Page 19 of Flowers Near Me

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THAT’S NOT A KISS

HADES

H ours after their workout in the gym, Hades and Persephone sat in the back of Hades’ SUV as Charon drove them through the loud streets of Olympus towards the restaurant. The black fitted cashmere sweater and umber woolen pencil skirt Persephone wore melded to her frame like a work of art. A piece he’d worship for as long as she’d let him.

Hades had known that when he first asked Persephone to become his CEO, that she’d reject the offer or play it off. In fact, he assumed she’d keep him at arm’s length even if she signed on as a permanent Underworld executive. This did nothing to change his resolve. His once empty apartment was filled with live greenery and Cerberus had regained all the energy of a puppy since she had moved in. He looked forward to returning home, knowing she’d be joining him for dinner.

She didn’t know it yet, but he’d bargained away his empire with the Fates, granting her control over it all. She’d learn soon enough that she already owned it.

Of course her emerald eyes, sun kissed cheeks, and luscious body made her desirable. Yet there was a yearning more intense than any other attraction he’d felt for beautiful women—immortal or mortal alike. Everything about her felt right. There was no doubt she was his whether she recognized it or not.

The night of their first dinner together when his brother Poseidon had dropped in on their conversation, uninvited, and she’d respectfully dismissed him, she’d won his admiration. She could’ve driven him mad bantering with his playboy brother—other flames had had no qualms about doing that in the past—but she didn’t.

When she’d stood up for him during the meeting with his other brother, Zeus, she’d won his whole heart. No one in her position would’ve vouched for him—in front of her own mother no less. Here, Persephone faced an unknown empire and had had every reason to slight him in that moment, but she’d still chosen to honor him.

The feats they could accomplish together would write history. Existence wasn’t worth it without her at his side.

“Persephone, has Hades briefed you on the reporters who will interview you today?” Charon called from the driver’s seat. His assistant’s voice sounded warm and pleasant unlike the clipped, expeditious tone she often used with him.

“Yes. They’re going to ask about the app’s progress and if we’re officially dating. Correct?”

Sitting one seat away from her, he studied the slope of her nose, the length of her dark lashes, and the way her hair trailed over her shoulder past her chest. He’d noticed that since she’d moved in, her face had more color, she stood taller, and her hair grew with impossible speed. It had to mean that she was exactly where she was meant to be. Now, figuring out how to convince her of that was quite the challenge.

And he was still kicking himself for going rigid in her arms at the golf course. She’d pressed that gorgeous body against him, and he lost all rational thought. At least he hadn’t taken advantage of her temporary vulnerability and run his hands along her hips and waist like he’d practically done when helping her line up her shot.

Lost in his own musings and the sight of the beautiful goddess sitting next to him, he missed whatever question Persephone had asked him. She scowled. “Did I miss anything, Hades?”

Probably not, he thought but answered, “You’ll be perfect.”

His phone vibrated in his jacket’s front pocket, and he swiped to open a message from Eurydice.

Eurydice

Issue with testers. Call me.

“Eurydice wants us to call her,” said Hades.

Persephone nodded.

The line rung once before Eurydice answered, “Hi, Hades.”

“What is it?” he asked and flicked his eyes to Charon’s reflection in the rearview mirror as he hit the speaker button.

On the other line, Hades heard tense voices arguing in the background. “All of the beta testers had their phones hacked. After they download the new version of the app, it sent push alerts of their location to everyone in their contact list. I have fifty angry testers demanding answers.”

“Have you removed the latest version from their phones?”

“Yes. It hasn’t stopped the issue, though. Whatever is causing this, used the app as a vehicle.”

“ Wonderful .” Hades groaned. “Other than the testers and their contacts, who else knows?”

“I don’t know.”

“Charon will meet you in the office soon. She’ll alert PR to field all questions, and I’ll talk to Hecate to see if she has any solutions.” Charon met his eyes in the mirror again and gave him a nod.

“Thank you, sir.”

Hades ended the call, fired off a quick text to Hecate, then slid his phone back into his breast pocket.

Persephone narrowed her eyes at him. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and caught her glancing at the action. The hint of interest in her cursory look and the slight blush on her cheeks made him rise a little in his seat. “Do you have the app on your phone?”

