A Fate for Zeus: Gods of Olympus 8

by Lia Davis

  A ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. Sexy and proper. Add in old fashion values, he could be the perfect man…

  What the hell was she thinking? She couldn’t get involved with a man.

  Warmth drifted from him, mixed with a sense of authority. A sense of security wrapped around her in his presence. It was there the night of the fire as well. Not to mention the odd way she was drawn to him. Like he was put on her path for a reason.

  “Would you like to have coffee with me?”

  She blinked at his words but nodded. “And food, maybe.”

  His smile reached his sky-blue eyes as he pushed off the truck and held out his hand. Something over her shoulder caught his attention. His blue eyes narrowed slightly. Jordan turned and noted Angie advancing toward them.

  When Angie reached them, she stared at... Hell, Jordan didn’t even know his name. Mom called him Zeus. Studying him for a few moments, she decided he didn’t appear as she imagined the God King would look. Plus she’d know if he was a god, right?

  He had to be human. And a stranger…she was about to go to dinner with. Alone. What was wrong with her? He did save her life.

  “Who is your friend?” Angie asked.

  Angie’s words broke through the fog drifting into Jordan’s mind. She opened her mouth, then closed it. The fireman extended his hand to Angie. “Zed Skye.”

  “That’s an unusual name.” Angie smirked.

  Jordan jabbed her aunt in the side but caught a hint of recognition in Angie’s eyes as she studied Zed. However, Jordan let it go, for now. “Zed is the fireman who got Mom and me out of the house.”

  “Oh.” Angie took his hand with a not-so-genuine surprise in her features. “Thank you.”

  “We weren’t fast enough.” He glanced away and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  Jordan picked up on the tension in the air as well as an odd sense of familiarity. She couldn’t shake the feeling her aunt and Zed shared some kind of inside joke. Or maybe a secret. Okay, Jordan was imagining things. Needing to get away from the church and the sadness that threatened to swallow her whole, she said, “Zed and I were going to grab something to eat. An early dinner.”

  Angie glanced at Jordan, blinked, then back at Zed. After a brief pause, she nodded and forced a wide smiled. “You two have fun. Jeff and I are going to have a quiet evening since the kids are at his mom’s house.”

  Angie waved and joined Jeff at their car. What the hell was that? Something was up. Angie was way too quick to send Jordan off alone with a stranger. Well, he wasn’t exactly a stranger. Maybe that was it. Zed was a fireman. It was possible Angie had met him before.

  Then why wouldn’t she say as much?

  “Do you like seafood?” Zed asked, pulling her attention to him again.

  “Yes.” She averted her gaze. Now that she was alone with him, a giddiness bubbled inside her. Butterflies fluttered in her belly. It’d been a while since she’d been on a date.

  No, this is not a date. Just dinner with a hot fireman.

  He smiled, taking her hand. Her skin tingled from the connection, and she lifted her lashes to stare into his sky-blue eyes. Heat rose to her cheeks, but she couldn’t look away from him. He was so handsome and beautiful at the same time. An odd sensation seeped into her, awakening a need to reach out to him. Touch him.

  “Good. I know of a small place overlooking the ocean.” His gentle, husky words made the butterflies in her belly take flight again.

  Tearing her gaze from him, she allowed him to tug her to the passenger side of the truck. “Sounds perfect.”

  She was rewarded with that brilliant smile again as he opened the door and helped her inside. Once she was seated, he let go of her hand and shut the door. The connection she felt minutes ago vanished, leaving her alone. Again.

  She pushed aside the depressing feelings and watched out the window as they drove off. However, everything that passed reminded her of Mom. The rocky shoreline and the rolling waves yards from the road brought memories of them playing on the beach when Jordan was little and the countless summers they spent walking the beach.

  A tear rolled down her cheek. She blinked it away, not wanting to break down and cry in front of Zed. Although something deep down told her he’d allow her to cry while he held her.

  Ugh. Was she so lonely and depressed that she’d hope for affection from a stranger?

