Page 59 of Love Among the Ruins
“Why are you so talkative this morning?”
As far as he could see, she wasn’t wearing any mascara, but her lashes were ridiculously long. Her eyes ridiculously soft. She’d put her hair up again, and his gaze drifted to her ridiculously long neck.
She was stunning to look at it, and he had to force himself to bring his attention back to his laptop. He clicked on the next email and tried to concentrate on its contents.
“You’d like me to be quiet.” She smoothed down her skirt. “I can be quiet.” She pulled out her cell phone and started tapping on the screen.
In due course they arrived at the The Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
She started to open the car door to get out.
“You can wait in here.”
She stared at him as if he’d told her to fly to the moon. “In here?”
“That’s right.”
“But I came prepared.” She pulled out something from her bag and held it up.
A bottle of sunscreen. “And I’m wearing a thin blouse and I have flat shoes.” He chose to ignore her. Not least because the white blouse she wore was a little too thin, and he could see the outline of the cami she wore underneath. Maybe it was meant to be that style. Sheer seduction. She’d paired it with a pale yellow skirt and flat nude colored pumps.
He shook his head, wanting to dislodge his thoughts, the errant thought gone as he tried to focus his attention on unbuttoning his shirt cuffs. He started to roll them up slowly, already tensing at the thought of traipsing after Galatis in the heat. At least it was morning, which was some respite. He wouldn’t have to suffer the sharp, scorching heat of the noon hours.
“Stay in the car,” he told her.
“You really don’t want to give me cancer.” Her smile was so wide, as if he’d given her another pay raise.
“I’ll call you if I need anything.”
“But you don’t have my number.”
“I do. I asked Miranda for it.”
* * *
ELENI
Eleni sat inside the car and read her texts and email messages. This was work? It was bliss.
She didn’t even need to keep looking out of the window to see if Dominic might be on the brink of summoning her. Not now that he had her phone number.
She didn’t know how she felt about that, him having her number. It was something personal. Surely he should have asked her for it first?
Slipping off her shoes, she wriggled her toes, thinking how blissful this was, thatthiswas now her work; sitting in a car with nothing to do. No rushing around like she did at the taverna, juggling customers’ orders and making sure the right food ended up at the right table in time.
Plugging in her earbuds, she selected her favorite music on her phone, and closed her eyes.
Not more than fifteen minutes had passed when Dominic returned, his face like thunder.
“That was quick.” She hastily removed her earbuds.
“That was a complete waste of my time,” he muttered under his breath. “I don’t know why I put up with this shit.”
Dominic didn’t swear a lot. “What happened?”
“Nothing happened. That’s what happened.” He loosened his tie and motioned for the driver to go.
“Why do you put up with it? With Galatis disrespecting you the way he does?”
