Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(74)

So she just started babbling so she wouldn’t have to think about it anymore. “One of the golden retrievers was a little too eager to meet Joe when we took him out for his walk and started humping his leg. Maeve got him under control, though. She’s trying to train him in some of the basics because she thinks he’ll make a great family dog. We were hoping Joe would feature him in the article but that plan went a bit awry, what with the whole humping incident.”

“Joe?” Was Cora crazy or was there an edge to Marcus’s voice?

“You know, the reporter from the other night. Joe Garcia,” she said, dismissing the thought. “Anyway, I think the whole thing went off pretty well. Hopefully it will bring some recognition and publicity to the shelter and will get more people in, wanting to adopt.”

Her eyes lifted over Marcus’s shoulder. “And it was good to see the dogs again…” Wait, she’d already said that. She bit her lip as she watched the waitress, Maria, approach with their food. Cora hadn’t ordered anything or even seen menus.

“I took the liberty of ordering for us when the driver messaged that you were on your way.”

“Oh,” she said. She didn’t like his high handedness, but it was Marcus. And when she leaned over her plate of pasta and took a deep inhale, she smiled. “Thanks. I’m famished.”

“Enjoy,” Marcus said, eyes still on her, not his food.

Feeling a little self-conscious, she dug in anyway. The meatballs and marinara were delicious. Simple fare but excellently executed. “Oh my gosh, this is amazing,” Cora said as she finished chewing a large bite.

Marcus watched her with what looked like amusement as he ate his meal. She was embarrassed when she looked down and realized she’d polished off almost her whole plate and he was only halfway done.

“I’ll give your compliments to the cook.”

Cora felt her cheeks heat but decided, screw it. Good food was good food and she wouldn’t be embarrassed about enjoying it.

Hadn’t Maeve impressed on her the point that happiness and freedom started with her? She wasn’t sure she fully understood what Maeve had meant but she could guess that it had something to do with attitude and outlook. She could sit here and sulk about her situation and pick at her food.

Or, she could enjoy the fuck out of this amazing pasta, be satisfied that she’d had a great day at the shelter with her good friend, and tonight, if the pattern of the last week was anything to go by, she’d probably end the day with at least one earth-shattering orgasm.

Was it really that easy?

Be happy in her cage and move on with life?

“What are you thinking about so solemnly over there?”

Her eyes jerked back to Marcus. She didn’t know how long she’d zoned out for, but he looked almost done with his pasta now. He gazed at her over his glass of red wine.

“Nothing,” was her knee-jerk response, but then she took a deep breath. She was the one who said she wanted to talk about real things, right?

“I guess I was wondering…well I’m always wondering…what it is you want.”

Marcus looked surprised again. “What do you mean?”

Was she really doing this? Maybe it was the afternoon with Maeve, maybe it was the fact that Marcus had been relatively nice to her lately, but she decided to take the plunge.

“Well,” she started slowly, “I can’t help but notice that things have been…different lately.”

He didn’t say anything so she went on.

“…And I guess I was wondering if you are still determined, um, for me to be…well, miserable.”

Her eyes dropped to her plate but she glanced up briefly at him. Pointlessly, because his features gave no indication of what he was thinking.

So determinedly, she went on. “Because I was thinking, um, if you’re out for revenge on my dad, us being together whether I’m happy or miserable still does that job. Because I’m guessing you’re the last person on earth he would want me with.”

Time to get the rest of it out quick. “I’ve never known the guy so I don’t necessarily feel any loyalty to him and things were never that great with my mom. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that may be a life here in New Olympus, a life with you, could be good. I mean, I could be contented if you were okay with me doing things like I did today, going out and not being locked in the apartment all day.”

“And I could make it a good home for you,” she hurried on to say. “I could cook and clean—”

“That’s what the maid is for,” Marcus said sharply.

Cora jumped at his voice, but hurried on. “Well I could do other things. Um, wifely things.” Cora couldn’t help but looked down at her plate again. “The gods know we’re compatible in that department.”

She took a quick breath in and forced herself to look back up at him. “I guess what I’m proposing is a cease-fire between you and me.”

“A cease-fire,” he repeated.

She nodded, forcing herself to keep his gaze even though like always, the intensity of his gaze made doing so a difficult feat.

He was quiet a moment but then he moved swiftly, standing and moving around the booth until he stood at her side, hand held down to her. “I accept.”

Cora felt her mouth drop open. He accepted? Just like that?