But he supposed it was just on account of their intimacy, for what else could it be?
He knew it wasn’t exactly romantic to take the girl you’d banged recently to the hospital to meet his family, especially given his father’s grave circumstances, but he was terrified if he didn’t say yes, he’d never get to see her again, and he did not believe the universe would give him a second chance.
“Sure, but uh...”
Athena smiled as she nodded toward the door.
“We can talk more about yourexpertiseon the way,” she said.
Brian’s heartbeat thudded in his chest as images, thoughts and unabashed fantasy filled his brain at her words.
He could show her some expertise, all right.
What the hell is wrong with me, why am I like this? Now is not the time!
“Mars and I will keep looking through the books. We’ll call you if we find anything,” Callie said with a wink.
“Sounds good.” Athena said, her gaze fixed on Brian. He was half-curious if she wasn’t a creature of myth herself, for her gaze kept him still in his place, almost as if she were Medusa and had turned him to literal stone.
She cleared her throat and he realized they needed to move.
“Lead the way, Brian,” she said smoothly. The words stoked a fire in him he never thought he would find again.
He stood straight, clearing his own throat.
He focused on putting one foot in front of the other, all the while trying not to lose his cool as the woman of his dreams followed him to his car.
CHAPTER14
Of all thepeople she could run into in the city of Los Angeles, Athena had never expected to run into the man she regretted leaving behind. It seemed fate was a fickle witch indeed, but she would not waste the chance to correct her course. Not to mention the sight of Brian standing there clutching a leather satchel, his bright eyes framed in his adorably nerdy glasses, in a well-fitting pair of dark wash jeans, instilled a hunger in her that was damn near irrefutable.
She had to have him. She never wanted someone, let alone a human, so bad in all her life, which both intrigued and alarmed her.
Perhaps there was something in the water at that damn DeLux Cafe.
Athena knew it was more than rude to brashly invite yourself places, and that there was a chance that Brian was only being polite in his allowance of her to join him on whatever errand he was on, but she only knew that she did not want to let fate slip through her fingers a second time, and so she braced herself for whatever mundane human thing she’d have to endure.
As long as I can spend time with this mystifying man who is apparently a mythological connoisseur.
“I’m sorry about the other day, I had to leave unexpectedly. I—”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Athena. I get it. I wish I could have stayed, but... duty called me, too.”
They stepped out into the brisk LA air, the darkness blanketing them. It wasn’t late by any means, but the world seemed to be getting darker earlier.
Athena came to walk beside him, taking in the sight of his precious, soft features.
“Maybe we could start over?” she said.
She wasn’t used to feeling so delicate, so unsure. The fact she could not pinpoint this man’s emotions or thoughts was baffling to her. She was usually quite adept at reading people. Brian stopped in front of a sleek, silver sedan, opening the passenger door for her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Athena felt her entire body flush with heat. Brian licked his lips, a shaky breath escaping his throat, causing her stomach to flip.
She’d never felt so keyed up over justa look.
“I’d like that,” he said, his voice dropping an octave as his gaze dipped to her lips. She was acutely aware of the rise and fall of his chest, of the goosebumps prickling her skin.
“Hi, I’m Athena,” she said darkly as she leaned in an inch closer. The door remained open.
Brian set his hand on the doorframe, boxing her in. His eyes lit up with a fire that reminded her of days when she’d been truly worshiped.
