Gunshots waken Ian Tunbridge, an assistant curator of classical antiquities at the British Museum, on his first day on a dig in California. The only way to save his life is to run for it, but luck is not on his side. At least, not until he meets Lucas Arpini, the brash American photographer who seems to have some sort of clue what’s going on. Together, they’re supposed to be the tools in finding an artifact nobody believes is real -- nobody, that is, except Lucas and the man kidnaps them both.<br><br>Ian doesn’t know what to believe. His colleagues are dead, he’s injured, and he has no choice but to put his faith in a gorgeous stranger. Their escape should lead them straight to the police, but when Lucas shows him pieces of the puzzle they were meant to solve, Ian is too intrigued to walk away. He wants to solve the riddle as badly as Lucas does.<br><br>Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones ...

Riddle Me Wicked

“And if it slips and falls down the leg of my trousers?”


Ian snorted without looking up. He examined his khaki pants, as if he planned on taking the advice, but tucked the flashlight beneath his chin instead. Lucas opened his mouth to argue against the fragile hold, only to hold his tongue when Ian unbuckled and pulled off his belt. He cinched the leather behind the wider lamp. Then, he slid the belt back through two pants loops, tying the ends together so the flashlight hung from his waistband like a utility pack.


“Not bad,” Lucas said with an admiring nod.


“I have been on digs before.” He grasped the same thick root Lucas had used, his arms tense. “Even if I don’t look it.”


Chapter 9