Page 12

“I’m not. The guy from the balcony thinks I’m invisible.”

“He’s not staring at you like you’re invisible. He’s staring at you exactly the way you want.”

“And how’s that?”

“Like you’re his own personal Aphrodite.”

I laughed and tried to turn my head again. “Are you not going to let me see your face, mystery man?”

“Mystery man?”

I could feel his smile against my skin.

“I’m glad you didn’t call me Hephaestus.”

I recognized the names from Greek mythology. But I didn’t know all the details. “Weren’t Aphrodite and Hephaestus married?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“So you’re hoping we remain strangers?”

“Not even a little bit.”

I laughed. “I’m so confused. If I’m Aphrodite in this scenario, who are you hoping to be?”

“A mere mortal.”

I laughed again. “I need to brush up on my Greek mythology.”

“You really do.” His fingers stretched over my stomach.

I never knew someone touching me there could feel so erotic. “So if I’m Aphrodite and you’re a mere mortal, who is the guy on the balcony?”

“A mistake.”

I tried to turn my head again, but my mystery man’s head was blocking mine. I was able to look up at Mr. Halifax though. His eyes burned into mine.

I didn’t know the man behind me. But the word “mistake” was echoing around in my head to the beat of the music. “Do you know who the guy on the balcony is?” I’d pretty much confessed my crush on my teacher to a stranger. What if this guy knew Mr. Halifax? What if...

“No,” the stranger whispered. “But he’s letting you dance with me. Watching your every move but not making his. Not worth your time, Aphrodite.”

“I should stick to the mere mortal behind me?” A smile was on my lips.

“I would worship the ground you walk on.”

It wasn’t just the words he’d said. But the way he’d said them. I could smell the alcohol on his breath as it tickled the side of my neck. Maybe he was wasted. Or...maybe he wasn’t. Maybe I reminded him so much of this girl he said would never be his that he wasn’t thinking straight.

“I’m not her,” I said.

His hand slid across my stomach, wrapping completely around me. “I know. You’re letting me touch you.”

For just a moment, I completely forgot about the man I wanted on the balcony. Caught up in the man behind me. I tried to turn my head again, but he was still blocking me.

“I like being your mystery man,” he whispered. “Even if it’s just for one night. Do your worst, Aphrodite.”

“My worst?”

“You’re trying to make him jealous, right?”