by Folsom, Tina
Images of dark hair and even darker brown eyes flashed through Penny’s mind, making her heart skip and thud in her chest.
“What’s that smile about?” Grams asked. “You’ve already met someone, haven’t you? Details. Give me details.” Her eyes were absolutely sparkling now.
Heat rose in Penny’s cheeks, although she wasn’t sure if it was from her grandmother’s astute attention, or from the images of warm hands and even warmer lips flashing through her mind.
“Well, spill!”
Penny laughed. “You know me too well.”
“Of course I do. I watched you grow up, didn’t I? You can’t hide anything from me. So who is he?”
“I just met him so I don’t know too much, other than he’s drop-dead gorgeous, a great kiss—er—dresser. And very much a gentleman,” she added for her grandmother’s sake. Though Penny really hoped he wasn’t too much of a gentleman. “We’re going out again for lunch today.”
“Wonderful.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Penny asked when she saw Grams’ smile fade.
“Mind? Of course, not. Not at all.”
“I know I’ve been working a lot, and I really don’t have time for dating. As soon as I get this article written, I’ll be able to be home more.”
“Don’t be silly, Penny. You’re young. You need to be out with people your own age, not tied to this house, babysitting me.”
“Babysitting you? I don’t babysit you anymore than you babysat me. We’re family, we take care of each other.”
“I know, but it’s high time you lived your own life. You don’t need an old woman hanging like a log around your neck.”
Penny stared at her, suddenly getting a bad taste in her mouth.
“In fact, I had a visitor last night,” Grams said, her words spreading a chill through Penny.
Her father. He had already come here first before coming to her office. The bastard. That was how he’d known how to find her.
“Your father came to see me. He wants to come home.”
Penny’s head started to swing left and right.
“Penny, be reasonable. With more help, there’s no reason for you to have to spend so much of your life taking care of me, and Rose won’t have to spend so many hours here.”
“I thought you liked Rose,” Penny protested.
“I do like Rose. She’s a wonderful nurse. But she’s expensive, and with your father here, helping us, money won’t be as tight. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“But Grams—” Her father would only be a drain on their already tight resources, rather than contribute to their living expenses.
“No buts. I’ve already invited him to stay. He’s coming later today.”
Penny jumped to her feet, her mouth opening in outrage.
“I want him here, Penelope. He’s my son. I want to spend time with him, but more than that, I’m tired of feeling like a burden to you. I want you to live a life of your own. I want you to be happy.”
Penny stared at her in shocked disbelief. Happy? Who the hell said she wasn’t happy?
8
Hermes arrived at the restaurant at the same time as Penny. She looked fetching in black linen slacks and a snug cashmere sweater in a Mediterranean blue that set off her eyes, making them appear more blue than green. He watched her for a moment. She seemed upset about something. He could see it in the tension of her stance and the pinch around her eyes.
Luckily, he knew exactly how to fix that.
“Good afternoon, Penny,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. She smelled faintly of gardenias, reminding him of Hera’s extensive gardens on Olympus.
She smiled at him, even though her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “How are you?” she asked somewhat stiffly.
He left his hand on her back and lightly stroked it up and down, until he felt her physically relax. Her gaze dropped to his shoes, her eyebrows knitting. He put his hand under her chin and lifted gently, pulling her gaze back to his face.
“I hope you’re hungry. They make a mean pasta carbonara here.”
“Famished,” she said smiling.
“Tough day at work?”
She nodded. “You could say that. Tough day all around.”
“Well, we’re not going to think about that. In fact, while you’re here, while you’re with me, consider yourself on a mini-vacation from all things that ail you.”
She laughed out loud at that, as if the idea was too outlandish to even contemplate.
“As of right now,” he insisted and leaned in to kiss her cheek again. He was pleased to feel her nuzzle into his kiss.
The hostess called them and led them to a booth by a large window, from which they could watch the people strolling by in the popular tourist district.
Hermes ordered two glasses of wine, a large plate of pasta to share, and two salads. “How does that sound?” he asked her.
A dazed look of surprise spread over her face. “Perfect. How do you always know exactly what I want?”
He grinned. Somehow he felt attuned to her and her wishes. It was an odd kind of feeling, but not at all unpleasant. “It’s a gift.”
Hermes leaned across the table, running his fingers up her arm. “If you could go anywhere in the world right this minute, where would you go?” He knew his own answer only too well: to bed—with Penny.
“Greece,” she said without hesitation.
He laughed. He had to admit, of all the places, Greece would be the last on his list. He much preferred Greece the way it used to be, before automobiles, airplanes, and the death of Alexander the Great. “And why is that?”
“The history, the mythology, the architecture. The islands, the shopping, the beaches. What can I say? I’ve always been fascinated.”
“I can see that. Your eyes light up when you talk about it. I can see your excitement.”
“What about you? Where would you go?” she asked.
He suppressed what he really wanted to say and answered with his second choice. “Italy. I love the food,” he said, grinning as the waitress placed the pasta between them.
He picked up his fork and spoon and spun a forkful of spaghetti until it was wrapped tightly around the tines, then he lifted it to Penny’s lips. She took the pasta in her mouth, then closed her eyes with a look of pure pleasure.
