Excess All Areas (22 page)

‘
Oh you’re so funny! Your face!’ Freya exclaimed as she laughed out loud, unable to control herself any longer.

‘
Have I really got to eat this? What is it? It’s disgusting,’ Nicholas remarked.

‘
No don’t swallow it. You can spit it out. Take your blindfold off,’ Freya spoke through her laughter.

‘
What the Hell was it? Seaweed! Urgh God! It’s probably been swimming around with excrement for the past year,’ Nicholas spoke, hurriedly swilling his mouth out with water.

‘
What are you insinuating about the Aegean?’ Freya asked.

‘
God that was awful, but I’m glad it gave you some laughs. Your turn now, so you had better put this blindfold on,’ Nicholas said and he put the napkin over her face and tied it up.

‘
No seaweed left I’m afraid. Give me the feta first, I’m ready for it,’ Freya announced enthusiastically.

Nicholas looked at her, waiting expectantly and smiling excitedly.

‘
Tell me when you want me to open my mouth,’ Freya spoke.

Nicholas leaned towards her.

‘
About now,’ he whispered.

He touched her lips with his and Freya flinched slightly in surprise. His lips felt soft and moist and she immediately opened her mouth as he moved further towards her, kissing her deeply. Freya reached out for him, taking hold of the hair at the back of his head and pulling him towards her. She did not want this moment to end.

When Nicholas did pull away Freya was breathless and still blindfolded.

‘
Please tell me that was you and I haven’t just embarrassed myself with a Greek farmer,’ Freya spoke.

‘
Take your blindfold off and I’ll kiss you again so you can check,’ Nicholas told her.

Freya removed the napkin from her face and smiled at him. This time she moved towards him and pulled him towards her to kiss him again.

There were no photographers, no entourage, no crazy ex-boyfriends, just Freya and Nicholas, in each others arms beneath the Corfiot sun.

‘
It’s so peaceful here,’ Nicholas remarked to Freya a little later.

Freya was laid back on the grass with her head in his lap. He had been gently stroking her hair for the last half an hour and she hadn’t felt so completely content in a long time. The sun was making her warm all over and Nicholas’ fingers softly brushing her scalp was starting to make her feel deliciously sleepy.

‘
Mmm peaceful. It’s nice to be away from everything,’ Freya agreed.

‘
Is that why you came to Corfu? To get away from everything?’ Nicholas asked her.

‘
Yes. I’m a bit impulsive, if you hadn’t guessed already. I decided I needed a break and I wanted to see Emma, so I got on a plane,’ Freya told him.

‘
But things back home are OK? Your business and everything is going good? You’ve got no worries?’ Nicholas asked her.

‘
No. Where is this coming from?’ Freya asked him and she immediately sat up, feeling less content.

‘
Something Russell said last night that’s all. He said had you lied to everyone or was it just him? If you’re in any way financially tied to that jerk just let me know,’ Nicholas told her.

‘
I’m not financially tied to anyone,’ Freya stated firmly.

‘
I’m sorry. I said I wouldn’t pry didn’t I?’ Nicholas responded.

‘
You did and honestly, I’m not in any trouble. Do I look like the kind of girl who gets in trouble?’ Freya questioned with a tongue in cheek smile.

‘
I don’t think I need to answer that,’ Nicholas told her.

‘
My worries are historic, I promise,’ Freya replied.

‘
Good. So, how would you feel about accompanying me to Athens on Friday? I’ve got to attend a dinner for the Greek dignitaries to thank them for allowing us to film here. It will be a honey pot for the press. There will be hundreds of them and it will mean me spending an hour or so signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans on the way in. But on the upside, there is a five course meal albeit we’ll probably be sat somewhere near Gene and Bob. And there are speeches, including one from me,’ Nicholas explained.

‘
And the good points?’ Freya asked.

‘
I thought the five course meal would have done it for you. It’s the only thing I’m looking forward to,’ Nicholas admitted.

