by Robin Gianna
“You’re not working today, Andros?” she asked, wondering how the only doctor in town had time to fish.
“Since Christina’s gone a few days, I closed the clinic. Off work to play with Cassie, unless there’s an emergency.”
“Are you coming fishing with us, Laurel?”
“I can’t. Unlike your dad, I don’t have the day off.” Filled with a sudden longing to join them, she fought it back. She hadn’t been given this one last chance to find the treasure just to twiddle away the little time she had. Andros’s brows quirked at her in a questioning look and she braced herself. The man would not be happy about her plans to go in the cave, but it wasn’t his decision. Wasn’t his parents’ dream she had one more shot at realizing. Her chance to make them proud.
“With all the excitement, you never did tell me why you came back. What is it you still need to do?”
She opened her mouth to tell him then closed it again. Coward that she was, she didn’t want to ruin this warm, pleasant moment they were sharing. And didn’t she deserve just a few hours of relaxation and fun on the boat with them? Just for a little while before work took 100 percent of her time? The way it had for her parents?
“You know, work can wait a little while longer. Because, you might not believe this, but…” She leaned closer to Cassie. “I’ve never been fishing. Will you teach me how?”
“Yes! I will! Can I get my tackle box now, Daddy? Please?”
“All right. I’ll pack up the last of your fruit for a snack.”
Laurel smiled as the child leaped from the chair and ran off, her spindly little legs practically a blur. Maybe it made her nosy, but she couldn’t help being curious about Cassie’s mother and what Andros had said before. Now might be the only chance she had to ask without the little girl around.
“So. Maybe enjoying a little nakedness together doesn’t give me the right to ask,” she began, wondering why she felt suddenly nervous, like maybe she didn’t want to know the answer after all, “but Cassie is the sweetest little thing, and I can’t help but wonder about her mom. You said she passed away?”
Andros stared down into his coffee cup, not responding, exactly the way he’d acted when she’d brought the subject up on the mountain. That seemed like a long time ago now, but just as she was about to apologize for asking, for butting into something that wasn’t her business, he looked up and fully met her gaze.
“Yes. As I said before, it’s a sad thing for Cassie. But the rest of the story? It isn’t one I’m particularly proud of.”
Oh, Lord. Probably this really was something she didn’t want to know and she wished she’d kept her mouth shut at the same time that she found herself desperately needing to hear it.
“I spent my youth going from one girlfriend to the next. Thought that was a good thing, what guys did, right? Now I wish my parents had yanked me aside and lectured me on respecting women, but they didn’t. Don’t know if they turned a blind eye or honestly weren’t aware of it until after I left and they heard the gossip, but by the time I left Kastorini for school in the States, I had quite a reputation.”
“You’re a beautiful man, Andros, which I’m sure you know.” Hadn’t she about swooned the very first time she’d set eyes on him? “I bet it was a two-way street, with girls throwing themselves at you.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to take advantage of it. But I did. And when I saw the big, wide world of a college campus, then med school and residency? I felt like I’d moved from dinner to a full banquet.”
“And you feel guilty about that.” She could see it in his eyes. Guilt. And while a part of her felt uncomfortable, maybe even a little cheap at being just another woman who’d offered herself up at that banquet, she also believed he was no longer that young, careless man.
“Yes. I do.” His eyes met hers again, intense and sincere. “Even before I found out about Cassie, I’d started to grow up. To see that women weren’t something to be enjoyed at random, even if that seemed to be all they wanted, too. I took a step back to think about who I was and who I wanted to be. Figured I just wasn’t capable of a lasting relationship with a woman. Had never wanted one, but knew I needed to start being more careful about who I got involved with so no one got hurt. Then I got a phone call that brought that lesson home for good.”
Laurel knew what that phone call must have been. Her heart twisted in a knot, and she covered his hand with hers and waited.
