Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(55)

"Boring...dry...nope. He won't do. He'd put them all to sleep," she muttered to herself. Then she glanced at her watch. "Half an hour till the next interview..." She sighed again and started to click around on a contraption Vulcan knew was called a computer - a thing that held so much knowledge it was the modern world's version of magic.

Her next interview...

Why couldn't her next interview be him? Venus was masquerading as a teacher at Pea's college; why couldn't he? Vulcan sat up straighter, shocked by his own thought. Yes, why not? He wanted to see her again. He wanted to woo her and make her his own. He'd already decided he would never bring her to Olympus, so that meant he was going to have to come to her eventually. Why not now? Why wait any longer? The God of Fire was ready to act - and act he would. He'd just need to stay out of Venus's way, at least until after Pea was in love with him. Well he'd already observed that Venus was being kept busy. Now was an excellent time to make another foray into the modern mortal world and hopefully into Pea's heart. He'd worry about the rest of the details later. What was important right now was being with Pea again. So...he'd need the correct clothes. Something like the other man had worn only less disheveled looking. His rumpled appearance certainly hadn't impressed Pea. And he didn't have much time. He needed to get there before the next man arrived in order to redirect the mortal - an easy thing to do - then take his place in Pea's office and begin winning her heart. Because that was, indeed, what he wanted. Damn Olympus and the gods and their intrigues and prejudices. He wanted someone of his own. Someone untouched by them. He also wanted a life of his own, and by all the dark levels of Tartarus, he would do anything it took to get it.

Chapter Eighteen

"C ome on in," Pea said in response to the quick knock on her office door. She glanced at the clock. Her next interview was five minutes early. Well, she thought as she shuffled the papers on her desk and put Robertson Brown's file at the top of the heap, at least that means Mr. Brown is eager. Let's hope he's also more interesting than that last -

When he stepped into her office all of the air left her body. Literally. Just like the one time she'd made the mistake of riding a horse. She'd fallen off and had not been able to breathe for several very uncomfortable seconds. This was the same sensation. All she could do was sit and stare and struggle for air.

"Hello," he said, with a warm smile that seemed to reach inside her body and turn her to liquid. She sucked in a breath and said in a rush, "You're Robertson Brown? My next interview?"

"No. Yes." He stopped and drew a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Seems I'm more nervous than I thought I would be. I am not Robertson Brown, but I would like to be your next interview."

"I thought you were a fireman."

He nodded as if he expected her to say that. "Yes, fire has been my job for a long time. But recently I've decided I want to make a change."

"To teaching history in our Continuing Education Department?" She felt flushed and out of sorts and had to fold her hands together to keep them from fidgeting.

"Yes. Yes, I would like that."

Pea just stared at him. She couldn't believe he was standing there in front of her in a suit that was a little outdated, but fit well and was neatly pressed. He seemed to fill her office. She hadn't remembered him being so tall and muscular and imposing. But his mouth...his mouth she did remember...

"Do you mind my intrusion?"

She jumped a little. "No, no. Not at all. But if Mr. Brown shows up I'll have to interrupt our interview. He did have an appointment."

"Agreed." Vulcan nodded.

"Okay, so, well, have a seat."

But instead of sitting in the leather chair in front of her desk he walked directly up to her, his distinctive limp in no way overshadowing the sense of strength and power he carried with him. He reached down and coaxed one of her hands away from clutching the other, then he lifted it to that incredible mouth of his and pressed his lips against her skin. The heat of his touch thrummed through her body. Their eyes met and Pea felt the jolt of his gaze as if it, too, were a physical thing.

She hadn't imagined their connection. It was here in the room with them, alive and pulsing and real.

"Forgive me for having to leave you that night."

"I didn't think I'd see you again," she said.

Still holding her hand he shook his head. "I could not stay away from you, little one."

"Who are you?"

"I am the man you have bewitched."

She smiled and pulled her hand reluctantly from his. "I don't think I can put that on your paperwork." Trying to regain some semblance of professionalism, she continued. "I meant what is your name?"

Pea's simple question had him looking totally out of sorts, which actually made her feel better. He wasn't exaggerating about her making him nervous if he had forgotten his name.

"V," he finally blurted. "Can."

"V. Cannes? Like C-a-n-n-e-s?"

Looking shell-shocked, he nodded.

"What does the V stand for, Victor, or something awful like Vlad?"

"Victor," he said quickly, and seeming to recollect himself, he sat down.

"Well, Victor, you're not my next interview, so how did you find out about this job opening?"