Her Greek Doctor's Proposal

by Robin Gianna

  “Good. Watch your step, and hang on to me.” He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and, resting his wide palm gently on top of it, turned to head toward the caves.

  They walked in an oddly companionable silence. As she held his strong arm, the way he’d tugged her close to his body as they picked their way over the uneven ground felt oddly right. The intimacy of it, the evening sky beautiful with pinkly puffy clouds, filled her chest with a sense of calm pleasure, until she suddenly wondered if he knew she’d feel that way. If he was the kind of man who used his amazing good looks and charm to solicit affairs with women from the archaeological site, knowing they’d only be around for a while.

  That unpleasant thought obliterated her sense of comfortable calm. “Tell me about your wife,” she said.

  It seemed there was a momentary hitch in his step, probably from guilt, and the chill that had filled her chest grew downright icy. “My wife?”

  “Yes. Cassie’s mother. Is she from Kastorini, too?”

  “Cassie’s mother was American. And we were never married.”

  This time, the hitch was in her own step. “Was?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you, but she and I weren’t…close. It’s for Cassie you should feel sorry, since she barely remembers her. She passed away when Cassie was only two, and I got custody of her then.”

  He didn’t offer more, and Laurel knew it would be rude to ask for details. The cold tightness in her chest turned to an ache for the little girl who would never know her mother. At the same time, it absurdly lightened a little at the thought that Andros Drakoulias was single and available. All the feelings of intimacy she’d felt just moments ago came surging back, making her hyperaware of how good it felt to be tucked against his warm, masculine body.

  She mentally smacked herself. Maybe she couldn’t shake this powerful attraction to him, but she wouldn’t act on it. There was so much work to finish in so little time, and they were down two people to boot. Hadn’t her mother always admonished her about never letting a boyfriend or crush get in the way of her focus on school or work? One hundred percent of her attention had to be on this dig and the important goal she still hoped to make happen.

  Dusk had nearly given way to full darkness as they arrived at the entrance to the caves, and she released Andros’s arm so no one would start any gossip, which at a dig could spread like poison ivy. Becka and Jason, two of the three volunteers, were packing up by the light of electric lanterns. “Where’s John?” she asked.

  “He’s coming. Said he was working on unearthing another human bone and wanted to finish,” Becka said.

  “There’s something I didn’t ask before,” Andros said. “Do each of you have your own section of the cave you work, or do you move around a lot?”

  Becka swiped her hair from her eyes. “We keep to our own sections, mostly, unless Tom needs us to work somewhere else.”

  “Have you—?” Andros was interrupted by a violent coughing sound, echoing from inside the cave.

  Oh, Lord, no. Laurel looked at Andros and saw his expression turn grim.

  “Put these on. Now.” He dug surgical masks from his pocket and quickly handed them out before putting one on himself. Another racking cough came from the cave just before John stumbled out, bending over and holding his chest for what seemed like minutes until it finally subsided, leaving him gasping.

  Andros wrapped his arm around John’s back, helping him stand upright. “You’re burning up,” Andros said, his voice slightly muffled through the mask. “How long have you been like this?”

  “Had a cold the last couple days, like Tom. Got lots worse the past hour or so.”

  “Let’s get you down to the clinic hospital and do some tests. My car’s close by.”

  With John leaning heavily against him, Andros helped him down the path. Laurel’s throat tightened when she saw Andros had taken a second to put on surgical gloves as well.

  She hoped and prayed this was something completely different than what Mel and Tom were experiencing. That it was just a cold, and he’d be feeling better in the morning. Not horribly sick and hooked up to oxygen the way Mel and Tom had been. That Becka and Jason would stay healthy. That they’d all be fine.

  But what if John got worse? What if his symptoms were exactly the same? And if they were, where would that leave the dig?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “SO WHAT DO you think?” Andros asked Dimitri in a low voice as they stood in the doorway of John Jackson’s hospital room at the Elias Sophia Hospital. “Same thing as the Wagners?”

