Stirring Up Trouble (Inspiring the Greek Billionaire) (16 page)

Raging seas. Demetrius fought for Euterpe, hoping that one day, they’d be together again. Braden didn’t know how the story ended, but he had faith they’d overcome their obstacles. He’d fight for Lola. He had a lot to do before tomorrow. “You’re right. I do. Thanks, Dad.”

“Glad I could help. It’s the least I can do,” he said with sincerity.

His father had offered the olive branch. Now Braden would accept it and make it into olive oil. “I’d love it if you and Rose would come to
Acropolis
tomorrow night. Lola’s giving a concert for a record producer and she could use all the support she can get in the audience.”

His father swallowed. “I’ll be there. Thanks for the invitation. Mind if I bring Patricia and her kids?”

“No. I’d love to meet the woman who gave me my father back.”

He gave a nod to his father and left for
Acropolis
.

He had a lot to do to win back the woman he loved. He only hoped he wasn’t too late.

CHAPTER 19

Be that though know’st thou art, and then thou art

as great as that thou fear’st

William Shakespeare,
Twelfth Night
, act 5, scene 1

Demetrius swam closer, determination etched on his face even as the waves crashed into him. Every thirty years he came for her, battling the raging waters to save her from her eternal punishment. Euterpe had long given up hope they’d find a way to end their torture.

Her tears flowed warm on her cool cheeks, dripping into the salty sea. Each tear seemed to make the waves fiercer, more deadly. She couldn’t lose him again. So many drownings—hundreds, possibly thousands—always ending with her lover at the bottom of the ocean. So close, yet so far away. Her throat burned and her chest ached from the incessant sobbing.

If only she could join him.

“You can,” came a booming voice from the heavens. “You only need to hope and you shall break your father’s curse.”

She startled and tipped her head toward the sky. She hadn’t heard that voice for thousands of years, but she’d never forget the deep melodic sound of Zeus commanding the Immortals. She thought he’d forgotten her.

“How?” she asked. “No matter what I do, my siren call brings him only death. I’ve tried staying mute, but he does not heed my silent pleas either.”

“Hope, my child.”

Easy for the one with all the power to say.

She thought about the last time she’d made love with Demetrius. His calloused fingers caressing her between her thighs until stars exploded behind her eyelids. His promises to always love her. He’d proven it time and time again, for each reincarnation he had come for her. He’d never given up hope. If he could cling to that thin thread of hope, why couldn’t she?

She ceased the useless crying. Tears wouldn’t help her lover. Only strength would suffice.

The rough seas gentled. Demetrius’s arms sliced through the water effortlessly, bringing him within reach. She didn’t speak. Didn’t dare make a sound as she offered her hand. He grasped it, their fingers entwining as sparks of light shot from their hands. Breathing heavily, he climbed her rock and took her other hand in his.

“It was all worth it. I’d do it all again to have this moment,” he whispered. He touched his lips to hers, gentle and reverent.

Her lips parted on a small gasp of pleasure and he deepened their kiss, reminding her of everything she loved in this man.

She pulled away. “What will we do? You can’t stay with me on this rock. You’ll die.”

“I’ll gladly accept death as long as I can hold you in my arms until I take my last breath.”

“You do not need to be so dramatic, human,” Zeus bellowed. “There is another way.”

Not knowing what Zeus had planned, she released her tight grip on Demetrius’s hands and sat back on her haunches. The sharp edge of the rock cut into her knees, making her bleed.

“I’m bleeding,” she told Demetrius, in shock. “Immortals don’t bleed. I’m human,” she said, laughing.

They stood on the rock and her lover twirled her in a circle. “I love you, Euterpe. No matter what happens, we’ll always stay together.”

She glanced down at the rock and back up at Demetrius. “Yes. We will. Now, how will we get off this rock and to safety?”

Demetrius laughed and smoothed a hand over her hair.

“Lola?”

Why was he calling her Lola?

“Wake up, Lola. We need to talk.”

Meow.

A weight sat on her chest. Her eyes fluttered open and Zeus, the mysterious weight, stared down at her. Why was the cat in her apartment?

“Good, you’re awake. Zeus missed you. Since you won’t come to my home, I brought him to yours.”

