Free The London Deception by Addison Fox Page A

attention, her agile mind and constant travel didn’t lend itself to many long-term relationships. And she’d discovered all too early that few men wanted to sit across a dinner table discussing Egyptian relics, ancient Persian dig sites or Mayan ruins.
    And no one she’d ever met had ever quite lived up to the young man in the mask who’d kept her safe on the worst night of her life.
    “Is this why we’re here?”
    “No.” Rowan shook her head, pulling herself from the distracted thoughts. Comparing Finn to old dates—or to a young man from a long-ago night—ran the risk of putting too much emphasis on the personal aspects of this trip and not nearly enough focus on why they were together. The find in Nefertari’s tomb was under threat of theft and they needed to be prepared to defend it.
    That was the reason she was here, and she’d do well to remember their trip required her full focus. “The bust of Ramesses II is at the end of the room.”
    “Of course. The Younger Memnon statue. And Nefertari’s husband.”
    “Exactly.”
    “You think there’s something on the statue?”
    “It can’t hurt to take a look. Nefertari was one of several wives, but she was purported to be the woman he loved.”
    “The statue’s been studied extensively. Do you really think there’s something there?”
    “There are hieroglyphs running down the back of the statue. As I remember, it’s basically the name and title of the king, and there’s a dedication to Amun-Ra. I’m curious if there’s anything else.”
    “He was quite the prolific king.” Finn’s large form kept pace with hers as they moved through the large hall. Priceless statues surrounded them and it pained her to pass by them so quickly, but it wasn’t time for a leisurely perusal.
    “He fathered eighty-five children.”
    His grin was quick, his white teeth flashing in the subdued night-lighting in the room. “That, too. But I meant that he was also politically savvy. He understood the benefit of putting images of himself all over Egypt. Hence the volume of statues that bear his likeness. And he also had one of the longest reigns in Egyptian history. Well over sixty-five years.”
    “You know your Egyptology.”
    “Right back at ya, Miss Steele.”
    “It’s fascinated me since I was little.” They came to a stop at the base of the statue, and as the bust of Ramesses II rose above them, she thought of her youth. Of the hours she’d spent poring over the books and photos in her grandfather’s library and the great joy she found visiting the museum on rainy Sundays, her hand wrapped in his.
    Egyptology was a passion they shared, and Alexander Steele could always be counted on for a rousing discussion on ancient antiquities or the interpretation of historic texts. “And I come by it honestly. My grandfather is a rabid hobbyist.”
    “I’d wager most archaeologists can trace their fascination to their earliest school days, learning about the pyramids.”
    “Everybody loves a good pyramid. Add a mummy or two and it makes it even better.”
    Finn tugged on his tie, the move shockingly sexy as he stared up at the immense bust and head of the ancient pharaoh. “Hollywood’s version does tend to focus a bit too heavily on the curse aspects, and decades of books and movies have framed how the public thinks of Egypt. Curses and mummies and ancient viziers bent on destruction.”
    Finn’s words faded to a dull roar as Rowan simply drank him in. The tie was gone and his crisp white shirt was open at the collar, exposing his throat. A light chill ran the length of her spine at the strong frame of his jaw and the firm lines of his neck. Goodness, the man was gorgeous.
    Brushing off that damnable pull of attraction, Rowan pulled her phone from her purse and opened up the camera icon. She had to get her head in the game. Had to focus.
    “You okay?”
    She looked up from her phone screen at the concern in his voice. “Of course. Why?”
    “You looked