“Let’s just go.” He gestured for her to get back into the car, when he spotted a garish stand at the end of the street. It was covered in the bright yellow and blue Bellissime flag and he spotted touristy T-shirts. He paused. Sighed. Looked at Maylee’s frowning face. “Actually, let’s do one more stop before we go on.” He took her elbow and gently turned her until she faced the souvenir stand.
Maylee’s undignified squeal of delight was rather fun to hear, he admitted to himself.
***
Griffin was just escaping from a dinner party when his phone rang with a very distinct ringtone. “Excuse me,” he told the waiting Maylee and driver, and walked away a few steps to answer the call. “Jonathan,” Griffin said into the phone. “How goes the trip to Spain?”
“Incredible,” Jonathan said. “You really should be here. Some of the artifacts they’re finding are downright unbelievable. They’re convinced we might have enough proof in a few years to give strength to the theory that it’s truly Atlantis and not Tarshish.”
Griffin felt a surge of excitement, followed quickly by jealousy. “I wish I was there.”
“Me too, buddy. How goes the wedding bullshit?”
“As expected,” Griffin said sourly. “Lots of hand shaking, gossiping, dinner parties, and endless rigmarole. And the wedding won’t officially start until next week.”
“Glad it’s you and not me,” Jonathan said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t trade places with the lofty viscount for anything.”
“Of course not,” Griffin said mildly, glancing around as he paced down the sidewalk. It was getting late and the street was rather empty, which was a blessing. Maylee leaned against the sedan and listened to the driver tell a story. He was standing a little closer to her than was polite, but Maylee was laughing and smiling up at him. They looked cozy.
Griffin didn’t like that. Did the man have to stand so close to her? And did she have to look so darn pleased with the conversation? The limo driver pointed at a nearby building and he watched Maylee shade her eyes and lean so she could see. When she leaned, her bottom thrust out in her skirt, rounded and rather . . . eye-catching.
“Anything exciting happen?”
Griffin shook his head and looked away, thoughts returning to his phone conversation. “Other than a pap sneaking into my assistant’s room to try and bribe her?”#p#分页标题#e#
“Jesus. They’re determined, aren’t they?” Jonathan snorted. “Listen, hey, can you clear your schedule this weekend?”
Griffin frowned. “I doubt it. Why?”
“Because they’re breaking ground in a new area. You know, the one with all the ruins on the radar printouts? You said you wanted to be there for it.”
His heart sank. He did want to be there. “I can’t get away from the wedding. I’m sorry. Can they put it off a week?”
“Probably not. Weather’s supposed to be perfect this weekend. And Spain’s only a short plane ride away from where you’re at, right?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Griffin murmured. “I can’t abandon my familial duties.”
“Sounds awful. I’ve got to go. I’m having dinner with Dr. Phineas DeWitt about future plans. I’ll send you a recap.”
“Sure,” Griffin said dully. He wanted to be there more than anything. Damn it, it wasn’t fair. He hated being part of the Bellissime royal family. It was just a constant chore. All he wanted to do was be left alone with his books and his pet projects.
“Oh, before I go—how’s the assistant?”
Griffin rolled his eyes. “So you heard about that?”
“How could I not? I had lunch with Hunter and Gretchen before I left and Gretchen wouldn’t shut up about it.”
“That woman is a nightmare.”
“Yeah, but she’s Hunter’s dream so I tolerate her. You have fun,” Jonathan said, and hung up.
Griffin ended the call and stared at his phone, glum. He should have been there in Spain with Jonathan, merrily tromping through swamps on archaeological expeditions. Instead, he was stuck in stuffy suits in his home country, attending the wedding of a cousin he rarely saw.
He felt . . . sad. And low. And incredibly disappointed. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and approached the sedan, masking his emotions. The driver—he couldn’t remember the man’s name—scurried away at the sight of Griffin. Maylee tilted her head, watching him.
“Everything all right?” For some reason, he found her drawl soothing tonight.
“Of course.”