Page 4 of A Goddess Unraveled (Olympus Rising)

Uncle Z looked fit to be tied as he stormed across the room toward Lexi and her dad, with her mom hot on his heels. Something had gone down with the stranger, who now stood at the champagne table attempting to get a glass of bubbly from Burt’s weaving hand.

“What’s the matter, Uncle Z?” Lexi rubbed his arm to calm him, and a painful jolt shot through her body. Her brother had played that trick on her before, but it never felt like she’d been defibrillated. “Wow. You could power a small city with that much electricity.”

He hopped back, looking shocked himself. “Forgive me, Lexi. I must have picked up some static on the way over.”

Her mom laughed, but Uncle Z was clearly in a mood and shot her a scowl.

“What’s got you so riled up?” Lexi asked. “Did that man insult you? We can ask him to leave.” Even as the words left her lips she knew she didn’t mean them. The man was all she could think about.

“No, he didn’t insult me. Your uncle Z has the backbone of a titanium blade. I just hadn’t expected him to join us here. When we last spoke he had plans to visit Asia. And regrettably, that conversation ended on less-than-friendly terms.”

Lexi knew her godfather was perfectly capable of less-than-friendly conversations, and she decided the stranger didn’t really pose a threat. When she glanced at her dad, she found him eyeing the man intently, just like she’d been doing a minute ago, but probably for a different reason.

“Would you like me to intervene, Z?” he asked.

“That won’t be necessary, Charles. Let’s not sully Lexi’s graduation celebration with petty things. We’ll just keep an eye on him.” Uncle Z assumed his parental face and turned it on Lexi. “Except for you, young one. You keep your eyes off him. He’s trouble. There are plenty of young men here who can carry on a conversation without expecting—well, I trust you to make the right choices. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a call to make.”

He stomped away, and Lexi was able to continue staring at the stranger. So he was trouble, huh? He seemed to be acting civil at the moment, sipping champagne and chatting pleasantly with Nora and Octavius. Did he know all the misfits?

The man hadn’t given Lexi another glance since that first intense moment at the door, when his smile had had her gawking. Did he decide she was too naive to bother with? Maybe her uncle Z had already told him to back off.

“Do either of you know that man?”

Her parents spoke their silent language while she pretended not to notice.

“We’ve never formally met, but we’ve heard about him through your godfather,” said her dad.

“What have you heard?”

“We know he’s committed to his work,” her mom offered blandly.

“Okay. Sounds like every other CEO I’ve met. Why do you think Uncle Z has a problem with him? Do they work together? Did they have a falling-out?”

“From what I understand, they work together out of duty. Not by choice.”

“All right, I won’t ask Uncle Z to introduce us. But that must be how he found out about my party. He’s probably here to wish me well before he hops on his private jet and flies to Asia. Why don’t we go over and introduce ourselves?”

Her parents reacted so suddenly, jerking their heads to blink at her, that she took a step back. “Geez, what’s with everybody today?”

“Let’s just leave it, for now,” her dad said. “I can introduce you to that man over there.” He pointed to Sami from Kolkata, a boy she’d hardly call a man.

“That guy’s so shy he almost passed out while we were talking. I want to know more about the man in the suit. And if somebody doesn’t give me a legitimate reason why I shouldn’t talk to him, I’m going over there right now.”

Her dad opened and closed his mouth as if he couldn’t form a coherent sentence. It wasn’t a good sign. “You want a legitimate reason? Fine. The man has a less-than-stellar reputation with women, if you understand my meaning. I hope, now, you’ll heed your godfather’s warning, and we can leave it at that.”

Wiping his palms on his expensive slacks, he guided her mom to the bar, their heads bent in conversation. So, they were worried Lexi was going to fall for this stranger. This sexy-as-sin stranger with the less-than-stellar reputation. Would it be so bad to get close to a guy like that? Even if it didn’t last?

Lexi wasn’t the romantically inexperienced girl her parents had raised her to be. She’d been reading some pretty filthy romance novels. In her third year at uni she’d stolen a kiss from a guy in English lit, despite the moment being awkward and short-lived. Sure, the conversations she’d had with men of the college variety had convinced her that most of them weren’t long-term material. But it would have been nice to have given them a go if her parents didn’t always find ways to squash any potential romances, like the guy from English lit who’d started avoiding her like the plague afterward. She wouldn’t be surprised if they’d placed spies around the campus.

