Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(27)

"Like Ares." Venus nodded agreement.

"I want a man with more depth than that. Like Griffin," she added shyly.

"Of course you do, and we shall get you one - perhaps even this Griffin you admire so," Venus said matter-of-factly, and she silently congratulated herself on not being the slightest bit interested in Griffin anymore. "But first we have to do something about all of this." She waved her fork at Pea.

"Okay. I'm ready." Pea looked around the room nervously. "But if you're going to start making things suddenly appear I'd appreciate it if you'd wait until I'm done eating. I know it sounds silly to you, but stuff popping out of the air makes my stomach hurt."

"Naturally I could conjure whatever I desire, but that would only be a temporary fix to your problems. I return to Olympus and you're back where you were before I began making things pop out of the air." Venus paused and gave Pea's footie pajamas a disdainful look. "Darling, where do you shop for your clothing?"

Pea shrugged. "Discount stores. Wherever there's a sale."

"Good. Now I know where we will not be shopping. So tell me where you would never shop because you believe only the very beautiful and chic go there."

"Saks Fifth Avenue at Utica Square," Pea said through a bite of omelet.

"Then it is to Saks Fifth Avenue at Utica Square that we shall go. But first - your hair."

Pea sighed. "I think it's hopeless."

"Darling, nothing is hopeless when Love takes charge."

Pea parked her Thunderbird in front of Saks and couldn't resist looking in the mirror at herself one more time.

"I told you the coconut oil would work," Venus said smugly.

"It's amazing. I didn't realize I had these great curls. All I thought I had was frizz. Lots and lots of frizz."

"That's because you were brushing it and not using the correct product."

"I'll never brush it again. Promise."

"And you'll only wash it..." Venus prompted.

"Every third day at the soonest. And I'll use mild shampoo and extra rich conditioner."

Venus nodded. "Excellent. But I'm not finished with your hair."

"Huh?"

"Trust me. Now, we shop."

Pea sighed and reluctantly got out of the car. Venus glanced down at her sneakers. "Our first stop will be the shoe department."

Pea sighed again.

"Darling, you're a natural in those stilettos!" Venus lounged gracefully on a cushioned bench and watched Pea walk the length of the department in the utterly chic, very sexy silver leather peekaboo pumps with the fabulous three-and-a-half inch black heels.

"Clearly she's a dancer," gushed the effeminate salesman who had introduced himself as Fabio.

"Are you, darling?" Venus asked.

"Well, yes. I've been taking ballet since I was about five."

"No wonder your body has such suppleness and natural grace. You know, the forest nymphs could learn a thing or two from you. I've noticed that their frolicking has become rather wooden lately."

"It's so hard to find a good nymph anymore. Even the queen show down at the Holiday Inn doesn't have a decent one," Fabio said, with a great fluttering of his well-manicured hands.

"Fabio, darling, wherever did you get that perfect shade of lip gloss?" Venus asked. Fabio blushed becomingly. "At the Bobbi Brown counter. I love how natural it looks."

"Pea, we'll have to remember to get you some before we leave." Venus turned her divine smile on Fabio. "And we'll take the shoes she has on and the four other pairs I have selected here."

Pea made a faint squeaking sound.

"And how will you be paying for this, madam?"

Venus pulled the gold card from her clutch purse and winked at Pea. "With this."

Fabio glanced at the card and smiled, lip gloss sparkling merrily in the light from the department's crystal chandelier. "Venus Pontia - I knew you were a goddess the moment I saw that fabulous hair!" he gushed.

"Of course you did, darling. Be a dear and box up the shoes." Then she hesitated, taking in Fabio's perfect grooming and clearly impeccable taste in clothing. "Do you think you could carry the shoes to the clothing department with us? I would love to get your help outfitting my friend."

"Goddess." Fabio lowered his voice and motioned for Venus to lean close. "Just exactly how much shopping do you plan to do in our humble establishment today? A large amount or a truly obscene amount?"

Venus's smile was sly. "Truly and utterly obscene. This" - she raised the credit card as if it was the key to paradise - "has no limit."

"Oh!" Fabio and Pea gasped together. Then he bowed dramatically to the goddess and said,

"Lead on, divine one. I am yours to command."

Venus's smile widened. "Of course you are, darling."

"So what are the two things you're going to always remember when purchasing clothes?" Fabio drilled Pea, sounding disturbingly like a PE teacher.

"Color and cut," Pea said automatically, still unable to stop staring at herself in the dressingroom mirror.

"See what a difference paying attention to those two make?" Fabio said, clearly pleased with himself.