AllFreeNovel
Share Us
ChapterTwenty-Six
When Rick arrived at Spyros Taverna for dinner, he grabbed the seat next to Olivia before anyone could claim it. His pulse skyrocketed when she snaked her hand under the table and caressed his thigh, all while maintaining an innocent expression. He liked this naughty version of Olivia.
Focusing on dinner was almost impossible while her hand traced sensual patterns on his thigh. Thankfully, the tablecloth hid her wandering hand and his growing erection. The only way to get over his hard-on was to focus on TJ’s lengthy story about the camel excursion he’d taken when he visited the site of Petra.
Once Rick had finished eating, he was about to excuse himself when Grant’s voice stopped him cold. “Rick, you need to head into Paphos tonight to get groceries.”
“I just went three days ago. The kitchen’s fully stocked.”
“I would disagree. We need more yogurt and melon, as well as a few more snacks. The students have been particularly ravenous.”
Since the grocery run was a nice break from camp, Rick usually enjoyed doing it, but he was hoping to sneak away with Olivia. Even if they couldn’t risk visiting Aphrodite’s temple, they could walk into the village and find somewhere discreet to kiss.
“Why don’t I go tomorrow afternoon, once we’re done at the dig site?” he said.
“Nonsense. Papantoniou Supermarket is open until ten, so you’ll have plenty of time, providing you don’t dawdle. Make sure you get a receipt. And no more sugary cereals. They’re nothing but empty calories.”
The last time Rick had shopped in Paphos, he’d brought Juno, and she’d convinced him to purchase four boxes of unhealthy, off-brand cereals, like Frooty Flakes and Honey-Os. Naturally, Grant hadn’t approved.
“Fine. I’ll go tonight,” Rick said.
After they got back to camp, Grant handed him a fully itemized shopping list, complete with notes, as though Rick was a ten-year-old who’d never been to a grocery store. Admittedly, he’d been pushing things by purchasing unauthorized cereal, but the students had raved about it.
While grabbing his wallet from the men’s sleeping quarters, his phone buzzed. He stared at the screen in astonishment. Dr. Kaplan, the director of the Institute for Nautical Archaeology, had texted him. Not sure how often you check your email when you’re in the field, but I sent you an offer. Start date is September 1.
Heart pounding, Rick sat on his cot and pulled up his email. Last fall, he’d worked with Dr. Kaplan on the southwest coast of Turkey, where he’d participated in the underwater excavation of a shipwreck from the third century BC. Not only had the project allowed him to use his scuba diving skills, but it had felt more like a true adventure than anything he’d ever done. In between dive sessions, the crew had lived in Bodrum, a Turkish harbor town with a lively nightlife.
He scanned the email. The professor had invited him to return to Bodrum in September to continue working on the shipwreck. The job would last until mid-November and involve a mix of diving and lab work. He’d be paid enough to afford life in Turkey with a little extra to set aside. If he took the job, he’d be covered for the next few months.
Either Dr. Kaplan hadn’t heard about Palaikastro, or he didn’t care. Maybe he just remembered how hard Rick had worked. How he’d put in long hours, proved himself responsible, and bonded with the rest of the crew.
Coming on the heels of this morning’s news, Rick was in a better place than he’d been a few weeks ago.
For the tenth time that day, he reviewed the text Cassie had sent him: Turns out Dad’s OK. Guess he’s too stubborn for cancer. I still think you should come home. I miss you, and so does Mom.
Sure, he missed them, but with his dad out of immediate danger, he could accept the job in Turkey without a shred of guilt. Put off the big family reunion for a few more months.
But was that what he wanted?
He’d already told Olivia he was considering going back to California. How would she feel if he delayed his return for another few months?
It doesn’t matter. You didn’t promise her anything.
Normally, when he came to the end of a project, he was ready to move on. No matter how much fun he’d had, he cut his ties without a backward glance. Given his nomadic life, he didn’t want to be tied to one place or one person. And—if he was being honest—he’d never allowed himself to let down his walls long enough to consider a real relationship and the trust it entailed. All he wanted was a fun, sexy diversion for a few months.
But Olivia was more than a diversion. He cared about her. Though they hadn’t been back together for long, the thought of never seeing her again filled him with a physical ache.
Even if he wanted more, she’d given no hints she felt the same way. All she’d asked for was three weeks of fun. Understandable since he didn’t fit into her life. Unlike him, she had actual career plans. In a year, she’d have her doctorate and be on her way in the academic world. He was just a shovel bum without a fixed address, which meant his goals didn’t exactly mesh with hers.
“Rick?” Olivia’s voice startled him back to the present.
He pasted on a quick smile, hoping to hide the confusion churning inside him. “Hey. Everything okay?”
“The question is—are you okay? You look unsettled. Did you get bad news from home? About your dad?”
He hadn’t told her Cassie’s news yet. They’d both been so busy at the excavation site that they hadn’t been able to squeeze in a moment alone. Now would have been the perfect time to unload his news, but he wanted to process everything first. In the space of twenty-four hours, his options had changed dramatically.
“Nothing yet. What’s up?” he asked.