‘
Can I wear a blindfold?’ Freya enquired.

‘
I think questions would be asked. There are other pros apart from the food. We get to travel by helicopter and we get the penthouse suite in one of the best hotels in Athens,’ Nicholas told her.

‘
Stay the night?’ Freya asked him.

‘
Yes,’ Nicholas replied, looking at her.

‘
Perhaps a blindfold will have a place in the evening after all,’ Freya responded with a grin.

‘
So is that a yes?’ Nicholas enquired.

‘
It’s a yes as long as you promise to keep the sharp cutlery away from me if Fred and Ginger make any
large
comments,’ Freya responded, referring to Bob and Gene.

‘
It’s a deal,’ Nicholas agreed.

‘
What is Martha going to say?’ Freya asked him.

‘
She is going to freak but hey, I like living dangerously,’ Nicholas told her and he leant forward to kiss her again.

Twenty Three

It was almost 5.00pm when Nicholas and Freya arrived back in Kassiopi.

They returned the motorbike to the hire shop and tried to make their way through the village as discreetly as possible.

‘
Shall we get a cup of tea? Do you want to come back to the Calypso?’ Freya asked as they walked along, hand in hand.

‘
Yeah sure, coffee would be good and…’ Nicholas spoke.

He broke off as his mobile phone began to ring.

‘
I’m sorry, I’d better get that,’ he apologised and opened the phone up to answer.

They stopped walking and Freya immediately began to feel that everyone was looking at them. People were definitely slowing down in pace as they passed them, pointing and whispering. Freya could only assume they were quietly debating what they should do in the light of being yards away from a celebrity.

‘
Does it have to be tonight? No I know - I guess so - yes I realise that. OK - yeah OK, I’ll be ready - I’ll see you,’ Nicholas spoke into the phone.

He ended the call.

‘
You’re working tonight,’ Freya stated when he turned back to her.

‘
Yes, plans have changed and they want to shoot some stuff tonight. I’m sorry,’ Nicholas spoke.

‘
That’s OK,’ Freya replied.

‘
I wish I didn’t have to film. I wanted to take you out to dinner. I wanted to talk some more and hopefully make out some more,’ Nicholas told her with a smile.

‘
Well hold that thought. Maybe we can do it tomorrow night. I mean you
are
here to film, not be distracted by the likes of me. I’ll find some way to amuse myself. I’m sure I won’t be invited to waitress again, but there are nightly quizzes and karaoke competitions to enter around here,’ Freya reminded him.

‘
Why don’t you come with me to filming?’ Nicholas suggested, holding both her hands.

‘
Oh I don’t know. Where is it? What would I do? You weren’t thinking of making me a runner or a grip were you? By the way, what is a grip?’ Freya questioned.

‘
The only gripping I had in mind didn’t involve cameras or lights. It’s up at the fort. There’ll be about a million people running around after the director and Martha will be there running around after me and Bill and Ted will be there,’ Nicholas said, referring to Bob and Gene.

‘
Are you trying to make this an attractive scenario?’ Freya asked him.

‘
You’ll get to see me probably forgetting my lines, definitely forgetting my actions but when it’s over we can do whatever you like. We could have something to eat or go for a drink or…’ Nicholas began.

‘
Bit of Greek Dancing at Zorba’s?’ Freya suggested.

‘
If that’s really what you want to do I’m happy to watch you,’ Nicholas answered with a smile.

‘
And if I come to filming am I going to have to watch you and Barbie fawning all over each other?’ Freya asked, speaking of Hilary.

‘
If I remember rightly there isn’t any fawning at the fort but what’s with the feeling insecure? I thought I made my intentions clear earlier,’ Nicholas spoke, slipping his arms around her.

‘
Yes, you’re right. Why should I feel insecure? I mean look at Hilary and I, both identical, practically separated at birth with our svelte figures and supermodel looks,’ Freya spoke sarcastically.

