Her Greek Doctor's Proposal (11 page)

“There was a time when I didn’t want to. Now that’s hard for me to imagine.”

“I’m just starting my journey as an archaeologist, ready to travel all over. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s awfully appealing to think of getting to live here forever. Someday, when I’m ready, I think I’ll look to settle in a place like this.”

They stood there together for what felt like long, peaceful minutes, watching the brightly colored fishing boats and a large tour boat slice through the sapphire waters of the Gulf of Corinth. Her scent, sweetly mingling with the tumble of flowers nearby, wafted to his nose again. It reminded him of their kiss, how she’d smelled and tasted, and the memory of that sensory overload nearly had him turning to her to do it again.

He curled his fingers into his palms, trying to focus his attention on the boats below. Just as he was about to suggest they move on, she turned to him. “Must be incredible to have this kind of history be a part of who you are,” she said. “Studying it, loving it and being drawn to it like I am isn’t the same as being a part of it.”

“I guess it is. Like anything, you take it for granted sometimes until you’re reminded of it.”
He looked down at her, saw the sincerity in her eyes. Eyes a color close to the mesmerizing blue of the gulf. “You ready to go stir up some Greek fairies?”

“Ready. And I think you’ve already paid my fee in full, Dr. Tour Guide.”

He wasn’t going to ask if she meant the tour, or the kiss. And if it was the kiss, he’d be happy to go deep into debt. “Our place is down this street just a short way. Watch your step. These cobblestones will trip you up if you’re not—”

“Andronikos!”

Ah, hell. He turned to see his aunt laboring up the street parallel to his. What was she doing in this part of town? “Good afternoon, Thea Stella.”

“
Kalispera
to you as well.” She folded her arms across her ample bosom and stared at Laurel. “Who’s the girl and what’s she doing here?”

Always polite, his
thea
. Not. At least she’d spoken Greek, so Laurel wouldn’t understand the words. “This is Laurel Evans, from the archaeological dig near Delphi. Laurel, this is my aunt, Stella Chronis.”

“Nice to meet you.” Laurel extended her hand with a smile, but his aunt just stared suspiciously.

“Hmph. A very pretty one, as usual, Andronikos.” His aunt turned dismissively from Laurel, and the rudeness of it nearly had him pointing it out to the woman. Probably best to grit his teeth,
though, since Laurel might not have thought much of it, and any comment would just call even more attention to her actions. At least she continued to speak in English instead of completely excluding Laurel from the conversation. “My friend Soula’s nephew wants to meet you to talk about medical school.”

“I’d be happy to.”

“Good. And while you’re at it, tell him about your foolish mistakes and how to keep his pants on, Andronikos. Like you are finally doing now.” Frowning, she glanced at Laurel. “I hope.”

He’d thought he was too old to feel embarrassed about much anymore, but now knew that wasn’t true. If only she’d kept speaking in Greek, after all.

Any chance Laurel might be oblivious to what his aunt was referring to? He glanced at her and saw a small smile on her face. Since Stella was as subtle as a sledgehammer, he knew she’d probably figure it out. With his aunt’s brows still lowered into a near scowl, she grabbed his face and gave him a kiss on each cheek before trudging up the steep road without a backward glance.

“Andronikos? Is that your full name?” Laurel tilted her head at him as they resumed walking toward his house.

“Yes, after my grandfather. Quite a mouthful.
My aunts and mother are the only ones who use it.”

“I like it. Andros for warrior and Nike for victory. It suits you.”

“You think?”

“I do think.” Her beautiful lips curved wider. “So does your aunt feel a need to protect you from women on the hunt?”

So much for hoping she wasn’t listening. “Or women from me, maybe. I had a bit of a reputation as a young man. Sorry she was rude to you, but don’t take it personally. Stella enjoys being rude to everyone.”

“And here I was feeling special.”

He had to laugh at that, enjoying the teasing smile in her eyes, glad she wasn’t hypersensitive, or thinking less of him after his aunt’s remarks. “You are, believe me. I knew that the first day I met you, and you were so stubborn about me treating your hand.”

“Stubbornness is a special trait?”