  “Presents the same, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is. We’ll have to wait for the blood tests to come back, and we won’t have Mr. Jackson’s until a few days after the Wagners’.”

  Andros looked at the woman standing next to the patient’s bed and couldn’t help but be impressed at how calm she seemed through all the activity around them. How steady, despite the incessant beep of monitors, nurses slipping in and out of the room, and techs checking the patient’s vitals. Far calmer and steadier than he might have expected her to be, considering the heightened intensity in the air.

  Though lines creased her brow and the blue eyes visible over the surgical mask she wore held a deep concern, her composure didn’t waver. She stood straight, talking to John about the dig.

  Andros had already transferred the patient here this morning, just before Laurel had shown up at the clinic. When she’d asked for directions to drive here after the day’s work at the dig, he’d instantly offered to bring her instead, wanting to see the Wagners and John, too. And if an hour’s car ride enjoying her scent in his nose and conversation from her lush lips was part of his motivation, what was the harm in that?

  When he’d first introduced her to Dimitri, she’d asked good questions, her responses intelligent and thoughtful. She hadn’t overreacted or panicked, simply displaying clear leadership in taking over for the Wagners.

  Andros’s heart knocked in his chest when he saw her reach out to touch John’s arm, relieved when he saw her hesitate and withdraw it. John said something Andros couldn’t catch, and a smile touched her eyes as she answered him back then said goodbye. She turned toward the door, and her eyes met his, held.

  “You have something going with the pretty lady?” Dimitri asked.

  The surprising question had him breaking eye contact with Laurel to stare at his friend. “I just met her two days ago.”

  “Sometimes only takes two minutes.”

  And damned if that wasn’t the truth. Or even two seconds, which was about how long it had taken for his interest to go from zero to sixty the first moment he’d laid eyes on her.

  “And if you don’t, you should,” Di said in a lower voice, grinning and waggling his thick eyebrows like Groucho Marx. “I’ll keep you posted on our patients.” He headed down the hall as Laurel joined Andros at the doorway.

  “John seems to be holding his own. Doesn’t he?” Her questioning eyes seemed to be willing him to reassure her. “He doesn’t seem to have as much trouble breathing as Mel and Tom did when I first saw them in your clinic hospital.”

  “Not at the moment. Hopefully he’ll stay that way.” He wrapped his fingers around her arm and drew her farther into the hall. “Di told you we just don’t know if this is the same thing the Wagners have or not. An influenza or some other virus. Bacterial infection or fungal infection.”

  “When will you know?”

  “Di asked to have John’s test results expedited, but that will still take a couple days.”

  She nodded, that pucker of worry still on her face. “I’m so relieved, though, that Mel and Tom aren’t any worse. Do you think they’ll be released soon?”

  “Hard to say. They’re getting good care, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.” He wanted to banish, for at least a little while, that deep concern clouding her eyes. There was nothing more to do here, and a glance at his watch showed it was already well
past 7:00 p.m. “How about we have dinner here before we head back?” He’d thought of that, wanted that, from the moment they’d left Delphi to drive here. Time spent with her away from her work and his, away from Kastorini, away from the serious problems on both their minds.

  “I probably should get back. Update the team and make sure they’re okay.”

  “Why wouldn’t they be okay?”

  “Well, they…” Her voice trailed off and she gave a little rueful smile. “You’re right, they’re adults. I forget sometimes I don’t have to play mom anymore.”

  “When did you have to?” Surely she didn’t have children. Leaving them for the entire summer for the dig.

  “Oh, for my sisters. It’s a wonder my hair’s not prematurely gray.” The tone of her voice had lightened and she smiled. “The dig team has explored a few towns outside of Delphi on weekends, but not here. So dinner sounds lovely.”

  “Good.” He let go of her arm, resisting the urge to hold her hand instead, and they headed to his car. “You in the mood for seafood, or Greek food, or both?”

  “Anything. Everything. I didn’t have much lunch, and I have to admit that, next to digging, eating’s one of my favorite things to do.”

