Goddess by Chance (Demi-God Daughters Book 2) (8 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Arienne was silent as the car drove them to lunch. Guilt. Shame. Worry. All those emotions welled up inside her.
You knew this was a bad idea. Deep down.
But it was too late now. She’d seen the way Chris watched her as she and Trisha spoke. The glint in his eyes. The smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Although he’d been the perfect gentleman, she knew better. There was no telling what he was thinking, but she was sure it wasn’t good.

“Arienne, are you all right?”

Her head snapped up. Chris’s eyes stared into hers.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You seem a bit rattled.”

“What makes you think that?” she asked.

“Your body language.”

“My body language?”

“Yes. You seem tense.”

Before Arienne could respond, the Rolls came to a stop.
Saved by the bell.
Chris opened the door and stepped out, and Arienne followed. As they walked into the restaurant together, she was well aware of the way his hand settled across her back and the warmth of his fingers against the thin material.

“Table for two.”

“Yes, Mr. Triton. Right this way.”

Arienne tore her gaze away from the large, crystal chandelier hanging in the small foyer to the man gathering menus. The portly man was wearing a starched grey shirt and black slacks. With Chris’s hand still on the small of her back, they followed the host to a secluded area of the restaurant. With mahogany round wooden tables, dark red upholstered seats and large, brightly lit chandeliers, the place screamed elegance.

“Here you are,” the host said as he placed the menus on the table.

“Thank you,” Chris said.

“Your waiter will be right with you.”

Chris nodded before pulling out a chair for Arienne. She gave him a small smile as she took her seat, and he pushed her closer to the table before taking his own seat.

“I love this place.”

“I take it you’ve been here often,” Arienne said.

“Yes. They have some of the finest cuisine in town.”

“Welcome to the Chateau La Rosa. I’m Samuel, and I’ll be your waiter. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of Dom,” Chris said.

“Mountain Dew for me.”

The waiter nodded and took his leave.

“No alcohol?” Chris asked.

“I don’t drink.”

“Never?” he asked, raising a brow.

“No. Never.”

“I enjoy a libation myself every now and then. I hope you don’t think I’m a lush.”

“Of course not. There’s nothing wrong with social drinking. I just don’t do it.”

“Maybe we’ll change that,” he said winking.

She gave him a terse smile.
Not likely, buddy.
Arienne studied her menu. Some of the prices were a bit more extravagant. Okay, more than extravagant but it wouldn’t hurt to live a little.

“Here you are, Sir. Madam.”

The waiter set their glasses down on the table in front of them.

“Thank you, Samuel. I’m ready to order. What about you, Arienne?”

She nodded. “I’ll have the crab cakes and the shrimp linguini.”

“And I’ll have the filet mignon and lobster tail.”

“I’ll bring it right out.” Samuel collected their menus and left to place their order.

“I’m really glad you agreed to have lunch with me,” Chris said smiling.

“Why wouldn’t I? Besides I’m sure you’re not used to women turning down an invitation from you.”

“I thought you might.”

“Why would you think that?” Arienne asked.

“After we gave our donation, I kind of got the feeling you wanted to get as far away from me as possible.”

Arienne swallowed. Chris was staring at her, head tilted slightly to the side, lips parted.

“That wasn’t the case at all.”

“I could tell you were a bit uncomfortable. Does it have something to do with R.A.I.N.N.? I know the organization is important to you.”

“It is.”

“Do you know someone R.A.I.N.N. helped?”

Chris was an observant man, but then again she’d never been good at hiding her emotions. There was no use in trying to hide the truth. “Me,” she whispered.

Chris’s brows drew together. “You?”

“Yes. I was raped when I was seventeen. Actually, I was two weeks away from turning eighteen.”

“Arienne, I’m so sorry.” He reached across the table and took both her hands in his.

“Thank you.”

“They were able to help you deal with what happened?”

“When I finally sought help.”

“You waited. Why?”

