AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh really?” Alisha demanded. “Hello? Get me the Pope on the line. Listen, Your Eminence, but your city is highly overrated.”
“That’s Vatican City, not Rome.”
“Are you telling me I don’t know my geography? I lived in Italy for two years, you fool.”
“But Rome’s full of tourists,” TJ said. “So’s Florence, for that matter. Venice, too. If you want to explore the country, you’ve got to go deeper than that.”
“I don’t need deep. Not when I have the world’s best gelato and a kick-ass plate of pasta.”
Olivia nudged Rick. She rarely missed a chance for physical contact. A nudge here, a touch there. “Don’t you want to jump into the debate?” she asked. “You spent a semester in Rome.”
“Yeah, but I don’t need either of them getting pissed off at me. Better to stay out of it.”
He pulled over beside a dilapidated wooden fence that stood above a valley. The area around them was composed of rolling hills, covered with scrubby bushes, olive trees, and terraced vineyards. Flocks of sheep and goats grazed at random intervals. Small stone houses dotted the landscape, but the region was sparsely populated. They were truly in the backcountry of Cyprus.
Rick gathered them around. “This area is tricky. Steep inclines and narrow goat paths mean surveying will take longer than usual. The reception sucks, so your phones might not get a signal. Watch out for the ravine on the way back, and keep in mind the terraces might throw you off. Since you won’t be able to walk in a straight line, you’ll need to rely on your GPS more than ever. Does everyone have enough batteries?”
Olivia checked her pack. Since the Greek brand of batteries they used didn’t last long, they always carried spares with them. “I’m good,” she said. The others nodded.
“You’ve all been crushing it this week,” Rick said. “I’m impressed we’ve beaten Stuart’s team three days running, but I still need you to be careful. I wouldn’t want anyone to break an ankle.”
Olivia shuddered. Frida had mentioned how painful her break was, and she’d only been ten minutes from a major hospital. Getting treatment in such a rural part of Cyprus could take much longer.
Despite Rick’s warnings, Olivia had no difficulty navigating her first transect. But her second one took her through uneven terrain as she crossed terraced slopes and navigated vineyards filled with twisted vines and thick grapes that gave off a cloying, musty smell.
Though she tried to stay focused, her mind wandered as she imagined returning to her Geometric site with Rick. After the passionate kisses they’d shared at Coral Bay, she’d been dying to get him alone. She would have paid serious money to spend the night in his arms, preferably at a beachside hotel with a comfy bed and room service. But she couldn’t imagine Dr. Roth condoning such unprofessional behavior.
“Kalimera.”
Olivia backed up. She’d been so lost in thought she’d almost bumped into an old man making his way through the vineyard. He appeared harmless, his face lined and weathered with age. Even so, she didn’t want to be alone with him. Her first instinct was to take off running, but he offered her a wide smile, displaying crooked teeth.
She returned his smile. “Kalimera.”
Waving a wrinkled hand, he gestured for her to come closer.
She shook her head. “No, thank you…ah…óchi, efcharistó.”
When he beckoned again, she backed away hastily. Her heel caught on a tree root and threw her off-balance. As she stumbled backward, the GPS unit flew from her hands and smacked against a rock. She fell onto her tailbone. The pain was so sharp it made her eyes water.
He offered her his hand. Swallowing her fear, she took it.
Don’t panic. He’s just being friendly.
Once she was back on her feet, he motioned for her to wait. After retrieving her GPS, she clutched the straps of her daypack, prepared to bolt at any moment. She almost laughed out loud when he returned with an enormous bunch of red grapes and thrust them at her.
Her paranoia now seemed a tad extreme. She took the grapes and gave a little bow. “Sas efcharistó.”
Though she suspected he wanted her to stay and chat, she needed to get going. She edged backward, smiling and waving. Most of the grapes went in her pack to save for the drive home, but she kept a handful out. They were sweet and delicious.
Ahead of her, a flock of goats blocked her path. Not docile, remember?
Rather than approach them and risk getting head-butted, she decided to go down to a lower terrace and reorient herself after she passed the herd.
Her route took her though another vineyard. The thick, tangled vines cast a dark shadow, making her feel like a character in a fairy tale with enchanted trees and a witch lying in wait. Heart pounding, she hurried her pace, only to trip over her shoelace. As she bent down to tie it, a piece of chipped stone caught her eye. She unearthed it, revealing a jagged rock. The stones around her feet were equally unimpressive. Not artifacts—just boring old rocks.
When she righted herself, a wave of dizziness sent her reeling. Around her, the rows of vines appeared so similar she couldn’t recall which direction she’d been facing earlier. She made her way out of the vineyard, blinking as she emerged into the bright sunlight.
Feeling thoroughly disoriented, she fought off a surge of fear. As soon as she got back on track, she’d be fine.