  “Yeah?” She’d obviously decided to let herself relax with him, to let go of her worries for a time, and he grinned at the sudden enthusiasm in her voice. “Something we have in common. I know just the place you’ll like.”

  It was only about a ten-minute drive from the hospital to the waterfront, and, since it was early yet for locals to be eating dinner, he had no trouble finding a parking spot. “Sit tight,” he said to Laurel as he got out of the car, going around to her side of the car to open her door.

  “More of your worrying I’m clumsy?” she asked as he held out his hand to her. “Getting out of a car isn’t quite as dangerous as walking down a rocky mountain in the dark.”

  “Being a gentleman pleases me. And because I can see you’re a woman who cares about others, you won’t mind indulging me, will you?”

  “Ah, the charm of Greek men.” She shook her head, but a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

  She placed her soft hand in his and stepped from the car. It felt so nice to hold it, just as it had when he’d washed her palm at the clinic, and he couldn’t seem to make himself let go. A little surprised that she didn’t release his either, he gave in to enjoying the simple connection. Stars began to wink in the darkening sky as they strolled down the brick promenade that went for a good quarter mile along the lapping gulf waters.

  “I’ve been in Greece two months, and I’m still amazed at all the little restaurants that line the water in every town,” she said, gazing at the lanterns and lights beneath huge umbrellas connected together, one after another. “So pretty. With comfy seats too, if you want, instead of a table. I wish there were more places like this in the States.”

  “I went to med school in New Jersey,” he said. “I admit I never got used to the beach restaurants there. Always wanting you to move on your way right after you’re done. In Greece, you’re expected to eat and relax for the night.”

  “Somehow when you said you lived in the US, I was picturing LA or Montana.”

  Her eyes were filled with a teasing look, and he found himself drifting closer until his shoulder brushed hers. “LA or Montana? First, I’d say those two places don’t have much in common, and second, I’d ask why.”

  “I’m not sure.” She tilted her head at him, seeming to size him up, and he grew even more curious about what she was thinking. “Maybe because you seem sophisticated and at the same time rugged. Like a Greek cowboy.”

  Sophisticated but rugged sounded pretty good. As if she might find him attractive, and he certainly found her very attractive. “I’m more of a Greek goat boy than a cowboy, since it was my job to look after ours when I was a kid.”

  “Goat boy?” She laughed. “Sorry. Doesn’t work at all for you.”

  “You might change your mind if I show up smelling like one of Cassie’s goats sometime. She and Petros like to pretend they’re horses and bring them into the ‘stable.’ Which is her name for our living room.”

  “Oh, my gosh, that’s adorable.”

  “Not when your house smells like a barn.”

  Her laugh, the sparkle in her eyes, were sheer temptation. The kind of temptation that left Andros wondering if he could possibly resist. If he could keep his hands and lips to himself when all he wanted at that moment was to pull her close and kiss that smiling mouth.

  He drew in a deep breath, glad they’d arrived at one of his favorite restaurants, interrupting his dangerous thoughts. “Would you like to sit at a table, or have mezedes on these seats looking out over the water?”

  “Mezedes?”

  “You’ve been in Greece two months and don’t know what mezedes are?” He teased her with mock astonishment. “Appetizer-sized plates for dinner, instead of one entrée. Eating various meze over a whole evening, preferably with ouzo to drink, is a Greek tradition.”

  “Ouzo? You’re kidding. That stuff is awful!” He had to grin at the cute way she scrunched up her face. “Mel and Tom had us all try it at dinner in Delphi one night and I could barely swallow it.”

  “Don’t worry. Ouzo’s optional.”

  “Good, because the meze sounds wonderful. I like trying different things. And I want to enjoy seeing the water while I still can.”

  A reminder that she wouldn’t be here for long. But when it came right down to it, what did it matter? He wasn’t capable of futures or happy-ever-afters with a woman anyway. And they were far enough away that he didn’t have to worry about the gossip Kastorini townsfolk used to love to share about him, back in the careless days of his youth. Which had extended into too many careless days with women in his adulthood, too.

