Theo rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger.“Could have hacked the system.”
“Isabelle checked.The system wasn’t hacked.It was spelled.”
Theo twisted his lips.“So you think whoever stole the Heart of the Ocean, is a...what?A supernatural being?Like a ghost or something?”
Calliope shook her head.“More like a shifter.”
Theo’s gaze was lost.
Great, now he probably thinks I am a lunatic.Talking of spells and shifters and?—
“Like a werewolf?”he asked curiously.“Or a hellhound, or?—”
“Yes, like that.”She found herself shocked at his notations.Primarilyhellhound.
Had Spike...told him the truth?
And if so, how much had he divulged?
But before she could press Theo about his sudden interest in the supernatural, the food was delivered and all talk of missing diviners disappeared in favor of dinner.
They both ate without haste, groans of satisfaction echoing between them.
“This is fantastic!”Theo exclaimed with delight, dredging his duck around in the remaining sauce.
Calliope grinned as she finished her bite of chicken.“I had a feeling you would like it.”
Theo grinned at her as they continued their dinner, and when the waiter came with the check, Theo did not give any chance for Calliope to intervene, even though she insisted she could indeed, pay for her meal herself.
“I said I was taking you to dinner,” he said as he tossed his credit card down and handed the folder to the waiter.
“Theodore...”
“Nope, not going to hear it, Princess.”
It was the way he spoke, his humor, his quiet boldness.Calliope liked it far too much.
“Besides, this is my apology, right?I’m the one making it up to you, so...”
The words died in the air as the waiter returned with the folder.Calliope watched as he hurriedly signed and stuck his credit card back in his wallet.Reality struck her that this...this perfect, comfortable dinner was coming to an end.And that meant the night itself was coming to an end, and Calliope did not want it to.
She wanted the night to go on forever, with Theodore.
He rose before she could, so quickly, he moved like a blur.Before she could push her chair out, she felt it drag across the floor and realized Theo was pulling it out.So she could stand.
Gods, he has manners, too.He is certainly too good to be true.
“Merci,” she whispered, feeling her cheeks heat.
When she stood, she could see the warmth in his gaze as he looked at her.It appeared he did not want this night to end, either.But end, it had to.
Everything had an ending.Even perfect dates.
It was not a date, Calliope.It was dinner, nothing more.
Though as she followed Theo out of the restaurant into the cool LA night, as she settled into the passenger seat of his car, she felt as if she was trying to convince herself of such things because the reality was so much more frightening than a missing diviner.The sounds ofManeskin’sBeggingfilled the space, and Calliope could not help the rapid beat of her heart, nor could she stop herself from stealing glances at Theo.He’d been more than attractive in his dress pants and button down, alongside his mask, but now—in his car, dressed in a simple black shirt and dark jeans, his dark hair smooth and straight, pushed behind his ears, she couldn’t help but think he was much more attractive.
Because this...this was therealTheo.Simple, understated.A sharp druzy stone embedded in rock.
