But a goat herder could be with her during the day. Or maybe not. Didn't he have to be with his goats? The more Robby considered it, the more he decided he had a fighting chance.
"I saw her, too." Carlos snuck behind Robby.
He pivoted. "Ye saw Olivia?"
"Oh, yeah. I can see why you have the hots for her." Carlos made sizzling sounds while he wiped his hands on his hips.
Robby's hands curled into fists.
"I saw her and her grandmother coming out of the butcher's shop. Man, what a rack!"
With a growl, Robby lunged forward at vampire speed and seized Carlos by the neck.
"Rack of lamb," Carlos squeaked. "That's what they bought."
Robby eased his grip. "Ye'd better have nine lives, ye mangy cat, for I canna allow you to insult...Olivia." With a shock, he realized he'd come damned close to saying "my woman." Somehow in just a few nights, he'd become obsessed with her. He still managed to be realistic, though. There was so much he didn't know about her. What if she couldn't be trusted? An employee from the FBI might be more inclined to kill a vampire than date one. He didn't want to fall in love just to have his heart crushed with betrayal.
Carlos cocked an eyebrow. "How many lives do you have, muchacho?"
Robby felt a slight jab in his stomach and glanced down to discover a knife pointed at his belly. "Ye brought a weapon? That's cheating."
"You think a Malcontent's going to fight fair?" Carlos smirked. "I win."
"Nay." Robby gave the were-panther's throat a slight squeeze. "I could have pinched yer head off. I win."
"I would have stabbed you first." Carlos gave him a little poke. "I win."
With vampire speed, Robby seized the knife and tossed it away. Before Carlos could even object, Robby picked him up and dropped him with a splash in the reflection pool.
"Merda," Carlos growled.
"I win." With a smile, Robby grabbed the fallen knife and circled the garden, cutting flowers.
"The mighty warrior gathering flowers." Carlos climbed out of the reflection pool, his white pants dripping. "You are so owned." He walked over to Robby, then shook his head vigorously, causing water to fly off his long black hair and shower Robby. "Take that."
Robby continued to smile. He was going to shower anyway before his date with Olivia.
"Did you see him?" Eleni asked as she fixed herself some tea. "Is he coming?"
"Not yet." Olivia shut the back door behind her. She'd just checked the beach, but no sign of Robby.
Eleni yawned. "It's after eleven. Why does he keep such late hours?"
"I don't know." Olivia had mixed feelings about her grandmother's insistence on meeting Robby. No doubt she intended to interrogate him. "You don't have to stay up, you know."
"Of course I do. I have to make sure this young man is a decent sort." Eleni set her mug on the kitchen table with a clunk. "He should court you at a proper time."
"He's not courting me."
Eleni snorted. "He'd better be. If he can't see what a prize you are, then - " Her eyes widened. "Is that him?"
Olivia whirled to look out the windowpane in the back door. There was a man in the courtyard, standing with his back to them. Moonlight glinted off his red hair. Robby. Her heart began to pound. How thrilling...and confusing. She'd just checked the beach and it had been empty. How had he arrived here so fast?
Eleni scurried to the kitchen window and peered out. "Agios Kyrios, he's a big man. Looks very strong."
"Yes." Olivia hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. He must be waiting for her to join him. "Can you sense his emotions?"
Eleni tilted her head, concentrating. "No, I can't." She slanted a sly grin at her granddaughter. "I've never met a man of mystery before. How exciting."
Olivia sighed as she peered out the window. He was exciting. And so gorgeous. But still a little scary.
"I like his hair," Eleni whispered. "It reminds me of a fiery sunset over the sea."
"Yes," Olivia whispered back. "He's the most beautiful man I've ever met."
Suddenly he turned toward them.
Eleni gasped. "He brought flowers! Olivia, he is courting you."
"I don't think so." Her cheeks grew hot.
"Don't just stand there." Eleni smoothed her gray hair into the bun at the base of her neck. "Invite him in."
She opened the door. "Hi, Robby."
