The Five-Day Dig by Jennifer Malin Read Free Book Online Page A

disgrace of a program unworthy of his staff’s notice?
    Considering that she was the one who had accepted the offer – and that she’d done it without consulting him – she expected the latter.

 

     

     
    C INQUE

     
    W INNIE SCANNED THE guests in the garden for Chaz. Not able to spot him or any other acquaintances, she went to an empty table and sat down. Hands shaking with suppressed excitement, she took out her phone and scrolled through the phonebook for the TA’s number. She found it and punched the “Call” button, swallowing against a dry throat.
    His phone rang once, twice ...
    “Winnie?” he answered, sounding surprised – and no wonder. She never called him. “What’s up?”
    “Are you still on campus?”
    “Yes. I just said good-bye to Enza Rentino. She has a piano lesson now, but she’s going to meet me again later tonight.”
    A little pang stung her. Jealousy? Of course not. Her emotions were just running high. She tried to keep her voice calm. “Dr. Farber will be impressed with your networking skills.”
    “And we both live to impress Dr. Farber.” He laughed. “I suppose I should get back to the hotel now and spiff up for tonight.”
    “Can you meet me over here at the reception, and I’ll drive you back?” she asked. “I’ve been doing some networking myself, and I want to talk to you about a project.”
    “I’ll be right there.”
    After hanging up, she got up and paced. Her feelings about “The Five-Day Dig” may have been mixed, but Chaz would be thrilled about doing the show. Not sure she wanted anyone else at the reception to overhear the news, she decided she’d wait until they were in private to tell him.
    He got there within minutes and frowned when he saw her pacing. “Is something wrong?”
    “Not at all. I’ll tell you in the car.” She grabbed his arm and steered him toward the parking lot. The hard warmth of his biceps through his dress shirt gave her a jolt of awareness. It probably would have been wiser to avoid physical contact, but the moment felt too big to act stuffy.
    He grinned at her as she dragged him out toward the parking lot. “I’m all for strong women, but I’ve never seen you so aggro. Should I be worried?”
    “It’s all good,” she said. “I’ve got an interesting proposition for you.”
    “Ah, I’ve been waiting for this.”
    That convinced her to drop his arm, but she felt too distracted for his flirting to fluster her much more than she already was. Spotting the rental car, she took out her keys and pressed the “Unlock” button. “I thought Brits were supposed to be reserved. Stop teasing me, and get in.”
    “If you want reserve, see my father. Try being raised by him, though, and you’ll have had your fill.” He climbed into the passenger side.
    She hopped in the driver’s seat and turned toward him.
    Her expression must have been filled with agitation, because he laughed at her. “What in bloody hell is up with you?”
    “I just spent the last half-hour with Dunk Mortill.” Her voice sounded breathless to her own ears. “It turns out that ‘The Five-Day Dig’ is doing an episode on Domenico Rentino’s ruins. Since his daughter is a fan, she talked him into letting them excavate.”
    His eyes widened. “Blimey. Enza didn’t mention anything about it to me. We only talked about Growden and living in the States.”
    She moistened her lips. “But, here’s the kicker: Dunk asked me to join them as an inscriptions expert, and they have room for you on the team, too.”
    Disbelief flickered across his face. “Are you winding me up?”
    She shook her head. “Personally, I think I’m insane for agreeing to it. I’m sure I’m going to make a fool of myself in front of millions of TV viewers.”
    “You already agreed?”
    “How could I say no?” That he even posed the question ratcheted up her doubts. She fumbled to get the key in the ignition. “Dunk took me over to the site and showed me some kind of cult