The Nymph's Curse: The Collection (11 page)

That was the first taste she had of the truth of Zeus’ powerful curse.

“Aria?” Beau asked softly. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of her thoughts. “I’m fine.”

She stared into the orange, blue, and green flames of the salt-filled deadwood. Beau came over to her, sat down, and put his arm over her shoulders. She leaned against him, feeling the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric of her shirt.

Reaching down, he lifted her hand. He slowly traced lines up the dark edges of her tattoo. He pushed open her hand, exposing her palm and the head of the leopard snake. She fought the urge to pull away from his curious touch.

He ran his finger over the skin of her palm. “Did this hurt?”

“I received this when I was young. I don’t really remember the pain.”

“What does it mean?”

She pulled her hand away and tucked it under her legs. He didn’t need to know about her. It would only open the door for danger — this could be nothing more than one night.

The flames flickered in his brown eyes as he stared at her. Touching his lips with her finger, she traced their outline, and ran her finger down his straight jaw. He lifted her fingers, pulled them to his lips, and kissed them one by one, as if he was marking his territory.

She moved on top of him, straddling him with her legs. His kiss was fierce, uncompromising, and almost angry.

“It’s too bad you won’t be able to go again.” Ariadne gestured toward his manhood. She looked up with a wicked smile on her lips.

“You want to make a bet?”

He pulled up her skirt, exposing her thighs and ripped off her panties. He flipped her onto her back and drove himself inside her. He thrust deep as if to show her exactly how wrong she had been. Their lovemaking was wild and unchained, a throwback to the unchecked nights of her youth.

When they finished, they laid in the sand. Her head rested on his chest while she listened to the sounds of his body.

“Did you know those men at the bar?” he asked, breaking the sweet silence.

She should’ve known this was coming. Being a scientist meant he could never let things go. Of course he would want answers. “Not well … but this is a small island.”

He ran his fingers through her hair. “The barkeeper didn’t actually put rat poison in their bottle did she?”

The mouse has done worse things.
“It’s possible.”

Beau lifted his head and looked down at her. “You can’t be serious.”

“There are a lot of things that happen on this island that outsiders wouldn’t understand.”

He stared at her. “You mean like you being the governor’s girlfriend?”

She jerked out of his arms and sat up as her anger flared from his incendiary question. “What’s not to understand about that?”

He sat up. “I just don’t understand what he and you have in common. He seems like such a … an ass.”

She smirked.

Beau looked down at the sand beneath his feet. “Did you have anything to do with his shooting?”

So even Beau thinks I’m to blame?
The pain of his accusation was immediate. Did he really think she was the type of person that would try to kill her former partner?

“What if I said ‘yes’?” she snarled.

Beau reached for her, but she moved away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Just the police kept asking me questions about you and Stavros and your … relationship.”

“Well … I’m a curator, not a murderer.”

“I’m sorry. All I was thinking was if you had something to do with the attempt, letting the barkeep poison those men wouldn’t help your case.”

“It won’t kill them, just make them uncomfortable for a couple of days. And besides, you were just as angry with those men as I was. Don’t sit there and act superior when you are the one who actually
paid
for their drinks.”

“I didn’t know what I was getting into.” Anger dripped from his voice.

She glared at him. “What are you going to do now that your site is closed?”

He stared at her with a hurt expression on his face and guilt filled her, but was quickly replaced by irritation. He was the one who thought she was a killer.

He looked at his fingers, then back at her. “I told you, I’m going to fight. I’m going to get new grants and I’m going to get the police to reopen the site. The governor’s shooting might not have been related to my work. I just need to make them realize how important my work is and get them to change their minds.”

She stood up and grabbed her bag. “Well, good luck. When you get back to the States, don’t worry about calling — you wouldn’t want to get mixed up with a murderer … I’m sure it would be bad for your career.”

Shaking the sand from his hair, Beau trudged up the stairs toward the apartment. It was getting late. Hopefully Kaden’s night had been less eventful and Trina remained sane — unlike Ariadne
.