  A comfortable silence hung between them during the fifteen-minute drive to the restaurant. She was glad because she wasn’t in the mood for conversation. When Zed parked the truck, he didn’t turn it off. Jordan glanced at him, and he met her stare. His brows dipped. “Would you like to go somewhere else?”

  Jordan shook her head. “Here is fine. What’s wrong?” Glancing at him, she studied him. His features hardened and the muscles in his jaw worked. Had he changed his mind? When he didn’t answer right away, she asked, “Did you want to go somewhere else? Or you could take me home.”

  He relaxed, dropping his shoulders, and turning off the car. Meeting her stare, the light returned to his gaze and his lips lifted. “No. Here is fine.” Without warning, he grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  She sucked in a breath of surprise at first, then melted on the inside but couldn’t shake the feeling he really didn’t want to be there. Or maybe it was something entirely different.

  Or Jordan was paranoid.

  Zeus got out of the truck, jogged around to Jordan’s side, and opened her door. All the while he scanned the parking lot. When he pulled into the parking space, he swore he saw Drakon, in his human form, enter the building. Had the bastard been following them? What really concerned Zeus was the thought the dragon was following Jordan.

  He hoped Drakon was smart enough not to try anything in a public place. The humans didn’t need to know gods and daemons were running around. And Drakon, in Zeus’s eye, was a daemon.

  Jordan had picked up on his shift in mood upon arriving. No surprise there. She was half goddess. Beautiful and smart. Her long blonde hair was twined in a bun with a few strands left loose to frame her face.

  His gaze dipped to the necklace she wore. The moonstone her mother gave her the night of the fire. It seemed to glow slightly. Odd. He hadn’t recalled it glowing before.

  Big brown eyes locked with his as he helped her out of the truck. Concern clouded her gaze. He ran his knuckles down her cheek. They shouldn’t be there if Drakon was inside.

  But he couldn’t tell her a dragon, who might have killed her mother was inside the restaurant. If he did, he’d have to reveal himself to her. He wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

  Not letting go of her hand, he walked beside her as they entered the restaurant. He liked the way she leaned into him as if holding his hand was the most natural thing she did. Was it good to lead her on? Was he even acting when it came to befriending her?

  He scanned the restaurant on the way to their table, noting the exits and the clear paths leading to them. Wooden booths lines the walls and round tables, covered in white cloths, scattered the center of the open space. It wasn’t busy, which Zeus preferred. Then again it was 4:00 in the afternoon.

  The waiter directed them to a round table next to a window that overlooked the ocean. Zeus thanked him and telepathically sent him on his way.

  When he pulled out a chair, intended for her, she sat in the one across from him. His lips twitched with amusement. So independent. He sat, admiring her natural beauty. Did she realize how enchanting she was? “Do you have any other family?”

  “It’s always been just me, Mom, Angie.” She froze as if giving something away, then quickly added. “Angie’s my aunt, and we grew up together.”

  Ahh, so she did know Angie was immortal. He guessed she added the latter because she and Angie looked around the same age. It was probably the same lie they told humans. “You are close, then.”

  Jordan nodded, her lips lifting. “Yes, very. Mom called us partners in crime.”

  He chucked and caught movement
from a couple of tables behind Jordan. Drakon sat and made eye contact with Zeus. One dark brow rose while a taunting smirk formed on Drakon’s mouth. Zeus fisted his hand, wanting to throw a lightning bolt at the asshat.

  The dragon raised his glass as if toasting some kind of accomplishment. Bastard.

  Shit. He should have pushed Jordan to go somewhere else. But where would they go? Drakon would just follow, unless they went to Zeus’s beach house. Something told him Jordan wouldn’t agree to go to his house after just meeting him.

  Human morals.

  “You really don’t want to be here.”

  He jerked his gaze to hers and frowned. “I want to be with you. I mean…get to know you.”

  She sighed. “I get the feeling you’re not all here.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. Mom and Angie always told me I have no filter at times.”