“Alison’s brother—Alison was Cassie’s mother—called me. Said she’d died in a car accident, and I was listed on Cassie’s birth certificate as the father. Her parents were older and couldn’t take care of a toddler, and the brother was single and traveled a lot. So they decided to contact me.”
This time, his dark eyes were filled with pain. Remorse too, and her heart clutched even harder. “You didn’t know.”
“No. I didn’t know. I wish she’d told me, though I hate to admit I barely remembered who she was. Maybe she didn’t because she figured I’d be irresponsible.”
“No, Andros, she had to know the caring man you are would have stepped up.”
“Maybe, maybe not. When I first found out, there were plenty who knew me that doubted I would. And I wasn’t sure I could blame them.” He held her hand between both of his, his gaze not wavering from hers. “Maybe it happened later than it should have, but learning about Cassie brought me to that final step of realizing I was a man now, not a careless, self-absorbed boy. Which meant coming back to Kastorini to work with my father, as he’d always wanted me to. To raise Cassie here the way I’d been raised, to finally embrace the roots I’d been blessed to be given.”
She tightened her hold on his hand, giving him a smile that she hoped showed she understood. That everyone had years they’d spent doing a whole lot of growing up, and it wasn’t always tidy or pretty. Hadn’t she struggled to guide her sisters, often failing miserably because of her own immaturity? “Gotta admit, I find it hard to believe there was a time you weren’t sure you wanted to come back. I love it here. Your place—your town—is truly special.” She had to bite back her next words, which had almost been and you’re every bit as special, too.
“It is. Special, and hard for me to believe.” A small smile played about his lips now, and she was glad to see it. Happy he’d felt able to share all that with her, and happy he saw she understood.
“By the way.” He leaned in, a breath away. “Just so you know, you’re not just another fling to me. You’re damned special too.”
Her heart knocked at the words she’d almost said to him. She saw his smile, slightly crooked and more than sexy, just before his mouth touched hers. Her eyes drifted closed to savor the sensation. Sweet and slow, tasting a little like coffee and a lot like warmth and pleasure and simple happiness. Just as she was sinking deep into all of it, a banged-open door, followed by a voice so loud it was hard to believe it came from a tiny little throat, interrupted.
“Got everything, Daddy and Laurel! Let’s go feed the fishies!”
* * *
Laurel would never have believed that such a soft, comfy cocoon of a bed would have left her tossing around with not nearly enough hours of sleep.
She’d sunk deep into its comfort, enjoying reliving the beautiful day she’d spent on the water with Cassie and Andros. Smiling as she remembered the tangled fishing lines and the hook that had flown back to snag her hair when Cassie had yanked too hard at an invisible fish she’d been sure was on the line. Seeing Andros’s immediate concern when he’d jumped up to carefully extricate it, the expanse of his wide chest in front of her face for a temptingly long time, making it nearly impossible to not breathe him in. To not wrap her arms around as much of him as she could and kiss him senseless.
Thank heavens Cassie had been chaperone, or she knew she couldn’t possibly have resisted. And that realization knocked away all those pleasant feelings, leaving her frowning at the ceiling. Wondering about this deep contentment she felt here, and worried about it too. She had to
be happy and content when she moved on from here, and each hour she stayed made her realize it might be a bigger adjustment than she’d expected to become a rolling stone, living in various places around the world as she built her career.
The only thing that had marred the day slightly were reporters showing up to sniff around. Apparently a few locals knew she’d returned and told them she was on Andros’s boat. That situation had him looking beyond grim, which seemed a little unnecessary. Though she supposed having to answer questions and calm worried locals was a stress he didn’t need.
She caught herself drifting back to the lovely memories of the day on the boat and opened her eyes again, annoyed with herself. She’d come back to Kastorini to find the statue, not play around with and lust after Andros Drakoulias. Really, she hadn’t meant to come to Kastorini at all, and if she’d been able to get her room back wouldn’t even have seen him again.
