Ares' Temptation (10 page)

Kaye shook her head. “Here you were, worrying about the aquarium, and then this freakish accident occurs almost drowning you.”

Ares pursed his lips. He could not let on to the fact Poseidon wanted him dead. She’d ask more questions, and eventually all answers led back to the curse. “Perhaps I had a premonition in my gut?”

“Maybe. But what are the odds of something like that happening?” She got into the car. “Grammy’s seen those turtles a hundred times, and they’ve never so much as acknowledged human existence.”

Ares sat in the passenger seat. Even after riding several times in the metal frame, he still felt claustrophobic. “Let us not dwell on the past.”

“You’re right.” Kaye turned on the ignition and pulled out.

He sighed, relieved the subject had dropped. The longer the curse went on, the harder it was to keep the truth from her.

Kaye remained silent, chewing on her lower lip until it looked as though she’d draw blood.

Ares reached for the radio. Perhaps the mortal noise they called rock music would calm her.

Kaye held his hand, stopping him from turning on the station. “There’s just…one more thing that doesn’t make sense.”

“What concerns you?”

She scrunched her nose. “I’ve never been a good swimmer. But, back there, I felt like I could hold my breath forever, and I knew exactly what kind of strokes to use to get to you. I swam like a fish.”

“Interesting.” Ares drummed his fingertips on the dashboard. “You must have improved.”

“Without any practice?” Kaye shook her head. “No. Something’s up. There’ve been numerous occasions where I’m more athletic, more graceful, faster, stronger, better. Something’s different about me. I may not know what it is right now, but I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Chapter Fifteen

Motivations

Kaye adjusted the Versace halter-top gown she’d worn at Syrinx’s wedding and looked in the bathroom mirror. Her flat mid-section contrasted perfectly with the curves of her hips. Had her breasts grown firmer? The dress fit even better than it had before, and she’d been gorging herself on food all week. Just another anomaly alerting her to the fact something had drastically changed.

She thought she knew why.

It took one overnighter of thinking, tossing, and turning while Ares slept on the couch to figure it out. All of the changes had started happening when she met Ares, so it had to do with him. His attention must have given her the confidence she’d needed to reach her potential. All she had to do was work up the courage to tell him how she felt at tonight’s farewell dinner for Grammy. She wouldn’t be so transformed unless he had feelings for her too, right?

Kaye opened the bathroom door, waltzed into the room, and twirled.

“You look gorgeous.” Ares stood from the couch while he fastened the bowtie on his tux. The coat accentuated his broad chest and the muscles in his arms. “I remember that dress well.”

“I hoped you would.” After another night of separate beds, she’d pulled out all her cards—her sexiest dress. Tonight would be their last night in the hotel, and their last chance to be together. Kaye may have not been ready that first night, but she was now.

He offered his arm. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” She wrapped her arm around his and grabbed her present.

“I hope you don’t mind,”—Ares tapped his coat pocket—“I took the liberty of buying my own present for your grandmother.”

“Awww. You didn’t have to.” Could he be any more perfect? The more she’d gotten to know him, the less godlike he’d become—in a good way. She could almost picture him living the life of a normal man, visiting the floral shop, going on a pizza date. But he was a god, and she had to remember their bargain was at an end. Unless he felt the same way…She’d know soon enough.

Arm in arm, they walked down to the Coral Banquet Hall for Grammy’s farewell dinner.

Chandeliers made of sea glass hung from the ceiling, casting the room in blue and lavender tones. The backs of the chairs had been carved into shell shapes, and fish netting holding giant shells from the bottom of the sea covered the walls. No fish tank this time, which Kaye noticed with relief. After what had happened at the aquarium, she didn’t want to see another tank of water for a very long time.

Grammy sat at the head of the table, surrounded by gifts. Kaye walked up and placed her blue-wrapped gift with the others and gave Grammy a hug. “I hope you had a good time this week, despite all of the bumps in the road.”

Grammy laughed. “My dear, the bumps made the week more adventurous.” She winked.

Ares dug into his pocket and brought out a small, silver box. “It is an honor to know you.”

“You as well.” Grammy patted his hand.

They took a seat across from Bradley and Veronica. Bradley gave them his usual nod. Veronica whispered something in his ear, then walked around the table to Kaye.

Kaye pulled out the chair next to her and stood, helping Veronica and her baby bump take a seat. “Oh gosh! You didn’t have to come all the way around the table to talk to me. I would have come to you.”

Veronica waved off her concern, placing her long red hair behind her ear. “I’m pregnant, I’m not dying.” She lowered her voice. “I wanted to tell you something without Bradley overhearing. He’s been great about tending to my every need, but sometimes I need my space as well.”

