Redemption (5 page)

Sean was an asshole.

Not exactly a revelation to Sophie, but it still pissed her off. He’d commandeered most of the undergraduate labor already and now he had her doing grunt work too. She couldn’t argue. It was the reason she was here and she was more than willing to pitch in for her fair share. But he knew she spent her nights reexamining the temple carvings. She’d been documenting the recovered artwork during the day secretly hoping to find something to help prove her thesis. Apparently, Sean had decided she was spending too much time on work that could win her the fellowship so this morning she was out here kneeling in the dirt digging through an area exposed by the landslide. Sabotage, plain and simple.

“You look tired,” Mia said.

“This is bullshit. If he was going to pull this crap why didn’t he do it sooner? I should be in the shed sorting the pottery shards and carvings.
That’s
my area of expertise. This, anyone could do.” She grimaced when she realized she’d just insulted Mia.

Mia shrugged. “Just let him beat his chest. He’ll get bored with it soon enough. He knows you’re the best at puzzling together the bits of carvings that turn up and he’s proud enough not to view you as a threat. This isn’t sabotage. It’s pure male ego. Someone’s invading his territory and he’s pissed.” She nodded in the direction of Adriano. He stood at the edge of the site, arms crossed over that wide chest, eyes fixed on Sophie. When he caught them looking, he nodded once and she sucked in a quick breath, turning back to her work.

Mia laughed. “Well now, isn’t that interesting?”

Sophie winced but didn’t look up. “Please don’t be interested, Mia.”

“Too late,” she said apologetically. “And I’m afraid I’m not the only one. Alicia saw the two of you walking across the plaza the other night. It just about scared the crap out of her.”

“What was Alicia doing out at the plaza?”

“You’re trying to change the subject. So…” Mia leaned in close. “How was he, Soph? And don’t try to G-rate it for me. We’ve got hours left and I want all the nasty details.”

In no mood for games, Sophie wanted to tell her to mind her business but something in Mia’s tone brought her up short. She looked closely at her tentmate, noting for the first time the dark circles under her blue eyes and the unprecedented lack of mascara. “What’s wrong?”

Mia rocked back onto her heels. “I’m bored. Sean’s a cheating bastard and I’m stuck here with him for the next month and a half. I need a distraction and you’re it. I’ve decided to live vicariously through your torrid affair with tall, dark and dangerous over there. So…entertain me.”

Sophie laughed at the idea of someone like Mia living vicariously through someone like her. “I’m not anyone’s idea of good entertainment.”

Mia looked up from where she’d bent to brush away a trace of sand from what appeared to be a human jawbone. “Not even Adriano’s?”

Sophie flushed—the curse of her fair skin—and thought Mia would read the truth all over her face. But Mia apparently misinterpreted her expression, because when Sophie glanced up at her she looked stricken. “Shit. Nothing happened? I’m sorry, Soph. I thought for sure…”

Sophie could have left it at that but the pity and regret on Mia’s face changed her mind. “Adriano was amazing. I came twice, screaming like a banshee. It’s probably what woke Alicia up.” Mia gaped at her and Sophie grinned. “Savor it. That’s all you’re getting.” Then, she caught Sean glaring at the two of them and waved her trowel. “And for the record, I’m not anyone’s territory. Not Adriano’s and sure as hell not Sean’s. Besides, Sean is not interested in me at all.”

Mia followed her gaze and blew Sean a kiss. He turned away and walked over to the other plot. “Sean takes his duty as team leader seriously. If nothing else, I’ll give him that. You’re part of the team. He thinks it’s his job to keep you safe and on track. I know. Patronizing and controlling but it’s the way he is.”

Sophie took that opening to ask the question she’d been wondering about since she realized Mia wasn’t the insecure airhead she’d first taken her for. “What did you ever see in him anyway?”

Mia blew out a breath. “It’s…complicated. I’m a sucker for someone who knows what they want and goes after it. Sean is that. I just never took into account how many he’d want. I thought maybe by coming here…you know, middle of nowhere, that maybe…” One shoulder dipped in a shrug and she smiled wryly. “Well, obviously, this is no honeymoon and I’ve finally accepted that it’s just not going to work out.”