He hadn’t tried to upset her — though he could see where she was offended when he’d asked if she had anything to do with Stavros’ shooting. He’d been out of line, but he had apologized. Wasn’t it better that he asked her and been up front about what he had heard? Of course, he had thought she would say she had nothing to do with the shooting. But wasn’t it better to ask? Who would’ve thought she would go ballistic about a simple question?

On the other hand, before they had fought, tonight had been the best night since … well, ever. Kaden’s birth had been special, but a different type of special — plus, back then he’d been dealing with Lynda’s infidelity. Her actions had tainted that special day, but from the moment the boy was born, Kaden was all his — big eyes, chubby face, and all. There was never another question about the paternity of his son.

Why hadn’t Ariadne had kids? Had she never met the right guy? Had the governor not wanted them? Had
she
not wanted them? She had been so good with Kaden at the museum. But was he part of the reason she had started a fight and run away? Was a man with a kid too much for her to handle?

He grabbed the keys from his pants pocket. Sliding the key into the lock, he pushed open the door. There on the bed, with a naked Trina perched on his lap, was Kaden.

Oh, Jesus Christ …

Trina must not have noticed the door, and kept moving.

Beau turned his back to the scene. “Trina? You need to get your clothes on. Kaden, I will meet you in the hall.”

Trina emitted an embarrassed squeal as her feet pounded on the floor behind him.

Beau stepped out into the hall and slammed the door shut. He leaned against the wall and dropped his head. How was he going to handle this? Why had Lynda thrown him to the teenage wolves? This was advanced parenting, not have-the-kid-for-a-few-weeks parenting.

His son was a senior in high school. Kaden clearly knew about the birds and the bees. Could he really get mad at the kid? Yes, it wasn’t great that it was happening, but when Beau had been in high school, it had been the goal to get where he just found Kaden.

Wouldn’t he be a hypocrite for criticizing his son when, not a few hours before, Beau had been swimming naked with another Greek woman? Like father, like son, right?

He rubbed his hand roughly on his face.
I’m the father. I need to act like one.

The door cracked open and Kaden walked out, his shirt wrinkled and his pants crooked. Kaden leaned against the wall next to him, and pushed his hands over his hair as he tried to smooth down the untamed mess. He looked sickly pale.

Beau didn’t know how to start. A moment passed where neither said a word.

Finally, he forced himself to break the tense silence. “Kae, I think it’s great you have a nice girlfriend.”

Kaden snorted cynically.

“No, really. Trina is … great. But before you jump into such a
physical
relationship, I think you need to think about the possible consequences.”

Kaden’s cheeks reddened. “We used protection.”

At least I won’t have to have the contraception talk.

“I’m glad, but I wasn’t just talking about getting her pregnant.” Beau silently shook his head. Never in his life did he think he would be having this conversation. Nothing could’ve prepared him for the confusion and embarrassment. Poor Kae had to be feeling worse.

“Kaden, do you think Trina cares for you? Or is this just a fling?”

“Trina loves me and I love her.”

Beau sucked in his breath. This was going to be harder than he thought.

“That’s good … I mean that you wouldn’t just jump into bed with a girl you don’t really care about.”

Kaden looked up, his face crunched into an ugly scowl. “What did you think? I was just using her to get laid?”

“No … that’s not what I’m saying,” Beau said softly.
This is a disaster.

He didn’t want to lose what little respect his son held for him by pitting his son against him. He needed to get him on the same page.

“Kaden, how long do you think you’re going to stay here with me? You
do
know that my funding is running out, right?”

Kaden nodded.

“In two weeks, we’ll have to leave and never come back.” Beau’s heart tightened in his chest as he said the words.

He was still angry, but the thought of never seeing Ariadne again — not as a friend, colleague, and never again as a lover — made his heart ache. Adding the fact that his site was closed and he may never get to finish what he had started, made the pain almost unbearable.

“If you love Trina, it’s not a good idea to take things any farther. It’ll only make it harder for both of you when we have to leave.”

