Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(22)

Chloe growled again and barked a warning.

Venus laughed. "With all that voice you must be as mighty as Cerberus!"

At the sound of the goddess's musical laughter, Chloe stopped growling.

"What a passionate girl!" She squatted down in front of the dog and then glanced up at Pea. "Did you say her name is Chloe?"

"Yes, but be careful. She doesn't like strangers."

"Well, that's just fine because Love is never a stranger. Am I right, Chloe my darling?" Venus cooed, stretching out her hand to the dog. Chloe sniffed delicately at her, and her tail started to thump. Just then a large gray tabby padded delicately into the room. "Oh, and what a handsome beast you are!" Venus said.

"That's Max," Pea said as the cat began twining his body around her unexpected houseguest.

"He loves everyone."

"You needn't explain that to me," Venus said happily, running one hand down the cat's body in a long caress while she scratched Chloe's ears with the other. "Love recognizes one of her own."

When she finally stood up to face Pea, both animals curled contentedly at her feet. "Good evening, Pea. Thank you for welcoming me into your home."

"Are you lost? Can I call someone for you?"

"No, but that is a kind offer. You're really a very compassionate young woman, aren't you?"

"But if you're not lost then - "

"I'm not lost, Pea. I am trapped here."

"Trapped? Here? You mean in my house?"

"No, I mean in your world." At Pea's blank look Venus tried to explain. "The world of modern mortals. I used to call it the Kingdom of Tulsa, but Persephone explained to me that this isn't literally a kingdom - it's a city."

"Persephone? The goddess?"

"Of course."

"And is she outside in the rain, too?"

"Oh, no. She was able to return to Olympus. It's only me who was unable to go back through the portal."

"So you don't live here?"

Venus frowned. "Of course not, darling. I have a perfectly lovely temple on Mount Olympus. I was here visiting. I bought these fabulous boots." She pointed a toe so Pea could admire her new acquisition. "They did look better before they got wet and muddy."

Pea clutched on the one normal thing the woman had said. "Why don't you take your boots off and let them dry? I'll get you a towel and something warm to drink and then we can figure out what to..." She paused, obviously struggling to find the right thing to say. "To do to help you."

"But that's just it! It's not what you can do to help me, but what I can do to help you - then I'll be able to return to Olympus and the ancient world of the gods."

"How about we start with a towel and some hot chocolate?"

"Sounds divine."

Venus pulled off her boots while Chloe and Max watched with open adoration and Pea brought her a thick pink towel that smelled delightfully of lavender. Then she led Venus into a cozy kitchen that was brightly lit and immaculate. Venus sat at the little antique breakfast table that was hand painted with wildflowers.

"I was just making myself some hot chocolate. It'll only take me a second to add to it so there'll be enough for both of us."

Venus towel dried her hair while she watched Pea move confidently around the room. "You are an excellent cook, aren't you?"

Surprised at the observation, Pea smiled at Venus over her shoulder while she continued to stir the milk and dark chocolate mixture. "Yes, I am a good cook."

"And your home is so lovely and comfortable. I can already see that you use colors wisely to make it feel open and welcoming."

"Thank you." Pea blushed a little.

"Which makes your personal appearance all the more confusing." Pea's spine straightened and she stopped filling her mug midpour. Venus hurried on. "I don't mean to insult you - just the opposite actually. What I mean is that it seems to me that you shouldn't have had to invoke my aid at all. You seem to understand style and aesthetics very well."

"Only when it has to do with my home or even my work. When it's me, well, that's like a whole other world, or at least it's seemed like that since high school."

"Very interesting," Venus mused. Then she smiled brightly. "But now I'm here and Love herself will aid you in attaining your dreams!"

Pea joined Venus at the table, handing her the buttercup-colored mug and a vintage blue linen napkin that was hand embroidered. As an automatic afterthought Pea reached for a tin on the nearby granite-topped counter that was decorated with pictures of Scottie dogs. She opened it and offered Venus one of the imported sourdough cookies she always kept inside. Venus took one and chewed daintily, then sipped her hot chocolate. "Pea, this is delicious."

"Thank you," Pea said.

They ate and drank in silence. Venus looked around her with obvious curiosity at the lovely little home, and Pea tried not to stare too openly at her beautiful, but mysterious and mentally unsound, guest.

"The yellow of the walls is the same color as that of the cups from which we're drinking. That's an especially pleasing touch," Venus said.

"Okay. Who are you? Really."