  He scooted his chair closer to her while fighting the urge to grab her and leave. She noted the movement and lifted her gaze to his. She was right, he wasn’t all there. Drakon was a threat. One Zeus needed to deal with. “Don’t apologize. I love your honesty. I am distracted.”

  Drakon stood and advanced toward them. Zeus’s heart hammered in his chest while anger and fear swirled inside him. Surely the dragon wouldn’t cause a scene in a busy restaurant. But the male was unpredictable and a little unstable.

  When he reached the table, he smiled smugly. “I thought that was you, Zed.”

  The other male pronounced the name a little slower than the other words. Zeus held in a snarl. The only way for the dragon to know Zeus was using that name was if he was at the church, listening and spying. “Drake, isn’t it?”

  Drakon gave a short nod, then turned his attention to Jordan. Fear and anger raced in Zeus’s blood. So help him if the bastard touched her…

  “Who is your lovely friend?”

  Jordan didn’t seem amused. She glanced at Zeus as if silently telling him she realized why he didn’t want to be there. Then she replied, “Jordan. Are you really a friend of Zed’s? Sounds like you want to taunt or embarrass him. Probably both.”

  A laugh burst from Zeus before he could stop it. He wanted to kiss her and take her far away from Drakon. “What do you want, Drake?”

  “You know why I’m here.” He glanced at Jordan. “You’ll have to watch this one. He’s not what he seems.”

  Zeus growled and slammed a fist on the table. “It seems to be the current trend.”

  Drakon laughed as he left the restaurant.

  “Can you take me home? I just remembered I have to work. From home.” She gathered her purse and stood.

  Zeus threw some cash on the table without looking to see how much it was. They didn’t order anything, but someone would need to clean the table again. “We can go somewhere else.”

  “No. I really do have work, things to do. Plus, I’m tired.” Jordan averted her gaze and walked past him. In the moment, she dropped her guard, and he saw the dark circles under her eyes. Her anger lashed out at him, but he couldn’t tell if it was directed at him. Most likely it was because he’d been too focused on Drakon and the mission.

  He grabbed her hand before she could escape, drawing her gaze to his. “You are also hungry. Please, have dinner with me, then I’ll take you home.”

  A soft sigh escaped her, and she tightened her fingers around his. A zap of energy shot through him at the connection. Every primal hunger woke deep inside him.

  After a long moment, she nodded and sat back down. “What is up with Drake?”

  “Old rivalry. I might have sent him to…prison.”

  “Did he deserve to go?”

  Zeus scanned her features and couldn’t tell if she believed him or was just probing for proof that he was giving her half-truths. After all, she was telling her own half-truths. “Yes, and he should still be there. But enough with him. Tell me about you.”

  She lifted her lashes and stared at him with her big brown eyes. Her cheeks tinted and she quickly averted her gaze. “There’s nothing to tell. I’m just…me.”

  “You said you had work to do. What kind of work?”

  A frown darkened her features. “Mom and I owned a gift shop near the shore. Angie’s husband is an accountant, which I’m thankful for because I’m not very business savvy.”

  “I bet you’re great with the customers.”

  Her cheeks colored again, and she let out a shaky laugh. The waiter picked that moment to show up and took their orders. Her smile disappeared, and she stiffened. When the waiter left, she sagged against the back her seat, took a deep breath, and then released it slowly.

  Meeting his stare, her cheeks colored again. “I love the people who come in, meeting them, hearing their stories.”

  He let the tension in his muscle fall away at the soft, caring tone in her words. He could work on gaining her trust so he could ensure she stayed alive until Drakon and his handler were taken care of.

  3

  Jordan lay in bed in her aunt’s guest room, staring at the ceiling. The nightgown, like the rest of the clothes she wore, were borrowed. Angie had an obsession with shopping, which was fortunate for Jordan since she lost everything in the fire.

