Page 10

“ H e should be here,” Athena complained to Meddy as the makeup artist packed up her kit. They’d already shot the images of her for the cookbook’s back cover and interior. It hadn’t taken long, since Chad was supposed to be standing beside her in almost all of the planned shots.

The lights had been hot and the feeling of being stood up—or worse, pranked—had made her awkward and stiff. She figured this morning’s photos would be toss-aways. Just like the food she’d prepped as props.

“Maybe he went somewhere fun for Christmas and his flight got canceled or delayed,” Meddy suggested.

“He sent me his location—from here—two hours ago.” They hadn’t been able to find the photographer’s building and Chad had sent her a pin. Meaning he’d been here.

But by the time they’d arrived—a healthy twenty minutes before she’d been told to—he was gone.

Stood up?

All he’d texted was “Got to take care of something. Back quick.”

Then radio silence.

She sighed. She’d really wanted today off. Not just to deal with the post-Christmas sugar hangover from all the traditional Greek treats she’d baked—and then eaten—with her family, but because she needed a break.

But no. In marches Chad Mullens and suddenly everything ran on his schedule and she had to come in on her day off.

“Is it any surprise?” Her sister shrugged, her feet propped up on what was supposed to be Chad’s beauty station, as she flipped through a book catalog.

Athena had promised Meddy they’d pick up some stuff for their store after the shoot and before Athena returned to her office for the afternoon.

Technically, she had the entire day off, but since she was already in the city Meddy had suggested she take care of a few things at work so she could be stolen away later next week for some bookshop errands.

Athena smacked the booklet from her sister’s grip. “We have more stock than we can sell in the first quarter. Don’t tempt yourself.”

“Hey! Don’t take your frustrations out on me.” She leaned forward and retrieved the glossy catalog.

The makeup artist hoisted her bags. “I’m leaving, but you’re all set for when Mullens arrives.” The woman with heavy eye shadow and a lip ring glanced toward the door as though reluctant to miss out on seeing the city’s semi-famous hockey playboy.

“Did you happen to see him earlier?” Athena asked, before taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee.

The woman gave her a look, shoulders dropping as though Athena had done something wrong. Athena followed her disapproving glance to the ring of lipstick she’d just left on her takeout cup. She winced apologetically. “Sorry.”

“I didn’t see him, and I was here early.” The artist set down a bag, fished out a lipstick and tossed it over. “Keep it. And here are some disposable makeup wipes. When you’re done, you can use them to clean your face.”

“Thanks.”

The artist left and Athena muttered, “The man needs to buy a watch.”

“When do you want to have our first open-mic poetry night?” Meddy asked. “I was thinking soon after we open the store. Maybe the second week? Get people in the habit of checking us out.”

She nodded absently. “Sure. But I don’t understand him. I mean, he was great at the filming. He ran Howell and Nuvella off the set so I could relax, and even defended my sexiness.”

“He what?” Meddy turned abruptly, feet back on the floor, brows furrowed in curiosity.

Athena got that excited, breathy feeling just thinking about the way he’d defended her and her nerdy bookworm side. He’d even called her smart—that had earned him extra brownie points. Brownie points he was currently scarfing down.

“He brought me earrings, and he—”

“The gold hockey sticks?” Her sister’s lips turned up in a devilish grin. “He’s got a crush on you.”

“Obviously not.” She frowned at her watch, not willing to admit that she’d toyed with the ludicrous idea a time or two before telling herself to get a life. “He’s just trying to win me over so he doesn’t get in more trouble with the team’s management.”

“Hmm.” Her sister sat back again, catalog open but her hazel eyes on Athena.

“I don’t get it. He knew the omelet recipe was from my first cookbook. But he doesn’t cook. He disregards everything I say or do or—”

“Yeesh. Take a chill pill already. No wonder he’s ghosting you.” Meddy tossed the catalog onto the small makeup counter in front of her. “Don’t forget there’s a reason you quit hockey players. Let him go. Move on.”

Athena grumbled to herself, pulled out her phone and texted her friend Jenny Oliver.

Know any single professors? I need a date.

“What are you doing?” Meddy asked.

“Looking for a bookworm to date.”

“Mullens is making you feel things, huh?” That evil grin was back.

“Primarily rage.”

Jenny texted back, I’ll ask Karen.

Smart. Ask the local librarian.

Athena checked her watch yet again. Chad was so late. They were supposed to be done by now. “He is such a self-centered man.”