“Yum. You were so right. This pasta is truly heavenly,” she said smiling.
“I thought you would like it.”
“You thought right.”
He felt himself growing warm, his cock thickening as he watched her eat, as he watched each expression of delight that crossed her face. The sparkle in her eyes, the low throaty moans of pleasure. She was a passionate woman, and he longed to throw her down on the table and make love to her right there amidst the pasta and warm rolls. But he restrained himself. They weren’t on Olympus, where the gods thought nothing of the occasional fornication in public.
Under the table, his leg made contact with hers. He had to touch her. To taste her lips once again. He wished he weren’t sitting across from her, but instead next to her. If he were, he would be able to feel her heat, to place his hand on her thigh, to stroke her ever so softly, tempting her to the point where she would grab his hand and place it over her sweet spot, knowing the pleasure he could give her.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” He hadn’t heard a word of her one-sided conversation. How could he concentrate on her words, when the mouth her words were pouring from was so tempting? Plump, moist. Hot.
“I was talking about Greek mythology. Do you think there are still people out there who believe in the Greek gods?”
He stared at her for a moment, his mind trying to switch gears.
“Why do you ask?” he said, suddenly on guard. Why would she bring up the Greek gods? What had prompted this question?
Her back straightened, as she seemed to perceive his change. She appeared very attuned to him, and perhaps a touch too perceptive. Instinctively he realized that he need
ed to watch his words with her.
“I need to find a new angle for an article I’m trying to get published.”
“An article you say?” he fished.
“Yes.”
“What about?”
“My field, Greek studies. More precisely, about Greek mythology.”
“And this article, is it important?”
She nodded. “Immensely. I need something to impress the tenure committee at the university.”
“And this tenure is important to you.”
Again she nodded, her face turning solemn all of a sudden. “Critically so.”
“And you think you can write something about current-day believers?”
She shrugged. “Why not? It’s a new angle.”
“If you can find people who believe.” He took a bite of his salad focusing on a spear of asparagus. Only now he noticed that the salad was practically chock-full of aphrodisiac foods.
“How is that any different than believing in aliens from outer space?”
Hermes had to smile. What mortals called aliens weren’t really aliens. They were randy little fuckers who’d been expelled from Hades’ Underworld for causing too much trouble, like wanting to probe other souls and experiment on them. At some point, Hades had had enough of them and catapulted them into outer space.
“I guess no difference at all,” he agreed.
At that moment, the sky thundered overhead with a deafening boom, then lit up in explosive brightness as lightning arced through the sky. A torrential downpour started outside their window, drenching the unexpected and unprepared. Hermes couldn’t help the grin that split his lips. It appeared that Zeus had finally figured out how his cell phone worked and picked up his voicemail.
“What is it with the weather out here lately?” Penny asked.
He shrugged, focusing on his lunch again. He wasn’t going to let Zeus destroy his date with Penny. He could summon him all he wanted, but Hermes wouldn’t respond. What part of “on vacation” did Zeus not get?
“Do you think there are people out there who still believe?” she pressed.
He knew there were. A thought came and went. Maybe he could help her with her article. Maybe if he told her a few things—things that weren’t really a secret, but hadn’t been fully explored by mortals—he could get Penny to thank him for it—in a carnal kind of way.
He gazed into her eyes. “Perhaps. The hard part will be finding them, unless you know where to look.”
“True.” Her beautiful eyes perused him for a long moment. “But I’m excited to try.”
He’d bet she would be excited to try all kinds of new things. The journey he would take her on would be exciting for both of them. And long. Suddenly, just taking her to bed this afternoon wasn’t what he wanted anymore. No, he wanted to delay gratification, both his and hers.
Besides, something about her words had made him think. The earnestness that had crossed her face when she’d told him how important it was for her to gain approval from the tenure committee, gave him pause. Suddenly, there was so much more to explore than just her body. Her mind intrigued him. And that had never happened before. At the same time, it made him cautious. He didn’t want to get involved in a relationship. Maybe he should end it here and now.
“Listen, I have a party I’m helping throw on Saturday.” The words were out before he could stop himself. Hadn’t he just decided that it was best not to take this any further? Obviously, his body had a mind of its own and wasn’t listening to his brain.
“With your friend, Triton?”
“Yes. I’m supposed to bring a date and, well, would you like to go with me?” There, now he’d said it. There was no way back from this.
She beamed. “Absolutely. I’d love to go with you.”
He lifted his wine in a toast and wondered whether he was toasting to his own downfall. “To exciting new ventures.”
She clinked her glass against his. “And exciting new friends.”
Oh, we’ll be more than friends, he mused. At least friends with benefits. Lots of benefits.
9
The night of the party, Hermes glanced out the window of Triton’s and Sophia’s Bed and Breakfast on Battery Street, which they’d aptly named Olympus Inn, watching for Penny to arrive. The fact that he was actually anxious to see her and was acting like a schoolboy waiting for his first kiss wasn’t lost on him. He downed his drink and turned away from the window.
