Page 22 of A Discovery: Love and Other Things

He returned with a sleekly designed glass that was definitely not the kind you could chug from, especially with a slice of lemon floating at the top of the water.

“Thanks,” I said as I lifted the glass in the air as if to cheers him, even though he didn’t have a drink for himself. All that earned me was a nod.

The awkwardness took hold again like it did whenever I was alone with Dr. Campbell. It was his gaze—always scrutinizing the person in front of him. Picking them apart and evaluating their flaws.

“Nice place you got here,” I said, hoping small talk would ease the tension. “That’s awesome that the grant committee put you up in a fancy suite like this.”

“It’s not a rental,” he answered gruffly. “I own it.”

My jaw nearly dropped to the floor. “Own?! Since when do archaeologists make bank?” The words fell out of my mouth before I could filter them, and I felt my eyes go wide. “Oh, jeez, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.” He was a prodigy in the field, but even so, that wouldn’t have warranted this kind of wealth.

“No offense taken,” he replied blandly.

“I just meant that this place is so gorgeous, I’m shocked it would be available to buy since it’s in a luxury hotel.”

“True, but it was purchased during development, long before the hotel ever opened to residents in 1932.”

The trendy penthouse certainly didn’t scream 1930s style, so I assumed it had undergone a face lift or two over the ages to make it as contemporary as it was.

“Wow! Did you buy it off the previous owners?” I took a sip of the icy water in my hand.

“No, I inherited it.” I could hear that near-constant edge of irritation in his voice growing thicker.

I wiggled my brows at him. “Ah, a rich boy.” Only old money used words like “inherited.”

He twisted his lips as if I had just told him his dog was ugly, if he were the type who was caring enough to own a pet. “By birth. And not by choice,” he said, disgust rolling off him.

I lifted my free hand in surrender. “No judgment here. Just surprised, is all.” With no intention of pressing the topic further, I put my glass down and picked up my bag. I had clearly overstayed my welcome, and I found my way to the door with every intention to leave.

But his voice stopped me in my tracks. “My grandfather was a fairly successful businessman.” He strolled over to the windows, his back to me, as he spoke. “When he passed away, he left much of his estate to me, including this apartment.”

Surprised by his openness, I dropped my bag and drifted toward his turned back. Dr. Campbell wasn’t one to share personal information like this, and I was compelled by his honesty. “How did he pass away?”

His voice was quiet. “A heart attack right before I was accepted to university.”

I could relate to losing a loved one to health reasons. “I’m sorry. Were you close?”

“We were. Much to my family’s dismay. My parents were upset that he left me the bulk of his wealth and not them or my younger brother. But they never had really given a damn about my grandfather unless it came to his money.”

That sounded awful, witnessing your own family being fake just to get money. “Do you talk to your family often?”

“No. Not since my grandfather died nearly twenty years ago.”

“Shit,” I whispered. Dr. Campbell looked over his shoulder at my expletive. I offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Mouth of a sailor.” His eyes darted to my mouth, then he quickly turned to gaze back out the window.

I moved to his side to peer at the view of the rippling dark water.

“That’s a long time not to speak to family,” I continued.

Dr. Campbell remained silent.

“I wish I had a lot more family alive.” It was a private confession that should never have escaped my lips, but for some reason, it had, and I couldn’t take it back.

“No siblings?” His interest seemed genuine.

“None. Just my mother back at home. She has a sister, but my aunt never had children.”

“What about your father?”

---