She whipped her head to the left and smacked her nose into Braden’s thigh. Before she could stop herself, she inhaled his scent, his sweetness waking up things in her which were better left asleep.

“How did you get in my room?” she shouted, more for effect than anything as her traitorous body reacted to his nearness, her nipples hardening.

She swore the cat smiled as he got up and stretched before jumping off the bed and curling up on the floor by the bathroom.

“Your mom let me in,” he said, his hand coming close to her face. She waited for the contact, but he dropped it at the last moment.

She sat up, pulling the blanket around her chest. He didn’t need to see how he affected her after breaking her heart. “Of course she did.”

“Don’t blame her. I bribed her with baked goods. You know no one can resist my pastries.” He smiled, but she didn’t return the favor.

“So Zeus missed me, huh?”

Zeus—the god, not the cat—had told her to hope. A dangerous emotion to have when she had never experienced anything but disappointment in her life.

“He’s not the only one. I missed you, too.” He reached into his pocket. “I brought you a present.” He pulled out a harmonica and laid it on her lap. “It was just collecting dust in the music room. You should have it. To replace the one you gave away all those years ago.”

This gift meant more to her than all the jewels and riches in the world. He’d remembered how much she’d loved her harmonica. “Thank you,” she whispered. But what did the gift mean? “Bribes might work on my mother, but not on me.”

“This isn’t a bribe,” he responded, his voice tight.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve already decided I’ll go through the audits today. You don’t have to worry about
Acropolis
. I wouldn’t do anything to intentionally cause you to lose your most valued possession.”

He flinched. “I know that.”

Silly, she wanted him to deny it. She swallowed down the sorrow lodged in her throat. “No. Based on yesterday, I’d say you don’t believe it. You were so willing to believe that I’d deceived you.”

Zeus jumped on the bed, settling between them, purring loudly.

Braden petted the cat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst. I let my own issues color my reaction and I said some things I wish I could take back.”

The butterflies in her belly threatened to fly away with her heart. She covered her middle with her hand as if to stop them. “You can’t. Regardless of why you said them, you did. I understand you have mommy issues, but you, of all people, should’ve known I am nothing like her. But I do forgive you.”

He sighed in relief. “Thank you. I promise—”

“I forgive you, but I can’t forget,” she interrupted. She watched as the hope drained from his face. “I pretended I was cut out for the domestic life. A home. A family. A cat.” They laughed, both looking at Zeus. “But yesterday reminded me that it’s not for me.”

She meant the words, but at the same time, she wanted him to fight for her. Fight the way Demetrius fought for Euterpe. She was too tired to battle the seas alone.

He paused, the silence in the room deafening. “You’re going to make one hell of a splash in Hollywood,” he said, dashing any lingering hope he’d ask her to stay with him in Michigan.

Even if he didn’t want her, she owed him to do her best in the audits. “First things first. Let me get ready so we can start cooking. What time does the inspection start?”

They glanced at the digital clock on her nightstand which showed it was almost seven in the morning. “We’re supposed to be ready for them any time after noon.”

She would miss him, but she wouldn’t miss waking up at this Godforsaken early hour. “As your punishment, you can go hang out with my Mom while I’m getting dressed. Maybe, if you’re lucky, she’ll read your aura.”

His lips parted as if he was going to say something, but instead, he shook his head as he rose from the bed and left her alone in her room.

Zeus stayed behind, staring at her in disappointment.
What was with this cat?
Lola padded into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, applied deodorant, and wet down her hair in the sink. When she looked into her bedroom, the cat was still looking at her as if he could see straight through to her soul.

She walked over to him and put her hands on her hips. “You got something to say to me?” He, of course, said nothing. “Didn’t think so. You can go join Braden and my mother.” She opened her door and waited for him to leave. “I mean it. Go.” He stood, hissed, and sauntered out into the living room. She closed her door, resting her back against it.

Now wasn’t the time to show how much Braden’s presence affected her. Zeus only reminded her of how close she’d come to having the dream she hadn’t known she’d even desired. She wouldn’t make it through the day if she thought about everything she’d leave behind when she moved to California. At least Braden would have
Acropolis
.

She went to her closet and pulled out the dress she’d bought for today. She didn’t normally wear dresses, but when she spotted this one in the bridal shop yesterday, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. Naturally, her sister had noticed her fascination and insisted she try it on.