“I was embarrassed. Ashamed. I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“You had nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about.” His hands caressed hers.

Arienne tried to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. “I know that now, but I didn’t then.”

“How long did you wait before you told someone?”

“Four years. I’d just turned twenty-two.”

Chris’s eyes stretched wide. He shook his head slowly. “Four years?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell me the man who hurt you was arrested?”

“I never reported it.”

Chris’s jaw clenched. She could see a muscle moving in his neck.

“So somewhere out there the man who hurt you is walking around and suffering no consequences for what he did to you. I have a real problem with that, Arienne. A real problem.”

A tear slid down Arienne’s cheek, and Chris wiped it away. She didn’t flinch as his hand cupped her cheek.

“I’m sorry. I’m not angry at you. I’m angry at what was done to you.”

“I know.” She offered him a sad smile.

His thumb caressed her cheek and then slowly he leaned in until his lips touched hers.

Chapter Seventeen

Her lips were soft beneath his own. Triton kissed her tenderly, intent on not frightening her. Slowly Arienne’s lips opened and his tongue slid tentatively between them, tasting the sweetness of her mouth. But he wanted more. For the first time in eons, simply kissing a woman was arousing him to a frenzy. He was rigid and stiff, pressing against his slacks.

But he had to stop kissing her. Leaning back in his chair, he tried to get his suddenly ragged breathing under control.
What is wrong with you? You’ve kissed tons of women. More than you can count. Why is kissing one inexperienced girl getting to you?
Triton cleared his throat, “I’m sorry, Arienne. Please forgive me.”

Her black eyes widened, and a flush crept across her cheeks. He didn’t miss the wince that came and went.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No. Of course not. It’s just that I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that, especially after what you just shared with me.”

“That’s not what it felt like to me, Chris.”

“It didn’t?”

“No. You’re a pretty good kisser.”

“Just pretty good? Perhaps I might need to have another try then.”

Arienne smiled at him, and he could swear a subtle blush colored her cheeks.
She’s so beautiful and doesn’t even realize it.

“Here you are,” their waiter said materializing. He set their entrees in front of them and disappeared.

Arienne dug into hers, and Triton did the same, while watching her. He’d already known about the rape because of his excursion to her psychologist’s office, but hearing Arienne recount the event in her own words was enough to touch the coldest of hearts. Even his. Seeing the tears in her eyes had affected him in a way he hadn’t been expecting. He wanted to choke the life out of the human who’d dared to defile her. The only female Triton has ever felt so protective of was … Pallas. Dear sweet Pallas, the reason this innocent, vulnerable woman in front of him had to be hurt … again.

His heart clenched at the thought. Triton didn’t want to hurt her, but he had no choice. As he watched Arienne slurp the end of a noodle into her mouth, his groin tightened. Images of her thighs closed around his back as he made love to her played in his mind.

Make love, Triton? You’ve never made love to a female in your life.
Why should Arienne Marcos be any different? He didn’t know, but somehow Athena’s daughter could very well be the one who did him in.

****

Cerceis knew it had been a good idea to follow Triton because today had just proven that her ex was ill equipped to deal with the girl. The way he’d kissed Arienne had not been the kiss of seductive manipulation that he was well known for. He’d kissed the girl like he felt something for her, and that meant their plans were in real trouble.

Triton was supposed to be seducing the girl before discarding her like a used tissue. Instead the fool was wiping the girl’s tears away and watching her eat like a lovesick swan.

What in Olympus could be wrong with him?
He had no problems attracting the opposite sex so why was he acting so hung up on Arienne?

Cerceis gritted her teeth as she watched Triton wipe a small smear of sauce from the corner of the girl’s lip. As Arienne blushed, Triton flashed a smile at her that Cerceis knew well. So long ago, the full force of that smile had once been directed at her. The first tendrils of a burning sensation spread inside her belly.