Persephone opened her home screen. “Not anymore. Eurydice had me remove it weeks ago when she started working on the newest version. Shouldn’t we head to the office?”

From the driver’s seat, Charon said, “Don’t skip lunch. I’ll come get you if they need you.”

Persephone fidgeted in her seat. Hopefully he could put her at ease so she’d enjoy their date.

“There’s nothing we can do now,” he said as he lifted one brow at her and winked. There was no point hovering over the dev team as they pinpointed the issue. Plus, she’d promised to act like a more convincing girlfriend on this date. No way he’d pass up that opportunity, even if his empire was burning to the ground. Wanting Sephy’s attention back on him, he asked, “How about we use that first kiss today?”

She rolled her eyes and straightened in her seat. “Stop.”

Leaning towards her, he put his hand on the seat between them. “It’s a good plan and you know it.” The thrill in his chest clawed at him.

She wiped her hands across the tops of her skirt-covered thighs. “It’s going to be awkward if we do that,” she said. Her mouth tightened at its edges, a tell Hades was beginning to recognize as her way of hiding an incoming joke.

He made a noise low in his throat. “And why is that?”

Straight faced, she replied, “Because I’ve never kissed anyone.”

He chuckled. It wasn’t true because his team had already uncovered every previous romantic detail from her past. A few boyfriends but nothing that lasted long. Demeter kept her daughter under close watch—something he appreciated even if Demeter was difficult . It was protocol, he’d assured Charon, that any high-ranking member of Underworld Unlimited required a thorough background check. Charon had responded to the request with a most sarcastic, “ Sure it is .”

A huge grin on his face, Hades said, “Is that so?”

Brushing her sleeves, she hummed in the affirmative.

“Well then, we ought to practice before we head into the restaurant. Work out all the kinks before the big performance.”

Her face snapped to his. There was a glint in her eye he couldn’t quite decipher. “No.”

He feigned disinterest and adjusted his watch. “Sephy, it’s lucky for you that you’re sitting next to the world’s most able lover. It’d be a shame not to practice with the best.”

She huffed a laugh. “You’re a confident one, that’s for sure. And if you wanted to kiss me so badly, you should’ve put that into the contract.”

“Funny you should mention the contract?—”

Persephone cut in, “No. There’s no way you could’ve finagled something like that into the agreement.”

Crossing his ankle over his knee, he sunk back in his chair. “Not explicitly, no, but I like to think it’s implied. Still, I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to. Instead, let’s make a deal. One kiss and I’ll make a donation of any amount to Helena’s school.”

Her eyes widened but the rest of her stayed frozen until she pulled part of her bottom lip with her teeth. If she said no, he decided he would keep his contribution to the school a secret. But if by some glorious turn of fate she agreed, he’d tell her on their drive home.

“Any amount?” she asked.

Hades nodded.

While she stared back, he imagined what it’d be like to kiss her now. In this fantasy, he’d unbuckle his seat belt and close the distance with one step. The moment she returned the kiss, he’d free her from her seat and pull her onto his lap. Her skirt’s modest front slit could be easily pushed up her smooth legs. He hadn’t stopped thinking about them since their time together in the gym. It had been hard not to stare at her in her shorts and tank top while they’d worked out together. His self-control had gone through a gauntlet these past couple of months.

Yanked from his thoughts as she replied, he had to ask her to repeat her answer.

“Setup an endowment fund. One that would support the school indefinitely and maybe I will kiss you,” Persephone said in a crisp voice.

“Done.” He beamed at her, delighted she’d agreed to a kiss. The crackle of power sealing the bargain filled the car’s interior with a pungent cedar scent. “I’m starting to think you like this idea given that your suggestion barely covers what a kiss from you is worth. You might never admit it, but you cut me a deal and for that, I am grateful.”

She pushed her hair over one shoulder. “You’re impossible sometimes.” The words coated with jest hung between them for a silent moment.

“While we’re on the subject of our impending date, let’s discuss what it is you’re willing to do,” Hades said as he leaned back in his seat and turned his head towards her. “May I hold your hand?”

She dipped her chin. “Yes, simple things like that. Don’t fondle me and it’ll be fine. What you’ve done in public so far has been acceptable so I assumed this would be no different.”