Except she had to face that this stern self-lecture was partly a lie. Consciously or unconsciously, she knew she’d have looked for a reason to come back here, even if that reason had been something lame and inane.
She flopped to her side, pinching her eyelids closed, willing herself to sleep. Tomorrow had to be cave day. Not an easy day, either, since she hadn’t worked in there at all and had only Tom’s map and his “feeling” to help her find that statue. “And finding it means everything, remember?” she whispered fiercely to herself. “Everything.”
Everything. Everything her parents had expected her to work toward. What her parents had died for. What was wrong with her that it seemed harder and harder to keep that at the forefront of her mind?
Her bleariness faded at breakfast, with Cassie’s steady, cute chatter and two cups of coffee managing to help her feel upbeat again.
“A little more coffee, Laurel? Or more fruit?” Andros asked, holding up the pot.
“No, thank you, but it was delicious. If you’ll excuse me, I have some things I need to get done today.” She shoved herself from her chair and left the kitchen, feeling Andros’s gaze on her back. What were the odds he wouldn’t ask her what she was going to do, when she came down with her pack?
She didn’t have to wonder long, as he stood just a few feet away from the bottom of the stairs. Her trot down the steps slowed, and she braced herself.
“You can’t be serious. Are you nuts?”
Andros stared at her with disbelief and anger etched all too clearly on his face. He folded his arms across his chest and took a step closer, as though his size and maleness would somehow intimidate her.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not stupid, Laurel. You’re obviously planning to go into the caves.”
She took a step toward him and stared him down. Well, up, actually, since she was now only inches away from him.
“I know you don’t understand. I don’t expect you to. I’ll wear a mask and gloves, just in case. But I need to look just a little longer.”
“Look for what? More potsherds or a long-lost gold ring like countless others in Greek museums? Bones from thousands of years ago? I’ve talked to the Wagners about this dig, about the hundreds of items excavated. You’ve done plenty. Why can’t you let it go? It’s over.”
“Not quite yet.”
He turned to pace away a few steps, staring out of the window. His posture was stiff, and frustration practically radiated from him. Her throat tightened and her conscience tugged at her heart. The man wasn’t worried about a contagion infecting Delphi or Kastorini or anywhere else.
He was upset because he was worried about her. She couldn’t stand to let him think she was just an idiot. A stubborn fool. She owed him the whole truth.
“Andros,” she said softly, walking toward him to place her hand on his back. He didn’t turn, didn’t respond, and she inched closer until her body nearly touched his. “This isn’t about a few more potsherds. There’s something important my parents believed would be found at this site. Something that will rock the archaeological world. Something I want to find for them, and for myself.”
He turned to look down at her, that deep frown still between his dark brows. The worry still there too, but not the anger. “What? What could be so important?”
“There’s a lengthy poem inscribed on one of the stones excavated near Delphi. A poem that talks about the Pythian games and the Charioteer and a golden Artemis, Apollo’s sister. After studying the interesting metaphors in this poem, Mom and Dad became convinced the golden Artemis really existed in the form of a statue.”
“They’ve been excavating for five years here with no statue showing up, Laurel.”
“I know. But…” She wrapped her fingers around the warm skin of his arms. “The Wagners always suspected it might have been hidden in the caves, to protect it from looters after people no longer worshipped at Delphi. Tom thinks he felt where it is. So I’m going to look there a few more times.”
“Felt where it is? What the hell does that mean?”
“Sounds ridiculous, I know. But surely you’ve had moments where you just had a gut feeling about something? A diagnosis, maybe, that comes to mind and seems right?”
He looked at her, not answering. After a long, tense moment, he finally shook his head and sighed. “You may be crazy, but even you know you can’t go into a cave solo. I’ll go with you.”