"Olivia." He smiled slowly.
She smiled back, completely mesmerized by his green eyes that focused on her so intently.
"Let him in," Eleni hissed, snapping Olivia back to reality.
"Please come in." Olivia stepped back. "Watch your head."
Robby leaned over slightly to keep from hitting the top of the old, blue-painted door frame. "This is for you." He offered her a bouquet of roses and gardenias as he entered the kitchen.
"Thank you." When she realized the flowers were loose, she grabbed at them with both hands to keep from losing any. Her fingers brushed against his hand, and zings of excitement raced up her arms.
It was the first time she'd touched him. Her cheeks blazed with heat, and she glanced at him, overwhelmed suddenly with a feeling of awkward shyness.
"Ye're so beautiful," he whispered.
Her heart melted, and she held the bouquet against her chest. Once again his gaze captured her eyes. Tingles shimmered down her arms and legs. Oh God, she wanted this man. She was actually falling for a man she couldn't read.
Eleni cleared her throat.
"Oh." Olivia stepped back. "This is my grandmother, Eleni Sotiris."
"Mrs. Sotiris, it is a pleasure." Robby bowed to her. "I am Robert Alexander MacKay."
"Please have a seat." Eleni motioned to the kitchen table and chairs. "Would you like something to drink? Some wine? Hot tea?"
Robby sat at the table. "Some...tea would be nice."
"Excellent." Eleni plucked a mug off a cupboard shelf. "So why do you keep such late hours, Mr. MacKay?"
Olivia glanced at him as she arranged the flowers in an old pickle jar. She hoped he didn't mind being interrogated.
He smiled at her. "I'm busy during the day, providing security at a villa on the other side of Petra."
"I thought you were a soldier." Olivia set the jar of flowers on the table.
"I was, but I work for a private company now. MacKay Security and Investigation."
"MacKay?" Olivia sat beside him. "Is it a family business?"
"Aye. My grandfather owns it. 'Tis based in London and Edinburgh, but we have clients all around the world."
"Is your grandfather married?" Eleni asked as she set a mug of tea in front of him.
"Yia Yia," Olivia whispered with a warning look.
She shrugged. "I'm a single woman. And if the grandfather looks anything like this one..." She gave Robby an appreciative look.
Robby's mouth twitched. "I'm afraid my grandfather has recently remarried."
"Humph. Well, that's his loss." Eleni pulled on oven mitts, then began removing pans from the oven. "Are you single, Mr. MacKay?"
"Please call me Robby." He slanted an amused look at Olivia. "Definitely single."
"You're in for a special treat." Eleni readied a plate with leftovers. "My granddaughter is an excellent cook."
Olivia shook her head and wrinkled her nose. Robby's eyebrows lifted with a questioning look.
"She's been cooking all day." Eleni plunked a plate on the table. "Try these. You'll love them."
Robby gave the dolmades a dubious look while Eleni went back to the counter to ready another plate. "What are they?" he whispered to Olivia.
"Stuffed grape leaves," she whispered back, then pointed at a messy, lopsided one. "That's one I made."
He smiled and picked it up. "What's inside?"
"Ground meat, onions, bulgar wheat, and spices," Olivia explained. "I suppose that sounds strange."
"Nay. My mother used to stuff minced meat and oats into a sheep's stomach to make haggis."
"Eew." Olivia made a face, then lowered her voice. "You don't have to eat it if you don't want to."
"My granddaughter made all this food," Eleni boasted as she spooned rice onto a plate. "One of her suitors came for dinner. Spiro."
Robby's hand flinched, tightening so hard that the grape leaf squished and the stuffing popped out. It bounced off the pickle jar and splatted on the table. "Sorry." He dropped the mangled grape leaf on the plate.
Olivia stifled a laugh. He was jealous! "Here." She grabbed a cloth napkin and reached for his hand to wipe off the mess.
"Thank you." His fingers curled around hers.
