Another loud minotaur stomach growl makes me laugh, causing him to blush. Now that he’s being friendlier to me, I am finding his crimson blushes kind of sexy. He sort of acts like a dork, which is endearing with his massive muscle size.
“You’re clearly hungry, and so am I. Let’s break open something in here.”
“Your aunt won’t be annoyed?”
“Well, it’s either that or have you break down the door. I think she will prefer us gobbling up some goodies.”
Angus stands up and searches the shelves.
“How about these artisanal crackers, with olives and canned artichokes?”
“Grab some chocolate and you have a deal.” I say, grinning up at him, “Oh, and my aunt keeps a stash of booze in that box over there.”
Angus finds a bottle of Raven’s Nest Syrah and a roll of paper towels. He sets up a picnic in front of me, with the crackers laid out, then opens the artichoke and olive jars, and a dark chocolate bar for the finale.
“Madam, your meal is prepared.”
Giggling, I eat up his goofy, shy expression as he lowers his eyes.
By the time we have opened a second bottle of wine, I am laughing up a storm and definitely tipsy. The wine clearly doesn’t affect him like it does my puny human self.
“So, Angus, I know Thoreau is 70. How about you?”
“68. So two years shy of middle-age for a minotaur.”
“Oh wow. So at age 50, I would be robbing the cradle with you?” I joke, followed by a loud hiccup.
Angus laughs at me, but I can also see his handsome face blushing for the millionth time. Tempted to say something else flirty, I am interrupted by a loud “Hello?” out in the store.
“Hey! We are in here!” He calls out to the voice.
There’s a wiggle at the door and then a man’s voice says, “It’s locked.”
“The key is on the wall behind the register,” I yell out.
A minute later, the door swings open and I see my school’s art teacher, Vera, and her husband staring down at us.
“Liz! Are you OK?”
Her husband, Lionel, helps me up as Angus stands, while I explain what happened.
“Oh, wow. We were taking a nighttime walk, something we like to do when Jessica’s at a sleepover, and saw the light on. Thought maybe your aunt needed help.” Vera says.
“Hey, we can take you to Branwen Beach Emergency Center. You should get that ankle looked at,” Lionel insists.
“I’m happy to take her,” Angus says.
“You’ve done so much for me already.” I say.
The gorgeous bullman looks at me with an expression I cannot read and nods his head.
“Alright, if you’re OK?”
“We got her. She’s in safe hands with us,” Vera says, smiling.
“OK. Well, uh, have a good night everyone. And, um, Liz, I hope your ankle is nothing serious.”
Watching the hulking minotaur walk out of my aunt’s shop, Vera turns to me, her eyes wide, and says, “Holy hell, Liz, he’s a dish.”
