Rick was in the camp kitchen, making up a batch of hard-boiled eggs. Since his team was on breakfast duty tomorrow, he wanted to lighten their load by preparing a few things ahead of time. When Stuart popped in and suggested going for drinks after dinner, he agreed without hesitation. A couple of beers might ease the pressure building up inside of him.
For the past three nights, he’d been mulling over his late-night chat with his sister. When they’d talked, he’d dismissed their father’s health scare as if it wasn’t worth worrying about. But what if it was serious? Did Rick want to risk losing him before they had a chance to reconcile?
He’d toyed with the idea of going home before. Despite his painful estrangement from his dad, he missed his friends and the rest of his family. But each time he was on the verge of returning, he found another job to sustain him for the next few months. Each gig gave him a reason to keep moving forward rather than go home and deal with the past.
Maybe it was time he stopped running. If he went back to California, he could try convincing his dad—yet again—that his passion for archaeology was as worthy as a career in law. Just because Rick wasn’t following in his old man’s footsteps didn’t mean he was a failure or a slacker.
Before Rick could book his ticket back, he needed a game plan. He couldn’t wing it and hope the job opportunities would magically appear.
His best bet was to seek out Dr. Roth and ask for his help, but the professor didn’t spend much time at camp. Since he didn’t join the students on the survey, he usually showed up around two, once the lab work was underway. He’d talk to each team, examine their finds, and confer with Grant. By four thirty, he headed back to the field house to work on his own research until dinner. Though the house was only a short walk from camp, it felt distinctly off-limits, as though it were the professor’s private sanctuary.
After setting the hard-boiled eggs in the fridge, Rick tracked down the professor in Dusty’s illustration studio. Dr. Roth pulled a large bin out of storage, filled with bagged and labeled finds.
“If you want to look through these and see if there’s anything worth illustrating, have a go,” he said to her. “Once you’re done, the museum will take them off our hands.”
“Will do. Thanks.” Dusty fixed her gaze on Rick. “What’s up?”
“I was hoping to talk to Dr. Roth.” He caught the professor’s eye. “Unless you’re busy here?”
“I’m good. As a matter of fact, I wanted to have a chat with you. Let’s head outside.”
His serious tone set Rick’s nerves on edge. “Sure. See you later, Dusty.”
He followed Dr. Roth out of the classroom until they were standing beneath the largest olive tree on the grounds, which stood adjacent to the kitchen. He spoke calmly, trying to conceal the unease growing inside of him. “Is everything all right?”
Dr. Roth uncapped his stainless-steel water bottle and took a drink. He had a large collection of them, all with different logos. Today’s was bright orange with the words “Cyprus Rocks” written in a giant font. He smiled as he caught Rick staring at it. “A gift from one of my students last year. A bit garish, but it does the job.” He screwed the lid back on and waited a beat before speaking. “Grant came to me earlier. He said you’re having problems with your survey team.”
Less than a week in and Grant had the knives out already? Rick drew in a slow, steady breath, willing himself to answer calmly. “I wasn’t aware of any problems.”
“He told me your team has been consistently late returning to camp. One of the students complained to him about it.”
Brynn. Who else could it be? Marisol hadn’t joined the survey yet, and TJ was happy as long as he had an audience for his stories. “Sorry, but other than the first day, our team hasn’t lagged that far behind the others. I’m trying to make sure we’re as thorough as possible.”
“I understand, but Grant’s concerned about sticking to the schedule.”
No, he was trying to get Rick in trouble. If anyone else’s team had struggled to keep up, Grant would have let it go without reporting the issue.
“Is Olivia doing all right?” Dr. Roth asked. “I know she’s out of her element. I hope I didn’t make the wrong decision, choosing her to replace Frida.”
“She’s fine.” Even though she was the main cause of the delay, Rick refused to throw her under the bus. “But I can talk to my team tomorrow if that would help.”
“Good. Is there anything else?”
Asking for a favor now wasn’t a good look, but Rick plowed on ahead. “I recently learned my father could be dealing with a serious medical issue. I’ve been traveling for years but might be needed at home this fall.”
A white lie, but easier than explaining his complicated relationship with his dad. Or elaborating on the real reason he’d stayed away for four years.
Dr. Roth’s expression softened. “I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?”
“After field school ends, I was thinking of going back to California and looking for work there. A job in cultural resource management would be ideal. You once mentioned having a colleague who runs a rescue archaeology company. Is there any way you could put in a good word for me?”
Rick clammed up when a couple of students walked by—Brynn and her friend Courtney, the two most high-maintenance members of the field school.
Dr. Roth turned on the charm, beaming at them. “How are you ladies this afternoon?”
“Hot,” Brynn muttered. “It’s always hot.”
“We’re going into Kouklia to get something to drink,” Courtney added. “There’s nothing good in the fridge. That lemon squash is full of empty calories.”
“There’s a suggestion list tacked up to the bulletin board in the kitchen.” Rick struggled to keep his voice even. He’d been mentioning the damn list since the first day. “If you write down what you want, I can look for it the next time I get groceries in Paphos.”
“Thanks, but that doesn’t help us now.” Courtney sighed. “Let’s go, Brynn.”
