Ares's hand goes under the blanket to the center of his body, my mouth goes dry as I track the movement. Could he be touching himself? My eyes leap up to his, then over a few feet to where Milo and Ollie are sleeping.
Ares chuckles. “Just making adjustments.” Swallowing thickly, I bite my lower lip. My heart is beating like a hammer against my chest. Ares’s pupils expand even farther as his head tilts to the side. “Oh, sweetheart, what I wouldn’t give for a few hours alone with you right now.”
“Hours?”
Another low groan sounds from Ares as he closes his eyes. “Dante said he was driving you to work, I’ll be there to pick you up this afternoon.”
“Uh, okay.” The change of topic throws me for a brief moment.
“We’re going to need to talk to Maggie about you not working so much.”
I bristle. “I need to work, and I’m not just going to bail on her.”
“Laura, I’m not asking you to bail on her, but we have a lot going on. It would be better to cut your schedule down now than to leave her hanging when we need you here.” Ares runs his hand over my leg soothingly. “My parents should be here today or tomorrow. Who knows what we might learn, what other stuff we might be dealing with?” Ares licks his bottom lip. “We also need to work on your abilities; we need to make sure you can control them.”
I hate that he’s making sense. I’ve been working for years, and I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t have something other than my mom to focus on. “I’ll talk to her,” I admit, sounding defeated.
“I don’t want it to upset you.” Ares tucks a long strand of hair behind my ear; it’s still a little damp, since I was trying to let it dry a bit before braiding it.
My shoulders droop. “I don’t mean to be pouty about it. It’s just jobs aren’t always easy to come by when you don’t have a home address or telephone.”
“I can’t believe I haven’t thought to get you a phone,” he states absently. “You have a home address now, and I’ll get you a phone today. Getting, or even having a job now isn’t an issue.”
“But I didn’t have those things, not when Maggie took a chance on me, and I don’t want her to think I don’t appreciate that.” In a more serious tone I add, “If I want a phone, I can buy one, I have some money.” I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.
Ares actually rolls his eyes at me. “I don’t even need to buy one, I didn’t turn in my last phone after an upgrade.”
Milo stirs, so I lower my voice again. “I have to go.”
“Don’t leave right away, I want to talk to Dante. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Ares pulls me down to plant a hot kiss on my lips. I barely have time to return his affection before he’s pushing me away and getting up from the bed with me still lingering where he was lying just moments ago.
“You start that, and you won’t be going into work today.” Ares saunters into the bathroom, leaving me to stare after him.
I find Dante in the kitchen leaning over the stove. “Hey,” I call to announce myself. “Ares said he wanted to talk to you before we leave.” Glancing at the microwave, I note the time.
“Okay, I made us some eggs.” Dante tilts the pan, pushing some scrambled eggs onto two plates already waiting on the counter. Taking a seat at the island, Dante puts one plate in front of me.
“Oh my.” The words pop out before I can stop them. The eggs are still runny, not even what some restaurants would call soft.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think these need just a few more minutes in the pan.” I grab his plate before he gives himself salmonella. Dumping both plates back into the pan I turn the burner on low.
“I was trying to hurry,” Dante tells me, a little dejected.
“It’s okay, Dante, just a few more minutes and they’ll be all good. Did you already put salt and pepper in them?”
“No, I don’t really cook much,” he admits shyly.
“Well, thank you for trying.” I make sure to meet his eyes, so he knows I’m not being sarcastic, or flippant. I really do appreciate his effort. Dante lowers his head, but it doesn’t hide the flush on his cheeks “Do you like ketchup on your eggs?” I add, changing the subject.
“Sure, I’ll grab it.” Dante pops up from the stool and heads toward the fridge. Ares steps through the doorway already dressed in a black thermal shirt and grey sweat pants. Seeing him like this—all dressed down and comfy—makes me feel special. I don’t think Ares allows many people to see this side of him, he’s always so untouchable in his slacks and vests. I have to admit, though: I love his tailored wardrobe just as much.
“Did you make enough for me?” I focus back on the stove pushing the eggs around the pan. He’s so damn distracting. Grabbing three clean plates from the cupboard, I divide the eggs between us.
“Dante made them; I was just finishing them for him.” I bump my shoulder into Dante, sitting in the middle between them.
I eat quickly, keeping track of the time while doing so. “Laura said you wanted to talk?” Dante finishes up his eggs even quicker than me.
“Just wanted to get on the same page. Laura and I spoke about her talking to Maggie, lightening her schedule.”
Dante peers at me from the side, like he’s wary of my reaction. “And you agreed?”
I huff. “Yes. I get we have a lot going on, but I feel guilty about it. She just hired me.”
Dante crinkles his brow. “Laura, you do realize Maggie has been running that diner forever, and she didn’t even really need to hire you when she did.”
Placing my plate in the dishwasher, I pause. “Say what?”
“That was why Milo and I were so confused when we saw you there the first time. She hired you because she wanted to, not because she needed to.”
My guilt morphs into something else. Did she pity me? Maggie never acted like she was giving me a handout. I worked for everything I earned, and the diner definitely seemed busy enough to need me. I lean my butt against the counter, my eyes going up to the ceiling as I think.
“Don’t overthink it, Laura. You needed a job, Maggie gave you one. That’s that,” Ares states, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
I narrow my eyes on him, “And we’re sure you can’t read minds?”
“I don’t need to read your mind, Cara. It’s written all over your face.”
Dante chimes in, “Yeah, an open book.” He swirls his hand over his own face but means mine. I roll my eyes and pull a face. Let’s see if they can read that one. Dante lets out a burst of laughter.
“What’s so funny?” Ollie asks, stumbling into the kitchen. “You guys already eat?” His nose lifts into the air.
“Just some eggs, good morning.” I push off the counter. “We need to head out.”
“Good morning, sugar tits.”
Ares chokes on the bite of eggs in his mouth, spluttering all over his plate. It would almost be worth it to let Ollie call me that just so I could see this reaction.
“Oliver,” I chastise with no real heat.