Now, however, it appeared she’d been given carte blanche. And as far as she was concerned, the buffet had improved significantly.

~

The inane chatter that Luke —if he was going to label himself that—suffered through while making his rounds at the party convinced him that choosing to avoid these gatherings was a wise decision. His friends rambled on about the same things that had intrigued them the last time they spoke. After just an hour he was questioning his reasons for attending, although the look on Z’s face when he walked in the door already made it worth it. Predictable, but entertaining.

“I heard you’re traveling to Asia. What brings you out after such a long absence? In search of pleasure, Luke ?” Nora let his pseudonym linger on her tongue before releasing it, and he consented to play along. The whole bloody event was a farce anyway.

“As you know, Nora , pleasures vary depending on who you’re asking.” He paused, amused by her smile, before continuing. “I thought it was time to remind my friends that I’m still around. And I do love Asia.”

“You also love antagonizing Z, although I don’t blame you. It’s fun. But he can be tiresome. I only consent to his request for companionship when we come here.”

“That’s what I’ve heard. I’m glad to know my messenger is doing their job.”

Nora swayed as she enjoyed his banter, gently fondling the simple dress she wore, accented with only her warmth and rosy cheeks. She had figured things out, and it reminded him of the reasons he’d used for attending.

A hand rapped him on the shoulder as Octavius joined them. His grin rarely meant anything good, but it had been a long while since they’d seen each other, and Luke hoped enough time had passed to cool his friend’s ire about past disputes.

“Luke. It’s been an age. How are things in the nether regions?”

“That joke never gets stale. Speaking of which, I hear you won’t be competing in the games this year. Finding your humility and letting the young archers claim a prize, are you?”

“Don’t act like it’s the first time I’ve done it. Diana and I made a pact years ago. She’s bowing out as well, and I always keep my word.” If the smirk Octavius offered was meant as a barb, he would have to try harder.

“And Emily? Is she in on this pact?”

“Not officially, but we’re all competing in the races. Z will finally have some real opponents to knock him out of the top spot.”

“What makes you think Z will play fair?”

Octavius scoffed. “I forget how far out of the loop you are. The game keepers started awarding Z his own prize to appease the attention hog. So the second-place winner is awarded the first-place prize, and so on.”

“Fuel for his bloated ego. That’s clever.”

Luke was back to questioning his reasons for making the detour to the Maxwell estate, and turned a casual eye in Lexi’s direction. After a heated discussion involving Z and her parents, her brother had shown up and ushered her over to a boy with stiff hair and a perpetual smirk. Despite Lexi’s fairy-tale existence, Luke felt empathy for her, along with the other young men being paraded around the room. Their lives would never be their own.

Of course, he wasn’t foolish enough to think that, at twenty-two years old, Lexi was completely naive. He sensed her needs simmering beneath that practiced posture as her gaze tracked him around the room. And he didn’t doubt it would be easy to command her attention. But this was not the time nor the place for it, despite the comfort he could take in her company. He’d already decided it was better to heal his wounds himself.

~

Lexi tried not to roll her eyes while she waited for the boy to stop talking about himself. What was his name again? Rod?

“Last year I was named captain of my rowing team,” he said loudly. “And my swimming improved dramatically after my last growth spurt. I was even challenged to swim the English Channel.”

Maybe they just wanted you to get lost . “Impressive. So, your parents are from Boston but you grew up in Bruges?”

“That’s right. Our estate is in Bruges. I’m the youngest, so I’ve got more freedom than my older sisters. They didn’t attend uni over here. My parents are looking at a twenty-room town house in South End. There’s a hot tub installed on the patio, which is great therapy after intense workouts. Where’s your Boston home located?”

“Eagle Hill.”

Rod’s face pinched, making him look like a pug. “Too bad. I hear the noise from air traffic has driven down real estate prices in that area.”

Really? This arrogant ass was judging her based off real estate prices? He hadn’t asked a single question about her. Not What sports are you interested in? Or What do you do for fun? It didn’t matter to him that she enjoyed horseback riding or that she admired the works of Hemingway despite his lack of dialogue tags. This boy was rich trash, and she regretted giving him a second chance. As far as Lexi was concerned, he could fly to that twenty-room town house and soak his head in the hot tub.

