Page 15 of Sacrifice

She scanned the concourse again. He’d have to come back sometime. She chewed at her lip and craned her neck to look around a gaggle of foreign students. Then she saw something to make her heart jump. Was that a sharp black suit? Could that be a flop of wavy hair? Holy shit, was thatactuallyhim making his way through the crowd?

Her heart skittered in her chest. It really looked like him, head down and in a hurry. She sidestepped for a better view, and he caught her staring, looking up at her through those thick dark lashes just long enough for her to see the sparkle to his eye. Heat rose at her neck and a stirring swept through her body somewhere altogether lower.

Lucien was ridiculously good looking, but it wasn’t just that. There was something unsettling about him. Something, as yet, undefinable. He was heading for the shop.

Holy crap, he’s coming in!

Eve flapped about behind the counter, trying to find something to look casually busy with, and ended up with a paper bag in her hand. She examined it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

He’s in the shop. He’s in the shop!

She knew it without looking up, couldfeelhim crossing the floor toward her, even though she was determinedly not looking at him. Then he was standing in front of her, and it was like an aura of heat and sexual magnetism pulsed out from his body and straight into her underwear. It was all she could do not to giggle like a five-year-old.

“Good morning, Eve.”

God, even his voice was delicious. The deep timbre of the Mediterranean rolled from his tongue and licked at her ears. She looked up and feigned surprise. “Dr Knight. I didn’t see you there.”

Pathetic. Can you not think of anything better than that?

His eyebrows raised with a mixture of incredulity and amusement. “I could have sworn I caught your eye a moment ago,” he said.

Shit.

“Oh, er, perhaps, I mean, I was distracted.”

“Thinking about important things? The business of the gift shop, perhaps?” He leaned one hand on the counter. It was such a small move, but the increase in proximity washed over Eve with quite unreasonable strength. She wasdefinitelybreaking out in a sweat.

“Oh yes. It’s so busy. I’m so busy.” She fiddled with the bag.

“That’s a shame because I was going to ask if I could buy you that coffee.”

“You were?” Her voice was unnaturally high. She cleared her throat. “I mean, that’s, er, well, you still could.” She looked at him and shrugged hopelessly. Playing it cool really wasn’t her forte.

“Should I clear it with your manager?”

Eve shrugged again and Lucien looked around for Gilbert, found him and made off across the shop to talk to him. She was pretty sure that Gilbert would not go along with the idea of her naffing off for a coffee, but to her great surprise, Lucien got him laughing jovially almost immediately. Gilbert even gave her a thumbs up from across the store. It was like Lucien had magical powers. She smiled to herself. He certainly seemed to have some kind of power over her.

He returned with a swagger, hands in his pockets, and a grin on his face. “It seems the business can run without you for half an hour.”

“Excellent.” She fought the urge to punch the air.

Lucien stuck out an elbow and turned for the door. It was an unmistakable invitation to link arms and make off into the sunset. Well, onto the concourse. Maybe they’d do the sunset another day.

She slid her arm through his and actual electricity crackled between them.

She was expecting a stroll to the coffee cart outside, but instead Lucien steered her in the other direction, toward the restaurant.

Barbara, who always worked ‘meet and greet’,didn't give either of them a second glance as Lucien swept a path through busy tables to one at the back which was unoccupied and set up with champagne in an ice bucket and a pair of slim flutes. They sat down and Eve looked about, confused. “Er, sorry, have I missed something? Because this really doesn’t look like coffee.”

“I’ve always thought that champagne was better suited to celebrations.” Lucien pulled the bottle from the ice bucket and tore off the foil.

“Are we celebrating, then?”

“Oh, yes.” He filled Eve’s glass and then poured some for himself. “I have secured my first external exhibit,The Tablet of Ashur.” He lifted his glass and held it out, waiting for Eve to do the same. Eve picked up her flute and chinked it against his. “The Tablet of Ashur,” she said, “Whatever that is.”

“Ah yes, I was forgetting. Egypt is your first love. I wonder if I might tempt you into the ways of Mesopotamia?”

“If you buy me champagne every time you find something from there, I suspect you might.” She grinned at him, and the increasingly familiar twinkle in his eye returned.

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