A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires. Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember--until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone--the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger danger: falling in love for real.

Autorentext

Jo Segura

Klappentext

**An INSTANT USA Today Bestseller!

A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.**

Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember—until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.

An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries’ old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.

Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger danger: falling in love for real.

Leseprobe
Chapter
One

Dani

Greece: Birthplace of many of Daniela Guiterrez's favorite things. Libraries. Gyros. Democracy. Cheesecake. And Dr. Theo Galanis.

His name had played on repeat in her head ever since she'd landed in Crete three days ago. Theo. Theo. Theo. This trip wasn't supposed to be about him. This was supposed to be her opportunity to finally see the world. Meet new people. Maybe meet a guy. Someone who might allow her to forget about Theo.

Dani laughed to herself at the idea as she stared out the window of the tour bus on its way to the palace of Knossos. The sparkling, crystal-blue water as they pulled away from the harbor reminded her of his eyes. A moment later, they passed a stand selling dolmades, tangy stuffed grape leaves-Theo's favorite food. And then, a local bar with a poster-size advertisement for raki, a celebratory drink at every one of Theo's family gatherings.

Forget about Theo? Who was she kidding?

She'd come to Greece, of all places. If there was anyplace in the world that could remind her of Theo, this was it. Place of his birth.

And of his death.

Are you gonna get busy living or keep busying yourself with dying? Her dad's question, butchering his favorite movie quote, echoed in her ears. As did her mom's follow-up: What he's saying, mija, is it's time for you to get a life.

Ouch.

It was some thanks after dedicating the last sixteen years of her life-ever since her dad's work accident-helping them out by taking her dad to his doctor's appointments, doing their grocery shopping, and picking up their prescriptions only for them to tell her a month ago that they were packing their bags and finally moving to Florida like they'd threatened to do so many times. Forgive Dani for thinking they'd never go through with it, seeing as they'd lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the entirety of their lives. Yet there they were, kicking her out of her childhood home so they could sell it to some young family looking to put down roots.

Okay, so maybe they did offer to sell it to Dani first, but the price they needed to be able to put down the deposit on their new place in Florida was not in her librarian's-salary budget and she wasn't going to ask them for a deal. Especially not after they'd apparently considered the last sixteen years as their favor to her, when she'd been over there naively thinking it had been the other way around. They didn't even seem to remember that her brother, Eddie, hadn't offered to lift a finger when her dad first got in the accident whereas she was packed and moved out of her dorm at the University of Michigan the minute her mom muttered the words, I don't know how I'll be able to take care of your papa alone.

Okay, okay! So maybe Eddie offered, but come on. Not only did he not have a single nurturing bone in his body, but he and Theo, his BFF since the second grade, had just left for a nonrefundable study-abroad program in Spain. Dani, on the other hand, was only a little over a hundred miles away and one (miserable) semester into her undergrad at Michigan. It made sense for Dani to be the one to help.

Right? She furrowed her brow as she watched Heraklion passing by out the bus window, thinking back to that pivotal time in her life all those years ago.

She'd always planned to return to U of M. Helping out her parents was supposed to be temporary. At least, that's what she'd been telling herself for the last decade and a half. It was better than admitting that Daniela Guiterrez, former high school daredevil and talker of big dreams, was too scared to go out on her own and eventually got comfortable living above her parents' garage and gave up on all those things she'd said she was going to do. She got comfortable never having ventured from Grand Rapids other than that short stint in Ann Arbor.

But now what? Her parents were moving a thousand miles away, Eddie was in Chicago living the bachelor life, and Theo's family, who'd been like an extension of her own, had all left the area. There was no one left to call Grand Rapids home. Her parents' suggestion that maybe it was time for her to start her own family, to settle down and find a husband, begged the question: With whom?

God, I need a date.

"Well, I'll go out on a date with you tonight, little missy. Happy to oblige," a voice said to her left.

Dani spun her head around to her tour bus seatmate, Harold, and blinked. Had she really said that out loud? The old man smiled, cheery as always, and she actually pondered his invitation for a moment. As she'd come to discover over the last couple of days, Harold was pretty funny. But ignoring for a moment that he was old enough to be her abuelo, in no universe did the term of endearment little missy ever result in someone agreeing to go on a date, and it certainly wouldn't be starting today.

But as her actual abuelo had always said: Respect your elders.

"I don't know why I said that," she responded. "I was thinking about something else. Besides I think we'll be too tired after today's excursion, don't you think?"

"Bah!" Harold said, waving his hand dismissively. "Ain't nothing but a bit of walking around at Knossos. Wait 'til we get to the Acropolis. Glad I got that knee replacement surgery taken care of last year." He made a fist and knocked on his knee, clearly proud of his mobility.

"But I get it," he resumed. "If I were a beautiful young lady like you, I wouldn't want to hang out with an old fogey like me, either." He winked and smiled, and Dani couldn't help but smile in return.

She was used to old men hitting…