Part 78 (1/2)

”Boss? You okay?”

She blinked and started breathing again. ”Sorry. Just thinking of something Aphrodite said.”

His ears turned scarlet.

”That boy of yours is a treasure.”

”Are you okay? She didn't... well, you know.”

To her surprise, his blush faded. ”Would you care?” he asked, meeting her gaze.

”Of course I'd care. While you're under this roof, you're my responsibility and she's... well, she's a little overpowering. You wouldn't have much choice. Any choice.”

”I'm not a kid,” he said quietly, squaring his shoulders.

”I know that.”

”Okay.” Eyes on his shoes, Dean moved toward the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs. ”I'm done here.”

”Lock your door.”

He paused and stared back at her, his expression unreadable. ”Sure.”

Confused, Claire went to her own rooms, hoping that Jacques had been released from his attendance on Persephone. The way she was feeling, if he pushed her tonight...

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately since she knew she'd regret it in the morning, Jacques' nightly pet.i.tion had been preempted by a G.o.ddess.

Dean had a suspicion that a locked door would stop no one in the hotel except him. He locked his anyway.

Right about now, down at the Portsmouth, Bobby would be attempting to wrest control of the jukebox away from the inevitable crowd of country-western types. He'd be unsuccessful, and Karen would have to go over. They'd have finished talking about the news from home and begun making plans to go back. Mike would be suggesting Colin'd had enough to drink and Colin'd be telling Mike to mind his own business.

The same thing happened every Sat.u.r.day night.

Lying on his bed and staring up at the ceiling. Dean realized Claire hadn't actually asked him to stay and cook dinner. They'd both simply a.s.sumed he would because it needed to be done.

That seemed to make him more than a mere employee.

What would Aphrodite have done if he hadn't moved?

As more than a mere employee, did that give him...

Would she have done it right there in the kitchen?

... a chance to talk with Claire as an equal or would that whole Keeper thing...

So she was a bit older, but she was a G.o.ddess. She was probably a lot more flexible than she looked.

Claire was a bit older, too...

”Okay. That's it.” That was as far as those trains of thought were merging. Closing his eyes, he resolutely counted sheep until sleep claimed him.