Greek for Beginners by Jackie Braun Page B

quick kiss on the forehead, pushed her inside and shut the door himself.
    â€œEngage the security chain,” she heard him order from the hallway.
    With their talk about flings and expectations swirling in her head, it was well after two before Darcie finally fell asleep.
    * * *
    The next day, as promised, she and Nick visited the Temple of Zeus and then Hadrian’s Arch. It was a small consolation that he appeared as ill-rested as she was. She had her guidebook out and was reading about how the arch, which was built in 131 AD, had marked the boundary between ancient Athens and the new Roman city of Hadrian, when her cell phone rang.
    Thinking it might be Tad, she considered ignoring it, but when she saw that it was Stavros, she flashed Nick an apologetic smile.
    â€œI need to take this.”
    â€œI will be just there.” He pointed to a nearby street vendor’s cart and headed off. Darcie unabashedly enjoyed the view as he walked away. She was smiling when she answered. By the time the call ended five minutes later, however, she was fuming and feeling dejected. It didn’t come as a surprise that Stavros would not refund her money. Still, she’d hoped.... She went to join Nick.
    â€œI took a chance that you would like chocolate.” He handed her an ice cream cone.
    â€œGee, big risk,” she teased. “Where’s yours?”
    â€œIce cream will melt quickly in this heat. I thought we could share.” With that, he ran his tongue over the top scoop, all while keeping his gaze on her.
    When Nick said things like that, when he looked at Darcie the way he was looking at her right now... She’d never felt like this. Ever. So wound up. So wanted. Wouldn’t it just figure that she would be leaving soon?
    â€œIt is your turn now.” Nick nodded to the ice cream.
    Unfortunately, when she went to lick the ice cream, the top scoop fell off the cone. It plopped on the pavement between their feet.
    â€œThe story of my life,” she muttered, closing her eyes. She wanted to scream, cry. She settled for sighing.
    â€œIt is only ice cream. There is no need to be so upset.”
    She opened her eyes. “It’s not just the ice cream.”
    His expression sobered. “The phone call, has something happened? Your family?”
    â€œAll fine as far as I know. That was Stavros. He finally got around to returning my call.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œWell, he was very apologetic when I asked for a refund, but...” Her shoulders lifted. “He did offer to personally drive me to several of the locations on my itinerary, but I declined. He didn’t exactly sound sober.”
    Nick threw the empty ice cream cone into a nearby waste container and plucked his cell phone from his back pocket. “I will call him. I will make him see reason.”
    â€œThank you, but no.” She placed a hand over his. “You’ve already left messages on my behalf. Besides, you said it yourself that first day. He doesn’t have the money to refund.”
    â€œWhat will you do now?”
    â€œI can’t stay the full two weeks.” Even if she wanted to—and oh, yeah, she really wanted to — she couldn’t afford it. As it was, her three nights in Athens were going to set her back half a week’s pay.
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œAnother couple of days.” And even that was going to stretch her financial limit. It would be worth eating mac and cheese for a month, though, if it meant spending more time with Nick.
    â€œBut you cannot leave so soon. You have barely seen any of the sights. You have barely been outside of Athens.”
    â€œBelieve me, I wish I could afford to continue my vacation, but I can’t.”
    â€œIf you had a place to stay, one that would cost you nothing, would you postpone your return to the States?” he asked slowly.
    â€œWhat do you mean if I had a place to stay that would not cost me