He had trouble swallowing. “So you’re still in Prevesa?”
“Not exactly. One of the literature professors from Turkey invited me to return to Anatalya with him. I’ll be here for two weeks, maybe less, then I’ll be back in Patras. He’s an expert on Lord Byron and has incredible information with a fresh perspective. We’ll be traveling to Bodrum and Ephesus, where there are other scholars he wants me to meet. He’s very excited about the film Magda is making.”
Andreas was listening, but he also imagined the professor was particularly excited about being around anyone as beautiful and vivacious as Zoe.
His eyes closed tightly. “I’m glad you’re finding new information.”
“It’s fantastic.” She sounded happy.
“The best of luck to you, Zoe.”
“Thank you so much. I’ll call you when I know my flight from Anatalya.”
“Why don’t I pick you up at the airport?”
“That would be lovely, but only if it’s convenient for you.”
“I’ll make it convenient.”
She laughed. He’d missed that sound, he’d missed her more than he could believe. “Bye for now.”
Zoe’s heart almost palpitated out of her chest when she saw Andreas with his black hair and burning black eyes standing at the luggage pickup waiting for her. He’d dressed in one of his elegant silk suits, this time a gray one with a dazzling white shirt and tie. The man was bigger than life and so sinfully handsome, it was shocking to her.
She’d hoped to get some perspective while she’d been away from him, but instead the opposite had happened. Her bad experience with Nate hadn’t seemed to have taught her anything. The ache in her heart had grown more serious while she’d been away from Andreas. Seeing him again had turned it into real pain.
His gaze played over her in that way only he could do, causing her insides to melt on the spot. “The world traveler is back home. How does it feel?”
Like I’m going to die from happiness.
“I’m glad to be back, but it’s not going to be for long.” Let him know now.
The gleam in his eyes vanished. “What’s next on your agenda?”
“Since I uncovered new information while I was in Turkey, I have to go back to Messolonghi tomorrow for a week.”
“Do you have time to eat lunch with me before you’re off again?”
“I’d love it.” She reached for her suitcase, but he took it from her.
“My car is out in the short-term parking. Let’s go.” They walked out together. After he helped her in the car and got behind the wheel, he said, “Do you want to go to your apartment first?”
“Oh, no. I don’t want to put you out. We can eat on the way in. You pick a place.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Anything. You can’t get a bad meal in Greece.”
He started the car and drove away. “As opposed to Turkey?”
“The food there was delicious, but you know what I mean. I’ve been here since January and have loved it all.”
“That’s nice to hear.” He drove them to a restaurant where the specialty was moussaka with a béchamel sauce he liked. They could eat outside on the patio and enjoy some house wine.
The waiter took their order. When he walked away, she smiled at Andreas. “How is Ari? Do you have any more pictures to show me?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” He pulled out his phone and they laughed over the photos for a few minutes until their meal came. They were both hungry. Then he changed the subject.
“Will you let me drive you to Messolonghi? We could leave later today and enjoy an evening together there.”
“You’re so generous to me, but this afternoon I have an appointment at the University of Patras with a professor who’s finally back from his vacation. He has some vital information for me.”
“How were you planning to get there?”
“Call for a taxi.”
His dark eyes narrowed on her face. “Do you dare?”
The question made her chuckle. “If you’re offering to drive me, I won’t say no. But I’ll be there for at least two hours.”
“Then I’ll do some errands and come back for you. If you want to go back to the apartment, I’ll drive you and then we’ll leave for Messolonghi.”
Zoe realized she couldn’t say no to him. He was determined to spend time with her, and heaven help her, she was so thrilled to be with him she could hardly stand it.
They ate dessert before he took her to the university. She waved him off before hurrying inside. Zoe didn’t think the dean of the literature department had summoned her because his information was new, but she was curious.
What really stunned her was that he’d been talking to others in the humanities department and was offering her a temporary post to teach there in their theater department for the fall semester. Byron had written a series of plays she could teach in a curriculum she’d developed.
The earlier mention of her association with Magda Collier had no doubt excited them to the point they’d made this offer. But as tempting and alluring as it was because it would keep her in Andreas’s sphere, she turned it down. No way did she dare accept.
When she’d met Nate, she’d fallen for him too fast and had rushed into a serious relationship with him with disastrous results. If she stayed in Greece and was given this position at the university, it would be throwing her into temptation’s way with Andreas. She had to keep reminding herself that she’d be leaving Greece soon and had no intention of coming back.
After telling the dean she was honored and flattered to have been considered, but couldn’t accept the offer, she left his office and waited outside in front of the building enjoying the view until Andreas came for her.
They drove into town. Once he’d dropped her off at the apartment long enough to pack fresh clothes, she got back in his car and they left for Messolonghi.
She’d spent time there earlier in the year. It was the place where the Greek rebels fought in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. It was there that Byron came to join Greece in its fight for freedom.
“Refresh my memory about that last day,” Andreas asked her.
“From what I know, Byron rode his horse by the waters of the lagoon, then to the Chapel of the Virgin by the Palm Tree, and then for many more miles onto Aetolicon. On that fateful day he was caught in the downpour of a storm and returned completely soaked to the home in Messolonghi where he was staying. That’s when the sweating and fever started. He became seriously ill and died at the age of thirty-six.”
He shot her glance. “What more do you expect to learn about that day by going there?”
“I’m curious to compare some facts with the Turkish accounts I’ve just gathered.”
Andreas shook his head. “Does that mind of yours ever turn off?”
She flashed him a radiant smile. “I hope not.”
After they reached Messolonghi, Zoe had booked a local hotel. After she’d checked in, Andreas walked her through the Garden of Heroes where Lord Byron was featured. According to his will, his heart was buried there beneath the statue and his body shipped back to England.
As she’d walked with Andreas, she knew she’d come close to losing her own heart. But it had happened so quickly!