Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(56)

And how the hell did you find me? Or was this just a weird coincidence?

He sat very still for a moment, frowning, and then his face cleared and he pointed at her computer. "I found out about the job through the computer, but that's not the only reason I'm here. The truth is I had to see you again."

"You're not really interviewing for a job?" Pea tried to sound severe, but she couldn't keep the smile from tilting her lips. It hadn't been a coincidence!

"I'll admit that my first thought had been to simply see you. The job was a far secondary consideration."

"So you're not here because you want to teach history?"

"I'm here because of you, but I believe I would enjoy teaching history. Ancient history."

"Really? What kind of ancient history?" She should stop. It wasn't like this was a real interview, but he was interesting and sexy and...

His smile was slow, and more than a little mischievous. "I'm well acquainted with the ancient myths."

Pea grinned back at him. "Lately I've become pretty well acquainted with mythology myself."

He leaned forward, his expression going suddenly from playful to serious. "And what do you think of the ancient myths - the stories of a time when gods and goddesses walked the earth?"

Thinking of Venus, she smiled warmly. "I like what I've found out so far."

"Do you?" He covered her hand with his.

And it happened again. She wanted to drown in him. Just like that magical night his eyes had captured her. But no - it was more than that, more than just his eyes. It seemed she knew his soul. How could that be? It felt real, but surely she had to be making all this up in her overly romantic imagination.

"You're not imagining things," he said, speaking quietly and earnestly.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?"

"I know you. We're connected. I don't know how, but I do think I know why. I think we're the same, you and I. Until I met you I only knew how to be an outlander. I had resigned myself to being alone. Then I saw you and I felt that I had finally come home." He gave a little laugh and rubbed a hand down his face as if he thought he might be dreaming and needed to wake himself up. "It does sound unbelievable, though, doesn't it?"

"Yes. It sounds unbelievable." Then when disappointment started to fill his expressive eyes, she continued. "It sounds unbelievable, but that's not how it feels."

"So it's not just me? I'm not in this alone?"

Pea knew she should make a joke or laugh or say something to water down what Victor was saying and to lighten up what was happening between the two of them. She should remind him that they weren't in a romantic movie with a guaranteed happily ever after. Love at first sight was only possible in movies and books - total fiction. In the real world it fell apart, leaving behind the flotsam of divorce and broken hearts.

And then there was Griffin. But was there really Griffin? Or was her infatuation with him more like the impossibility of the movies, and was what was happening with this man more like the real thing?

Then she met his eyes again and she couldn't say any of those things because what she saw there was too raw, too possible, and she suddenly wanted him with a ferocity that surprised her. She wanted them and this sparkling new possibility of a future that wasn't a life crammed full of pets and work so that the lonely nights and the solitary meals and the dreaming about a man she couldn't ever have while she watched everyone else couple off was bearable.

"You're not in this alone," she said, even though it made her stomach clench and her breath catch. "But I'm afraid. This is all - "

"Don't say it's all happening too fast," he interrupted. "After eons of not believing it could ever happen, how can we not want to embrace this magic between us, no matter how quickly it seems to be happening? Can we not just give it a chance and see where this new path leads us?"

Pea's brows drew together as she considered what he was saying. His seemed to take her feelings and refract them back to her.

"Please don't say no."

Pea continued to study him silently, and all of a sudden it felt like a key turned within her, unlocking a secret room in her soul where all the love she'd been keeping to give to a man, her man, had been stored. Instead of feeling unsure and afraid and hesitant, Pea was filled with an incredible sense of rightness.

"Victor, I'm going to take a chance on you - on us actually. But you have to promise me something."

"Anything within my power."

"No more disappearing."

"You have my oath." His smile was wide with relief. He kissed her hand again and caught her gaze with his own hope-filled one. "You won't be sorry for this. If it is within my power, you won't ever be sorry."

"I believe you." Pea felt like giggling.

He stood abruptly. "Come! Let's leave this place. I'll take you anywhere you wish - just make the request and I will make your desire come true."

Pea did giggle then. "I have to admit that's the best date offer I've ever had, but I'm not off work for" - she glanced at the clock - "about six hours."

"Six hours?"

She nodded. "Yes, but I don't have any plans this evening."