Luckily, Hestia only gets mad at Cato, glaring at him while he snickers.
He ignores her ire, and when he eventually stops laughing, says, “It’s cute to be a nerd these days. That’s a compliment.”
Hestia blushes even harder.
“It’s supposed to becoolto be a nerd, notcute,” she mumbles.
“It sounds like you have a solid grasp of the data,” Orion says, trying to keep a straight face. “We’re only a few days into our break, there are plenty of other things to do besides read reports.”
“Like what? We already shopped at every store in town and put up all our decorations,” Hestia says, still pouting because we won’t let her read old paperwork.
She’s right about the decorations. The station looks like there was a Yule explosion. Everywhere you turn, there’s something festive. Cato even wrapped lights and garlands around his fire pole, yet somehow still manages to slide down it. Apparently his showy entrances needed a little more pizzazz.
“We could do some gardening,” Magnus says.
Hestia perks up and asks, “You’ll garden with me?”
He nods.
“Okay! Let’s do that,” she says, popping up out of her seat.
“Later we should do something relaxing. Pack movie night? We can watch some of those small-town holiday movies,” Orion says before she rushes out.
“That’s a great idea! Then I can cross that off my list,” Hestia says the last part to herself.
I’m not sure what list she’s talking about, but I’m already planning the menu for later. I’ll make winter-themed charcuterie boards. I’m thinking fig jam, apple slices, salumi, brie, cranberry white cheddar cheese, and a toasted baguette to start. We’ll also have the usual buttery movie popcorn and some caramel corn.
I look through the pantry to see what other finger foods I can whip up.
Chapter 20
Hestia
Ihappily follow Magnus out to the garden, although I can’t help replaying our conversation over breakfast.
I planned to make Cato laugh more, but I should have clarified that I didn’t want him laughing atme.
They weren’t mean-spirited about it, but it was embarrassing to realize they figured out how seriously I take my studies. I wanted to appear cool and capable, but I couldn’t even keep up that front for more than a few weeks.
They didn’t seem to care that I might be alittlenerdy, but I want them to also think I’m interesting. Surely having the skills to survive in the wilderness makes me cool, even if I also memorized the weather patterns for the last fifty years.
Magnus holds the greenhouse door open for me, and I go in and wait by the workbench for his directions.
He stands in front of me, and I look up (and up) at him. His lips quirk, and he gently presses his finger against the corner of my mouth, pulling my pout up into a smile.
I resist at first, pressing my lips together, but finally relent and smile at him.
“Are you upset about the teasing? I think intelligence is attractive,” Magnus says.
His deep voice always makes my knees weak, and they’re especially wobbly after that compliment.
He drops his hand so I can answer, resting it on my shoulder, his thumb over the pulse on my neck.
My breath is coming fast and I’m getting dangerously wet. He should know what touching the neck does to an omega.
I lick my lips to fix my suddenly dry mouth and Magnus’s eyes drop to my lips, which doesn’t help the situation.
“No, it’s fi-fine,” I whisper. “I was just embarrassed.”
