New York City, Emma had done a phenomenal job of replicating the interior of Guy’s Spanish-style villa located in Italy. “It’s lovely, Emma.”
She flicked her wrist. “It’s nothing. Just wanted Guy to feel at home.” She eyeballed Kinich. “You look great, by the way. Something’s different. Lose some weight?”
Funny woman. The gods did not need to worry about such things. “Must be my new tailor.” That man certainly knew how to cut a pair of slacks for the extra-extra-large male.
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. I can’t place my finger on it, but it’s like you’re radiating something new.”
Holy saints. Could it have something to do with Penelope?
He quickly changed subjects. “I’m here to see my brother. Is he still angry?” Kinich asked.
“You betcha,” she replied.
“And you?” Not only was Emma a Payal, but she wanted children—something he felt should not be allowed. Without question, Guy had already told her this.
She smiled. “Why should I be? You’re only doing what you think is right.”
He bowed his head. “A very mature attitude. I think we could stand to learn something from you.”
“Well, I can’t help it if I’m smarter than the gods—you included. I mean, it’s totally ridiculous to believe the Payals are throwing the universe out of whack. If anything, it’s you gods with your antiquated ways that are messing everything up. I mean, seriously, have you taken a good look at your crew? Total misfits!”
“Well,” he said, “I wouldn’t call them—”
“With the exception of Guy, no one else has ever lifted a finger to help humanity evolve in a positive direction.”
“Well, we’ve…uhhh. Well, my sister Colel—”
“The Bee Whisperer lady? Really? That’s your best example? A goddess who assists in the making of bee vomit?”
Maybe she had a point.
“The way I see it”—she poked his chest—“we’re an upgrade to the deity melting pot. Look how far Guy’s come along since he met me. He’s more civilized—”
“Emma!” Guy bellowed from the other room, “get your hot ass back in here, woman! We have not completed our evening lovemaking.”
Emma smiled at Kinich, and then whispered, “Except in bed, which is just how I like it.” She sighed. “Gods, I love that deity.”
Kinich flashed a polite smile. But truth was, he felt uncomfortable being around Emma and Guy when they were together. Perhaps because he’d spent several millennia convincing himself the gods weren’t destined for love or relationships. He’d resigned himself to the desolate, unsavory notion of an eternity alone—in the romantic sense. Yes. He had his role and humanity to look after. That would have to suffice, because any other option was unnatural.
Emma gestured him toward the living room. “Let me tell him you’re here. Maybe I can get him to play nice.”
“Much appreciated, Emma.”
She winked. “Anything for you, Sunshine Boy.”
In that moment, his cell rang. “Yes.”
“It’s me—Andrus. Your human has taken off.”
Son of a… “You were supposed to watch her!”
“Hey, I was feeding the ba—sharpening my sword. Not my fault.”
“Not your fault ?” he screamed.
“Gotta go, Matty needs me to change her daip…uhhhh—tires. That’s right. Tires on her tricycle.”
“Get over it, Andrus. We all know you are the nanny.”
“I am a lethal assassin!” Andrus argued.
“Keep telling yourself that, especially when you are experiencing my fist pounding into your skull, which is exactly what I will be doing after I find Penelope.” He hung up the phone, vowing to make Andrus pay.
He quickly dialed Penelope’s cell. To his surprise she answered on the second ring, but instead of disclosing her location, she ignored his warnings, ranted about some goddamned lost twig, and hung up on him.
Gods damned stubborn woman!
He was about to head out when Guy appeared wearing nothing but a scowl and a pair of silky, red boxers with white
She flicked her wrist. “It’s nothing. Just wanted Guy to feel at home.” She eyeballed Kinich. “You look great, by the way. Something’s different. Lose some weight?”
Funny woman. The gods did not need to worry about such things. “Must be my new tailor.” That man certainly knew how to cut a pair of slacks for the extra-extra-large male.
She shook her head. “Uh-uh. I can’t place my finger on it, but it’s like you’re radiating something new.”
Holy saints. Could it have something to do with Penelope?
He quickly changed subjects. “I’m here to see my brother. Is he still angry?” Kinich asked.
“You betcha,” she replied.
“And you?” Not only was Emma a Payal, but she wanted children—something he felt should not be allowed. Without question, Guy had already told her this.
She smiled. “Why should I be? You’re only doing what you think is right.”
He bowed his head. “A very mature attitude. I think we could stand to learn something from you.”
“Well, I can’t help it if I’m smarter than the gods—you included. I mean, it’s totally ridiculous to believe the Payals are throwing the universe out of whack. If anything, it’s you gods with your antiquated ways that are messing everything up. I mean, seriously, have you taken a good look at your crew? Total misfits!”
“Well,” he said, “I wouldn’t call them—”
“With the exception of Guy, no one else has ever lifted a finger to help humanity evolve in a positive direction.”
“Well, we’ve…uhhh. Well, my sister Colel—”
“The Bee Whisperer lady? Really? That’s your best example? A goddess who assists in the making of bee vomit?”
Maybe she had a point.
“The way I see it”—she poked his chest—“we’re an upgrade to the deity melting pot. Look how far Guy’s come along since he met me. He’s more civilized—”
“Emma!” Guy bellowed from the other room, “get your hot ass back in here, woman! We have not completed our evening lovemaking.”
Emma smiled at Kinich, and then whispered, “Except in bed, which is just how I like it.” She sighed. “Gods, I love that deity.”
Kinich flashed a polite smile. But truth was, he felt uncomfortable being around Emma and Guy when they were together. Perhaps because he’d spent several millennia convincing himself the gods weren’t destined for love or relationships. He’d resigned himself to the desolate, unsavory notion of an eternity alone—in the romantic sense. Yes. He had his role and humanity to look after. That would have to suffice, because any other option was unnatural.
Emma gestured him toward the living room. “Let me tell him you’re here. Maybe I can get him to play nice.”
“Much appreciated, Emma.”
She winked. “Anything for you, Sunshine Boy.”
In that moment, his cell rang. “Yes.”
“It’s me—Andrus. Your human has taken off.”
Son of a… “You were supposed to watch her!”
“Hey, I was feeding the ba—sharpening my sword. Not my fault.”
“Not your fault ?” he screamed.
“Gotta go, Matty needs me to change her daip…uhhhh—tires. That’s right. Tires on her tricycle.”
“Get over it, Andrus. We all know you are the nanny.”
“I am a lethal assassin!” Andrus argued.
“Keep telling yourself that, especially when you are experiencing my fist pounding into your skull, which is exactly what I will be doing after I find Penelope.” He hung up the phone, vowing to make Andrus pay.
He quickly dialed Penelope’s cell. To his surprise she answered on the second ring, but instead of disclosing her location, she ignored his warnings, ranted about some goddamned lost twig, and hung up on him.
Gods damned stubborn woman!
He was about to head out when Guy appeared wearing nothing but a scowl and a pair of silky, red boxers with white
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