Chapter Twenty – The charmer

Ramon knew he was being irrational; Palo and he had been friends since college. But maybe that's why he was uncomfortable with the idea of Palo coming; because his friend was a charmer and he would use every skill he could to talk Jeanette away. After all, it was something he had done in the past but not to him.

      "Is it a bad thing, meeting him?"

      "No, cara mia, he is just a big flirt." He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Be mindful of that."

      "Don't worry Ramon; I only have room for one charming man." She threw a wink his way and he smiled at her right as the chime over the door sounded. Within seconds, he knew who was standing at their table. He looked up at his friend and then looked back at Jeanette.

      "Jeanette meet my long time friend Palo; Palo this is Ms. Jeanette Washington." Palo gave Ramon a sharp glance before he took her hand and kissed the back of it.

      "Thee mia, the omorfia, eisai apla goeteutic, tzanet. (My, what a beauty, you are simply enchanting, Jeanette.)"

      "I'm sorry, I don't speak Greek." Roman stood up, a scowl on his face and took the hand Palo was holding to help her stand.

      "Do not worry, it was not that important." Jeanette couldn't help but laugh as she allowed him to help her up; it was an odd sight to see this man jealous.

      "Telling someone they are enchanting, Ramon, is important." Jeanette just lifted a brow but remained silent. "Now, come you two; I am going to take you to the part that makes Athens so popular, we are going to the Acropolis."

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      Palo glanced at Ramon and then at Jeanette and mentally shook his head. He was going to have fun getting under Ramon's skin.

      "What brings you to Athens, omorfi gynaika mia (my beautiful woman)?"

      "Palo, you do not need to keep calling her all kinds of names when she cannot understand you." The slight scowl on Ramon's face told Palo more than anything else ever could.

      "Actually, coming to Athens wasn't part of my forced vacation. I never thought to look in to it or how close I would be. So coming is by sheer luck."

      "Forced vacation, you say? Why would it be forced?"

      "My editor things I work too hard. So she told me to leave."

      "Editor?" Palo questioned. "You write?" Jeanette nodded and Palo turned to look at Ramon and asked him something in Greek and when Ramon nodded yes, Palo grinned widely. "I know of your works."

      "Let me guess, Ramon's sister?"

      "Yes. She is always reading when I visit his family and usually it's your books. However, I was not aware that you were this beautiful in person, so beauty and brains." Jeanette ducked her head and blushed. That was never how she saw herself. He reached over and took her hand. "It would be even more of an honor to show you around."

      "Thank you for your kindness." She couldn't help but look at Ramon out of the corner of her eye; he was great to watch when he got worked up.

      "Do you know any history of Athens?"

      "Very little, I will be honest. Although from what I have seen, it's gorgeous."

      "You must write a book based off of here," he threw her a wink with that comment and she had to smile. Yes, Athens was beautiful, and she could see herself writing about it, but she knew her heart would forever be in Italy. So, without Palo noticing Jeanette reached over and took Ramon's hand with hers. He glanced at her and she offered him a smile, letting him know it was okay, although she really couldn't understand why he would be upset.

      "When the Parthenon was built, it was a temple to the Goddess Athena, a beauty much like you," Palo said as they reached the Acropolis. And once Jeanette got out of the car, her breath caught in her throat; the sheer size and beauty stole her breath away. "And I do believe that many designs back in your country, Jeanette, take their features from here."

      "Yes," she whispered, still in awe, "I can see where. Wow, I just…wow." Ramon walked up behind her and rested his hand softly on her back.

      "Be careful, bella, Palo is a big lover of his heritage and will go into more details of his history then you would think." Palo turned around at that, noticing the hand placement but refrained from making a comment; he knew his friend better than that.

      "Yes, I love our history; not all of it is pretty, you know. But come, how do you not see this beauty and not love it?"

      "He does have a point. You know Ramon; you are much the same way in what you show me and how you describe things." She looked at him over her shoulder and he saw the twinkle in her eye.

      "Yes, a smart lady, I like you already." Ramon quickly turned and glared at Palo who only shrugged.

      "May I?" Jeanette asked as she had a hand hovering over one of the beams.

      "Yes, go ahead. When Pericles had this planned, there was a grand total of 65 columns and a 39 foot statue of Athena that stood inside. Of course, she was never found after the fire." Jeanette brushed her hand over it, a soft smile upon her lips.

      "Merda (shit), I know that look, cara mia, what are you plotting in that mind of yours?"

      "I'm not doing anything, merely enjoying much of what this is." Palo walked over to her and took her hand.

      "Plotting?"

      "I tend to never stop thinking of story plots or scenes, and Ramon knows this very well."

      "Ah, I do understand. Come, let me show you more." Palo put her hand on his arm and led her away, but he did glance at his friend, a brow lifted. How much did he know and why did he know, the look asked. Palo love seeing Ramon like this, it was a whole new side; one where a mere woman was bringing the famous Ramon Capillini down.