“He doesn’t deserve you. He never did. For one, he’s too stupid to appreciate someone with a big enough heart to give him a second chance.”

Mia gave a smile that was only a shadow of her usual grin. “And a third. And a fourth. Thanks, Soph. I’m okay with it really. I just need to make it through a few more weeks. What would really help is if I had something to distract me…”

“Nice try.” Sophie stood and rubbed the dirt from her hands. She tucked her brush in her back pocket and eyed Adriano. “I’m going for more water. Do you need anything?”

“No thanks.” Mia waved her on and bent over her work.

Sophie angled away from Adriano, needing an escape from his watchful gaze and Mia’s speculation. She hadn’t realized how private a person she’d become until this trip. She hadn’t shared a room with anyone in years but somehow Mia had become a friend. She hadn’t taken a lover she’d have to look at in the clear light of morning for years either. Not that Adriano was bad to look at. He was just still…here and didn’t look like he was going away anytime soon.

She’d dated her last boyfriend, Matt, for only two months the year after her sister died. She’d been lonely. He’d been nice enough. But she felt like a shadow living in his bright world of frat parties and holiday dinners with his big, happy family. Even with him, she was empty, hollow. Work filled up her time, keeping her busy and numb. Some nights, she’d ache for something more, something sharp that would prove she was still alive. And she would go out and find it, usually in the form of raw, explosive, anonymous sex. Then she’d tuck that part of her away again and be back to normal the next day. Like hitting a reset button. It had worked every time. Up until now.

She’d thought Adriano could give her that. That they’d share a scorching hot night, maybe two, and then he’d move on. But she’d overestimated him…or underestimated him, she wasn’t sure which, and it seemed he had other plans. She shrugged. Six weeks until she left. Six weeks wasn’t forever. Even if he did get clingy, she could deal.

She almost made it to the cooler when Sean cut across a cable-marked plot to intercept her, clipboard in hand. She reached past him to grab a water bottle and cracked the seal before he started talking.

“Look I know you don’t want to hear this anymore than I want to say it but—”

“What happened between me and Adriano is none of your business, Sean.”

There was nothing nice about his smile. “I’m not talking about your sex life. We have forty full work days left, provided the rain holds off that long. We found five funeral bundles in various stages of decay on the north slope. I needed to redirect the group that came in from Canada to work on those before they’re lost to exposure. You, I need here to oversee this group until we catch up.”

He held up a hand before she could protest. “Before you say anything, understand that I don’t have much of a choice. And I think I’ve been pretty understanding about your extracurricular interests, especially considering you’re trying to steal my fellowship out from under me.”

Oh, now that was just too much. “It’s not
your
fellowship. I’ve been here every day doing my job so you can shove your understanding. My free time is my own. If I want to spend it up at the temple, it sure as hell is no business of yours.”

“We’re working dawn to dusk until further notice. The museum’s agreed to let us use the storage building to work after sunset. As of tomorrow, you have no free time.” He glared at a point over her shoulder, and she glanced back to see Adriano standing there.

Adriano’s dark eyes met hers and his lip curled back in a secret smile. Just for her, as if to say, “You going to hit him or should I?” And she found herself grinning back at him. She loved that connection. She and Delia had had that once, the two of them against the world. She had to tear her eyes away and look back at Sean. His arms were crossed, his mouth set. He expected a fight, but what else could she say? He was within his rights and she wasn’t going to try to weasel out of her responsibilities. It had never been about that. She’d thought she could do both—work the dig and pursue her research. Sure she was disappointed but…

“I can help,” Adriano offered. “If you have any work that doesn’t require a degree. It would be a shame if anything were lost for lack of hands. Some of the others might be interested as well.”

Sean ran a hand through his hair somehow without displacing a single strand. “We can’t pay them overtime.”

Asshole,
Sophie thought. Of course Sean couldn’t conceive that any of the local people would be willing to volunteer a few extra hours to help preserve their own history.

Adriano’s lips thinned. “Perhaps it might be best if I was the one to ask for volunteers.”

She couldn’t help it, a laugh slipped out and Sean shot her a sharp look. Adriano grinned at her, eyes sparkling.