One side of his mouth lifted. “Would you sit in my lap during the meal?”

She shot him a tired look and chided, “No.”

He lifted his hands. “That’s fine. Save that for in private… I understand.”

“ Hades.” She groaned.

Laughing, he said, “Don’t blame me for trying.”

Persephone’s cheeks flared as she struggled to contain a smile, and the sight sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. He watched her as she turned to look out the window and the car came to a stop.

Charon said from the driver’s seat, “I’ll text you with updates after I get back to the office.”

Unbuckling his belt then Persephone’s, Hades replied with, “Thank you,” and hurried out of the car to open Persephone’s door. Her soft fingers slid into his offered hand, and he tamped down the desire to pull her all the way to his chest. The sweet hint of jasmine wafted past him as she stepped out.

“It’s showtime,” Persephone whispered near Hades’ ear, sending his heart racing. They’d had a few meals together in public, but his excitement had only increased. Sure, she still rolled her eyes and batted away his advances, but her bristling had morphed into feigned annoyance and hidden smiles.

Walking hand in hand, they smiled at the journalists who parted and peppered them with questions. Hades slowed his steps and put a hand on Persephone’s waist to turn them both towards the group.

“We’ll answer a few questions,” he said, his back to the restaurant.

A few reporters spoke over one another but ultimately yielded to a woman with a tight ponytail and tailored blazer.

“We’ve heard there are concerns about the Flowers Near Me’s security. Can you comment?” she asked, holding out her phone.

Hades cleared his throat and kept his hand on Persephone’s slim waist. He knew this question was coming. “ Flowers Near Me is undergoing the same rigorous testing all of our applications go through. Security is our top priority and once the newest version of the app is available for download, users can be assured of its safety.”

“Persephone! Is it true your mom fired you?” another reporter shouted from the crowd.

Persephone smiled, poised as always. The picture of professionalism—graceful and unbothered. “There’s a temporary conflict of interest but no ill will between us. Demeter’s Bounty will always be my first home.”

“Do you know why Demeter has refused all interviews?”

“Sounds like a question for her staff,” Persephone called back.

One of the reporters in the front asked, “Are you two dating?”

Hades and Persephone exchanged a glance as he pulled her closer to his side. Still holding her with one arm, he tucked some of her soft hair behind one ear and dragged his fingers down the length of the strands. Judging by the way her body froze he had reached the edge of her comfort level. It was hard not to run his fingers back over her soft hair, but he gritted his teeth and kept a polite hand on her side.

“I’d say so. And we’re ready to start enjoying our date. Good day.” He gave the group a dismissive nod, released Persephone’s waist, and turned towards the restaurant’s doors with an offered arm.

Persephone threw him a conspiratorial look with her half smirk and hooded eyes. She held his arm with both hands, interlocking her fingers, and took a step that pressed her hip to the side of his leg. If this didn’t grow into the relationship he was desperate for, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. There were no delusions that she was giving him earned affection, but things between them felt natural. Like he was finally whole.

They settled into upholstered lounge chairs surrounding the long flat top grill. Emerald glass chandeliers hung from the high coffered ceiling, bathing the geometric, Art Deco wallpaper in a golden glow. He liked the cozy spot, tucked into a corner of the restaurant. A waiter grabbed one of the bottles of ambrosia at their table and filled their glasses to the brim before taking their orders and hurrying off.

“You were perfect with those reporters, Sephy.” He took a slow sip of his drink, curious if she’d take the compliment or bat it away.

“Nothing a little Underworld media training didn’t prepare me for.” She huffed a laugh.

“I mean it. You’re a natural. And still so pretty too. The Fates outdid themselves with you. Even the gods are jealous.”

The blush on her cheeks had his heart soaring.

“Wow, flattery can get you anywhere, Hades.”

“Where would I go, love?” He skimmed his fingers down her arm and scooped up her hand to bring her knuckles to his lips. “I quite like where I am.”

“I can’t believe you just wasted the kiss on my hand,” she teased.

He grabbed her other hand and tugged her so she scooted closer to him. Soaking in the glory of her attention, he leaned in close and held her green eyes. The thin circle of green thinned as her pupils grew.

With his face inches away from hers, he said in a husky voice, “That’s not a kiss.”