Rick waited until they left before speaking again. He didn’t want to appear too pushy, but if he didn’t keep the conversation going, Dr. Roth might forget about it. “So…about your colleague?”
“Right,” Dr. Roth said. “He works in Southern California. Based in Ventura County. But that might not be ideal. Aren’t you from the Bay Area?”
“I am, but I’d be fine working anywhere in the state. I could visit my folks between jobs.” Whether or not this would happen, he couldn’t say. But at least he’d be employed. As he waited for Roth’s answer, he tried to control the churning in his stomach.
Dr. Roth gave a slow nod. The fact that he hadn’t agreed to the request immediately was a bad sign. “I’d like to help. You have a lot of experience in the field, and you clearly know what you’re doing, but…”
Rick swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “Is this about the Palaikastro dig?”
“Exactly. When you applied for this job, I wasn’t sure whether to hire you, based on what I’d heard. But since Frida endorsed you, I decided to give you a chance. I’d like to get through this season without any issues, so let’s see where we are in a few weeks. If all goes well, then I’d be happy to recommend you. I could even make a few calls.”
Rick forced a bright smile on his face, not wanting to reveal how gutted he was. He’d foolishly assumed the professor’s recommendation would be a slam dunk. “Thanks. I won’t let you down.”
“Good. I need to head back to the field house. There’s a cold beer calling my name.”
After he left, Rick sat in the shade of the olive tree, fighting back a surge of frustration.
For years, he’d been a dependable worker. Someone who showed up on time and took any jobs he was assigned. But because of a stupid judgment call, he was now viewed as a liability. If he screwed up again, he’d be lucky to get a job anywhere.
After dinner, Rick considered bailing on drinks at Spyros. Given his rotten mood, he didn’t want to drag everyone down. But when Olivia asked if he was going, he didn’t have the heart to say no. They’d grown closer since the night he’d treated her sunburn, though not so close that she’d asked him to do it again. Probably for the best because he’d gotten too aroused touching her bare skin. He didn’t need that temptation.
When he got to Spyros, she was already there, seated at a table on the patio. To his delight, she was wearing her hair down, her wild curls cascading past her shoulders. Seeing her in such a relaxed state raised his spirits.
Dusty sat across from Olivia, cocktail in hand. “Come join us. We’re trying our first brandy sour. Juno told us it’s the national drink of Cyprus.”
Olivia lifted her glass in a salute. “Kalispera.”
“Kalispera to you, too.” He pulled up a chair and ordered a brandy sour for himself. The sweet cocktail—made up of brandy, lemon squash, bitters, and soda water—went down far too easily. During his last gig on the island, he’d enjoyed his fair share of them.
“What do you think?” he asked Olivia.
“Delicious.” She gave him a cheeky smile. “I was only going to have one, but I don’t know if I have that kind of willpower. Not where brandy is concerned.”
He bit back a grin as he remembered how uninhibited she’d gotten at Clear Lake after a few shots of brandy. Was she recalling the same thing?
Stuart, Juno, and TJ arrived, pulling up chairs around the table. After ordering drinks, they took turns venting about their survey experiences.
“I don’t envy the lot of you, having to traipse around outdoors at the crack of dawn,” Dusty said. “I can stumble into my studio still wearing my pajamas while you battle evil plants.” She shot Olivia a look.
“That only happened on the first day,” Olivia said. “I haven’t had any more carnivorous plant encounters since then. Though I’m probably the worst surveyor in the whole field school, which is embarrassing as hell, considering I’m a year away from getting my doctorate.”
Rick caught her eye, hoping to reassure her. “None of that. You’re doing fine.”
She sighed. “Thanks, but Brynn doesn’t seem to think so. She came to me after lunch and bitched about our team’s performance. I told her if she wanted to switch teams, we could make it happen.” She glanced over at Stuart and Juno. “Would either of you like her?”
“No, thank you,” Juno said. “She is, quite literally, a piece of work. I don’t need that piece anywhere near me.”
Stuart laughed. “I’ll trade her for Logan. He’s a decent guy but a total slacker. Four days in and he hasn’t written a damn thing down. I’m worried he might accidentally stumble across a site but be too lazy to record it.”
“I’d pay serious money to off-load Brynn,” Rick said. “Thanks to her, I’m on Grant’s shit list again. After she complained to him, he went to Roth behind my back and claimed I’m doing a crappy job.”
“Shit.” Olivia rubbed her forehead. “I didn’t think she’d go to Grant. I should have warned you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I wouldn’t care except I needed a favor from Roth, and Grant had already gotten to him.”
“What do you need?” Stuart asked. “Could any of us help?”
“I might be able to,” TJ said. “I have friends in high places. Seriously, bro, I’m connected.”
For once, Rick didn’t mind TJ’s bragging. As much as the guy liked to flex his networking prowess, he wouldn’t hesitate to help a fellow archaeologist. “Thanks. I might take you up on that, but what I really need is Roth’s recommendation once this project is done.”
“Why wouldn’t Dr. Roth support you?” Olivia asked. “You have a ton of experience.” She scanned the group. “What am I missing here?”
