Page 2 of Her Two Dragons

“I’m right behind you.” Khalid smiled as he picked up her water bottles. “Find anything interesting today?”

“Not yet. But it’s still early.” Michelle reached for her canteens, but he held them just out of reach.

“I’ll carry them.” He jerked his chin toward the mess tent. “Are you sure you’re okay in this sun? I could probably find a parasol or something.”

“I’ll be fine.” She rolled her eyes at him, even as her stomach fluttered a little at his concern for her. The last thing she wanted was to be thought of as delicate, someone who couldn’t hold her own on the dig.

Striding through the sand with as much confidence as she could muster, she couldn’t help but notice Khalid’s presence right behind her. It was like he was her own personal shadow. Only, instead of falling behind her, his hulking shape cast a shadow on her, as if he were intent on keeping her out of the sun, parasol or not.

Testing her theory, she took a step to the right.

He followed right behind.

Then a swerve to the left.

Once again, he was right there behind her.

“Okay, what are you doing?”

“I told you. I’d hate for you to get burned.” He grinned. “And, as you pointed out, I’m better equipped for the hot sun.” His warm, tawny brown skin seemed to almost glisten in the sun, and his dark, almost black eyes practically sparkled. Like he was made to be out here in the sand, in the desert heat. “If you’re going to turn pink, I can think of better reasons than too much sun.”

“Does that line really work?” Michelle rolled her eyes as they entered the tent and her shadow shifted from behind her to by her side. “I’m not looking to get hit on here, Khalid. I’m here to work and finish my thesis.” She grabbed a tray and started her way down the long table laden with packaged and covered food, nothing exposed to the elements. “If you’re looking for a grad student to share a cot with, find someone else.”

Khalid started a tray of his own, masterfully balancing her empty water bottles and the tray as if it were second nature. “Maybe I’m just looking for someone who knows her stuff to share a work area with.”

“I work alone. When I make my big discoveries, I’m not sharing a byline.” She smirked as she grabbed an apple and added it to her tray. “And I’m certainly not doing your work for you.”

He followed her through the labyrinth of tables and chairs, setting his tray down next to hers before he held his hands up in surrender. “All right. Point taken.”

She expected him to leave her water bottles and take his tray off to whoever put him up to this, but instead he just plopped down in the chair and started eating.

With a sigh, she sat down next to him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of finding somewhere else to eat. This table had everything she was looking for—far enough away from the buffet that she wouldn’t constantly have to shift her chair, close enough to the edge of the tent that she got a cross breeze without the heat of the sun adding to it, and normally, it was the perfect place to read one of the novels she’d brought with her.

But having a lunch companion changed that. Did she pull out her book and risk being perceived as rude? Or did she suffer small talk with this guy she hardly knew?

“You’re writing your thesis. Is Dr. Brighton your advisor?” Khalid transitioned into the subject so smoothly, she almost forgot that he was intruding on her reading time.

“She is. I’m really looking forward to adding the real-life experience to my paper. If I could just find the right topic to write about.”

“I’m sure something will come to you. There’s something magical about these dig sites. They give you a new perspective on things.”

“You’ve been on more than one?” Michelle stared at him, surprised. “You hardly look old enough to have a ton of dig experience.”

“You’d be surprised.” He winked as he pulled the wrapper off a pre-packaged snack cake. “What are you hoping to find here?”

“Oh, you know…perspective. Understanding. A new outlook on the ancient Egyptian civilizations.” Michelle shrugged, trying to play it close to the vest. She didn’t want to come right out and admit she wanted to find the Obsidian Moon. It was legend, and a lost one at that. She doubted he’d even know what she was talking about, and she wasn’t about to sound like the crazy woman at the dig.

Another guy came up with his tray balanced in one hand, and a canteen in the other. Without asking, he took the seat on Michelle’s other side, his big body bumping into hers.

“Excuse you.” She gave him major side-eye as he got comfortable, officially sandwiching her between two hulking men.

“What? You weren’t holding this chair for someone, were you?”

“There are plenty of other tables.” Michelle scowled. “Do I have something taped to my back or do you have a bet going or something?” She hated sounding rude, but what was with these guys?

“Yeah, Darius. It’s a little presumptuous, don’t you think?” Khalid smirked, as if he thought the whole thing was hilarious.

He probably did.

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