‘
She spends over an hour in make up before we shoot anything. She has to have three hair stylists and you’ve seen her eat - I’ve taken more food home in a brown bag,’ Nicholas told her.

‘
And I guess the little she does eat probably ends up down the toilet,’ Freya answered.

‘
Exactly. There would be no playing food games with her,’ Nicholas added.

‘
You would definitely get bored of tasting lettuce. “Now Nick, I can’t make up my mind, is this Kos or Iceberg?”’ Freya joked.

‘
So are you going to come?’ Nicholas asked Freya.

‘
Can I see if Emma can make it? It would be so up her street,’ Freya said.

‘
Sure, she can keep you company and cover your eyes when we do the cliff top sex scene,’ Nicholas replied.

‘
And she can help me heckle. It is OK to heckle isn’t it?’ Freya queried with a grin.

‘
I think you know the answer to that one,’ Nicholas answered, smiling.

It was already 7.30pm when Freya and Emma made their way through the village towards the path which led up to the ruined fort. Emma had been ecstatic when Freya said they had been invited to filming, for a prompt start at seven o’ clock. But she had managed to get herself involved in serving at the restaurant and had to be practically dragged away.

‘
Will you stop running? We’re not that late and they aren’t going to refuse us entry if we aren’t bang on time. I am dating the star of this movie,’ Freya called, trying to tug Emma back and slow her down.

‘
I’m sorry I made us late. The restaurant’s so busy lately it’s all hands on deck,’ Emma spoke as she tried to catch her breath.

‘
But it can’t go on Em, not with you in a delicate condition. It’s too much working night and day. You have to tell Yiannis,’ Freya said seriously.

‘
I know, I know, but it just never seems to be the right time,’ Emma complained.

‘
There never is a right time believe me,’ Freya stated with a sigh.

‘
I take it you didn’t tell Nick about you then,’ Emma said.

‘
I couldn’t. I’m pathetic. I mean he was so honest with me, telling me things he said he hadn’t told anyone before and I thought about it and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it,’ Freya explained with another sigh.

‘
Oh Freya,’ Emma spoke.

‘
We kissed Em and it was amazing and I just couldn’t spoil it. I just knew it would if I did, so I didn’t,’ Freya told her.

‘
Do you think it’s going to be serious between you?’ Emma enquired.

‘
I don’t know. I mean we’ve only just started but I know I do feel at ease with him, you know, like I can be me,’ Freya admitted.

‘
Then you have to tell him and I think he’d prefer to hear it from you than someone else,’ Emma spoke.

‘
I know, it’s just difficult. It’s been so long since I left it behind, I just want it all to stay in the past,’ Freya answered.

‘
I bet you do,’ a voice suddenly spoke.

The sound of Russell startled Freya as she had been completely unaware of anyone walking behind them. Both she and Emma stopped where they were and turned around to face him.

‘
Don’t mind if I join you do you? Apparently the fort is the place to be tonight. There’s some sort of movie being filmed and the word in the village is that it’s free hotdogs for everyone. You know I can’t resist a freebie,’ Russell spoke, beginning to walk alongside the two women.

‘
Look, what are you doing here? I said I would talk to you and I will, but not tonight and not here,’ Freya said.

‘
Well perhaps time’s starting to become an issue for me,’ Russell responded.

‘
Now you listen to me. I never thought you were good enough for Freya and you’re really showing your true colours now. Don’t you dare pressurise her,’ Emma ordered him.

‘
Oh Emma, do I take it that you’ve been privy to Freya’s deception?’

‘
Freya hasn’t deceived anyone. The reason she was economical with the truth with regards to you, is because she obviously didn’t feel she could trust you and isn’t that proving to be a spot on judgement?’ Emma spoke, angered by Russell.

‘
You’ve changed Emma. You’re not so shy any more. I can only assume you’ve spent too much time in the company of Miss Opinionated here,’ Russell responded.