Chapter 11 #2
“You’d better not eat all my pizza, fat man,” Tigger huffed.
“Humans have a saying, sharing is caring.”
“I’m not human.”
“Bah, it probably won’t even be good pizza but some weird fancy thing he had his chef make.”
“It’s possible to ruin pizza?” Tigger inquired.
“Oh yes. It takes the right balance of tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings. The best slice you can have…”
I tuned them out and glanced at Apollo, his strong features, his capable hands on the wheel, the way his muscled thighs strained the fabric of his pants.
“Keep staring at me like that and I will park this car, grab you, and make a run for somewhere private,” he murmured.
“That might be a better plan than the nightmare that’s unfolding,” was my wry reply.
“It will be fine. I’ve got more than enough pizza, plus Francine, my chef, cooked up a batch of chicken wings. If they still have room after that, then there’s ice cream for dessert.”
“Your chef must have had a conniption when you asked for pizzas.”
“Nah. Francine was actually excited. She got her start in cooking working in an Italian restaurant that specialized in wood-fired pies.”
“Please tell me these won’t all be loaded with weird stuff.” Tutu did have a point that rich folk liked to ruin classics.
“What, don’t tell you don’t anchovies and pineapple on a caviar tomato base?”
My horrified expression had him laughing.
“Don’t worry. She’s sticking to the classics, with the exception of the Hawaiian. She refused to put pineapple on a pizza.”
My turn to chuckle. “Thank god. Pineapple should only be eaten fresh or grilled.”
We arrived at Apollo’s house, and Tutu couldn’t hide his awe.
“Nice place you got,” he declared.
“Thanks. I drove the architect nuts when he designed it. I wanted something that didn’t stick out like a sore thumb, but also gave me the best views.”
Achieved. I’d not paid much attention the last time but noted the exterior appeared to be made of redwood, likely locally sourced.
Vines, bougainvillea if I recognized the leaves correctly, had been planted at the base of the walls and would eventually climb and cover it in a wild jungle of green leaves and bright blooms.
We entered, and once more, I admired the sleek and simple beauty.
Unlike my dragon, I enjoyed the lack of clutter.
Clean open spaces. So nice. Rather than lead us to the dining room, given the nice day, Apollo directed us to go through the open sliding glass doors at the rear.
We emerged onto an interlock stone patio that offered an insane view of the ocean.
“Now there’s a bath fit for a dragon,” Tigger declared, waddling to the edge of the infinity pool.
“And here I would have said that bucket was more your size.” Tutu continued to goad Tigger.
“At least some of us aren’t afraid to cleanse,” a riposte that had Tutu yelling, “That’s it. I am going to strangle you.” He darted for Tigger, who ran quicker on his stubby legs than expected, taunting, “As if you could ever catch me, fat man.”
“Be careful,” I yelled, noticing the edge of the property lacked a railing. The sheer drop might not kill, but it would hurt.
“You can’t tell me what to do!” Tigger shouted, repeating my own words from earlier.
I sighed as the pair, behaving like toddlers, chased each other. “Is it too late to escape?” Because it didn’t look as if I’d get my romantic evening.
“Once we feed them, they should both calm down. Come over here and sit. Enjoy the ocean breeze.”
Apollo led me to a couch, the plush kind that could have fit numerous people. It sat in front of a fire table, unlit for the moment. Other chairs flanked it, along with small side tables, one of which held a sweating pitcher with lemon slices floating above the ice cubes suspended in the liquid.
“Drink?” Apollo offered, holding up a glass.
“Only if it’s got something stiff in it.” I only half-joked. I could use alcohol, and lots of it.
Splash. Tutu hit the water, likely not intentionally, since he surfaced sputtering. Tigger cackled on the edge until Tutu slapped the water hard enough to soak the dragon.
“Why, you insolent beast.” Tigger cannonballed, which, I had to admit, I wouldn’t have expected of his high and mightiness.