“Waiting for someone?” Eros asked, a wide knowing grin splitting his face.
“Not at all,” Hermes lied, and joined his friend at the bar.
“It’s a good thing. You and I are the only confirmed bachelors left and I’m beginning to fear we’re a dying breed.”
Hermes laughed. “You don’t have to worry about me.” He wouldn’t be trapped the way Triton and Dionysus had been by walking into their golden cages like a couple of lovesick puppies.
But his laugh died as he saw Penny walk through the door, looking stunning in a black-beaded dress. Every male eye in the room turned to drink her in, at once filling him with equal measures of pride and annoyance. He walked toward her and took her hand, letting them all know whom she was here with. And whom she would be leaving with.
The truth was he’d been looking forward to seeing Penny again. But not because he was at risk of losing his single-man status as his father and others might hope, but rather because tonight would be the night he would get to do what he’d been wanting to do since he’d first seen her standing in that coffee shop drenched from the rain: to explore every inch of her luscious body—intimately.
“You look beautiful,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek.
She smiled. “Thank you, Hermes.” She looked around the room at the people already assembled. “I’m not late, am I?”
“Not at all. You’re perfect.” He drew her farther into the room. “Let me introduce you to my friends.”
He took her by the arm and led her to where Sophia was greeting guests. “Sophia!”
The pretty brunette turned to him.
“Penny, this is the birthday girl, Sophia.”
Sophia smiled at Penny, then looked back at Hermes. “And this is the man who helped organize this wonderful party.”
“It was nothing.” Hermes grinned. With the help of the servants of the gods, it hadn’t been much work at all. The hard part had been to make the decisions. The execution had been handed over to the servants, the pint-sized fairies who’d been serving the gods for centuries. “Sophia, I’d like you to meet my friend, Penelope.”
“Hi, Penelope,” Sophia greeted her, holding out her hand. “Welcome to our home.”
“Please call me Penny,” she replied, taking her hand and giving it a quick shake. “You have a beautiful house.”
Triton appeared next to his wife and put an arm around her waist. “Thank you. We like it.” Triton’s eyes twinkled as he stared down at his wife.
Hermes still couldn’t believe how easily and completely Triton had fallen under Sophia’s spell. Hermes loved Sophia, too, but hoped that whatever sickness Triton had contracted wasn’t contagious.
Suddenly, his friend’s expression changed. “Uh, oh. Incoming,” Triton warned under his breath.
Hermes looked up to see Zeus approaching.
“Happy birthday, Sophia,” the God of Gods said in a booming authoritative voice, his scowl toward Triton proving he’d heard the whispered warning.
“Thanks, Z,” Sophia said and leaned in to accept his kiss, even though Triton never released her from his arms.
“You’re looking fabulous, as usual.” Zeus’s eyes traveled from Sophia to Penny, where they lingered appreciatively—too appreciatively for Hermes’ liking. He drew her closer to him.
“Is your lovely wife with you tonight?” Sophia asked, her voice full of playful innocence.
“No, sorry. She sends her regrets,” Zeus said, his tone as polished as his suit, not showing that the mention of Hera was pro
bably turning his blood to acid and corroding his arteries.
Hermes was certain that his wicked stepmother wasn’t even aware of the party; otherwise, she would be here.
“Oh, what a shame!” Sophia exclaimed, her innocent look still firmly plastered on her sweet face. “I could have sworn Triton mentioned to me that she’d RSVP’d and said she would try to make it, didn’t you sweetheart?”
Zeus grunted in displeasure and glared at Hermes. Ah, so one of his friends had sent her an invitation after all. And now Zeus suspected him. Figured!
“A cold, I’m afraid. A dreadful summer cold,” Zeus pressed out through clenched teeth.
“Oh, no! Please send her my wishes for a speedy recovery,” Sophia chirped.
“I shall do that,” Zeus agreed.
“Well, I’m glad at least you could make it. It would have been a shame if you’d come down with the same virus,” Triton said, craning his neck and looking past Zeus into the distance.
Had Triton gone completely crazy, provoking Zeus like this? What in Hades was wrong with him?
“Oh, rats, will you excuse us?” Triton glanced down at his wife, and Hermes caught his conspiratorial look. “I believe that’s Alice waving at us. Looks like an emergency in the kitchen.” With a quick sweeping motion, Triton whisked Sophia away.
Great! First Triton and Sophia stirred up shit, and then they made a convenient excuse, leaving him alone with Zeus. Hermes was pretty sure that Alice, the B&B’s cook, was nowhere in sight. He glanced over his shoulder just to confirm his suspicion, and just as he’d thought, Alice wasn’t standing anywhere near the kitchen. In fact, now that Hermes let his gaze wander, he saw her merrily chatting to a couple of the guests, enticing them to try some of the Greek tapas Triton had ordered from Olympus.
He was about to turn his attention back to Zeus when he spotted a dark head of hair. He knew that coiffure. It belonged to none other than his wicked stepmother. The shit was about to hit the fan. Luckily, she hadn’t spotted him and Zeus yet, but it was only a matter of seconds. Time to get the hell out of there.