“The limo is parked just over there.” He cupped her elbow to steady her as they walked through the stalled cars and he helped her into the back of the elegant black limo. “Do you feel ill?”
“Not sick, just shaken.”
“Of course. What you need is a drink.” He said something in Greek to his driver through a speaker, and the limo began to move. The next thing she knew they’d rounded a corner and pulled up in front of a sidewalk café.
“Stay right here, kyria. I’ll be back.”
In a lithe male movement, he got out of the limo and went inside. Before long he came back out with two drinks in paper cups. “This is lemonade.”
Her hand trembled as she took the cup from him. “Thank you so much,” she said before drinking thirstily. When she’d drained all of it, he took the cup from her and put it in a receptacle. He’d finished his drink, as well.
“I’ve never tasted anything so good.”
“I’m glad it appealed. Feel a little better now?” he asked solicitously.
“Much.” He was the proverbial white knight, but dressed in a stunning modern silk suit, who’d come out of nowhere to save her.
“Forgive me for a minute while I call my office, then we’ll find a pleasant place to have lunch.”
“You’ve been very kind, but you look like you’re on your way to an important meeting. Please don’t let me keep you.”
He slanted her a heart-stopping glance. “I’m glad you’re the reason I can’t make the board meeting I usually sleep through.” She didn’t believe that for a second. “Besides, I have to eat since I didn’t stop for breakfast this morning. Did you?”
“Actually I didn’t. I thought I’d eat on the ferry.”
“Well, I know a place where the food will be much better. Just give me a minute.”
By the time he’d gotten off the phone, she felt her more normal self. Once again the limo joined the mainstream of traffic and drove them out of the city to the coast ten miles away.
“I’m in the mood for fish. How about you?”
“That sounds wonderful.” But she didn’t feel hungry.
“When we get there, shall I order for you?”
“Please. I haven’t mastered your menus yet.”
He spoke to his driver again and they pulled up to one of those seaside places you read about in a brochure for this century’s jet set, exclusive and expensive. The restaurant was full, but a table had been reserved for them. He must have called ahead when he’d bought the lemonade.
Zoe knew she wasn’t dreaming, but it felt like she was in one. He helped her to her seat and sat across from her at the cloth-covered table with flowers. After the waiter took their order, his black eyes studied her features.
“Why were you going to Ithaca?”
“Since January, I’ve been doing research in Greece on the life of George Gordon Noel Byron, the Sixth Baron Byron, known as Lord Byron. I’ve visited many places and been to many sites, but there are still regions I have yet to see and learn about.”
To her surprise, his expression grew more animated. “Why him particularly?”
“He spent some time in and around Ithaca. I want to go there and talk to some of the local historians who will give me their insights about him.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
“I’m studying for my doctorate at UCLA, and I teach classes on the romance writers of the early nineteenth century. Last Christmas a famous female movie director in Hollywood named Magda Collier started making her most important film to date and chose Lord Byron for the subject. She needed new eyes for fresh research to make the script authentic.”
“And you were picked?”
“Two other women from Stanford and San Jose State University, Ginger and Abby, plus myself, were chosen to gather material. Magda’s idea was to show him as a genius whose spiritual side had so much to give the world and emphasize the greatness in him. I applauded her dream and was thrilled to be part of her team.”
“That’s quite an honor.”