Her heartbeat quickened and her pulse raced.
The faint rock dust glittered violet and lilac in the light, standing out to her like stars in the night sky, set against the deep blue velvet fabric.
“And what color do you see, Theodore?”she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Purple,” he said.“Does that...does that mean something?”
It had to be coincidence, and nothing more.There were no lines or energetic sparks.There was no diviner to trulydivinea match made by fate.The dust of the diviner left behind was likely just a stain, a remnant of magic, or perhaps even a remnant of the thief’s magic who stole it.Perhaps she’d look into that as well in the morning.
She’d have to question Mars about his experience, ask him again what color he saw, perhaps if Lorelai had seen it, too.
“It means that perhaps fate is calling you to its aid,” she said softly.
Theo’s gaze drifted to her lips and he let out a sigh.“I don’t believe in fate.Or magic.Or gods and goddesses from another realm.”
The admission saddened her.He did not believe in fate or magic or beings of divinity.He did not believe in her and therefore it was impossible to ascertain that he could believe inher.
In a muse.
But belief or not, the diviner had called him.Just as it called everyone it touched.His vision was proof of that.
The spark Calliope felt, the energy boiling between them was proof of that.
Deep down, Calliope knew the truth.She just didn’t want to admit it.She feared giving her heart to anyone, least of all a man like Theo.
A non-believer.A young student.Her employee.The reasons were stacking up for Calliope, despite the pull she felt toward him.Her heart beat so loud in her chest she thought he could hear it as he leaned in closer, his lips inches away from hers.
She wanted to kiss him.She wanted to feel his silken lips leading her into that perfect kiss once more.So why could she not bring herself to close the space between them?
His stomach growled and the moment dissipated.It fled into the air as if it had been a figment of her imagination, a trick of the light.Like the diviner dust that shimmered violet, but had diminished as well.
“We should get going,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
“Right.”Theo nodded, his voice raspy, tinged with something familiar but yet unfamiliar all the same.
And as he held the door for her, as Calliope locked up the gallery, she couldn’t help but feel like something had changed.
Inside her, outside in the world.
She looked through the window of the door, expecting to see the shimmer of the diviner dust catching the low light again, but it was gone.
And so as Theodore led her to his car, as they headed toLa Pear,Calliope’s favorite restaurant, she told herself this would be it.A fresh start, a new leaf.She would leave her moment of passion and perfection with Theodore in the past.She needed to focus on the task at hand—finding the diviner and getting back to her canvas.
* * *
When they’d arrivedat the restaurant, neither of them ordered an alcoholic beverage, as if they both had been thinking the same thing.Instead, Calliope had opted for avirginpiña colada and Theo had opted for a Shirley Temple, complete with five cherries.
“So...not big on French cuisine over here, so what do you suggest?”he asked.
Calliope smiled as she leaned back in her seat.The ambiance and glow of the restaurant added to the small, intimate feel, but it was also open enough and casual enough it didn’t feel quite romantic.
Though she was second-guessing herself a bit since she’d never actually been on a date inLa Pear.
This isn’t a date, Callie.It’s just a dinner between colleagues.Between friends.
Though, as Callie said the words to herself, they didn’t feel right.Theo was certainly acolleague.He was a work-study student in her gallery, and therefore, that made him a colleague, but she wasn’t sure friend fit the mold, either.One typically didn’t sleep with their friends, after all.Lover seemed to fit, but one night of passion did not declare one a lover.One night stand did not fit, and so Callie forced herself to focus on the food and not a defining label for Theodore Lange.
“Do you have any allergies or things you dislike?”she asked.