Every now and then, he did something that reminded me of his young age. Then he opened his mouth, and I forgot.
“You know, I think this whole hate thing might be an act,” Apollo murmured.
“I wish they’d pretend to hate more quietly,” I grumbled as I took a sip of what turned out to be Long Island iced tea—with plenty booze.
“There was an interesting development overnight in regard to those dragon videos I mentioned last night.”
I stiffened. “What happened? Did they capture one?”
“No. However, the videos, and every single mention of them, have disappeared.”
I took a big sip of my drink as I digested the news. “You think someone intentionally wiped them out.”
“Things that go viral always leave a trace, unless someone with the skills methodically removes them.”
“Seems time consuming.”
“Not if they created a program to do the work for them.”
“That’s possible?”
“Oh yes, and likely what happened. Hackers don’t mind working hard if they have to, but most will look at a task and create software that minimizes the task.”
“Does this mean those videos were real?”
“Seems likely, why else remove them? The real question is, who gave the order?”
“The dragon depicted makes the most sense.” I leaned forward, watching Tigger float, his belly protruding from the water. “One that understands the danger of being exposed, unlike mine.”
“Tigger’s young and, as such, brash. As he learns and matures, he’ll realize he needs to exercise caution.”
“Here’s to hoping he doesn’t do anything too dumb before then.”
Apollo’s phone beeped. “Dinner is ready and needs to be pulled from the oven. I sent Francine home so she wouldn’t notice our little dragon friend.”
“I’ll give you a hand.”
The ovens—four in total—disgorged six, extra-large pizzas and two trays of wings.
We set them on the waiting trivets on the counters, and as Apollo sliced them, I practically drooled like Tigger.
As he finished carving up one, I carried it out to the table that could have seated twelve people easily.
I have to admit it was the best damned pizza I ever ate. I had a slice from the pepperoni, the mushroom-onion-bacon, the meat lovers, and the margherita one—which Tigger declared tasty but lacking in meat. The wings had two flavors, barbecue and hot honey. Also delicious.
“I might never move again,” I groaned, resisting the urge to pat my belly.
Apollo grinned. “Told you it would be good.”
Tigger and Tutu thought so as well. The pair continued to demolish the remains.
“Want to work some of it off?” Apollo queried.
I arched a brow. “Going to take advantage of me while my chaperone is stuffing his face?”
His laughter sent shivers through me. “If I’d have thought you’d be amenable to such a thing, I would have eaten less.”
I offered a rueful smile. “Me too. What did you have in mind, then?”
“Walk on the beach?”
“Sounds like a great idea.” I rose and followed toward the edge, remarking, “I’m surprised you don’t have some kind of barrier to keep people from falling off.”
“It’s coming. The glass panels are on back order. Here’s to hoping nobody falls off the bluff before they’re installed.”
At least the stairs going down to the beach had a railing. Good thing, given their steepness. We hit the sand and began sauntering. To my surprise—and delight—he grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.
“I’m glad you came,” he stated.
“Me, too, although I’d expected a different type of evening.” Playing coy wasn’t my style.
He chuckled. “Yeah. I’d hoped Tigger would toddle off for a nap after we ate, but this is nice, too.”
I kicked off my shoes and dug my toes in the sand. “I did debate whether to come.”
“Because I’m an evil outsider.”
“Partially.” I paused and eyed him. “What exactly is this, anyhow?”
“You want to know if I’m looking for a casual fling.”
“I guess. Not that I’m averse, but if we do get involved, I’d prefer to have an idea ahead of time of what I’m getting into.”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I had no intention of dating, being busy with work and getting the finishing touches done on this place.
Then I met you and found myself wanting to get to know you better, and not just carnally.
Will this end up being something serious?
” He shrugged. “No clue. Guess we’ll have to spend time together to figure that out. ”
Probably the best answer he could have given because I didn’t know where this would go either.
“I’ll admit I still think we’re too different for this to work long term.” I didn’t couch my skepticism.
