So much for looking good.
The team is already gathered in the dining tent. Fatima has made some kind of egg dish with flatbread, and the smell makes my stomach growl. I grab a plate, balancing Ella on my hip.
There’s movement out of the corner of my eye, and I look over and catch Calvin watching me from across the tent.
Our gazes lock, and everything else fades away for a moment. There’s something in his eyes—warmth, awareness. Maybe he’s remembering the same moment I was replaying all night.
I feel heat rise in my cheeks and can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. He smiles back, just slightly, and it transforms his whole face.
“Morning,” he mouths.
“Morning,” I mouth back.
“Earth to Georgia?”
I snap my attention back to find Yasmin looking at me with amusement.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you wanted to sit. There’s room here.” She pats the bench beside her, then glances between me and Calvin with raised eyebrows.
“Right. Yes. Thank you.” My face warms. Oh, God. Did she just see that whole interaction?
I settle Ella in her high chair—Calvin made improvements to that too, adding padding and a better safety strap—and start cutting up her pancake and eggs.
“So…” Omar says casually, but there’s mischief in his voice. “Good morning, everyone. Did you all sleep well?”
There’s a chorus of affirmatives around the table.
“Dr. Halford? Mr. Aarons? You both look… refreshed this morning.”
I nearly choke on my tea. “I slept fine,” I manage. “Why?”
“No reason.” But Omar is grinning now. “Just noticed you two seem to be in particularly good moods today. Sharing secret smiles across the breakfast table.”
Oh, God. So, we really are that obvious.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, focusing very intently on Ella’s eggs.
“Mm-hmm.” Dr. Akkhad joins in, clearly enjoying this. “You know, usually when the project leaders start smiling at each other like that, it means something big is happening with the dig.”
“Is it funding?” Tariq leans forward eagerly. “Have we secured additional funding?”
“Or publication interest?” Yasmin adds. “DidNational Geographicreach out?”
“Maybe a museum wants to sponsor us?” Omar suggests.
“There’s no secret about the project,” Calvin says, his voice carefully neutral. But when I glance at him, I can see he’s fighting back amusement.
“Then what’s with all the smiling?” Dr. Akkhad presses.
“Can’t two people just be in good moods?” I ask, trying to sound innocent.
“Not after two weeks of you two bickering like an old married couple,” Omar points out. “Something changed.”
“Maybe we just got a good night’s sleep,” Calvin offers.
“Or,” Edmond says thoughtfully, having stayed quiet until now, “maybe they’ve just finally learned to work together without wanting to strangle each other. That would explain the improved mood.”
