Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(32)
She sighed dramatically, adding another sniffle for effect before letting go.
“I can’t believe you knew and said nothing until now. And how the heck did Kri hear us? We were outside in the hallway and the doors were closed…” Feeling exposed, Syssi crossed her arms over her chest.
“You forget how exceptional our hearing is, everybody heard. And I didn’t say anything because I waited for you to fess up. Some best friend you are—not telling me right away.” Amanda pouted and folded her arms over her chest as well.
“I can’t believe everyone heard, it should have been private.” Syssi let her chin drop, disappointed at having her cherished moment shared with a crowd.
Then a suspicion had her pin Amanda with a hurt look. “Kian knew, didn’t he? This whole thing was some caveman-like display of ownership to warn off the other guys, wasn’t it?” she asked, her doubts and insecurities raising their ugly heads.
“No, sweetie, don’t you dare belittle what transpired between you two, just because it was witnessed by people who happen to care a lot about Kian and about you. I don’t think it even crossed his mind.” She chuckled at Syssi’s arched eyebrow. “Not the toe-curling kiss, that he wanted everyone to see. He was making a statement… I mean the things he said after… when you were alone and out of sight. He got carried away, forgetting he had an audience. Give him some credit, would you?”
“Yeah, you might be right… It’s just… I feel like something was stolen from me… I was so happy…” Syssi wiped at the traitorous tear sliding under her eye.
“I’m so sorry, darling. I should have kept my big mouth shut. The last thing I wanted to do was to upset you. You know that I love you, right?”
Amanda dipped her head to peek into Syssi’s downcast eyes.
“I’m sorry too. I don’t know why I’m so emotional…” Syssi heaved a breath and tried to crank up a smile.
“Are you kidding me? You are taking it all like a trouper. Your whole life has been turned upside down. You fall in love, and you’re facing the possibility of becoming immortal… I’m surprised you didn’t crack till now. I would if I were you.” Amanda embraced her once more, caressing her back in small circles.
“Thank you. You’re a really good friend, you know?”
“I know… but wait till you see how I do as a sister-in-law…” Amanda chuckled and started singing quietly in Syssi’s ear: Love and marriage, love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. This I tell you brother, you can’t have one without the other.
“What’s next? You’ll start going around singing; Kian and Syssi, sitting in a tree? ” Syssi laughed, feeling better despite herself.
“I just might…”
2 0
A N D R E W
A ndrew was early—the precaution of arriving ahead of time to stake out a place a deeply ingrained habit he saw no reason to forgo just because of his shift to civilian life. Selecting a table facing the front, he watched the glass door, waiting for his first peek of the infamous professor.
He had expected Dr. Amanda Dokani to be good-looking—Syssi mentioned the woman was stunning… once or twice… or a hundred times— but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, on-screen or off, walking in behind his sister and towering over Syssi’s slight form.
She must’ve topped six feet, all of it exquisitely shaped and expensively dressed. And her short, almost boyish haircut did nothing to detract from the perfection of her beautiful, feminine face.
His jaw literally dropped before he willed it shut and swallowed the drool that had gathered in his mouth. Pushing up from his chair, he smoothed his hair and pulled on the lapels of his suit jacket, making sure they lay flat— suddenly mindful of his appearance.
For the first time in his life, Andrew felt inadequate and it pissed him off.
He managed a smile for Syssi, who left her gorgeous boss behind and rushed to give him a hug with a big grin on her face. He was thankful for the reprieve his sister’s hug was affording him, using it to collect himself as he waited for Amanda to catch up. Glancing over Syssi’s shoulder, he watched her saunter with a sensual sway to her hips, carrying her body with the confident glide of a graceful predator.
She caught him staring at her and held his gaze with a small, devious smile curling one side of her full, luscious lips.
Letting go of Syssi, he extended his hand and forced a well-practiced smile on his face. “Hi, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Amanda. Syssi told me so much about you.” Andrew smiled, satisfied that his tone hadn’t betrayed how nervous she made him feel.
“The pleasure is all mine, Andrew,” she purred, her incredibly blue eyes twinkling with coquettish amusement as she took his offered hand, leaving her elegant, long fingers in his grasp.
Andrew was intrigued. He had little experience of being pursued; his severe demeanor discouraging most women, to the exclusion of the gutsy or the clueless, from making a move. And as he wasn’t a rich man, and in his own opinion not that good-looking, there was hardly a reason for any to make an effort. Which meant that he was used to being the hunter and couldn’t decide whether he liked this reversal of roles or not. On the one hand, he was flattered and turned on. On the other, he felt uncomfortable and suspicious when a woman like that gave him this kind of attention. Not that he had ever met a woman like Dr. Amanda Dokani.