“You say that, and yet, if you take away my money, I’m just a man who puts his pants on one leg at a time.”
“What, no personal servant to pull them up?” I teased.
“Hell no,” he exclaimed. “But I do have a house and groundskeeper.”
“And a chef.”
“Mostly because if I didn’t, I’d eat crap if I remembered at all,” his sheepish admission. “While I might be wealthy now, I didn’t start out that way. In college, and even for a few years after, I shared an apartment with three guys, and I ate more ramen noodles than was probably healthy.”
“I don’t think my niche business will ever be able to afford me this.” I swept a hand.
“But what you create will be admired for a long time, whereas my games only last until the next fad hits.” He shrugged.
A wave rolled higher than the rest, soaking my toes. “What do you want in life?” A deep question, but, given our current conversation, not out of place.
“The usual, health, happiness.” A pause. “Love.”
“So getting married and having kids and a dog and the whole shebang?”
“Only if I met the right person,” he said as he stared right into my eyes.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for us to lean close and kiss.
Our lips meshed and slid sensually as my arms looped around his neck. His hands gripped me by the waist, helping me to stay on my tiptoes. The embrace ignited every single nerve ending in my body. We didn’t have a blanket, but the sand would be soft and warm and—
“Where’s dessert?”
Tigger’s bellow ruined the magical moment, probably for the best because Tutu next yelled, “I thought there was gonna be ice cream.”
I sighed. “I do believe my chaperones want us to come back.”
Apollo stroked my plump lower lip with his thumb and whispered, “A good thing because another minute and they might have been witness to something best done in a bedroom with the door closed.”
Oh. Apparently, I’d not been the only one ready to make love on the beach.
We returned to the noisy pair, who somehow still had room for ice cream.
I declined dessert but ended up having a few bites because Apollo fed me, insisting I try the flavors.
I’ll admit I enjoyed licking the spoon clean, one because it had touched his lips, and two because he stared with smoldering eyes.
When I helped him clear the table, we took that moment of privacy in the kitchen to kiss, a passionate embrace that left me flushed and breathless.
Wanting…
Needing…
Alas, anything more would have to wait for another time.
Around ten, with Tigger yawning, Tutu, too, we headed home. Apollo had only had two drinks to my four and drove us—with his hand firmly planted on my thigh. If we’d been alone, I might have hiked my skirt and moved it somewhere that required more attention.
While the evening didn’t end as expected—in Apollo’s bed—I didn’t mind too much because I’d enjoyed myself in his company. So had Tutu and Tigger. The pair snored in the back, the little orange dragon perched on Tutu’s soft belly.
As we neared my place, in a low voice, Apollo said, “I’m going to have my chef prepare a feast to drop off when I grab you for dinner tomorrow.”
“Oh, and when did I agree to another date?”
As he turned into my driveway, he flashed me a panty-wetting grin. “Right now, I hope.”
“I might be persuaded,” I teased, even as I wondered what I’d wear. I had no other dresses. Ugh, I didn’t want to go shopping, but would…
“Iolana.” Apollo’s voice turned serious as he neared my house. “Did you leave the front door open?”
“No, but it’s possible it didn’t latch and the wood blew it open,” I stated as I noticed it ajar.
“There’s no wind tonight,” Apollo pointed out. He parked the SUV and leaned over to open the glovebox. My eyes widened as he pulled a holstered gun from it.
“What’s that for?”
“Just in case. Stay here while I check things out.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I stated, exiting the truck with him, as if I’d stay behind.
He glanced at me, and I could see he didn’t believe that for one second. Me neither, as it had never happened before.
Apollo didn’t speak as he strode for the house, his shoes crunching the gravel. Not that the noise of his steps mattered, since an intruder would have heard the SUV.
A glance at the warehouse showed it remained shut tight. I followed Apollo into the house and gasped because even I couldn’t blame the wind or even a straying mongoose for the mess inside.