“Never knew I found it attractive until I met you. But combined with beauty, brains and your unique brand of humor? Oh, yeah.”

The eyes that met his had a twinkle in them but seemed to be searching too. She didn’t have to look hard to see he had a major jones for her, and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it, since it appeared to be mutual. Maybe some
intimate time together far away from Kastorini or Delphi would burn it out, since that was pretty much his MO anyway. Laurel was leaving soon, so she wouldn’t want more than that either, and just thinking about all that made his pulse quicken. “So there’s my house, on the right with the—”

“Daddy! Laurel!”

Just as it had every day for the past two years, his heart warmed at the sight of his daughter tearing up the road to meet them, hair and arms flying, leaving the front door wide open behind her. It warmed even more when she flung herself at him, as though it had been days instead of hours since they’d been together.

“Koukla mou.”
He swung her into his arms, smiling at the excitement in her eyes, wondering how he’d gotten so incredibly lucky to have a daughter with such a sunny, happy nature. “What have you been up to since lunch?”

“Trouble with a capital T.”

He heard Laurel laugh, and grinned. “Her usual answer. Gets it from her
papou
. I have a bad feeling that’s going to be her answer for the next fifteen years, which strikes fear into her father’s heart.”

“Don’t be scared, Daddy. I’m just kidding!” She wriggled from his arms and grabbed Laurel’s
hand. “Come on. I want to show you my fairy house.”

“Cassie, let’s be polite and offer Miss Laurel something to drink first. Didn’t your Thea Taryn make lemonade this morning? Let’s go inside and ask her for some.”

“She’s out back with Petros, kicking the football.”

“I don’t think I can wait that long to see the fairy house, Andros. Mind if we have some after?”

“It’s here.” Cassie tugged Laurel to the side of the house where a small strip of dirt contained various flowers his mother planted and tended for him.

“These flowers are so pretty!” Laurel turned to him. “Are you a gardener?”

“Can’t tell a weed from a flower. When I bought the house, my mother couldn’t stand the weedy scrub and planted them.”

“My
yiayia
is good with flowers,” Cassie said. “She lets me help her grow them.”

“I don’t know much about flowers, Cassie. Maybe you could teach me some things.”

His daughter beamed at the suggestion, pointing at various blooms as she said some plant names. Andros had a feeling she might just be making them up as she went along, and his chest filled with warmth all over again as he looked
from her to the woman sniffing blooms and asking questions, pretending she thought Cassie really was an expert.

Laurel’s face was lit with a smile as bright as Cassie’s, and he could see she’d been an amazing big sister. A sister who’d had to take on becoming their mother. How hard must that have been for her?

“It’s good you have your fairy house tucked in among your
yiayia
’s flowers, Cassie. You probably know fairies love flowers. You know what else? They love olive wood too. I found this piece of wood that looks just like a little bed, don’t you think?” Laurel pulled it from her purse and Cassie reached for it in awe. “I bet if we find something soft for a mattress, and put a flower petal or pretty leaf on it for a blanket, a fairy will love to come snuggle on it.”

“Do you think fairies probably live in the olive groves, then?”

“I bet they do. I bet they’re really close by, just waiting for a nice bed inside this nice house.”

Seeing the two of them standing close together in front of his home, Cassie plucking flower petals, gave him a strange feeling. Just as he was trying to figure out exactly what it was, a cacophony of voices made him turn. Then stare.

What the hell? Two men were striding fast down the street, one carrying a microphone, the
other following with a big camera on his shoulder. Numerous townsfolk were gathered around them, walking, talking and gesturing. Pointing right at him.

“Dr. Drakoulias? Doctor, we’ve been told there’s a mysterious illness in Delphi, and patients came here to your clinic before they got so sick they had to be moved to the hospital in Vlychosia. Is it contagious? Are others in Delphi and here in Kastorini at risk?”

The guy shoved the microphone in his face, and he stepped back, not about to be railroaded into saying something that might trigger public hysteria. “We don’t believe anyone is at risk. If you give me your contact information, I’ll keep you informed as we know more.”

