Walking toward Oia, Santorini’s artisan village, I can’t help the feeling that this is right as Michael drapes an arm around my neck. He feels really good beside me, like he was always meant to be there...just the two of us on a romantic stroll toward the restaurant on the cliff. Every now and again, he places a kiss to the top of my head.

The only shadow on the whole night is worry over what my sister is going to do or say when she finds out about tonight. She isn’t going to be happy.

“Stop thinking so hard.” Michael squeezes my shoulders. “Don’t worry about your sister, Brooke. Now I know what she’s like, I’m not going to believe anything unless it comes out of your mouth.”

I feel a huge sigh of relief at those words. “Thank you.”

He smiles and looks off into the distance. I follow his gaze and grin like an idiot. “You’re taking me to my favorite restaurant?”

“You bet.”

“How?”

“I may have overheard you talking with your mom,” he raises a brow. “Hope you don’t mind?”

Chuckling, I wrap myself around him. “I don’t mind at all.” My arms slip around his neck while he secures me against him with his strong hands around my waist. “Have you been into the village since you’ve been here?”

“No, but I’ve heard wonderful things about this restaurant.”

“You’ll hear good things about a lot of restaurants on this Island.”

He leans in and captures my lips in a sweet kiss, making my heart pound as heat rises through me. When he removes his lips, the look in his eyes causes my breath to catch in the back of my throat. “Dinner,” he whispers. He brushes the side of my face with his fingers. “I need to keep reminding myself to go slow.”

“I might be inexperienced, but I really don’t need you to go slow.”

He smiles. “I won’t always go slow, but tonight I will. I want you to experience the perfect first date. That will make me happy.”

I reach up and kiss him on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Michael McKenzie.”

“Shush,” he chuckles, “don’t tell anyone.”

Laughing, I roll my eyes.

He takes my hand and, before I can catch my breath, we’re being shown to our table on the balcony with the most amazing view of the sea—the stars bright in the moonless sky. Just a sea of diamonds laid out before us.

“I’ve only been to this restaurant once before. When my father was in the process of buying land here. It’s my favorite though and one of the most romantic.”

“I haven’t left the villa since I’ve been here, unless it had anything to do with work.” He shrugs. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to get away with such a beautiful woman.” He takes my hand and holds it on the top of the table.

“Are you trying to sweet talk me?” I ask, tilting my head and watching him.

His eyes sparkle. “Is it working?”

“Yes, but you don’t need to.”

“I know that.” He squeezes my hand, keeping it in his hold as the waiter takes our order.

“Why haven’t you eaten here again, if it’s your favorite place?” he asks, lifting my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles.

“You’re distracting me.”

He grins. “Good…you were saying.”

My breath catches as I hold his gaze. “Mmm.”

He fidgets as his eyes darken. “Stop moaning,” he hisses.

My eyes widen in surprise and I feel the flush on my cheeks. I need to get the subject off of us so we can focus on our date. “I haven’t been back to eat here because I find it embarrassing to eat alone, and my parents prefer their own chef.” I don’t mention my sister because there’s no way I’d go out to eat with her…a few years ago I would have.

“Then I’ll have to make it a point to bring you here to eat whenever we can.” Michael smiles and I know he means what he says.

“I’d love that.” As we talk, the waiter pours our wine and I take an appreciative sip. After I do, I ask Michael, “Will you tell me about your life in Lexington? I’ve never been there.”

“That’s right, you live in New York.”

“Out of the city though. It’s too busy for me… So, Lexington,” I urge.

He smiles, softly. “My favorite place is my home at Harbor Point, at the side of the Lake. It’s known as a reservoir, but lake sounds much better.” He grins. “My mom and dad still live in the home where I grew up. Charlotte is my twin and works at McKenzie’s with our cousin, Alexander, and I. We make a good team. Our cousins, Olivia and Madison also work at McKenzies.”

“Twins! I bet you’re parents had their hands full.”

He tips his head back and laughs. “You could say that.” He shakes his head, amusement on his handsome face. “It wasn’t long before Sirena arrived, followed a few years later with Joshua.”

We sit back in our chairs as our Shrimp Risotto arrives, a momentary break in our conversation, but then he continues, “I have a large family with my grandparents being in their late eighties, then there’s uncles and aunts, and lots of cousins. I can’t imagine my life without any of them.”

“You all get along?”

“For the most part, yes. We’ve had our disagreements, but, at the end of the day, we’re family.” He winces and offers me a sympathetic look.

I cover his hand on his fork and squeeze before picking my own up. “It’s okay, Michael. I want to hear about your family. Mine for the most part are amazing. My parents are down to earth and listen if I need to talk. Both of them have always been there for me.” I wince. “I just don’t know what went wrong with Carrie.” I shrug. “Please tell me about your brother and sisters.”

“You’ll meet Sirena tomorrow.” He smiles. “She’s bringing my nephew to visit.” He sighs. “How I miss him. He’s eight weeks old, and, according to Sirena, the best baby to have ever been born.” He shakes his head. “Garrett, her husband, agrees. I told him that he has to agree because he’s married to her.” Michael chuckles and a soft look comes into his eyes, but he stays silent.

“I can’t wait to meet them. Are they staying with you?”

“No. They have a suite booked at the Pegasus. They’re still newlyweds so they want their own space. I’m relieved really.” He smirks. “Can’t sweet talk you into my bed if I have guests.”

I laugh and am about to tell him that all he has to do is open his bedroom door and I’ll follow, but I decide to tease, “I’m not immune to you sweet talking me out of my clothes.”

“Good to know.”

“What does Joshua do? You didn’t mention working with him.”

“I don’t.” He frowns. “Joshua worries us all. He’s in law enforcement and recently joined the FBI,” he admits. “He’s the youngest, but he knows what he’s doing. He wouldn’t have gotten as far as he has if he didn’t. I just don’t like him being out there.”

“I get that.” I push my empty dinner plate away and reach for Michael’s hand.

Our fingers intertwine and after a moment, Michael says, “Tonight, with you, is the first time I’ve truly felt relaxed in weeks. I’m always working or worrying over my cousin and siblings. But tonight, with you, I’m relaxed.”

I frown at his choice of words. “I know why you’re worried about Joshua, but why the others?”

“Alexander has been acting strangely whenever our cousin, Rachel, is mentioned. Charlotte has been distracted for weeks now, and she’s the one who bothers me the most. She’s my twin and won’t talk to me. So yeah, she’s on my mind a lot.”

“I guess that’s what happens when you have a large family.”

“Hmm.” Michael sighs and gently tugs me to my feet. “I want to go somewhere I can hold you close while dancing.”

Reaching up, I kiss him leisurely on the lips. “I know just the place.”