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and glossy that it looked like a midnight waterfall.

“You’re staring,” the goddess said, speaking not in the

language of the gods, but in everyday English.

Cassia jerked in her chair. She felt her face flushing. The

woman smiled, and her beauty was so dazzling that it was hard

to look at her face. She was astounding. The kind of beauty

that wasn’t supposed to exist outside of technology and digital

enhancements.

“I’m…sorry?”

The woman grinned. “Can I sit here?”

“Uh, you already are.”

“Can I stay?”

Cassia would have done just about anything to make that a

reality, even though that seemed borderline desperate. This

woman was a complete stranger, but Cassia didn’t want her to

leave. If she left, Cassia might never see her again. That would

feel like a tragedy. It would be a tragedy.

“Y-yes?” Why did that sound like a question?

“Adalynn,” the other woman offered with a smile. “Now

we’re not strangers.”

She flagged a passing waitress down and ordered two gin

and tonics. It wasn’t clear whether they were to share, or if

they were both for her. Cassia wrapped her fingers around her

nearly full drink, now gone warm since she’d had it sitting in

front of her for over an hour while she waited for her client to

show up. She still wasn’t sure if that was the right word.

Client. She didn’t want to be called a professional. There was

something about the word that was ugly.

Adalynn said nothing until the drinks were deposited in

front of her. She paid for them with a twenty and waved off