  She sighed and covered her head with a pillow. Her head buzzed and it seemed impossible to quiet her thoughts. Especially where Zed was concerned. He was nice, and they had a great time at dinner after the tension from Drake had settled.

  But she couldn’t help but think Zed was hiding something.

  She didn’t like a liar.

  Giving up on sleep, she got up and dressed. After a quick check through the house to make sure no one was awake, she slipped out the back door. The sea breeze blew through her hair as soon as she stepped outside. She breathed it in and then sighed.

  The ocean had always been her outlet. The sounds of the waves, the sand beneath her bare feet, and the smell of the salty air soothed her.

  The two-block walk to the shore helped clear her mind. Maybe she was reading too much into Zed.

  When she reached the sand, she removed her Keds and rolled up the legs of her jeans. She jogged down to the water and let the water lap at her toes. Then she sucked in a breath as the cold water covered her feet to her ankles.

  Her love for the ocean came from her mom. They spent as much time as they could at the beach. Day or night. It didn’t matter.

  “I miss you, Mom.” Closing her eyes, Jordan lifted her chin, letting her head fall back.

  She’d give anything to hear her mom’s voice and have her arms around her one more time.

  The stone around her neck warmed against her skin. A power she was familiar with wrapped around her. Then a whisper on the wind touched her senses. Guard the stone with your life.

  Startled, she opened her eyes and whirled around. “Who’s there?”

  The voice was a woman, she was sure. However, she didn’t recognize it.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” The deep, husky male voice made her sag in relief and sent a spike of desire through her.

  Zed stepped out into the moonlight where she could see him. He wore the same black tee and ripped jeans from earlier. Glancing down, she noted he was also barefooted.

  “You didn’t. Did you hear a woman’s voice?”

  He stilled and tilted his head slightly. “No. Are you feeling well?”

  Jordan waved him off and moved toward the sand dunes. “I’m fine.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Home.”

  When she reached the pavement, he said, “I thought we could go for a walk. I feel that our dinner date didn’t go well.”

  Date? Was he serious? Facing him, she dropped her shoes and frowned at the sand covering her feet. “It was me. I’ve been off since the fire.”

  A lump formed in her throat and her nose tingled. I will not cry.

  Zed closed the distance and knelt down in front of her. She was about to ask what he was doing until he took one of her feet in his hand and proceeded to wipe the sand
off it. The swift movement put her off balance, and she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself.

  Tingles of power sparked and rolled under her hands. What was that? Her power? The stone?

  If he felt it, he didn’t react or comment. Which she was grateful for because she didn’t know how to explain it.

  “I live in the beach house a block that way.” He pointed to the north, then picked up a shoe to put it on her foot.

  “I can put my own shoes on.”

  He shook his head, then looked up, giving her a raised brow as if challenging her to argue. His blue eyes caught the light of the street lamp. Then a sexy smile tugged at his lips as he lifted her other foot.

  Good gods, he was sexy. Heat flooded her, and her skin where he touched her tingled. She wondered what it would be like to have his hands all over.

  “So can I,” he said, bringing her focus back to him.

  Was that a joke? A bad one. He was odd. Gods help her she was curious about him. Wanted to get to know him. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I was about to ask the same thing.”

  “You first.”

  He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. A walk on the beach seemed like a good thing to do.”

  Hmm. “Same.”

  After he placed the other shoe on her foot, he stood and offered his hand. “Come walk with me?”

  “But you just put my shoes on,” she teased. She couldn’t help it.

  Her reward was a brilliant smile that revealed two perfect dimples. Cute. He took her hand and linked their fingers. “We’ll walk on the sidewalk to my house.”

  She stopped. “I didn’t agree to go home with you.”

  Without blinking, he replied, “We don’t have to go inside. I have a deck with a pool. I could walk you home if you prefer.”

  What would it hurt to go to his house? He did save her life, and they did eat dinner together. Despite him thinking it didn’t go well, she had enjoyed herself. It was nice to have a friend. She dropped her shoulders and sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m being difficult.”

  “You’re being careful, which I admire.”