“I can understand that.” She needed her space with Bradley all the time. But since the incident on the boat, he hadn’t grated on her nerves. In fact, she wished she could have spent more time with him.

Veronica smiled and rubbed her belly. “I want to thank you. Whatever you said to him that day at the hospital gave him peace. With the baby coming, there’s been a lot of pressure on him. He’d been nervous about this gathering for weeks, and you’ve put him at ease. Yesterday we finally started to enjoy ourselves—until poor Armin fell into the aquarium.”

“A memory I’m trying to forget.” Kaye shook her head. She didn’t want to think about how Ares had looked at the bottom of the tank. “I thought I was the only one who’d had anxiety about this party.”

“No way.” Veronica glanced at Bradley. “He wants everyone to think he’s perfect, but he has the same fears as the rest of us.” She patted Kaye’s hand. “I’m glad the two of you worked out your differences. I know he hasn’t been the best brother in the world, but he’s trying now if it means anything.”

“It does. I’ll make more of an effort to keep in touch.”

“Good. I’m sure he’d like that.” Veronica braced herself and stood precariously. “This kid’s gonna need a great auntie.” With a wink, she made her way back to her husband.

Kaye turned to Ares. He reached for his glass, and his fingers moved too quickly, tipping it over.

She caught it just before it fell. “Whoops! That was close. This night is going very well.”

Ares nodded as his cheeks flushed and a flash of annoyance crossed his face. It took him a second to recover from the awkward moment. “Other than my clumsiness.” He looked like a James Bond bodyguard in that tux. All she wanted to do was take it off. He smiled. “At least there are no turtles in sight.”

Kaye burst out laughing, spewing water on the table. As she cleaned the table with her napkin, her mom clinked a spoon against her glass, gathering everyone’s attention.

“I’d like to welcome everyone back one last time in celebration of Grammy. First we’ll do presents, and then I have a delicious vegetable lasagna ordered for dinner.”

Kaye’s stomach rumbled. She’d just eaten two hours ago, but these days nothing satiated her appetite. For Grammy, though, she could wait.

Grammy reached for Kaye’s present first. Kaye wouldn’t put it past her to play favorites.

“It’s a little adventure for your marathon nights.” Kaye smiled.

Grammy tore off the blue paper, revealing a boxed set of old
Alfred Hitchcock
episodes. “Oh, how wonderful!” She winked at Kaye. “Guess I’ll have to live a little longer than planned to see all of these.”

“Mother!” Kaye’s mom chided her, but Grammy waved her way. She opened a few more presents before she reached Ares’ small silver box. “I wonder what this is.”

Kaye suddenly grew nervous. Could she trust Ares to find something appropriate? The box was too small for a weapon or a head. Beside her, Ares took her hand and squeezed.

Grammy opened the box and burst out laughing. Everyone around the table leaned in with apprehension. Her mother prompted. “Well, aren’t you going to show us?”

“It’s my old friend.” She held up a tiny snow globe. Inside, glittery snow fell around a green turtle rising to the surface.”

Ares laughed. “To show I hold no ill will.”

Everyone laughed with him, and Kaye knew in that moment, after all the Mr. Wrongs she’d gone through, this one was definitely a move toward Mr. Right.

…

After dinner, everyone mingled to say their good-byes. Ares stood in Grammy’s receiving line, and Kaye helped her parents load all of the presents into a box to take to Grammy’s retirement home.

“Grammy’s all set for a while.” Kaye helped load chocolates in the shape of seashells, a new electric blanket, a handmade crochet doily for her table made by Veronica, fancy hand lotions from Macy’s, anti-wrinkle cream as a joke from Bradley, a few knickknacks, and the DVD set she’d bought.

“She’s very happy with the party.” Kaye’s mom put a family picture album on the top. “Thank you for taking the time to come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Kaye glanced away, a little ashamed she’d dreaded the party for so long. Even with her outburst and Ares’ fall in the tank, she’d had a great time.

“You’ve done so well for yourself.” Kaye’s mom hugged her daughter. “You’re happy, you look great, you have a wonderful boyfriend, and you even managed to reconcile with Bradley. It looks like your life has come together this past year, and your father and I are proud.”

Kaye folded the blanket to fit in the box alongside the photo album. “Wow, Mom. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I know I’ve pushed you in the past, but it’s only because I thought I knew what was best for you. Now that I see you flourishing without my advice, I know I was wrong. I want you to know we’re happy with whatever choices you make, even if it means staying in that flower shop.”