Silver metallic beads and sequins adorned the cream one-shouldered Grecian style dress. She slipped it over her head and tugged it down over her breasts. The sheerness of the material gave it an ethereal quality, as if she truly was a Muse in ancient Greece. She completed the look with sandals and checked herself out in the mirror over her dresser. Euterpe stared back. Not the most practical cooking outfit, but she had three auditors and a music producer to impress, and one jerk to ensnare in her plan for revenge. He’d never know what hit him.

She took a deep breath and opened her bedroom door, keeping her head held high as if all the world were a stage and she the puppet master. “I’ll take a cup of coffee to go.”

Braden was standing in her kitchen, his back to her, pouring coffee into a to-go mug. He peered over his shoulder, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping. Coffee spilled on the counter and dripped on the floor.

“I guess you approve of the dress?” she asked.

“You look beautiful, sweetie,” her Mom said as she grabbed paper towels from underneath the sink. “Doesn’t she, Braden?”

He turned around and held onto the counter as if he needed support. “Like a Siren,” he murmured. She saw the spark of remembrance flaming in his green eyes. He’d had the same dream.

Her mother waved her hand, shooing them away. “Yes, well, you two should get to the restaurant. Don’t worry about the mess. I’ll clean it up.”

Zeus sauntered into the kitchen and began licking the coffee from the floor.

“Bad kitty. I wouldn’t think cats drank coffee,” her mother scolded.

She and Braden shared a smile. “He’s a special cat. If he wants a cup of coffee, I wouldn’t deprive him of it,” said Braden, putting on his coat. He held out her jacket and helped her into it. The puffy navy blue material didn’t exactly go with the dress, but it was all she had. “You still need to buy boots,” he said, glancing at her sandaled feet.

“Why bother? In a couple of days, I’ll be strolling the beaches of sunny California,” she reminded him.

His smiled melted. “Right. How could I forget?”

After Braden apologized to Reina for leaving a mess in the kitchen, they said their goodbyes and got into his Hummer to head to work. The car smelled like Braden, that mixture of cinnamon and sugar and that spice which was unique to him.

They didn’t say much on the twenty minute drive to
Acropolis
. The sun’s rays reflected off the newly fallen snow, making it sparkle like diamonds and brightening the chilly morning. She almost needed sunglasses. She’d have to add it to the list of things to buy before leaving for California.

She shifted, her back still tender from the tattoo she’d gotten last night. She’d waited until the last minute, hoping she’d have a reason to stay in Michigan. But after their fight, she realized she had to fulfill the ritual she performed before every move. It hadn’t taken her more than a minute to decide what she wanted inked on her skin. Since she was leaving tomorrow and didn’t have time for color, she’d only gotten the outline of the tattoo. If she couldn’t have the dream, she’d carry the memory of it wherever she went.

They pulled into the parking lot, got out of the car, and Braden unlocked the door to the restaurant. When they walked in, she flipped the light switch.

Nothing happened.

“Braden, the lights won’t turn on. Did we blow a fuse?” she asked, those butterflies turning into lead weights in her stomach.

“Let me check. The fuse box is back in the kitchen.” He grabbed a flashlight from a cubby at the hostess station and strolled calmly to the back of the restaurant. She waited for him at the bar and chewed on a straw.

A couple of minutes later, he came through the swinging doors, a scowl on his face. “It has nothing to do with the fuses. It’s got to be an outside problem. I’ll call the electric company.” He dialed on his cell. “Can you peek out the door and see if the other businesses on our block have power?”

She thought of Zeus and how his hair stood up straight when he was on guard. That’s how she felt right now. It couldn’t be a coincidence
Acropolis
had lost power on the day of the audits. It was sabotage, and she knew exactly where to point the finger.

She poked her head out the front door and scanned the area, determining the stores across the street and on either side of them had their power. She wasn’t surprised to see the street lights were also up and running.

Closing the door, she walked back to Braden who was pacing back and forth in front of the stage. “When can you fix it?” He paused, listening to the useless employee on the other end of the call. “No, that’s unacceptable. We can’t open for business unless we have power.” He stopped his pacing and stared at her, licking his lips.

She heated under his gaze, but tried not to let it show, straightening her head and throwing back her shoulders as she approached him.