Aphrodite's Kiss by Julie Kenner Page B

lot more erotic than body paint or feather massages. And why not lose control if you’re with the right guy?”
    Zoë shrugged and started inspecting her fingernails. “I haven’t found a Mr. Right, remember?”
    The kid had a point. “And I guess the odds of finding him in time to solve your Mom problem are pretty slim.”
    “Of finding him again, anyway,” Zoë mumbled.
    “What?”
Again
? What was the girl talking about?
    “Nothing.”
    Deena couldn’t help but grin, and it was all she could do to keep from putting down her coffee and rubbing her palms together. “Okay. Come on. Give. Who is he?”
    “No one. Really.”
    “Zoë, I heard you. Tell me about the guy.”
    Zoë’s face turned red, and Deena tried not to laugh. She’d read her share of comic books growing up, and never once had she pictured a blushing, Oreo-eating, library-tending superhero.
    “I don’t know how to get in touch with him, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”
    “For crying out loud, Zo, do I have to beg? Just
tell
me.”
    “Okay, okay.” She leaned over the table, and Deena leaned closer as well. “He’s gorgeous. Dark hair and a light beard. And his eyes are brown—almost gold.”
    “So he’s a hunk. That doesn’t really help a lot. How do you know him?”
    With a sigh, Zoë sat back. “That’s the problem. I don’t. He came to the school a few days ago. We actually flirted a little.” The blush deepened and Zoë looked down at the table. “But then he started asking about Emily and I kicked him out.”
    Deena’s head was swimming. “Why would you kick him out? Were you jealous? You didn’t even know the guy.”
    Zoë rolled her eyes. “No. He was some insurance investigator, and he thought Emily was sleeping around.”
    She shrugged. “He was poking around in her desk, so I kicked him out.”
    “And you haven’t seen him since.” Deena sighed. “It’s so sad, but so romantic.”
    Zoë started inspecting her fingernails again. “Actually, I saw him last night.”
    “Oh, really?” Deena bit back a grin. “The plot thickens.”
    “He came by to ask me out for a date.”
    “Well? What did you say?”
    “I said no, of course.”
    “The man of your dreams asks you out and you say no? Are you insane?”
    “I told you. The touch thing.”
    “Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think.”
    Zoë shook her head, her eyes wide. “He held my hand.”
    “And?”
    “And I pretty much felt like the power of the universe was ripping me apart from the inside.” She smiled, shrugging a little. “But in a good way.”
    “Hoo-boy.” If this wasn’t one of the weirder situations Deena’d ever run across ...
    She regrouped, studying Zoë. “Was that the first time he’d touched you?”
    “Like that, anyway. I shook his hand in the library, but it wasn’t like this.”
    “Well, there you go,” Deena said, throwing her hands out to her sides and sloshing coffee on the floor.
    “What?”
    “You were a touch virgin.”
    Zoë’s eyebrow shot up over her glasses. “Excuse me?”
    “You know. Your first time and all. I bet the next time will be calmer, less intimidating.” She smiled wickedly. “But still fabulous.”
    Zoë nibbled on her lower lip, obviously considering the possibility. “I’m not sure. You really think so?”
    “Absolutely. It’s like the superhero, supersense equivalent of being sixteen and groping in the backseat of a Pontiac.”
    Zoë grimaced. “I’m not sure about that, but I get your point.”
    “Then go for it.”
    “Even if I wanted to”—she held up a hand—“and I’m not saying I do, there’s still another problem.”
    Deena quit bouncing and flopped back in her chair. “Hit me. I’m on a roll.” Hell, at the rate they were going, she’d have Zoë ruling the dating world by the time spring break ended.
    “He’s a mortal.”
    “Can’t do anything about that,” Deena admitted. “Why does it matter?”
    “I can’t get involved with a mortal.”
    “Oh. Why