Charlotte Henson

All week Braxton has been attentive and kind, but hasn't asked to kiss me again. This leaves me feeling relieved and anxious at the same time. I keep wondering what a kiss from him would be like. Probably, hot and demanding, but what if its soft and sweet? It could even be both. Dragging my mind out of the gutter I continue to pack for Greece. I dig through my closet and pick my most fashionable yet comfortable dresses and shoes. The weather here is getting warmer so I move some of my sweaters to the back of my closest. I need things to take my mind off Braxton, so spring sorting/cleaning it is.

By the time I finish its late, almost six o'clock and I only have half my things ready to go for tomorrow. Braxton appears in the opening of the door and smiles at the piles of clothes.

"Spring cleaning." I explain.

"The day before we leave for Athens?" He asks, amused.

"Not my one of my better ideas." I admit, grinning. The clothes in one pile is for donating and the other is for storage.

Turns out I have a shopping problem just as bad as Brynn, my things just don't cost as much. 

"I didn't realize you liked to shop." He states, like its an serious revelation.

"I am a woman." I point out. Don't we all like to shop?

"I'm well aware of that. I just never seen you with a shopping bag before."

"Online shopping. Have you seen boxes come to the house?" I question.

He thinks back briefly. "I suppose I have." He nods.

"Those are my shopping bags." I explain.

"Harry Potter, shopping, I just might not know you at all." He comments, smirking.

"Yes, my secrets could fill a well." I joke.

He chuckles, "A very shallow one."

I giggle and nod in agreement, "And a very dry one. Not so juicy, my secrets." I say.

"No, but they are entertaining. Its like a little surprise every time I find one." He replies, seriously.

"You need a more exciting life. Apparently, marriage to a stranger, isn't doing it for you." I tease, lightly.

"You're not a stranger." He points out.

I nod. "Fair enough. Are you excited to go home?" I ask.

He shrugs, "I'm excited to take you home with me."

I shake my head in disbelief. "I bet you really miss them."

"I do." He, responds. "You'll like them."

"I'm sure I will." I reply, knowingly.

"Have you given anymore thought about how you want me to introduce you?" He ask, curiously.

I pause before throwing a sweater onto the donation pile. "No, I haven't." I answer, going back to my suitcase. Girlfriend or fiancée....

"I was thinking that I would introduce you as my girlfriend, then propose to you while we are in Athens and pick a ring out while we are there."

I think about it quickly. "Sure, thats fine." I agree. Its actually a good plan. This way at least he'll be able to include his family, that would be nice for him.

"Did you eat dinner yet?" He asks, concerned.

"No, I lost track of time." I reply.

"I brought food from, Antonio's."

"I love Antonio's." I moan, just thinking about it.

"I know." He smirks.

I shake my head. "You certainly know what I like to eat." I admit, fully.

"To feed someone, is to feed their soul. My grandmother used to tell me that all the time." He replies, as we walk together to the kitchen. I see the bags of food and start to take out the containers.

"Do you think you ordered enough?" I ask, in fake concern.

"The whole right side of the menu." He answers.

I laugh at how proud he sounds. "Did you not eat today?"

"I did, but it all sounded so good." He replies. I cringe, thinking how much of this will go to waste.

    We both make our plates and go to the table. The dinner conversation is light and we talk about nothing exciting. I excuse myself to finish packing as he goes to the family room to watch the news. In my room I get everything I need together and zip up my suitcase. I shower and blow dry my hair so I'm ready to go in the morning. Athens is seven hours ahead of us and the flight is ten and a half hours, so no mater what time we leave we are going to have a case of jet lag. I go to bed looking forward to seeing Athens and meeting his family.

    Braxton has his own airplane so we don't have to deal with the airport security and we take off within a decent amount of time. By the time we land in Athens, I feel anxious and excited. We slept on the plane making the time change easier, but by the time the car navigates through the busy city towards Braxton's parents house I'm tired.

"Would you like to stay with my parents or at a hotel?" He asks, politely.

"Where do you usually stay when you come?" I question.

"At home. My mother is insisting we stay at the house, but I can tell her we'd be more comfortable at a hotel. She wouldn't resist too much." He teases. I can see he's more relaxed here and happy to be home.