  They sat side by side in the cushioned wicker seat, and it took effort to concentrate on the menu instead of how close she was, how good she smelled, how pretty she looked. “So, no ouzo,” he said. “What do you like to drink?”

  “White wine, but don’t let me stop you from drinking ouzo.”

  No way he’d be drinking ouzo. If he kissed her, he wasn’t about to taste like the licorice liquor she hated. Then reminded himself that kissing wouldn’t be a good idea. “Have you ever tried retsina?”

  “No. That’s a Greek wine, isn’t it?”

  “Another thing that can be an acquired taste. Some people think it tastes like turpentine, or pinesap, but by the third glass, you’d like it.”

  “Third glass? Are you trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?” He hadn’t seen this mischievousness in her eyes before, and his heart beat a little faster as he thought of ways they could take advantage of one another and how much fun that would be. “How about I stick with sauvignon blanc?”

  “I’m a gentleman, remember?” A gentleman who wanted to kiss her, wanted to know whether this attraction, this awareness, went both ways. Except he shouldn’t want to know, because if she felt any of what he was feeling he’d find it even harder to keep their relationship strictly friendly and uncomplicated. “We’ll get both, since you like to try new things.”

  “Far be it from me to not try a drink that tastes like pinesap.”

  Even as he grinned he wondered how her mouth would taste no matter what she’d been drinking, and yanked his gaze from her lips, handing her the menu. “What sounds good?”

  She handed it back. “You’ve heard the phrase, ‘it’s all Greek to me’? Unfortunately, studying ancient languages doesn’t help me read one word of that.”

  “Sorry. How about I order a few of my favorites, then we’ll go from there? Grilled octopus, keftedes, which are fried meatballs I personally could eat a dozen of, peppers stuffed with feta, and olives from the valleys by Kastorini to start.”

  “Sounds wonderful, except maybe the octopus. Can’t wrap my brain around eating those little suction cups.”

  She gave an exaggerated shudder that was almost a
s cute as her ouzo expression. “Maybe you haven’t had them cooked properly. And I’m beginning to learn you’re a little overdramatic at times, perhaps.”

  “Perhaps.” Her lips curved. “I love that the olives are from that sea of trees. It’s incredible how many there are.”

  “Over a million. And many are over a hundred years old.”

  “A hundred? That’s a nanosecond in Greece.”

  “Says the archaeologist, not arborist.”

  They smiled at one another until the waiter showed up to take their order, then brought the wine. Andros let himself enjoy looking at her over his glass. Wished he could see her with that long, thick, silky hair of hers out of its restraint and spilling down her back. He nearly reached to grasp the ponytail in his palm, wanting to stroke the length of its softness with his hand, but stopped himself.

  “Tell me about being mom to your sisters. How many do you have?” he asked, as much to keep from thinking about touching her as genuinely wanting to know more about her. Then instantly regretted the question, surprised to see the beautiful eyes that had been relaxed and smiling become instantly shadowed.

  “Three younger. One just graduated college, one’s a sophomore, and the youngest, Helen, is on a summer internship in Peru before she starts as a freshman in a few more weeks.” She stayed quiet for a moment, and Andros was trying to figure out if he should start a different subject when she finally spoke. “My parents were the archaeologists who started this dig and were killed that first summer. That’s how I came to take over the mom role. Did a pretty bad job of it half the time, but I tried.”

  “I’m so sorry. What happened?” His heart kicked at what a shocking loss that had to be. He put down his glass and rested his hand between her shoulder blades. “You must have barely been, what, twenty-two?”

  She nodded. “I’d graduated college that May, and just a couple weeks later they came here to start working the dig. I was home watching my sisters. My parents were excavating a new pit and were inside it deciding how much deeper they could use machinery, when an earthquake hit. The rock walls collapsed on them.”