“You’re frowning during a funny part.” She blinked those impossibly blue eyes at him.
He glanced at the screen to see Will Ferrell being pummeled by Peter Dinklage and chuckled. “Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
“What?”
“Work.” Okay, so he’d been thinking about her and what it meant that he was more concerned with when she’d have to leave than how long she’d be here. He didn’t have to tell her that though.
“I don’t believe you,” she said. “I can tell when you’re lying because your ears don’t move.”
Now he laughed outright. “My ears don’t move?”
“When you force yourself to smile but don’t mean it, they stay exactly the same. What were you really thinking about?”
“Do you think you’re safe here?”
“You mean from the gods?”
He nodded. It wasn’t what he was originally thinking about, but he hoped his genuine concern would show in his… ears.
“I think so. Honestly, I’ve always believed the fear was unwarranted.”
“Maybe I should seek out the head of Medusa just in case.”
“Can’t. Athena fused it to the face of her shield,” she said flatly, clearly not realizing he was joking. She leaned her head back on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Liam. If the gods come for me, I’ll jump back to Paragon if I have to, but I doubt I’m in any danger. How would they even know I’m here?”
He kissed the side of her head and hoped to God she was right.
She was asleep by the time the movie ended, and he carefully scooped her into his arms and carried her to bed where he tucked her in, wings and all. He used the bathroom, then stripped down to his boxers before climbing in beside her.
He was very close to sleep when he heard her mumble, “Even if the gods do come for me, being here with you, for as long as it lasts, will be worth it.”
Chapter
Eighteen
The Morris estate was just as Liam remembered. The massive Greek Revival home loomed on a hill overlooking the security building where he’d stopped at the gate in his electric rental car.
“Name?” The security guard, a black woman with a name tag that read Ruby, looked as if she was disappointed to have to work over the holidays. She addressed them without a hint of a smile.
“Liam Morris.”
She flipped some papers on a clipboard. “Your name is on the list, Liam, but I don’t see any clearance for a guest. What’s your name, ma’am?”
“Charlotte,” she said.
“Last name?” Ruby said, obviously annoyed.
Liam widened his eyes at her. Did she even have a last name? No one in Paragon seemed to, and he’d never thought to ask.
“Tanglewood,” she said with an easy smile.
Ruby typed something into her computer.
“She’s not on the list,” Liam said. “I forgot to tell my mother I was bringing her, but if you—”
“Mrs. Morris just approved her. Welcome, and Merry Christmas.”
“You too.” Liam frowned as the wrought iron gate in front of the car opened. He hadn’t told his mother he was coming. He’d hoped she’d be welcoming to Charlotte, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up. He proceeded along the winding drive at an easy pace, procrastinating the inevitable confrontation.