Kaden looked at the door as it cracked open. Trina walked out, her hair perfectly brushed.

“Dr. Morris, I need to apologize.” Trina clicked the door shut. “It wasn’t Kaden’s fault. I’m the one to blame.”

“Stop. You’re not to blame
.”

I should’ve been paying more attention to my son.

Kaden reached over and took Trina’s shaking hands.

“I just want the best for both of you. That’s all.” Beau said, unable to take his eyes off their entwined fingers.

“Thank you, Dr. Morris.” Trina whispered.

“As it is, Trina, I think you should go.”

Trina looked up at him as a tear slipped down her cheek. She nodded and dropped Kaden’s hands.

“Don’t go, Trina,” Kaden begged. “He’s just jealous because he doesn’t have anyone.”

Beau’s stomach dropped. His first reaction was to rage. Who did Kaden think he was to talk to him like that? Kaden didn’t know him, or about his personal life. His jaw clenched as he ground his teeth.

The hormones were behind his son’s defiance. Rational thought was at a loss to the adolescent demons.

Beau stared at Kaden. The kid just didn’t understand, life was hard and he was only trying to stop Kaden from getting hurt. “Trina. He’ll see you again, but for right now you need to go.”

Trina turned to Kaden. “Your dad’s right. This doesn’t mean that I won’t see you again. Don’t forget that I love you.” Kaden seemed to calm with Trina’s voice. “We’ll respect your father’s wishes. He only wants what’s best.”

Trina was way out of Kaden’s league. She was so mature. Way too poised for eighteen.

Beau touched Trina’s shoulder. “Thanks.”

Trina turned to face him. “You’re welcome. I’ll stay away for a few days. Let things get back to normal for you.”

She kept shocking him. It was easy to see why Kaden was so smitten with the beautiful young woman that stood before him.

“Yeah, that would be great.” He and Kaden would need some time.

• • •

The morning had been occupied fielding questions from his students. Most were glad that they would have the last few weeks of their summer off so that they could travel around Europe. A few were upset that they wouldn’t be able to finish the dig, but even they had been swayed to see the bright side of the predicament. His assistant looked almost relieved that he wouldn’t have to deal with any more antics. Vickie had only nodded and smiled.

Beau hadn’t mentioned the funding; the police filing an injunction was enough for them to handle. Instead, he reaffirmed that some of them would be invited to return the next summer.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with phone calls with the investigators, emails to colleagues, and what could be best described as silent ambivalence between Beau and Kaden. Kaden sulked on the bed and refused to talk to Beau, regardless of how hard Beau tried to elicit a response.

Beau leaned back from the computer and rubbed his eyes. Nothing was panning out for grants and he was getting nowhere in stopping the injunction. What he really wanted to do was hear someone laugh — to make someone happy, at least for a moment.

He looked over at Kaden. “You hungry?”

Kaden’s gaze snapped to the window.

Weren’t boys supposed to be easier to deal with?

“Kaden, you have to be hungry.”

Kaden folded his arms over his chest.

Beau sighed, as he tried to be patient. “Get up and get your shoes on. We’re bugging out.”

Kaden emitted a wet cough as he slid his legs over the side of the bed and tied his shoes. At least he hadn’t tuned him out completely. He would take what he could get with the kid.

They made their way around the town, until Beau found a café with a group of little wooden tables scattered out front. Kaden needed some fresh air and sunshine. He was looking paler than ever.

They made their way to a table and he pointed for Kaden to sit.

“Have you talked to your mother lately?” What he really wanted to ask was if he had told his mother what had transpired, but that seemed just a bit too pushy. Besides, if he had told his mother, Beau would have certainly gotten a call from her by now. Unless she thought it was funny.

Kaden shook his head.

“Bet she’s missing you.” Things were going downhill. Since when had he ever resorted to talking about Lynda to make conversation?

He needed to try another approach. “I think Trina’s a nice girl. You picked well.”

Kaden looked up from the table and frowned. “Yeah, she’s great.” Kaden bit his lower lip, as if he was holding back from saying more.