“Thanks.” A huge weight lifted off Kaye’s shoulders. Maybe coming home again wouldn’t be as painful anymore. In fact, she might even look forward to another reunion when Grammy turned a hundred.

Ares placed a hand on her back and stood beside her. “Have you said your good-bye to Grammy yet?”

“I’ll make sure to see her tomorrow for breakfast before our flight.” Kaye gestured toward the door. “Right now, I have something I want to tell you.”

His body stiffened, and he stopped mid-step.

Gosh, for a warrior, he scared pretty easily. She tugged him forward. “It’s nothing bad. It’s just something I’ve realized.”

“Very well.” Ares’ face turned serious. He looked preoccupied and stepped forward like he walked to his doom.

They took the elevator to their room in silence. Kaye fidgeted with her bracelet. Was this the best time? Was he ready?

It was the only time. After tomorrow, he’d be going back to God land, wherever that was, and she’d regret not telling him the truth. No, she had to say something, and it had to be now.

They reached the room, and Kaye swiped the card. Before she lost her courage, she took a deep breath. “I know why I’ve experienced all these changes lately—you know, more active, with a better appetite, more confident, and into new things.”

Shock flashed across Ares’ face. “You know the reason?”

Kaye nodded. “Yes. Yesterday, when I saw you in that tank, I didn’t think about how I couldn’t swim, all I thought of was getting you out of there. That’s what made me realize all of this is because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“If I hadn’t felt as strongly for you as I did, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome my fears and jump in. You’ve opened up a whole new world for me; I’m doing things I’ve never done before, and I’m succeeding, all because of you.”

Ares glanced down as though ashamed. “I’ve done nothing.”

She stepped toward him, placed each hand on his cheek, and brought his gaze to match hers. “You’ve done everything. You came with me to this reunion, you helped me beat Bradley at volleyball, you comforted me when I acted out of line—you even bought Grammy a birthday gift. Don’t deny it. I know you did it all for me.”

Ares pulled out of her grasp. He placed both his hands on her shoulders. Dread filled his face. “Kaye, you have to stop. I do not deserve this.” His tone was firm and final.

But she’d have no other chance. Anger and defiance strengthened her resolve. “Whether you do or not, I love you.”

“No.” Ares released her. “This cannot be.” He ran both hands through his hair and started pacing. “Do not listen to her. She doesn’t mean it.”

Kaye’s heart dropped to the floor. The rejection slapped her in the face. How could she have read him wrong? Embarrassment burned through her, followed by a sense of loss and a deep, dark emptiness. This was so not how she pictured the night would end.

Thunder rumbled, and lightning cracked the sky.

“No!” Ares shook his fist at the ceiling.

Who was he talking to? Zeus? Had Apollo disliked her that much?

Dark shadows coalesced in the corner of the room. Kaye stepped back, her heart racing. “What’s happening?”

The shadows formed into a silhouette of a hunched woman surrounded by feathers. She pointed a knobby knuckled finger at Kaye and spoke in ancient Greek.

Ares threw himself between them spreading both his arms. “Hekate, no. You must not.”

Kaye backed to the wall. Was this it? Would Hekate kill her to glean revenge against Ares?

The shadows hit Ares and moved straight through him. He growled and threw himself at the witch. She dissolved into smoke as he ran through her and hit the wall. She reappeared again in the same place. “You cannot stop me. What’s done is done. The curse will take its course.”

“Curse?” Kaye inched toward the door as the shadows touched the wall and crept sideways in wispy tendrils. She tried the handle. The door wouldn’t budge, and the shadows grew closer. “Shit.” Kaye pounded on the door. “Help!”

Ares fell to his knees as if he’d given up, staring at her with regret and sorrow. “I am truly sorry.”

Really? That’s it? He was just going to sit on the floor and watch Hekate kill her with some curse?

The first tendril reached Kaye, winding around her hand and up her arm. She thrashed her arm, but the shadow clung as if it wasn’t affected by the physical world. Another shadow traveled up her leg, and another up her other arm. The shadows pulled her forward, and she landed on her knees facing Ares. The shadows reached for his hands and brought their hands together.

Hekate uttered more ancient Greek, and Kaye wished she hadn’t taken French in college. It was like some sort of tragic wedding with an officiant from hell.

The sorrow in Ares’ eyes pulled her apart. She latched onto his gaze and wouldn’t let go. Saying she loved him might have triggered Hekate’s presence, but she wouldn’t take it back for all the world.

Hekate hissed, spread dust across the air above their heads, and continued with her gibberish. Kaye’s stomach lurched, and exhaustion spread through her as if the witch drained her energy. Dizziness attacked her senses, and every muscle in her body ached. At the same time, Ares glowed stronger.