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“We’re going into Kouklia to get something to drink,” Courtney added. “There’s nothing good in the fridge. That lemon squash is full of empty calories.”
“There’s a suggestion list tacked up to the bulletin board in the kitchen.” Rick struggled to keep his voice even. He’d been mentioning the damn list since the first day. “If you write down what you want, I can look for it the next time I get groceries in Paphos.”
“Thanks, but that doesn’t help us now.” Courtney sighed. “Let’s go, Brynn.”
Rick waited until they left before speaking again. He didn’t want to appear too pushy, but if he didn’t keep the conversation going, Dr. Roth might forget about it. “So…about your colleague?”
“Right,” Dr. Roth said. “He works in Southern California. Based in Ventura County. But that might not be ideal. Aren’t you from the Bay Area?”
“I am, but I’d be fine working anywhere in the state. I could visit my folks between jobs.” Whether or not this would happen, he couldn’t say. But at least he’d be employed. As he waited for Roth’s answer, he tried to control the churning in his stomach.
Dr. Roth gave a slow nod. The fact that he hadn’t agreed to the request immediately was a bad sign. “I’d like to help. You have a lot of experience in the field, and you clearly know what you’re doing, but…”
Rick swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “Is this about the Palaikastro dig?”
“Exactly. When you applied for this job, I wasn’t sure whether to hire you, based on what I’d heard. But since Frida endorsed you, I decided to give you a chance. I’d like to get through this season without any issues, so let’s see where we are in a few weeks. If all goes well, then I’d be happy to recommend you. I could even make a few calls.”
Rick forced a bright smile on his face, not wanting to reveal how gutted he was. He’d foolishly assumed the professor’s recommendation would be a slam dunk. “Thanks. I won’t let you down.”
“Good. I need to head back to the field house. There’s a cold beer calling my name.”
After he left, Rick sat in the shade of the olive tree, fighting back a surge of frustration.
For years, he’d been a dependable worker. Someone who showed up on time and took any jobs he was assigned. But because of a stupid judgment call, he was now viewed as a liability. If he screwed up again, he’d be lucky to get a job anywhere.
After dinner, Rick considered bailing on drinks at Spyros. Given his rotten mood, he didn’t want to drag everyone down. But when Olivia asked if he was going, he didn’t have the heart to say no. They’d grown closer since the night he’d treated her sunburn, though not so close that she’d asked him to do it again. Probably for the best because he’d gotten too aroused touching her bare skin. He didn’t need that temptation.
When he got to Spyros, she was already there, seated at a table on the patio. To his delight, she was wearing her hair down, her wild curls cascading past her shoulders. Seeing her in such a relaxed state raised his spirits.
Dusty sat across from Olivia, cocktail in hand. “Come join us. We’re trying our first brandy sour. Juno told us it’s the national drink of Cyprus.”
Olivia lifted her glass in a salute. “Kalispera.”
“Kalispera to you, too.” He pulled up a chair and ordered a brandy sour for himself. The sweet cocktail—made up of brandy, lemon squash, bitters, and soda water—went down far too easily. During his last gig on the island, he’d enjoyed his fair share of them.
“What do you think?” he asked Olivia.
“Delicious.” She gave him a cheeky smile. “I was only going to have one, but I don’t know if I have that kind of willpower. Not where brandy is concerned.”
He bit back a grin as he remembered how uninhibited she’d gotten at Clear Lake after a few shots of brandy. Was she recalling the same thing?
Stuart, Juno, and TJ arrived, pulling up chairs around the table. After ordering drinks, they took turns venting about their survey experiences.
“I don’t envy the lot of you, having to traipse around outdoors at the crack of dawn,” Dusty said. “I can stumble into my studio still wearing my pajamas while you battle evil plants.” She shot Olivia a look.
“That only happened on the first day,” Olivia said. “I haven’t had any more carnivorous plant encounters since then. Though I’m probably the worst surveyor in the whole field school, which is embarrassing as hell, considering I’m a year away from getting my doctorate.”
Rick caught her eye, hoping to reassure her. “None of that. You’re doing fine.”
She sighed. “Thanks, but Brynn doesn’t seem to think so. She came to me after lunch and bitched about our team’s performance. I told her if she wanted to switch teams, we could make it happen.” She glanced over at Stuart and Juno. “Would either of you like her?”
“No, thank you,” Juno said. “She is, quite literally, a piece of work. I don’t need that piece anywhere near me.”
Stuart laughed. “I’ll trade her for Logan. He’s a decent guy but a total slacker. Four days in and he hasn’t written a damn thing down. I’m worried he might accidentally stumble across a site but be too lazy to record it.”
“I’d pay serious money to off-load Brynn,” Rick said. “Thanks to her, I’m on Grant’s shit list again. After she complained to him, he went to Roth behind my back and claimed I’m doing a crappy job.”
“Shit.” Olivia rubbed her forehead. “I didn’t think she’d go to Grant. I should have warned you.”
