"What the hell happened to you?" I was woken rudely, having fallen asleep on a sun lounger in the shade of my verandah. Charlie loomed over me, half laughing, half concerned. I wondered what was wrong.

I struggled up onto my elbows and squinted at him. "What?"

"You look like you've not slept for a week. You were practically passed out, complete with drool."

I wiped at my mouth. "Any other complaints?"

"You've not been working out by the looks of you, you're practically.....withered away."

I laughed out loud at that one. "I'm on holiday, so no, I'm not working out much. I have plenty of time after I get back to build my physique. Anyway, there isn't a gym around here." Not that I'd even looked for one. "How's your diet and exercise regime going?" I knew the answer to that one just by looking at him. Charlie would easily run to fat, and despite his wife's best efforts, always sported a thick waist and pot belly. "Want a beer?" I asked. He nodded and parked himself on a rattan chair while I went inside.

I handed him a cold beer and took a slug of mine. "This sun is fierce, how do you put up with it?" I answered by nodding at the ocean, indicating the best way to cool off. I lived in board shorts, so simply cooled off in the sea as the need arose and drip-dried on the verandah.

"The villa has air-con," I told him, "and there's a great sea breeze. You need to get out of your jeans and shirt. It's way too hot for normal clothes. I'll show you your room."

Charlie followed me into the villa, glancing round appreciatively as we walked through the kitchen and lounge to the bedroom I'd earmarked for him, which was at the front of the villa, as far away as possible from my room at the back. "This must have the worst view in the house," Charlie whined as he peered out at the dusty road and scrubland. I was about to make a remark about him expecting a five star hotel when Ava and Janine wandered past in their bikinis, laughing about something. Charlie's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped.

"I think it's quite a nice view myself," I remarked.

"Who are they?" He asked quietly.

"My harem, well, part of it. Wait until you meet the others. They're all that gorgeous, apart from Iris, who is transcendently beautiful."

"Wow," Charlie muttered under his breath, "and you're, you know..?"

"Shagging them? You can say it you know."

He nodded. "Yes I am, and I'm having the time of my life here."

"I'm not surprised," he muttered, sounding a little disgruntled. "Are there cat fights over who gets you on certain nights?"

I laughed. "No, the girls have formed an orderly queue. I believe a list has been drawn up, which they're sticking to."

"So you just sit on your patio each evening and a different girl shows up?" Charlie was incredulous. I nodded. "Whoa, what did you do in your last life? You must've been Mother Theresa or something," Charlie said, peering at me as though he was trying to fathom out why I'd been born with more than my fair share of luck.

"You're happy being married though?" I asked tentatively. I knew that temptation was all around in San Vinco and I really didn't want to witness my brother screw up his life, plus my mother would be furious.

"Course I am. I like to look as much as the next man, but that's as far as it goes. I'll just live vicariously through you, if that's ok?"

I breathed a sigh of relief and left him to get changed into his shorts, while I set out some snacks on the verandah.

I'd forgotten how much fun Charlie could be. We sat outside all afternoon, chatting, laughing and catching up on family gossip. It felt great to be with someone so familiar and so...British. We were so busy snickering about England beating Ireland at Rugby, I didn't notice Doc, Ava and Iris wander over.

"Hi Henry, this must be your little brother,' said Doc cheerfully. "I can see the family resemblance."

I introduced Charlie and watched as his eyes nearly fell out of his head when Iris smiled at him. "We just came over to see if you fancied a barbie tonight," Ava said, "save you cooking."

"You up for that?" I asked Charlie, who was too busy being spellbound by Iris to answer. "Yep, that'd be great thanks," I answered for both of us.

"Well, if you're indisposed for a few days, we may as well feed you up," said Doc, winking at me.

"Talking of which," I whispered so that Charlie wouldn't hear, "who's next?"

"Ava," she replied. "She likes it hard, so I'll cook you an extra large steak tonight. You're gonna need all your strength for that one..."