No sense in hiding the truth. She’d find out eventually. “Palaikastro,” Rick said.
“That’s the dig where you screwed the pooch,” Juno said. “That’s right? Yes? Screwing the pooch? Except you didn’t screw a pooch.”
“Nope. Just Thea, the dig director’s daughter.” He winced as he said it, waiting for Olivia to react in disgust. But she merely regarded him with wide eyes.
“I don’t see the issue, as long as Thea was of age and it was consensual.” Dusty’s expression hardened. “If it wasn’t, then I might have to hate you.”
He held up his hands. “Nothing like that. She was twenty-four, and the fling was extremely consensual.” She’d started flirting with him the moment he arrived. Sending out so many signals he couldn’t miss them. Like a fool, he’d given in without thinking of the consequences.
Olivia’s gaze dropped down to her drink as she stirred the remaining ice with her swizzle stick. Her reluctance to meet his eyes made his stomach clench with regret.
“What’s the issue then?” Dusty asked. “Did Thea claim sexual harassment?”
Rick shook his head. No matter how casual the hookup, he always made sure his partner was completely on board. “Her father caught us together.”
“No way,” TJ said. “Like, actually together?”
Now Rick wished he hadn’t brought up the subject. Olivia didn’t need the details. Then again, better she hear it from him instead of Grant.
“It wasn’t that bad, but he spotted me leaving her tent—after, you know. He was this old-school Greek archaeologist. Very patriarchal and overprotective. He would have beaten the shit out of me if Thea hadn’t intervened. But he fired me with two weeks left to go on the dig. Worse than that, he spread the word about me to all his colleagues.”
“How did his daughter feel about that?” Dusty asked. “I mean, she was involved, too.”
Rick gave a short laugh. “He kept her out of it. Instead, he told everyone he’d fired me because I’d acted unprofessionally. That I drank too much, showed up for work hungover, and couldn’t be trusted with responsibility.”
“You didn’t defend yourself?” Stuart asked.
“I didn’t want to drag Thea’s name through the mud. Bad enough her dad treated her like she was sixteen instead of twenty-four.” When Rick had first learned of the accusations, during a phone interview for a job on a site in Sardinia, he’d been devastated. Four years of hard work, undone by a vindictive father.
“That’s very gentlemanly of you,” Dusty said. “Take it from me, I rarely meet anyone who’s a gentleman in the field. There are so many snakes, especially men like Grant who abuse their power.”
Rick appreciated the group’s support. “Thanks. I’m trying not to screw up this time.”
“You won’t,” Stuart said. “We’ve got your back.” He raised his glass, and the others followed.
But for the rest of the evening, Olivia stayed quiet. As they were heading back to camp, she caught Rick’s eye, as though she wanted to talk to him. He wasn’t surprised, given the truth bomb he’d dropped about Palaikastro.
He urged the others to go on ahead, then waited until they were out of earshot. He fell back until he was by her side. “Olivia. I’m sorry.”
“No. I’m sorry.” Her shoulders sagged. “I didn’t realize you had so much to lose. If Grant is complaining to Dr. Roth about your leadership abilities because of my failings, then I need to stop being a burden.”
“Wait. That’s why you’re upset?” From her silence, he’d assumed she was stewing with anger over his stupidity at Palaikastro.
“Of course. I’m still too slow. I’ve been trying to hurry, but I’m spending too much time checking out random clusters of pottery. I keep hoping one of them will turn out to be a real site, but all I’ve done is make you a prime target for Grant. If I asked to be on his team, he might ease up on you.”
He stopped, too stunned to keep walking. “You aren’t pissed about Palaikastro?”
“Because you had sex with a woman you met on a dig? I don’t love the concept of field rules, but it’s not any of my business. Although…”
“What?” His spine stiffened.
“There’ve been a lot of women, haven’t there?”
Her tone sounded more curious than judgmental, but it didn’t lessen the uneasiness churning in his gut. “Maybe in the past. Not so much this year. Not until I met Thea.”
“Were you…um…” Her voice wavered. “Were you in love with her?”
He was surprised it mattered to her. “No, and she didn’t feel that way about me either. I was just a diversion—a way to say, ‘screw you’ to her domineering father.” Recalling it gave him a sick feeling. Their relationship had been based on pure lust and nothing else. He didn’t want that anymore.
“Has there ever been anyone special? On your digs, I mean?”
He wasn’t sure what she was after, but now that they’d grown closer, he had no qualms about answering honestly. “Just one woman. I was madly in love with her, but it didn’t go well. After I got her in trouble, she ghosted me for seven years.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Wow. That…um…”
He couldn’t help grinning. “Too much?”
“No. It…makes me feel special.”
“You were special. You still are.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, letting it linger. What he really wanted to do was take her in his arms, but he restrained himself. “That’s why I want you on my team. Don’t put yourself at Grant’s mercy. Stay with me.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. If Brynn’s unhappy, we can switch her out next week. But I don’t want you to leave. Providing that’s what you want?”
She gave him a shy smile. “I do. Thanks. I’d rather work with you than anyone else.”
That smile made it all worthwhile.