She glanced over her shoulder, locating the mystery man her uncle Z was determined to keep her away from. She’d already guessed that he was in his late twenties or early thirties, since he carried himself so well and mingled like a pro. But his relaxed confidence was unlike the type-A CEOs she’d met. He seemed like a regular guy. Someone who’d come into his money honestly and now lived the life of a wealthy philanthropist who liked to spend time on his yacht and drink highballs after five o’clock.

Did he have a girlfriend who sailed with him on that yacht? Of course he had a girlfriend. He was a magnificent piece of art. Where was she tonight? Had they broken up because of his less-than-stellar reputation with women?

“Well, it’s been nice talking to you again, Rod,” Lexi said as she backed away from the gel head. “I have a few more people to chat with. You know, the duties of a hostess.”

“Of course. Congratulations, by the way.”

She let Rod talk to her back as she made a beeline for the bathroom, which she desperately needed after finishing that bottle of water. Maybe if she switched to wine the boys would get more interesting. She might even be ready to talk to the mystery man.

After handling her situation in the bathroom and a quick inspection in the mirror, Lexi rallied herself for more fake interest. Why did her parents’ parties have to be so dull? They’d even managed to ruin what was supposed to be her farewell-and-fuck-you party.

As she stepped back into the hallway, she nearly collided with someone outside the door.

“Excuse me. That was my fault.”

His voice came across like vanilla fudge, sweet and smooth, and Lexi’s heart thudded in her ears as she faced the stranger in the charcoal suit. She quickly remembered why he’d stunned her. It was those eyes that had done it. They were like twin suns, and if she didn’t look away, she’d be blinded. But she didn’t want to look away. Their golden glow warmed her. She’d never seen gold eyes before. Maybe they were hazel with yellow flecks. Or amber. Did people have amber eyes?

Say something .

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said. “I’m Lexi Maxwell.”

Of course, they hadn’t met. Damn . She was going to ruin this before it even got started.

“Luke Carrington. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He smiled, and the hall glowed brighter. This man had radiance exploding from his pores. “You appear to be enjoying your party. I haven’t seen that smile leave your face.”

He’d been watching her? How had she missed that? Had he caught her watching him? What else had he noticed? At least his eyes were on her face. Rod had ogled her dandelions the whole time he talked about himself.

“The party’s fine. But I’m looking forward to what’s happening afterward.”

Why had she said that? Now, he was going to ask.

“What’s happening afterward?” His eyes twinkled, like he was making his own assumptions. Or maybe she was just being dazzled.

“I’m taking a vacation. A long-awaited, extended vacation.”

“That is something to look forward to. Vacations can be rejuvenating and put a fresh perspective on life. Is that what you’re hoping for?”

Lexi blinked at him. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had asked what she hoped for. “Yes. It’s not what I was thinking when I started my itinerary, but the way you’ve worded it makes it sound less desperate.”

With some effort she redirected her gaze away from his eyes. Logically, her gaze went straight to his mouth. Why was she so nervous? She could navigate her way through any conversation. Oh right, she was talking to the man with the golden eyes. And that cologne he wore. It reminded her of spice and earth. The way the ground smelled after a good rain.

She didn’t realize that all the blood traveling to her head to help her form words had abandoned her legs, and the floor suddenly felt strange under her feet, like she’d indulged in too much wine. This was embarrassing, since she hadn’t indulged. She casually threw out her arm to lean against the wall and missed the landing.

Luke noticed her dilemma and his forearm shot out to catch her before she stumbled. “Do you need to sit down?”

Forgoing an answer, he slipped his hand under her arm and escorted her out of the hallway and into the living room. She couldn’t decide whether this was helpful or making things worse. His touch made every hair on her body stand on end, and she quickly scanned the crowd out of habit.

Maybe her uncle Z wouldn’t see Luke holding her, and Luke wouldn’t have to stop doing it. This was the closest she’d ever come to feeling like a heroine in a novel. Lexi knew she could hold her own in battle, but she could also enjoy the attention of a real-life Adonis.

The sound of breaking glass had everyone turning toward the source, but Lexi ignored it. With any luck, it was one of the waitstaff and not an overbearing baby-man determined to ruin her fun.