“Your camera… a Nikon D700. What’s its resolution?” Karl asked Emma, who sat across from them.
“Oh. That old thing?” Emma answered as she opened her menu and skimmed the contents. “Twelve-point-one megapixels. But actually, that’s not the one I’ll be using to take photographs of artifacts.”
Leila grabbed the heavy, fabric-covered menu that appeared before her nose. Sensing Xander’s eyes on her, she cracked it open and lifted it in front of her face so he wouldn’t get any ideas. This wasn’t a good place to start a discussion.
The menu was short, offering three different appetizers, three main dishes, and a couple desserts to choose from. For the main course, her options were quail, beef, or fish. Somehow none of it sounded appetizing. The longer she stared at the menu, the less her eyes focused. She couldn’t see the text anymore. Instead, in her mind, she was running across a lawn, her heart pounding as a dog barked viciously after her. Blue police lights flashed in the distance.
She blinked and shook her head to bring herself back to the present. A cold sweat beaded on her brow. Determined to refocus, she set the menu down and angled herself toward Karl and Emma.
“Actually, I’ve installed a rather useful image manipulation program,” Karl was saying. “The interface optics aren’t as nice as Photoshop, but it has just as many functions.”
“Do you think Neal would kill me if I ordered two appetizers?” Emma asked, ignoring Karl’s comments.
Leila shrugged. “You only want two appetizers?”
“Two appetizers and an entree,” Emma corrected. “Well, usually I’d go for three, but since I’m a guest…”
Someone murmured at Leila’s right, “Might I recommend the quail?”
Oh please, no.
Leila kept her gaze on Emma as if she hadn’t heard Xander.
“You know, you’re not going to be able to keep this up much longer,” he said, snapping his menu shut.
Leila shot him a glare. “Not here, please.” She rotated back to Emma.
“Hey, Leila,” Emma said, tapping her menu with a pointer finger. “Have you decided what you want? The fish with couscous sounds delicious.”
“Yeah, I love couscous,” Leila answered cheerfully, although she didn’t think she was hungry for fish. The menu didn’t say whether it was a filet or not, so she assumed they served the complete animal. Head, eyes, and tail. It was always difficult to eat something that was staring at her. Realizing she should finally decide what to order, she picked up the menu again.
“You’re right,” Xander continued, keeping his voice low, though unable to mask his rising frustration with his furrowed brow. “Perhaps it would be a good idea to get together sometime soon to discuss the matter.”
“Absolutely not,” Leila hissed from behind the menu. “I have no intention of going anywhere with you. I’ll end up getting arrested again. Now leave me alone.”
To her relief, Xander fell silent. Satisfied her point had been made, she set the menu back down then picked up her glass of water and took a prolonged sip. A nagging thought worked its way into her mind. Maybe she was being unreasonable. He only wanted to talk. After all, she wouldn’t let him fool her this time. If they were going to work together, they needed to come to some kind of truce. Holding her glass to her face, Leila risked a sideways glance at him.
He was staring back. A glint of mischievousness flickered in his eyes as a corner of his mouth curled ever so slightly upward. She kept the glass to her face, wishing she could disappear into the floor.
He leaned in toward her. She leaned away. Then he whispered, “Tipsy.”
Her eyes widened. The water caught in her throat. After everything that had happened, that’s what he decided to bring up? Nope. Forget trying to talk. Her face warmed as the anger began to boil inside.
She jumped from her seat and emptied her glass of water into Xander’s face. Without another word, she whirled around and stormed off.
Leila held her fingertips to her forehead as she ambled down a gravel pathway lined with boxwoods. A glass of water in his face was the least of what Xander deserved, but still. Did she have to do it in front of her boss? She was going to have some explaining to do.
Wow, that was stupid.
She paused when she came to a split in the path. She must have missed the turn to the restrooms. A couple strolling hand-in-hand headed her way, so she brushed past them. She muttered an apology as dirty looks shot her way. The gardens were deserted except for several peacocks lounging among the date palm trees. With a shrug, she continued. A short walk would be nice to cool off.
After a few yards, she leaned against a Greek imitation statue, arms crossed as she gazed over the hedges. Several boats with white, triangular sails floated peacefully down the Nile. The scent of lavender drifted into her nostrils. Her eyelids slid shut. Maybe this would calm her down after all.
“I take it Soliman didn’t tell you, either?” The dreaded voice came from her right.
She whipped her head around as Xander approached. His mischievous expression had vanished and the tips of his damp hair pointed upward. Drops of water sprinkled the neckline of his shirt.
With no intention of answering his question, she backed away. Soliman was going to hear it from her later. But Xander didn’t need to know that.
“Tipsy?” She glared at him. “Did you have to call me that?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “I had to get you alone somehow.”
“How dare you.”
“Come on. We were just stupid kids. How was I supposed to know you’re a lightweight?” He grinned.
She glared at him, her hands curling into fists.
His grin faded and his voice grew more serious. “You know, if you would just be civil to me, I wouldn’t have to resort to calling you names.”
“Oh, so it’s my fault?”
“Well, yes.”
Leila’s mouth dropped open. None of this was her fault.
“How dare you!”