“Andros, you don’t have to—”
“Yeah, I do.” He pulled her against him, and the lips that touched her forehead were gentle, not at all angry, and she was so relieved, she found herself leaning against him. Slid her hands up to his strong shoulders as his mouth lowered to hers in a kiss filled with frustration and sweetness and a slowly building heat that curled her toes and sent her fingers tangling with his thick, silky hair.
The heavy-lidded eyes staring at her were utterly coal black as he pulled back and ran his thumb across her lower lip. The sensual touch sent her breathing even more haywire, and she nearly drew his thumb into her mouth. Until she quickly reminded herself that heading to the cave was her priority for the day, not having delicious, sweaty sex with the hunkiest doctor alive.
“I really appreciate you…coming with me. I’m ready to go when you are.”
His gaze lingered on hers a moment longer before he wordlessly turned and headed upstairs.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“I WAS EXPECTING it to be wetter in here. But most of the moisture’s on the stalactites and stalagmites, not the ground at all,” Laurel said as they moved through the cave, the light from their lanterns and helmet lamps swinging in wide arcs on the low ceiling, rocky walls, and floor.
“There is ground water in some caves on the mountain. Wouldn’t that destroy artifacts?”
“Depends on the artifact.” She pulled out Tom’s map and looked at it again, trying to orient herself. “I thought working in here would be better than the hot mountainside, but it’s a little creepy, don’t you think?”
“The big bad adventure woman thinks it’s a little creepy?”
The amusement in his voice was loud and clear even through the mask he wore, and she gave his arm a playful swat. “You’re telling me you like it in here?”
“Interesting formations around. But I frankly can’t see how the hell you think you’ll find anything. A statue like you’re talking about couldn’t be buried in solid rock. If it was here, surely it would have been found by now.”
She wouldn’t admit she’d been thinking exactly the same thing. But Tom knew a lot more than she did, and he thought it was still possible. Who was she to doubt, when they’d been inside for barely half an hour?
“He said he got his feeling when he was about a hundred feet in, on the left-hand side. Behind some orange stalactite.” She held up her lantern, peering for something orange, so focused she stumbled over a small, mounded stalagmite and might have fallen if Andros’s strong hand hadn’t shot out to grab her arm.
“Steady, adventure girl. We’re not in a big hurry, here.”
“Easy for
you to say. You’re not the one who has to head back to the university before the start of the new term.” The words sent an unexpected jab right into her solar plexus at the thought of never being here again. On this amazing mountain, or in beautifully charming Kastorini.
Of never seeing Andros and little Cassie again.
But that was the nature of the life she wanted, wasn’t it? That she’d trained for. Spend months of the year somewhere, meet new and interesting people, then move on. Maybe get to see them again the following year if a dig continued. But getting attached to one place for too long? Not a good idea for an archaeologist.
Remembering that wasn’t going to be easy.
Andros hadn’t said a word in response, and she wondered if he was thinking what she was. That he’d miss her. That he wished they’d had a little more time together to light up, then burn out, this…thing that had formed between them.
Definitely hadn’t had enough time for either. And of all her regrets, she knew that was the biggest.
So aware of his warm hand still holding her arm, she moved farther into the cave, then stopped dead. “Look! A huge orange stalactite, over there!” She pointed, looking up at Andros, and his eyes met hers above the mask, strangely dark and intense at the same time they were touched with the humor she loved to see there.
“If we find it, can we keep the discovery to ourselves so I can put it in my living room?”
“Wouldn’t suit your homey decor too well, I don’t think. Let’s look.”
The sound of his chuckle vibrated practically in her ear as he squeezed in next to her behind the stalactite, his chest touching her back in the narrow space. Her heart thumped as she scanned the area. At first it looked as if it was nestled in by more expanse of solid rock that ended in a triangular corner, covered by a thin, shimmering layer of crystal. The excitement that had bubbled up in her chest when she’d first spotted the orange formation deflated a little as she moved in close to what she could now see was obviously a dead end.
“Looks like it stops right here,” she said. “I wonder if Tom could have meant a different stalactite?”