Page 6 of Troy Story
When he released her, she stepped back and gave him a once-over. “You look good, bud. Thanks for trekking out here to get me. I wasn’t sure if you’d have time to pick me up.”
“I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch, not after you came here a day early.” He gestured to her oversized backpack. “Is this all you have?”
“Yep. You know I travel light.” Other than her drawing supplies, her tablet, and her laptop, she usually made do with a small selection of well-used dig clothes and a couple of nice outfits for the occasional party or night out.
He hoisted her pack on his shoulders. “Come on. Our ride’s this way.”
She followed him across the paved parking lot to an ancient Land Rover that had clearly seen better days. Once he stowed her pack and got behind the wheel, she hopped in next to him.
He placed his hand over hers. “I know I said this before, but I’msoglad you’re here.”
Despite the warmth of his touch, he sounded so vulnerable that her bare arms prickled with goosebumps. “You okay? Did something happen with Shelby that I don’t know about?”
“Nope. It’s totally over.”
She wanted to believe him, but Shelby had left him before, and he’d always taken her back. Still, this time, he’d been the one to initiate their breakup, which might mean he’d moved on for good. “No backsliding?”
“None whatsoever. It’s been five months now. I even tried dating.” Releasing her hand, he started the engine and pulled the Land Rover out of the lot.
Shit.She’d wanted to get to him before he got in deep with someone else. “You did?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. One of my running buddies set me up with a friend of his, but it didn’t go well. When we went out to dinner, she was so rude to our server that I left a huge tip as an apology. And all night, she kept asking me about dinosaurs.”
Since the Land Rover didn’t have air-conditioning, Dusty cranked down her window and let the warm breeze ruffle her hair. “Let me guess. She thought you were a paleontologist?”
“Exactly. We spent an hour discussing theJurassic Parkfranchise.”
Dusty snickered. Maybe she didn’t have much to be worried about.
“After that, I almost hooked up with a grad student from Irvine,” he said. “We met at a conference in Portland and really clicked. But…”
“You didn’t go through with it?” She cringed at the hint of desperation in her voice.
“I didn’t even get her number. You know me—I can’t handle casual hookups.” He maneuvered through a tricky roundabout and headed south on the highway. “Not like you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most of your relationships have been short-term flings, but you somehow manage to have fun without getting your heart involved. I’m not like that.”
Rather than reveal how much his comment stung, she looked away, focusing on a tall hill dotted with a row of wind turbines. “You make me sound so ruthless.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. But seriously, have you fallen in love with anyone since you started grad school?”
If only you knew.She swallowed past the painful knot in her throat. “No, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be open to it.” She needed to redirect this conversation, stat. Ten minutes with Stuart and she was already too close to revealing her feelings. “If you’re not hung up on Shelby, then why do you need moral support?”
“Like I said before, this job is a ton of responsibility. I still haven’t read through all the paperwork they sent me, and I’m not sure why Dr. Hughes was banished from the site ten years ago. Did you dig up any good dirt?”
With Stuart in full anxiety mode, she needed to tread carefully. But she didn’t want to lie to him, either. “I asked my mom what she knew about it. Back when he was exiled from Troy, she heard a few rumors, but no one seemed to know what really happened. She suspected the university went to great lengths to cover it up.”
Stuart drove out a harsh breath. “That’s what I thought. Dr. Fiorelli told me everyone on the dig had to sign an NDA.”
“That’s messed up. Momdidsay that he’s an asshole. She led an Ancient Excursions tour with him through Egypt and Turkey about fifteen years ago. I couldn’t get her to tell me what went down, except that she can’t stand him. Apparently, the feeling is mutual and…” She gnawed on her lip, hesitant to say more, but Stuart saw right through her.
“Out with it.”
“She tried to talk me out of coming here. Claimed Hughes was so toxic that I’d have a miserable time. But you know me. I’m stubborn as hell.”
As his hands tightened around the steering wheel, she regretted her honesty. She placed her hand on his thigh. Just a quick touch for reassurance. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. You know how abrasive my mom can be. If Hughes pissed her off when they were on that tour, she probably went into Queen Bitch mode around him. But you’re a lot more easygoing. And no matter what happens, I’m here for you.”
