Free My Big Fat Christmas Wedding by Samantha Tonge Page A

sight-seeing was a must and I wanted to show Niko the skyline I loved – Big Ben, The Shard, Canary Wharf and the Thames river…
    My heart pumped as I gazed out into the dark street. The next week would be the busiest ever. I glanced at one of the pieces of paper on the table listing the festive scones I would bake for the fair:
    Clove and orange filled with brandy whipped cream
    Cranberry and white chocolate
    Stuffing (sage and onion with chopped walnuts)
    Marzipan and dried fruit (Stollen)
    Port-infused, drizzled with dark chocolate
    Glittery baubles – using the Dellis’ lime, blueberry and apricot jam
    Mmm, I could almost smell the enticing aromas and hear Greek carols playing in the background on Christmas Day…
    ‘Pippa!’
    …Sophia would be in one of her ouzo moods, after just one glass. Niko and Georgios would invite Demetrios and Cosmo over in the evening for a competitive game of cards. Whereas Grandma would read everyone’s coffee cups and forecast a super New Year.
    ‘Pippa!’
    I looked up. Niko hung in the doorway, his lean frame at an angle that made his body beg to be hugged.
    ‘What were you dreaming of, my juicy little fig?’ he said huskily and walked over, eyes gleaming. ‘This morning?’
    Heat radiated through my limbs as I recalled him whispering to me in Greek. And those kisses he trailed across my hips, so gently, as if someone was tickling my skin with a garland of tinsel. I touched my throat, impatient for us to be in our London hotel room. Don’t get me wrong, it was decent of Sophia and Georgios to let me sleep in Niko’s bedroom. I just hoped they never heard, I mean imagine if…honestly, roll on renting our own place! We could have lived in Mum and Dad’s villa, if it hadn’t been for some ongoing problems with the drains. Dirty water sometimes backed up the toilet and occasionally the taps didn’t work.
    ‘We leave in half an hour for the airport,’ he said. ‘Uncle Christos just rang – he’ll drive us as he has a shift there anyway. You have packed? Don’t forget the pottery flamingo we bought for Olivia and—’
    I stood up and saluted him. ‘Yes, officer. Everything is in order.’
    His arms slipped around my waist. ‘Mmm, you want me to order you around a little more? How about in bed, tonight, I instruct you to…’
    Okay. I can’t divulge what Niko said, but it resulted in a hot flush and the longest of kisses.
    Sophia walked in. A smile lit up her heart-shaped face and she placed her hands on her hips.
    ‘Ayyyy, this place will be quiet without you two youngsters. Now hurry up! It is almost half past seven.’
    Niko and I grinned at each other as she left. He ran a hand down my straight hair and brushed a finger across my cheek.
    ‘Where are your waves and freckles?’ He glanced down me. ‘And I’ve never seen this posh trouser suit before.’
    ‘I just thought I’d smarten up for London,’ I said brightly and avoided his eye.
    ‘Mmm, nice – it gives me an extra challenge, to unsmarten you later.’
    ‘I hope you mean
after
the party and not during.’
    Niko groaned. ‘So hard it will be for me, not to undo that gorgeous blue dress you bought in Kos Town, as you mingle with the guests. I shall need a great distraction.’
    ‘Pandora was amazing – she has great taste and knew all the best shops to visit.’
    With a cheeky wink, Niko picked up my coffee cup and drained it. He was in high spirits, despite having flinched when I told him the price of my outfit last night. Typically, he’d spent zero on his, having borrowed a smart suit from his cousin Stefan. Blocking out the last months’ niggles and disagreements about money, I went upstairs to check through my toiletries and clothes. We were only away for one night, but I wanted to make the most of dressing up.
    Having zipped up my case, I gazed out of the little bedroom window, down to the patio out the back. An orange blush on the horizon promised a sunny day. A donkey brayed. Next