“That would be great. Thanks. We can use any extra help you can find.” He handed his clipboard to her as if entrusting her with his soul. “I’m heading over to check out the funeral bundles. You okay here?”

She nodded. “Go.”

When she turned to look at Adriano, he was smiling down at her and it struck her that she liked Adriano, wholeheartedly liked him as a person. For one thing, when he looked at her, he really looked at her. None of those glances that slid right over her like she was wearing a cloaking device. He made her feel alive. He made her want to be alive and she didn’t trust that. Not at all.

But God, he was gorgeous. A light sheen of sweat covered his tanned skin. A lock of dark hair curled over his forehead. Gold and black. Sunshine and shadow. He was far, far too good for her. So out of her league.

She smiled anyway. “Hi.”

“You’ve been avoiding me.” His deep voice slipped inside her, waking up parts that should have stayed asleep for at least a month, maybe more.

“Just working.” She took a sip of water and offered it to him.

He shook his head. “You drink it. Can I see you tonight? After the work is done.”

She hesitated. Something like panic came into her eyes and Adriano wondered at it. Last night had been neither bad enough nor good enough to cause such a reaction. He’d worked damned hard to keep it that way, a nice easy fuck between friends.

She hid away bits of herself, and he wanted to dig them out of her with picks and spades just as she unearthed the secrets of his people. But something more delicate was required now, a brush rather than a shovel. He lowered his voice. “Don’t worry. I’m not assuming you’ll have sex with me again. I only want to know you better.”

If anything her look of panic increased and he backed off. He needed to leave the site tomorrow and see if he could pick up any trace of the mutant, maybe recruit an extra pair of hands. That would give her some space at least. He couldn’t offer more. He wanted to enjoy every moment with her until he could get the stone and leave. He wanted to keep her so busy, she didn’t have time to go wandering around the site. Funny that Sean had helped with that.

“I’ll be gone tomorrow on some personal business. Do you need anything from town?”

She looked relieved and he would have been insulted if he hadn’t been able to sense her desire for him still. “No. I’m good. You might want to ask Mia though.”

“The blonde?”

She gave him a funny look. “The pretty one.”

He wanted to laugh at the way she threw that out there. “Fishing for compliments?” He moved closer, purposefully invading her space, smiling when she didn’t back away. “Let me into your tent tonight and I’ll pour them over your body like warmed oil. I’ll feather them over every inch of your soft skin and whisper them in your ear while you come around me.”

Her eyes dilated. The black of her pupil expanding to nearly blot the fine gray-green of her iris. He loved that color, like misting rain beneath the shade of the canopy. She shook herself. “I have a roommate.”

“The blonde?”

Her lips curved subtly. “Yes. The blonde.”

“Can you get rid of her?”

“She’s seeing Sean. I know. I know. It’s a long story but she’s not bad…what I mean to say is no. She won’t have anywhere to go.”

He couldn’t resist any longer and didn’t care that they had an audience. Or rather, he wished to claim her in front of their audience. So he placed a hand on her waist to hold her steady while at the same time his other hand cradled her face. He didn’t give her time to pull away before capturing her lips in a gentle kiss and then released her before she could react.

“I’ll make arrangements,” he told her. “I’ll buy a new tent if I have to while I’m in town. You should get back to work. I didn’t mean to keep you from it for so long.”

And he hadn’t, wouldn’t have followed her at all if he hadn’t heard her arguing with Sean. He’d wanted her to come to him. He knew her well enough to know that she liked to be in control. Or at least thought she did.

But then Sean had fairly attacked her and Adriano found himself standing at her shoulder before he’d made the conscious decision to move. Sophie had handled Sean just fine on her own and Adriano managed to get himself under control before he killed the little prick.

Sophie tipped her head to one side. “If I can get rid of Mia, you’ll come tonight?”

“Mmm-hmm. You too if I have any say about it. I’ll make you scream like a banshee again.”

She startled and a rush of blood colored her skin. He held her gaze and smiled. Of course he’d heard her.
Amazing. Came twice.
He didn’t like that she’d been able to box what had happened between them into such paltry words. He would remedy that tonight. Sunlight picked up the golden strands in her brown hair as she turned her head. Incredible that the others didn’t see her as he did.