; I was just going to get something to drink,” Cassie apologized. Catching the look cast between the two men, she knew she had just committed a major faux pas, but she had no idea what.
“Please, have a seat. Maria will bring you whatever you need,” Sakis replied.
Choosing to continue to stand, she looked from Sakis to Stephanous. “I am quite capable of getting something to drink.”
Stephanous threw her a look of warning and moments later, Maria was in front of her again.
“Maria, please get Cassandra a mimosa when you have a moment.”
Cassie sat as Maria hurried away. She wanted to protest—she had no idea what a mimosa was.
Sakis took a seat once again next to her but Stephanous remained standing. For several minutes, Sakis and Stephanous spoke in Greek. When they were finished, he turned to Cassie. “I have a few errands to run. Enjoy your evening.” Stephanous saw the startled look that crossed her face, and he had another surge of empathy towards her. After he shook Sakis’s hand, he left the room.
Before she could say anything, Stephanous was gone and Maria had handed her a tall champagne flute. Cassie took a long drink of the refreshing liquid, realizing too late that the majority was alcohol. She had not been expecting that. Once again, it brought to light her naivety in social situations.
“You are very expressive, Cassandra. I fear you are uncomfortable again in my presence,” Sakis stated.
Cassie made the decision that no matter what happened, she would always remain honest with this man. She nodded. “I really have no idea what I am doing here. I don’t know what you want from me and right now, I am feeling pretty socially inept. So, yes, I am uncomfortable right
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