Page 40 of Love on the Rocks
I jabbed at my contact list and pressed on Gaz’s name. No answer. I called back. This bastard was not going to ignore me any longer either. I kept calling until finally he picked up.
“Jaysus, Calista. I was sleeping,” he mumbled into the phone.
With whom?,I nearly asked, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking I was jealous. Right now, I could care less who he’d spent the night with. I wanted to know why he’d left me to the wolves for nearly two weeks. Sent me out here and then never checked in on me. I could have died an embarrassing death on the top of those rocks yesterday. Burnt by the sun and battered by the wind. Devoured by seagulls or trampled by sheep.
“So sorry to wake you at”—I checked the time—“noon! Shouldn’t you be at Moxie by now?”
“Late night.” He yawned loudly, and I thought I heard a female voice in the background. “What do you want?”
“I would like to know how long you’re going to leave me on this godforsaken island. What exactly is the plan here?”
“Cal, babe, you’re asking the wrong bloke. Why don’t you ring Fred?”
“Because Fred is not the person who had the brilliant idea to send me, a chef, to oversee the construction of a resort on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere with a very hostile local population. Do you know what they’ve done to me?” I started to fling cushions from the couch on to the floor.
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“I nearly broke my ankle yesterday trying to get phone service because I’ve been living for the past ten days in a filthy hut surrounded by goats with no hot water, no kitchen, no Wi-Fi!” I wanted to pummel him.
“Sounds exciting. I thought you liked adventures.”
“Gaz, I’m so angry right now. I’m done twiddling my thumbs and waiting for instructions.”
I could hear him stretching on the other end of the line. “What instructions? This is going to be your place, Cal. Your calling card. I thought you’d want to put your mark on it. Plus, you’re a really gifted mediator with a knack for finding solutions to difficult situations.”
“Wow, you sound like you’re quoting bullet points from my CV. I don’t know that any of that is true.” God help me, but my needy little ego was drinking all this up.
“Who exactly is being mean to you?” I hated how he said it as if I were a six-year-old who’d gotten in a playground argument.
“There’s just this one devious asshole. He was behind the plan to scare me off the island. And he really has it out for me,” I admitted.
“Name?”
“Nikos Laskaris.” My lips curled as I whispered his name, almost afraid I’d conjure him up.
“Ah, the doctor? He’s the leader of the opposition.” Gaz snorted. His belittling tone when he saidoppositionannoyed me. I may not have been a fan of Nikos, but his concerns were valid. To laugh at them seemed disrespectful.
Oh, come on, Cal. As if he respected you.
“Cal, babe, you’ve got all your God-given tools at your disposal to convince him to let you stay,” Gaz continued.
The hair on my neck prickled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, gorgeous. You’re clever, fun when you want to be, and you’ve got an incredible rack. Use it to your advantage.”
“Are you seriously suggesting I flash my tits at him?” I blinked hard, praying I’d misunderstood. “I really hope you’re kidding right now, because not only is that personally insulting, but horribly objectifying and sexist.”
Not to mention that Nikos had already seen a lot more than my naked breasts.
“I’m taking the piss. Jaysus!” He laughed. I didn’t though. Gaz had a dark sense of humor, but that last suggestion was taking it too far. “Look, talk to Fred. Maybe he can come out there to help.”
I snorted. “IfIcan’t convince the local fishermen’s mafia to change their minds, I don’t think Fred will be able to.” I let out a deep breath. “As usual, you’ve been incredibly helpful. I’m hanging up now.”
“Have a swim. Drink some ouzo by the sea. It’ll all work out, babe. I believe in you.”
“Right.” I hung up, thoroughly sick to my stomach.
He had to have been joking, right?
