Page 30 of Troy Story
“I’d love to, except I’m having dinner with Stuart tonight. When I first arrived in Çanakkale, he promised to treat me to a decent meal in exchange for my coming out early.” She gave a quick laugh. “I need to hold him to his promise.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize you two were close that way. I apologize.”
Her cheeks prickled with heat. “No, it’s not like that. We’re friends, but, um…” Shit, she sounded like an idiot. Felt like one, too.
Kerim merely graced her with another of those indulgent smiles. “It’s fine, Dusty. Another time, perhaps?”
“Sure. That would be great.”
“In the meantime, I can still help you out. Monday afternoon, we’ll discuss ideas in the library. As colleagues.”
Maybe she was making a huge mistake. Kerim wasn’t just a hot guy with a boat; he was also a thoughtful, accomplished archaeologist who genuinely liked her. But before she left Cairo, she’d told herself this was her summer to seize the moment with Stuart. To tell him how she felt, no matter what it cost her. If she wasn’t brave enough to admit her feelings, she could lose him to Clarissa.
When Kerim docked the boat at the cove, she joined the others in jumping in. The water was cool and delicious, the perfect remedy for a hot summer’s day. She floated on her back and closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop thinking about Stuart. Though she’d taken a long time lathering him up with sunscreen, she hadn’t wanted to stop. She’d yearned to keep going, to touch him until he begged for more.
First things first. Now that she’d concocted an excuse to get out of dinner with Kerim, she needed to follow through with Stuart.
When she opened her eyes, he was swimming toward her, moving through the water with powerful strokes. Perfect. A few minutes alone with him were all she needed.
“Having fun?” he asked.
She treaded water next to him. “The best. This boat is incredible. I’d love to spend a week sailing around the Aegean.”
“Well, if you ask Kerim, I’m sure he’d be thrilled to take you on a private excursion. Just the two of you.”
His snarky tone struck a nerve. He’d never passed judgment on her sex life before. Or was that the jealousy talking? Either way, she was calling him on it. “Wow, you went there.”
“I did. From where I was standing, it looked obvious. Or was I off base?”
Again with the tone. Not hostile but verging on possessive. Still, if he wanted honesty, she’d give it to him. No more games. “No, your instincts were correct. He asked me if I’d like to have dinner with him tonight.”
“Are you going to?”
She almost laughed because Stuart wasn’t even trying to play it cool. “I was tempted, but you know who owes me dinner? You.” Heart pounding, she waited for his reaction.
From the gleam in his eye, she knew she’d made the right call. “Come to think of it, I did promise you, didn’t I?”
“You sure as hell did.” With a sassy grin, she splashed water at him. “A nice dinner, with two desserts.”
He rubbed his eyes. “Brat. I seem to remember one dessert.”
“Your promise has accrued interest over the past three weeks. I’m also ordering wine with dinner. Maybe a meze platter.”
His eyes were dancing with amusement now, water droplets sparkling in his beard. “You’re going to bleed me dry.”
He looked so irresistible that it took all her willpower not to touch him. Instead, she kept her voice light and flirty. “Would you rather I dine with Kerim?”
“Nope. Tonight, after we get back, I’m taking you to dinner in Güzelyali.”
“Alone?”
“Alone.”
Yes.Maybe it would just be a dinner between friends. But she wasn’t ready to concede yet.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Dinner started off exactly as Stuart had hoped. He’d chosen a seaside restaurant where they could dine outside on a shaded patio. Their candlelit table provided a perfect view of the Aegean. Above them, a veranda adorned with twinkling fairy lights added to the ambiance. They’d ordered a bottle of dry red wine and a meze platter, heaped with toasted pita wedges, green olives, grilled vegetables, flaky slices of cheese borek made of filo pastry, and four different dips.