“He’s also hot and going to sell a crap-ton of your cookbooks.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But he’s just like Lonnie. All promises and charm, but can’t keep a commitment.”

Her sister rolled her eyes. She’d made no bones about letting Athena know how she felt about Lonnie when she’d started dating the man.

Their parents had been quieter about it, but she’d noticed he didn’t get many dinner invitations after the first one, and his first family game night at the Gavrases had been his last.

“He’s a player.”

“You’re smitten, but you hate it, don’t you?” Meddy’s eyes narrowed as she studied her older sister. “He’s making you feel all tingly inside, but insecure because you think he’d never choose you. And if he did, you fear he’d treat you like crap, just as Lonnie did.”

Athena glared at her. “Have you been reading the psychology section instead of putting those books on the shelves? We have to discount them if you crack the spines, you know.”

Her sister just grinned, as if she’d broken the code explaining Athena’s bad mood.

Darn her family, always seeing right through everything. Why couldn’t she suppress her crush-like feelings and move on without anybody noticing what a loser she was for lusting after the so-totally-wrong guy?

“I don’t think he’s as big of a player as he pretends to be. And anyway, it’s a bit early in the day for Mullens to be waylaid by women or drink.” Her sister stood, slinging her large, beaded purse over her shoulder.

“It’s never too early.”

“Have you ever been wined, dined and wooed on a Friday morning?”

Her mood darkened. “No.” But now she kind of wanted to be.

“Let’s ditch.”

“What if he shows?”

“Give lover-boy a taste of his own tardy medicine and leave. Don’t be the pathetic woman who puts her own life on hold, sitting around ready and waiting until he deigns to show up.”

“Nobody says ‘tardy’ anymore.”

Her sister smirked. “Come on, I want to go poke at some credit card readers for the store. You promised you’d help me decide.”

Athena held up a finger. “Just gimme another minute.”

She dialed Chad. No answer. She texted him, waiting to see if he’d shoot back a reply. Nothing.

Not cool.

With her face freshly scrubbed of most of the photo-session makeup, Athena stood in the San Antonio sunshine, fuming that she’d been right about Chad. He was cut from the same cloth as Lonnie. He would never fully respect her or her time.

Meddy stood on the passenger side of Athena’s car, waiting for her door to be unlocked.

“Just a sec.”

“Do. Not. Call him,” her sister commanded.

“I’m not.” She tapped her phone, realizing Chad still had his location shared with her from earlier. He was five blocks away at a convention center and hotel.

Gotcha.

“I have to do something.” She tossed Meddy her keys.

“Athena!”

“I know. I’m sorry. It’s already too late to go, anyway. I don’t have time to cross town and also get ahead on my work. Take my car and pick whichever card reader you want.”

Her sister’s eyes narrowed, her shoulder-length earrings swinging. “Where ya going?”

“Someone needs a piece of my mind.”

“Promise me you won’t give him so many pieces it makes you stupid.”

“Meddy!”

Her sister smirked, circling to the driver’s side. “Oh, I almost forgot. I want to hire a contractor.”

“But we already got our bookshelves sorted out.”

“No, for Mom. An early Mother’s Day gift.”

“Mother’s Day isn’t for five months.”

“I know. But she can’t get onto the porch in her wheelchair without help, and Dad needs freedom. She needs independence, and sitting on the porch is good for her. It’s less isolating.”

Athena nodded, realizing how true that was. Their mom used to read, knit and sip sweet tea on the covered porch, and call out to neighbors as they went by. In many ways, that was her social life.

“A little plywood and some nails, and boom! Some ramps so she can come and go on her own. Dad would do it, but he’d probably nail himself to something.”

Athena laughed softly. Their dad was a lot of things, but not handy. “Okay. I’m in. I’ll cover half.”

Meddy grinned and took off in Athena’s car, tooting the horn as she pulled away from the curb.

Athena, holding on to her frustration with Chad, stormed across the city’s downtown, formulating what she wanted to say. Who did he think he was? Elbowing his way into her project and then ditching so he could go have a quickie?

She was supposed to be shopping with her sister, not tracking him down.

A few minutes later, with her doubts pushing aside her anger, Athena stood outside the conference center. She checked her phone for his location. Still inside.

She smoothed her shirt over her middle and entered the building, pausing in the grand lobby. Sparkling chandelier, black stone shiny underfoot, tall plants and cozy sitting areas with leather chairs… Voices and laughter drifted in from several conference rooms.

Would he get a room under his own name or an alias?