Three Nights in Greece by Ciar Cullen Read Free Book Online

snickered. “That really was priceless. The look on your face when you realized it was me in the coffee shop…”
    “We’ve already discussed many times how clever you are.” Layla scowled, yet her eyes twinkled.
    Kevin laughed harder. “All right, then, let’s discuss something else. Let’s discuss how clever you are. Why don’t you tell me about life in the Agency?”
    “Nope. You’re after my dirty past, and you’re not getting it. All I owe you is a professional job, and I promise, you’ll get your money’s worth.”
    Kevin nodded seriously, thinking he might never get the truth of why she was so wounded. He put his hand on hers and felt her hand twitch. She kept her face neutral.
    “You do have a good game face. Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m your man.” He began rubbing her palm with his thumb. Her cheeks flushed. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed them across her skin.
    “So, tell me how Ardros has supposedly managed to steal priceless artifacts from his country.” Layla pulled away her hand and picked up the coffee set before them.
    “I won’t tell you that. The less you know, the more genuine the whole affair will come off to him. Don’t underestimate him. He’s as clever as the two of us put together.”
    “And as handsome as two men put together.”
    “Oooh, that was pure evil, and aimed to make me jealous. Admit it.”
    “Why the hell would I want to make you jealous? Never mind. This is child’s play, Kevin. I don’t know why you don’t get that. I’ll flirt with him, whatever it takes… So, relax, change the subject. Tell me about your brother, the archaeologist. You took very different paths.”
    “It didn’t start out that way. I always intended to be a history teacher. Stop laughing. I would have been very, very good. But I couldn’t make myself care about classes. I didn’t have the discipline.”
    He shrugged. “Alan cornered the market on discipline. I joined the military, and after that, tried law enforcement…well, it’s a boring tale.”
    “No, it’s not. Tell me.”
    “Trust me, it is. I learned a good deal about law enforcement, of course, was promoted quickly to detective… Then I met Andrea. When she became pregnant with Molly, she wanted to return to the States to be closer to her family. It seemed easiest to start my own detective agency than to start from scratch on an American police force. I was very, very lucky with a few jobs and got a reputation, largely because of Alan and some of our friends, for recovering fine art, jewels, antiquities…that sort of job. You pretty much know the rest about the company. We do the standard stuff as well, but you’ll never get those jobs, of course.”
    “Why did I get hired? Sarah hounded me after I left the Agency. I finally gave in.”
    Kevin smiled. “Sarah is a hound. A bloodhound with an ear for gossip and a nose for talent. She’s only been with me for a half-year or so. A godsend.”
    “And Andrea?” Layla winced.
    Kevin tried to smile. He didn’t manage. “When Molly was one year and one day old. Cancer.”
    Layla shook her head.
    “There’s nothing to say, so don’t fret. We do fine now. My parents moved to New York three years ago to help care for Molly and—”
    He broke off and looked intently at a figure rounding the corner at the far end of the square.
    “What is it?” Layla followed his gaze.
    “Don’t turn.” He whispered. “It’s odd. I think I saw that man in the Athens airport. He was looking at us a bit furtively. Not very sophisticated.” How could it be about Ardros, now that he was in prison ? What was going on ? “Well, the country is full of tall, handsome men, so I suppose I’m mixing him up with someone. You do grab attention. Maybe he’s just copping a look.”
    Layla had gone deathly pale and goose bumps broke out on her arms. Game face gone.
    “Layla, what is it? I’m sure it’s a coincidence, don’t worry.”
    “What did the man look