Azure (Drowning In You) (4 page)

Double shit
.

She opened the message.
‘I’m sorry,
Livvy
,’
it read.
‘Call me?’

Olivia hated it when he called her that. It wasn’t her name. She turned the phone off and shoved it back into her purse.
Later
. She’d deal with this later. Her fingers flew to her throat, searching for the ring, but found the smooth pebble instead. She clasped it, feeling its coolness, and closed her eyes.

She’d done the right thing. In this case at least, she was sure she had. Justin would be happier after some time, and so would she.

As for the other matter...
She remembered her libation of beer at the beach and suppressed a sigh.
Ridiculous
. She’d been so drunk. Life didn’t get fixed through magic and miracles. You had to own up to your mistakes and find the courage to move on.

If only it were that easy...

“Would you like something else?” The waiter was short and bald, standing at stiff attention by her table.

She wanted to sit a while longer, so she asked for a fresh orange juice. She hid a smile at his curt nod and the air of importance he sported.

He returned shortly with her juice. “Just arrived?” he asked and she found she was getting used to the odd Greek accent. “You will love
Chania
. Very beautiful.”

“It’s lovely,” she said truthfully.

“But this place can be dangerous,” he declared, tucking an arm behind his back like an orator. “The winds are strong, the currents of the sea tricky. Tourists are ignorant and often get hurt. Be careful where you swim.”

Her smile fell and she watched him go.
Pompous ass
. She suddenly wished she’d gone hiking with Kirsten and Markus. Or taken the ride back to the hotel with Kai.

Frowning, she picked up her juice, cradling the cool glass close.
No, not Kai
. Whatever bothered him was none of her business and wouldn’t help her surface from the mire. She had enough issues of her own.

Digging out her travel guide, she read through the basics about the town and surroundings. Lots of monasteries and caves and long beaches to visit. Now that she had regained her vision, courtesy of her new contact lenses, she was ready for everything
Crete
had to throw at her.

But first of all, she decided, she needed to go shopping.

***

Chania
was famous for its leather goods, the Shopping Section of her guide said, so she began with that. She needed sandals. And maybe a dress or two. She climbed up the narrow streets of the old town, the Venetian houses with their small windows and leafy yards crowding the pedestrians. No cars were allowed — nor would they fit through. Every little handicraft shop vied for her attention — ceramics, wooden boats and bowls, hand-made jewelry, linen blouses and long skirts. And finally, the leather. Bags of all sizes and colors, hats and purses and shoes.

She tried on a few pairs of sandals, her mind returning to the way Kai had stiffened when she’d mentioned her major, the way he’d asked if she needed him to dive into the waves to get back her ring, if she was okay, if she needed a ride.

So nice. Cute. Hot
. And yet he’d gone cold in an instant and driven away.

Yeah, well
. She might never even see him again... Although he did work at the hotel, didn’t he?
 

Distracted, she picked up a pair of green sandals with thin straps and leather butterflies at the back of the ankle. And if she did see him, how should she react?

Sighing, she paid for the shoes and sauntered through the narrow alleys. If she came across Kai, she’d nod politely and go on her way.
No big deal
.

Her mind set, she skipped in and out of tiny shops and ended up buying a light blue dress, a matching crochet vest and a necklace made of tiny red beads. All very nice, and the town was beautiful.

But not enough to make her forget — the past, or Justin. She needed a project. Since she was little she liked having projects — a goal toward which to strive and give her life meaning. They could be small goals, like researching an era, or a musical instrument, or bigger goals, like becoming friends with an arrogant neighbor.

Despite her insecurities, she’d been quite good at that — making friends or losing herself in books.

He would make a good project. Kai, that is. Find out more about him, try to become his friend. It might prove interesting.

She stopped in her tracks. She was still thinking about him,
dammit
. The streak of blue in his eyes, his secretive answers, his sudden mood shifts.

A project
.

Well, why not?
She had nothing to lose. She was curious about him, nothing wrong with that, and she could use the treasure hunt as a distraction, let her friends have some time alone.

Sounded like the perfect plan.

***

“Here is your room key,” Panos said. “Everything good?”

“Yeah, everything’s great.”

Now she could see him better, Panos appeared to be in his late thirties, wrinkles of mirth around his mouth and eyes. And he still had a suspicious similarity to Kai — only Kai was much cuter, his body more muscled, and...

He’s just a project, remember?

“Your friends,” Panos said, gesturing at the exit, but when she turned nobody was there. “They leave you alone?”

Oh, he was snooping for information. The realization made her feel better about her plan to ask questions of her own. “I had to go to town. I’ll see them later.”

“Kai take you to town all right?”

“Oh yeah, very kind of him.”

Panos nodded, lips pursed. “He is good boy. You like him?”

Ah, my turn
. “Yes. Is he a relative of yours? Family?”

Panos gave a sort of tired, sad little smile. “Family. Yes.” He pulled up to his full height, at least a head taller than her. “Kai is little cousin.”

Cousin
. “I’m guessing this is a family run business?”

“My father’s business. All work for him — me, sister, other sister, other cousin, nephew.”

Olivia nodded. Kai didn’t seem to be around but she checked over her shoulder just in case. “So,” she said, trying to sound casual, “he grew up in
America
, then? His parents are immigrants?”

“You fish for information,” Panos said, his brows lifting.

Heat licked her neck. So much for casual. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“No, good thing, good thing.”

Was it? She wasn’t so sure anymore. It must have shown in her face because Panos nodded emphatically.

“Why?”

“It show you are interested.” Panos grinned. “You ask me all questions you like. I help.” He thumped his chest. “Big cousin.”

She snorted. “So, did his parents immigrate?”

“Father. He immigrate. Marry foreign woman, like you. Kai born there.”

Olivia bit her lip, uneasy again. It didn’t matter if Panos was being a busybody or if he said it was all right to ask questions. Or that she’d managed to convince herself it was just for laughs. She should stop.

Because, she realized, she wanted to hear it from Kai — about himself, about his family and his past — although she knew it might never happen.

“Thank you. I should mind my own business.” She turned toward the elevators. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Miss.” Panos tapped his large hand on the desk and she stopped, glancing at him over her shoulder. “Listen. Me, a man. He, just a boy. Me, a big man. Better for you. He, a little cousin.” He grinned again. “Hey?”

She struggled not to laugh out loud. “I see. I’ll let him know of your opinion.”

“My opinion?” He sobered, lifted his hand. “No, miss, please. I only joke.”

“Why, is he touchy about his size?”

“Size?” Panos frowned, then threw his head back and roared with laughter. It came from deep inside him, rocking his shoulders. “Very funny. Maybe you do this for him.”

“Do what?”

“Make him laugh. He need it.”

Her heart clenched. “Why?”

Panos shook his shaggy head. “He never laugh. Never cry. Nothing. Make Kai laugh.”

“Are you offering me a job?” she teased. “Should I report my daily progress to you? Will I get a commission?”

“Commission, yes.” He nodded enthusiastically. “You are hired. One per cent.”

“Excuse me?” She tapped a finger on her lips. “Ninety per cent.”

“Ten.”

“Eighty.”

“Fifteen.”

“Eighty.”

“Oh.” He rubbed his chin, scratched the dark stubble. “Tough woman. Twenty.”

“Seventy five, final offer.”

He sighed. “All right. Deal.”

They shook hands formally, and she skipped to her room to leave her bags of shopping. It didn’t occur to her until later, when she went to knock on Kirsten and Markus’ door, that she hadn’t even asked what her commission consisted of.