"You haven't misread the situation," I said slowly. "So yes, I will go on a date with you."
Clara raised an eyebrow. "I thought you'd take more convincing than that."
"I might. But I'm going to let you convince me on the date."
She laughed and reached out to touch my hand in a very sweet gesture. "I look forward to it."
The funny thing was that I was looking forward to that too.
Chapter 16
CLARA
The dim lighting of the restaurant made everything feel all the more intimate, especially as we were in a booth away from prying eyes. I had to admit that this was better than sitting in the middle of the room with everyone around us. Especially because they'd probably be staring at Hel. I wouldn't blame them, she was effortlessly beautiful.
"This place is amazing," I said as I used the last of my triple-cooked chunky chips to mop up the red currant gravy on my plate.
"It's one of my favourite restaurants," Hel said. "That's why I suggested it."
"Have you brought people here before?"
"No. I was serious when I said I didn't date. This is probably my first date in about fifty years." The expression on her face told me that she was telling the truth. It should make me nervous, but it wasn't too bad.
"That's longer than I've been alive," I murmured.
"If it helps, I'm physically about twenty-nine, I think. I can't actually remember exactly when Loki made me immortal."
"That doesn't make it better. That makes your body five years younger than mine."
She raked her gaze over me, her pale eyes leaving no confusion over what she was thinking. "You can't tell."
"I'm glad you think so, but I can absolutely tell," I responded.
"Then I'll have to see what I can do about that too," Hel said. "I'm sure I can make you forget all of your aches."
"Not without causing one more," I muttered.
"If you mean the sexy kind, I can fix that too," she promised, trailing a hand over my arm. "But not before dessert."
I laughed. "Are you serious? I'm positively full," I murmured.
"But the desserts here are to die for," Hel responded. "And I should know, I'm a death goddess."
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to tell me that death by dessert is possible?"
"I've seen it," she responded. "On a death certificate. But I do think it was because of choking, not because the dessert was so delicious."
"How mundane," I responded.
"Quite."
"So what are the most bizarre things you've seen on a death certificate?" It wasn't exactly the best date conversation, but I was too intrigued not to.
"Tripping over the oven door and into some knives. That one felt like it was too specific to be true."
"Was it?" I asked, now morbidly curious.
"I assume so. The body had multiple stab wounds. But I'm not a coroner. I just make the bodies look good for the viewings. I like being able to do things with my hands."