Observing her ex’s weakness had revealed Arienne’s darkest secret. The girl was a rape victim.
Now isn’t that rich? I wonder how Athena reacted when she found out. Everyone knows what the bitch did to poor Medusa when she was raped.
Already, a new dastardly plan was forming in her mind. If the girl thought she’d been through it already, she was very much mistaken.

****

Arienne clutched her hands together as she and Chris made their way back to her condo. Sneaking a glance, she noticed he was glancing out of the window. He had such an attractive profile, and if he ever grew tired of being a businessman, she was sure he’d have a terrific career as a male model. She blushed at the thought of seeing him on a billboard in his underwear. Chris turned away from the window and winked at her. Her mouth was suddenly dry because he was looking at her like he wanted to kiss her again.

Her lips still burned, remembering the tenderness of his kiss and the way his tongue had explored her mouth. Heat bloomed in her belly. She’d kissed him and damn well enjoyed it. Wait until she told Dr. Montgomery.
Talk about progress.
Arienne’s cell phone rang, startling her.

“Excuse me,” she said digging into her purse.

“No problem.”

Unlocking the screen, she brought the phone to her ear. “Arienne Marcos.”

“This is Herman George.”

“What can I do for you?”
Why in the hell is he calling me?

“There’s no easy way to say this, but I think it would be best if the library parted ways with you.”

“Excuse me?”

“While I appreciate everything you did, things could’ve gone very badly. Your actions could’ve caused a patron to be hurt or worse, killed, and the library would’ve been on the hook for a myriad of lawsuits. Not to mention all of the bad publicity. We can’t take that chance again.”

Arienne ended the call rubbing the bridge of her nose. Her hand shook.

“Arienne, what’s wrong?”

“I was just fired.”

“What? Why?”

“My heroics are a liability the library can no longer afford.”

“Your heroics? You saved lives. That Herman George is a prick if there ever was one.”

“Indeed.”

Chris’s eyes grew dark. “You don’t have to take this lying down.”

“What do you mean?”

“One phone call and you’ll be the new Director of the Cape Canaveral Library. Say the word and it’s yours.”

Arienne’s mouth nearly dropped. “You’d do that for me?”

“Absolutely. You’re the reason I got involved with the library in the first place. I’d be thrilled to help you wipe that smug look off Herman George’s face.”

A warmness moved through Arienne’s belly. Her former boss may think he was getting the best of her, but she had a very powerful someone in her corner who was willing to fight for her if she asked. And just knowing that was enough.

“Chris, thank you so much for your offer, but that won’t be necessary.”

“You’re sure?” he asked.

“Yes. I always say what goes around comes around. He’ll get his without me messing up my karma.”

“That’s very noble. Something else for me to like about you,” Chris said opening his door.

He reached for her hand and helped her from the car. She was all too cognizant of the way he watched her as they took the elevator up to her fifth floor condo. When they exited the elevator and were standing outside her door, she faced him.

“Thank you so much for your donation, for lunch, and for what you offered to do for me. I really appreciate all of it.”

“It was my pleasure, and my offer still stands.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like to see you again.”

“You would?”

“I’d be a fool not to. How about this Saturday? We can go out on my boat.”

Arienne’s heart fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings. She was surprised Chris couldn’t hear it. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes. I’d like that.”

“Fantastic.”

Taking the keys from her, Chris unlocked the door and opened it before placing the keys back in her hand, closing his fingers over them.

“So what time should I expect you?”

“Around two. I want us to enjoy some of the sunshine.”

“Sounds great. I’ll be ready.”

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

“So am I.”

Chris leaned forward, and Arienne did the same. Their lips met, but only briefly before Chris stepped away.

“I’ll see you Saturday,” Chris said.

“Okay.”

Before she made a fool of herself, Arienne stepped inside her condo and shut the door. Leaning against it, she pressed a hand to her chest. She was going on a date, and if it turned out to be anything like today, her days of therapy might soon be over.