Then again, Balthazar seemed to want her. She just assumed it was him trying to get under Matthias’s skin, but something else flashed in the walking cesspool’s eyes that scared her to death.
She stifled the chuckle. Had he actually suggested Matthias was attracted to her? Yeah right! As if some muscle-bound giant was interested in her. Heck, someone that built didn’t dare eat the stuff she was fond of cooking. She was Italian, after all. Can you say carbohydrate central?
Minerva hissed and with a light push sent Matthias flying back against the back of the sofa, the impact sending them both reeling.
Holy shit! What did they want from her? A catered three-course meal with devil’s food cake for dessert? That was all she was probably good for.
“I owe one of my dearest friends. I promised her I would deliver something.”
“Don’t let us stop you.” Matthias crossed his arms and leaned into the sofa.
“Good, now that we have that all out of the way.” Minerva steepled her fingers and rose from the chair. She snapped her fingers and a golden tray with three glasses of red wine appeared on the table. She plucked two of the glasses and handed them to Serah and Matthias, the red liquid sloshing. “Wine?”
Serah hesitated. She glanced toward Matthias, who was equally hesitant.
Minerva’s lips spread into a wide smile. “Lambrusco. A little birdie told me it was your favorite.” She thrust the glass out to Serah, giving her no chance to refuse. “Of the Dolce variety too.”
Serah took the fine crystal glass into her hand, allowing her fingertips to trace along the etchings. How did this woman know sweet Lambrusco was her favorite? Maybe she really was Minerva. “Thank you.”
Minerva nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Bringing the crystal up to her nose, Serah inhaled the deep, heady scent. Whatever vintage it was, it was exquisite. She took a sip. Despite the slight dryness, the delicate fizz burst along her tongue and the delicious notes of berries swirled in her mouth. It was amazing.
The goddess turned to Matthias and shoved the glass in his hand. “I don’t care if it isn’t your favorite. You demons need to broaden your tastes.”
Matthias grumbled. His eyes shooting daggers, he took a healthy sip of wine, gulping visibly as he swallowed. “Happy now?”
“Very.” Minerva swished toward the back hallway. “Now if you will follow me?”
Matthias rose from the sofa and placed his hands on his waist. He dwarfed the goddess by a good six inches. Either he was brave or just incredibly stupid. If this woman was truly a goddess, no one in his right mind would dare challenge her. Gods had smote people for less. “What sort of debt, Minerva? And don’t dance around the subject.”
Minerva only chuckled and patted Matthias on the shoulder. “If you were anyone else, I’d kill you. But I promised someone I’d keep you safe.”
“Me?”
“Well, you are her protector after all.”
Serah groaned. Were people this wise always so mysterious? Then again, she always knew Nonni had been wise beyond her years, and she was as mysterious as they came. “So what do I have to do with your promise? I’m just a caterer, born and bred in the Midwest.”
Minerva shook her head. “You are so much more, Serah SanGermano. Come.” She held out her hand. “I’ll show you.”
A spark of truth flashed in her green eyes. Serah nodded and took her hand. With no more effort than lifting a paper off a desk, Minerva pulled her to her feet. “This way,” she said, extending her hand toward the darkened hallway.
Matthias grabbed Serah’s elbow, the instant jolts of energy not so foreign anymore. “I don’t trust her. She’s been known to be very manipulative. I won’t have you hurt her on my—”
“First day on the job,” Serah said with a roll of her eyes. “You said that already. Besides, I think if she planned on hurting me she would have done it already.”
“Precisely!” Minerva interrupted.
She stifled the chuckle. Had he actually suggested Matthias was attracted to her? Yeah right! As if some muscle-bound giant was interested in her. Heck, someone that built didn’t dare eat the stuff she was fond of cooking. She was Italian, after all. Can you say carbohydrate central?
Minerva hissed and with a light push sent Matthias flying back against the back of the sofa, the impact sending them both reeling.
Holy shit! What did they want from her? A catered three-course meal with devil’s food cake for dessert? That was all she was probably good for.
“I owe one of my dearest friends. I promised her I would deliver something.”
“Don’t let us stop you.” Matthias crossed his arms and leaned into the sofa.
“Good, now that we have that all out of the way.” Minerva steepled her fingers and rose from the chair. She snapped her fingers and a golden tray with three glasses of red wine appeared on the table. She plucked two of the glasses and handed them to Serah and Matthias, the red liquid sloshing. “Wine?”
Serah hesitated. She glanced toward Matthias, who was equally hesitant.
Minerva’s lips spread into a wide smile. “Lambrusco. A little birdie told me it was your favorite.” She thrust the glass out to Serah, giving her no chance to refuse. “Of the Dolce variety too.”
Serah took the fine crystal glass into her hand, allowing her fingertips to trace along the etchings. How did this woman know sweet Lambrusco was her favorite? Maybe she really was Minerva. “Thank you.”
Minerva nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Bringing the crystal up to her nose, Serah inhaled the deep, heady scent. Whatever vintage it was, it was exquisite. She took a sip. Despite the slight dryness, the delicate fizz burst along her tongue and the delicious notes of berries swirled in her mouth. It was amazing.
The goddess turned to Matthias and shoved the glass in his hand. “I don’t care if it isn’t your favorite. You demons need to broaden your tastes.”
Matthias grumbled. His eyes shooting daggers, he took a healthy sip of wine, gulping visibly as he swallowed. “Happy now?”
“Very.” Minerva swished toward the back hallway. “Now if you will follow me?”
Matthias rose from the sofa and placed his hands on his waist. He dwarfed the goddess by a good six inches. Either he was brave or just incredibly stupid. If this woman was truly a goddess, no one in his right mind would dare challenge her. Gods had smote people for less. “What sort of debt, Minerva? And don’t dance around the subject.”
Minerva only chuckled and patted Matthias on the shoulder. “If you were anyone else, I’d kill you. But I promised someone I’d keep you safe.”
“Me?”
“Well, you are her protector after all.”
Serah groaned. Were people this wise always so mysterious? Then again, she always knew Nonni had been wise beyond her years, and she was as mysterious as they came. “So what do I have to do with your promise? I’m just a caterer, born and bred in the Midwest.”
Minerva shook her head. “You are so much more, Serah SanGermano. Come.” She held out her hand. “I’ll show you.”
A spark of truth flashed in her green eyes. Serah nodded and took her hand. With no more effort than lifting a paper off a desk, Minerva pulled her to her feet. “This way,” she said, extending her hand toward the darkened hallway.
Matthias grabbed Serah’s elbow, the instant jolts of energy not so foreign anymore. “I don’t trust her. She’s been known to be very manipulative. I won’t have you hurt her on my—”
“First day on the job,” Serah said with a roll of her eyes. “You said that already. Besides, I think if she planned on hurting me she would have done it already.”
“Precisely!” Minerva interrupted.
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