The guy got annoyingly close, with the cameraman right behind him. “Does it have something to do with the archaeological dig? We talked to some of the people working there, and they said it might. And that the dig leader is here with you today.” He shifted his attention behind Andros, craning to see around him. Anger swelled in his chest. He’d be damned if the man was going to harass Laurel and possibly scare Cassie.

“Again, I’ll keep you informed.”

The rude-as-hell jerk shoved past him and stuck the microphone in Laurel’s alarmed face.
Andros didn’t even hear the questions the guy started bombarding her with, he just reacted with instinct. Stepped between them and went nearly nose to nose with him, ready to shove him away from her if he had to.

“Ms. Evans doesn’t know any more than you do. Now get off my property.” He turned to grasp Laurel’s arm and Cassie’s hand, hustling them both into the house and away from the media sharks he had a bad feeling had just begun their sniffing around for headline-grabbing blood in the water.

A
FTER TALKING ABOUT
the media mess with the dig crew for almost an hour, Laurel found herself tuning out the hubbub of conversation as they sat on the back deck of their hotel, darkness shrouding the misty mountains beyond.

How they could still be rehashing the afternoon’s excitement with the media showing up to talk to each one of them, she didn’t know. Lord knew she was beyond tired of talking about it. The shock of them showing up in front of Andros’s house had faded, but she couldn’t get out of her head the surprising expression on Andros’s face when he’d stepped between her and that reporter. His hard-eyed, angry look and aggressive posture had her wondering if he might actually punch the irritating guy, and she was thankful he’d simply cleared them out of there before she’d had to say much.

Part of her had wanted to tell him she could handle it, but the truth was she’d been all too
glad he’d hustled her and Cassie away into his house. It hadn’t occurred to her she might be asked about the sick crew members. Thanks heavens she had some time now to think of how she should answer.

The intrusion had ruined what had been an otherwise beautiful day. Spending time with adorable little Cassie had been even more fun than she’d expected, making her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Helen had been twelve when their parents had died—about to start her teen years. Adorable in her own way, she’d been a little trying at times too. That might be true for Cassie as well, though she couldn’t imagine the child being anything but cute as a button.

It struck her with surprise that Helen had been even younger than Cassie when their parents started spending entire summers, rather than just weeks, away. How had they been able to leave her that long? Later leaving all three under Laurel’s insufficient care and guidance?

She didn’t think she could do that if she ever had children of her own someday, no matter how much she loved her work. Then fiercely shook her head, feeling a bit like a traitor to judge her parents that way. Reminded herself of how they’d both explained they were showing their girls that family life had to be balanced with work life.

Reminded herself how important their work
had been to both them and the archaeological world. Reminded herself it was just as important to her, which she’d nearly forgotten today as she enjoyed herself in Kastorini.

Would this sudden media circus create yet another distraction from the job they had to get done with fewer hands and little time? She’d reminded the crew they had to focus, and they’d all agreed. Still, she knew it was human nature to love being on camera and part of a medical mystery, despite worrying about Mel, Tom and John in the midst of it.

Restlessness overcame her, and she stood. “I’m going to my room to plan where everyone will be working tomorrow. Let’s get an early start. Be at breakfast at seven a.m., please.”

The nods and quick good-nights they sent her way were perfunctory as they kept up the steady yakking, and she shook her head, hoping it didn’t continue tomorrow when they had to get digging instead.

In truth, she’d already planned out tomorrow’s schedule and decided she needed some fresh air instead of a stuffy room. The street outside the hotel was so dark she could hardly see, and she paused, wondering what might calm this strange unease. Maybe just a long walk around the tiny town of Delphi, even a little mindless shopping
she hadn’t taken time to do much of, would be enough to help her refocus.

Every store owner competed for the summer tourists, staying open until midnight or later if a single customer was around. One or two shopkeepers stood in their doorways, enthusiastically promising her good prices if she’d just come in and look. Others were busy with customers who had likely earlier toured the ancient sites and the wonderful museum that held the incredibly massive statues, friezes and sphinx. And of course, the stunning bronze Charioteer. That famous Delphi antiquity just might be eclipsed if she could only locate the treasure her parents believed in.