The Nymph's Curse: The Collection by Danica Winters

his center that pulled him in her direction.
    He stood behind her for a moment. “I’m glad to see you are okay.”
    God … I’m so suave …
    Ariadne jerked. “What?” She turned away from the merchant and faced him. “Oh … hi, Beau.”
    His cheeks warmed. “I just said I was glad you were feeling okay. I mean after everything that happened. You know with the governor and everything. I was worried. I mean, I wasn’t sure how you would take it. I mean … God, I’m sorry I’m yammering.”
    She smiled and there was a light in her eyes. “Don’t worry about yammering, Beau. It’s nice to see you. And I’m fine.”
    “Is the governor okay?”
    Ariadne stared at him with her golden eyes as questions played across her face. “I think he’ll recover.”
    He could skirt around the issue, but he needed to know the truth and put an end to the fluctuating emotions that were invading his life. “What’s going on between you two?”
    Her shoulders fell. “I was hoping you wouldn’t ask.”
    “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business … ”
    She stepped away from the merchant’s stand. “Stavros and I’ve known each other a long time.”
    Beau’s phone rang and its interruption came as a relief. Pulling the phone out of his pocket, he looked down at the caller ID, George Tramp, his contact at the NSF. He looked up at Ariadne. “Sorry, I have to answer this, but don’t go anywhere.”
    She smiled and turned back to the vegetable merchant.
    Beau walked around the corner, opened the phone and pressed it to his ear. “Hello, Dr. Morris speaking.”
    His heart raced. Hopefully George was calling him to let him know the grant had come through.
    “Hello, Beau. This is Dr. Tramp, with the National Science Foundation.”
    “Yes? How can I help you?”
    “Well, Beau, I’m calling to let you know that we were impressed with your last find … ” There was a long pause. “However, I just received a call about the incident with Governor Kakos.”
    Oh shit … how did he find out so fast?
    “Safety is our number one concern for those taking part in research we facilitate, safety not only for those in the field, but for those who are influenced by their work as well. As it stands, we have enormous concerns about your work.”
    No … no … no …
    Beau gulped. “Well, sir, I can promise you that this was an isolated incident. I doubt that it had anything to do with our dig.”
    “Either way, we are worried about your safety.”
    Tramp had him backed into a corner. How was he going to get out?
    He waited for the axe to fall.
    “As such, I am sorry to inform you, but we will no longer be able to fund your work. And it may be in your and your team’s best interests to return to the U.S. at the end of the month.”
    Two weeks.
The phone slipped in Beau’s hand. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”
    Tramp sighed. “It would take an act of God. Beau … I’m sorry. I’ll contact Professor Ryan and let him know.”
    The world around him went blurry and the sounds of the market were muffled. “Yeah … you’re sorry … ”
    “Don’t be afraid to come see me when you get back. Again, I’m sorry.” The phone line went dead.
    Beau’s hand fell and he leaned back into the wall, next to a garbage can. The punches just wouldn’t stop coming. Maybe it would be better to leave Crete, go back to the States, back to the school, and forget about this project. Cut his losses. The head of the college would have something to say, but what could he do? Fire him? Yeah … he could fire him all right.
    Beau slid the phone in his pocket and clenched his eyes shut.
Why can’t anything go right?
    “You okay?” Ariadne said, her voice cutting through the ringing in his ears.
    He opened his eyes. Ariadne stared at him.
    He couldn’t say anything. What could he say? He had failed? He was a loser? He stared into her glittering eyes, and for a moment, reminded himself to breathe.
    Ariadne smiled. “You do