“You’re wasting your time chasing after a man like Apollo. If you’re so desperate, Akuma?—”
“Is not, and will never be, an option. I’ll choose whom I date, thank you.”
Tigger’s head bobbed back and forth as we argued before he snorted. “Humans. Always fighting over the dumbest things.”
My gaze veered to my orange menace. “You going to forbid me from seeing Apollo as well?”
“I’m thinking of it. Earlier, your grandfather pointed out that you haven’t had much success in keeping a male as your partner. I would hate for you to do something that will cause Apollo to turn against us. I need his wealth.”
I rolled my eyes. “And I keep telling you, it’s not yours to take.”
“We’ll see about that.” A reply that might have been more ominous if the voice didn’t squeak.
My grandfather just wouldn’t let it go. He kept harping on what a mistake I was making. Annoyed, I practically threw their lunch at them before stalking back to the shop with my own.
I’d date who I wanted, and nothing either of those idiots said would sway me. As a matter of fact, it made me only more determined to see where this thing with Apollo led. Hopefully his bed. Given it might happen that evening, when I finished work for the day, I shaved everything in the shower. Legs. Pits. The giant Venus bush between my legs. My poor razor didn’t survive that encounter. Next time I let it grow that wild I should use the pruning shears.
I dressed nicer than I had the previous night, choosing a practically new summer dress in a flowery pattern. I’d bought it years ago to attend a wedding and worn it exactly once. It hugged my boobs, nipped in at the waist, and flowed from the hips. The inch-thick straps left my shoulders bare. Rather than yank my hair back in a scalp-pulling ponytail, I left it loose, a silken wave that smelled of the coconut-hued shampoo I’d used.
When I emerged from primping, Tigger gaped. “Iolana, is that you?”
“Of course it is, idiot.”
“But you look like a woman,” he exclaimed.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Would Apollo appreciate the effort, or did he prefer my usual grungy appearance? Too late to change now. He’d be here any minute. In his convertible. Shit. I snared a scrunchy and slid it on my wrist, just in time. I heard a vehicle approaching.
“Ready, Your Majesty?” I said it mockingly, but Tigger, squatting on my pillow—make that this his pillow now—lifted his head and in a regal tone stated, “I am. You may carry me to the motorized chariot.”
Since I didn’t exactly have fabric sleeves for my dragon to climb, I crouched and held open my arms. I emerged from my bedroom with Tigger cradled to my chest and noted Tutu not in his usual spot, his chair facing the television empty. Since I didn’t hear him bellowing, he’d probably gone to grab his dinner. Seeing as how he’d departed without saying goodbye, he likely sulked, annoyed I’d blatantly chosen to disobey. As if I’d let him decide who I dated.
With Tigger still tucked against me, I emerged from the house with a smile—initially.
Apollo stood beside an SUV, a sleek and dark truck with blacked-out windows. He wore khakis, a cream-colored polo shirt, and a grin.
He uttered a low whistle. “You look amazing.”
My cheeks heated in pleasure. “Thanks.”
The rear passenger window on his SUV lowered, and Tutu stuck his head out. “Enough with the googly eyes. I’m hungry.”
My jaw dropped to the ground. “What are you doing in Apollo’s truck?”
“Going to dinner, of course,” Tutu stated in a tone that added a duh. “Someone needs to chaperone you.”
A comment that had me blurting out, “Since when?”
“Since you appear to be thinking with your girl parts and not your head.”
The heat in my cheeks turned to embarrassment. “You can’t be serious. Get out of that truck right now.”
“Nope.” With that, the window rolled shut.
I glanced at Apollo. “I swear I didn’t know he was going to crash our date.”
“It’s okay. He’s your grandfather, and he’s just worried I’m going to take advantage of you. You know, wicked outsider seducing the innocent island girl.”
I snorted. “Hardly innocent, and who says you’d be the one doing the seducing?”
