Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(52)

"I really wish you wouldn't make things suddenly appear without warning me first."

"Sorry, darling. I keep forgetting how sensitive you are." She checked her lipstick in the semireflective glass of the door. "Ready for battle?"

"Well..."

"Of course you are. I'll be right back. Just think of what I'm doing as reconnoitering."

Venus ignored Pea's groan and put her hand on the doorknob of the classroom she'd "tweaked"

earlier, zapping away the desks and what she considered unneeded paraphernalia. She was glad Pea was nervous. It forced her to set a good example and seem confident and collected. Truth be known, the Goddess of Love's insides felt unusually jittery. She didn't allow herself to hesitate further, but swept into the room, putting on her most officious air. As was only right, the men gathered in the middle of the room fell silent, instantly giving her their appreciative attention. They were attentive but casual, dressed in jeans and Tulsa Fire Department T-shirts.

"Good morning, gentlemen." Venus was all business. "When I call your name please acknowledge that you are present." She began going through the alphabetical list, looking carefully at each man as he responded.

"Allen, James."

"Yes, ma'am"

"Barber, Joshua."

"Present, ma'am."

"Bennett, Kevin."

"Here, ma'am."

"Carter, Corey."

She was pleased that she said the next name without so much as a hint of hesitation. "DeAngelo, Griffin." The group of men stirred to allow him to move forward from near the rear of the room.

"Good to see you again, ma'am." His unmistakable blue eyes met her steely violet gaze, and he tipped an imaginary hat and gave the confident, sexy smile she recognized all too well. Venus blushed. The Goddess of Love actually flushed a sweet, soft pink that lifted up her long neck into her high cheeks. Then she realized she was blushing and she stopped it instantly. She was here for battle, not for love.

"Griffin?" Venus made her tone purposefully clueless.

"Yes, ma'am, Griffin DeAngelo." He stepped forward and held out his hand like a perfect gentleman - the expression in his knowing eyes the only evidence that there was anything more between them than passing acquaintances. "I don't think we had a chance to be formally introduced the other night."

Venus looked from his hand to his eyes. For the first time in her existence, she didn't know what to say. By all the hairy scrotal sacs of the gods he was arrogant! He'd ravished her and left her, and now here he was smiling and playing the gentleman?

"I can't tell you how glad I am to see you again, my goddess," he said under his breath for her ears alone.

She realized she was still staring at him and his hand was still stuck out in front of him. Drawing herself up, the goddess put her hand in his.

"Well met, Griffin DeAngelo," she said.

Still holding her hand he smiled slowly. "And your name is?"

"Venus," she said. "Venus Pontia."

His smile widened. "So you really are a goddess."

"Of course I am, darling," she said automatically, and pulled her hand from his. Then she went back to methodically calling off names from her list.

But her mind was in tumult. Venus ignored the fact that she could feel those brilliant blue eyes staring at her with that possessive, predatory gaze that had entrapped her so easily before. He was clearly acting as if he'd done nothing wrong, but he'd left her, the Goddess of Love, sitting out there in front of the restaurant waiting for him - and he hadn't returned. One does not stand up the Goddess of Love.

She finished the list and, without another look at Griffin DeAngelo, left the room. Venus leaned her back against the closed door.

"Griffin's in there! I saw him." Pea peered up at Venus. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course I am." Venus took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together. Why did she allow that mortal man to affect her so much? And that, she feared, was the point. She didn't allow Griffin anything. For the first time in her experience, a man didn't wait on her permission to touch and taste and possess her.

"Venus?"

The goddess mentally shook herself. "Griffin is in there, but is your mystery man there, too?"

"No." Pea sighed.

"Are you quite sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'd definitely recognize him after what we did." Pea's blush perfectly matched her leotard.

"Oh." Venus drew another deep breath. "Well, at least that's settled. He's not here, but Griffin is. So you just go on in there and teach the class. You'll be the center of attention for a full hour. If Griffin doesn't show interest in you after that, then I can promise you he's not worthy of your attention."

"I really can't."

Venus sighed. "We've been all through this. Of course you can. You're good at dancing. Just go in there and do what you're good at."

Pea grabbed Venus's hand. "Please don't make me!"

"Darling, I'm not going to make you. This is something you should be confident enough to do."

"I'll make a fool out of myself." Her eyes filled with tears. "It's not about confidence. It's about being comfortable in front of groups of people. I know you zapped me and let me see myself as others see me." With her free hand Pea gestured down at her body. "So I know I'm actually pretty and not the gawky dork I was in high school. But that doesn't mean that I'm good in front of crowds - that I'll ever be good in front of crowds."