Her heart raced, and she glanced at his eyes. Big mistake. Whenever she looked at his eyes, she felt like she was drowning. And actually enjoying it.
"Well, what do you think?" Eleni plunked another plate on the table, this one filled with lamb, rice, and spanakopita. "Looks delicious, doesn't it?"
He never took his eyes off Olivia. "Yes. I can't wait to have a taste." He continued to hold her hand. His thumb smoothed over her knuckles.
Her skin tingled as goose bumps rushed up her arms.
"You won't find a better cook than Olivia," Eleni announced. "She uses lots of fresh garlic."
His gaze shifted to the plates of food. "Garlic?"
"Yes." Eleni smiled proudly. "Try it. You'll love it."
"I - actually, I ate right before coming here." Robby gave her an apologetic look. "But it looks and smells so wonderful, I wonder if you would mind if I took it home with me to eat later?"
Eleni pursed her lips. "I suppose I could wrap this up."
"That would be great." Robby smiled at her. "Thank you."
"Hmm." Eleni tilted her head, studying him. "Why are you interested in my granddaughter?"
His hand tightened on hers. "I've never met anyone like Olivia before." He looked at her and smiled. "She's beautiful, brave, and clever. I feel...at home with her, but at the same time, completely lost."
Olivia was melting inside. The man was practically a stranger, but she didn't seem to care. A deep sense of longing welled up inside her. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to be touched. She wanted him to love her.
She must be losing her mind. She'd always been so sensible before. Always carefully analyzing all available information and options before taking action. Now she just wanted to throw herself at this guy.
"Why don't you two take a little walk?" Eleni suggested. "The moon is beautiful tonight."
"That's a great idea." He stood, releasing Olivia's hand. "Will ye walk with me, lass?"
"Yes." She grabbed her sweater, pulled it over her head, then fixed the clip that held her hair in place on the back of her head.
"No funny stuff," Eleni warned. "I'll be watching with the telescope."
CHAPTER 6
This was one of those moments, Robby thought as he strolled along the beach with Olivia. One of those rare and perfect moments that he would remember a hundred years from now. If he lived that long. The minute he left this island, he would jump back into the ongoing struggle against the Malcontents. He'd been eager to do that for weeks, but for the first time in many months, he was happy to be exactly where he was.
A nearly full moon shone over the sea, causing sparkles on the dark waves. The moon was also casting Olivia's shadow, so he walked close to a line of tamarisk trees that disrupted her shadow and, hopefully, disguised the fact that his was missing.
The air was crisp and cool, and the breeze caressed his face with the scent of salt and Olivia. He breathed deeply, enjoying her fragrance. Type A negative mixed with rose-scented soap. The scent of wool from her thick knitted jumper. A hint of lemon from her hands. His hands, too, after squashing one of her stuffed grape leaves.
There'd been an awkward moment when Olivia's grandmother had wanted him to eat real food, but he thought he'd avoided it without looking suspicious. Overall, he'd thoroughly enjoyed the feisty grandmother's blatant attempts at matchmaking. And he'd enjoyed seeing the close, protective bond between the two women. Even now, when he glanced back, he could see Mrs. Sotiris watching them through the telescope.
The breeze was tormenting Olivia, blowing a curly lock of her hair across her face. She was telling him about her childhood and the family trips here every summer, but the tendril of hair kept wafting into her mouth. She hooked it behind an ear, but the next breeze dislodged it once again.
"Allow me." He smoothed it behind her ear, then let his fingers linger there, outlining the shape of her ear. "Ye're fortunate to have a close, loving family." No doubt they would object to her becoming involved with a vampire.
"What about your family?" She tilted her head slightly as his fingers moved to her neck.
He rested his fingertips on her carotid artery. It throbbed against the pads of his fingers, an erotic sensation that caused his gums to tingle and his groin to tighten. He lifted his fingers and stepped back. Control yerself. It didn't take much to trigger an onslaught of lust for Olivia, and he couldn't risk glowing red eyes. "My family has passed away, except for my grandfather."