"I don't mind staying at their house."

He watches my face for any signs of deception. "Okay. Please, tell me if you change your mind."

    I nod and turn to watch the city pass us. Its a sunny day, very bright and cheerful. Not what I'm used to, or maybe I just haven't noticed the weather too much lately. We pull up to a huge bright white home with a red tile roof. Its perched overlooking the sea, and the view is stunning. I can't imagine anyone getting sick of this view.

"Its gorgeous." I comment, walking closer to the water.

    When I hear the door open I turn to see a beautiful tall woman with jet black hair and blue eyes come down the steps. She runs up to Braxton cupping his face and kissing both his cheeks affectionately. They speak in Greek to each other and when I walk over to meet her she turns to me showing me a similar greeting but speaking English.

"Oh, what a beautiful girl for my handsome boy. You are in love, no?" She questions, holding my head in her hands and looking me right in the eyes.

My smile falters a little but I nod. Braxton says something in Greek and his mother laughs.

A man as big as Braxton with black hair thats graying at the temples and dark eyes comes to the door shouting, "Alexia, let them come in." His accent is thick like his wife's. Braxton's accent it very subtle, a mix between his Greek heritage and his London upbringing. Braxton leads me up the steps towards his father.

"This is my father, Cairo. My mother Alexia, you've already met." His father has an air about him, he reminds me of meeting Braxton for the first time. He's strong, powerful, confident and intimidating. It's unnerving the way his eyes don't miss a thing.

"Byo͞otē." He states, kissing both my cheeks. He takes my hand and wraps it around his arm, leading me into the house. I glance behind me to see Braxton smiling down at his mother whispering, her reaction is one of pure happiness.

Curious, but not wanting to intrude on their time together, I turn back around looking at home. It has a modern rustic feel, its very wide open with white walls and exposed beams. The floor is intricate tile, the clear focal point of the house. The furniture is minimal and the windows let so much light in its almost as if I can feel the breeze off the sea. We walk past a set of stairs and a sitting room. Next, a study overflowing with volumes of literature that looks both loved and well used.

I can smell spices and seafood cooking on the stove as we walk into the kitchen. "I hope you're hungry?" Cairo, asks patting my arm.

"Yes, its smells amazing." I comment. looking at the piles of food being prepared.

"Alix, will be here for dinner. You'll meet him then." He tells me as he opens the patio doors to a table set under an pergola, the greenery growing over the beams blocking the sun naturally. Cairo pulls out my chair for me and Braxton does the same for his mother.

Braxton sits next to me facing his father. "How's business?"

"Expanding. I bought New York Shipping Co. Based out of New Jersey. I'm sending your brother there to make sure the business transition runs smoothly."

"Yes, you mentioned that the other day. I thought you were retiring?" Braxton asks, chuckling.

He puts his hands up innocently. "I'am. This is all left to Alix to make a success. It was an opportunity I had to take advantage of."

"When does he leave for the states?"

"By the end of the week. I'm sure he'll leave sooner than I demand. He needs to set up his office. You know your brother." He says, rolling his eyes.

"He'll want to start the ball rolling and everything has to be in place. He's efficient and precise. I wouldn't expect anything less." Braxton replies, knowingly.

"Ugh, he worries too much. He needs to find a woman like you have." Alexia states, smiling at me. I return her smile and take a drink of wine. Braxton notices and asks his father for a red wine instead of white.

His father looks at him strangely, "With fish?"

"White gives Charlotte a headache." He explains.

"I'm fine with white." I say, not wanting to make a fuss.

"Nonsense, Cairo. Get the red." Alexia orders.

I watch Cairo leave the table and wish Braxton wouldn't have said anything. I don't want to seem picky or high maintenance.

    Lunch is long. I listen and answer questions, nothing too embarrassing but by the end I'm exhausted. Braxton asks what room my things are in and his mothers simple reply, "Yours of course." Has my cheeks turning pink. He shows me upstairs, so that I can rest.

"My parents are not as traditional as some. Are you okay with sharing?"

I think about having slept with him in my room back home. "I don't know if you want to. The bear might've followed me." I joke. Talking about my alleged snoring.

He winks. "I'll have to make sure I fall asleep before you do."