Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(53)

She tried not to stare at the way the setting sun glinted red off the gleaming tips of his dark horns. "Thank you. That would definitely save me time." Then since he showed no sign of leaving, she added, "I was thinking that it would be smart to have Gii or someone draw me up a map of the gardens and then I'd divide the area up into fourths - north, south, east, west - and have each of the Elementals take their direction and a group of women, and that would be the section of the gardens they'd be responsible for fertilizing and anything else I can see they need. I'll still go from section to section supervising, but at least dividing up the area might help organize things."

"The idea has merit." He seemed about to say more and then looked away as if he changed his mind.

"What is it? Hey - I'll take any advice I can get about this. Don't worry about stepping on my toes."

His broad brow wrinkled as he looked from his thick cloven hooves to her slippered feet. Mikki burst into laughter, calling curious looks from several of the women. "No! I didn't mean that literally. It's just a saying - stepping on my toes would be you offending me because you're giving me advice when I didn't ask for it."

"Oh," he snorted. And then, amazingly, the beast laughed. It was a full, rich sound that had the women of the realm staring openly at him.

"You're not laughing because you're actually considering stepping on my toes, are you?"

"Not now that you agreed the women should leave the forest."

A joke? Was he actually kidding around with her? Well, wonders would never cease.

"Gii," she called, not taking her gaze from his. "Would you please tell the women that we are done for the day? Be sure you call the women in from the forest first. The Guardian would like to close the gate as soon as possible."

"Yes, Empousa," Gii said, sending the Guardian a nervous, sideways glance.

"Thank you, Mikado. I can never consider the realm safe while the gate remains open," he said.

Wondering if this was the right time to ask him about the specifics of the dangers in the forest, Mikki bent to reach a pair of shears she had been deadheading roses with and the slim shoulder strap of her chiton slipped down her arm. Before she could shrug it back into place, she felt a prickle of heat run the length of her arm. As if in slow motion, the beast tilted his great head and deftly hooked the tip of one slender, ebony horn beneath the linen strap and then lifted it back to its proper place over her shoulder.

Their eyes met and held.

"I'm . . . I'm not used to wearing a chiton yet," she stuttered.

"It becomes you."

"Th-thank you," she said breathlessly. Though her voice was little more than a whisper, the intensity of his dark, sensuous eyes compelled her to ask, "Is that just more of you being the Guardian and doing your duty?"

His face, which had seemed so readable just a moment before, suddenly closed down. As if remembering himself, he took a quick step away from her. His voice was clipped and he didn't look at her when he spoke. "My duty . . . yes. Caring for you is my duty."

Mikki frowned. What the hell was up with him? His mood swings were wearing her out. So was the uncomfortable silence that had settled between them. She was searching for something . . . anything to say when he finally spoke.

"I could draw the map for you, Empousa."

His voice was deep and as unreadable as his expression, but he looked at her and then quickly away, as if he had become suddenly, inexplicably nervous.

"A map?" she said stupidly and then she remembered. "Oh! A map of the gardens so I could divide the area up among the Elementals. That would be great," she said quickly. "Why don't you give me time to get things wrapped up here and get cleaned up and then you meet me on my balcony? We can discuss the map while we have dinner. You could even bring your drawing supplies and sketch something out for me."

"No!" The word rumbled from him, causing several heads to turn in their direction again. He lowered his powerful voice. "No," he repeated. "It would not be proper."

"I don't know why not," she said easily. "I have to eat; you have to eat. We need to talk about this, and the sooner the better so I can give the new directions to the handmaidens first thing in the morning." She wondered briefly at the certainty with which she felt she must push him. Did it have something to do with the callous way Gii had talked about him earlier? It's time I stopped questioning myself and followed my gut! she told herself firmly. "But if you really don't want to come to my balcony - which I don't understand at all because you were just there last night - I could always have dinner brought to wherever you live. We could eat there while we dis - "

"I will come to your balcony!" he said hastily.

"Good." She was careful not to show the rush of exhilaration she felt when he gave in. "But don't forget that I have to finish up here and then take a bath or something because I am definitely a mess and - "

He held up one powerful hand to cut off her words.

"Would you rather I just called for you when I'm ready?" she asked sweetly.

"Call and I will come to you."

Then he turned and stalked back to the gate.

"I think that went well," she told the Felicite Parmentier shrub.