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Frankie lifted her head and scanned the people sitting around the pool. Several looked at her, some with smiles, some with frowns, and some with interest.
They probably wondered what a god saw in her, a mere human.
"Maybe it wasn't a good idea to come up here." She tied the belt tighter around her waist.
Mia regarded her with a raised brow. "Who are you and what have you done with the Frankie who is unafraid of anything?"
"I'm not afraid. It just feels weird to have everyone looking at me."
"Let's get a drink." Mia steered her chair toward the bar. "I want to see Bob."
There was a long line in front of the bar, and when people offered to let Mia go ahead of them, she refused.
As their turn finally came, Bob greeted her with a big smile on his shiny chrome face. "Mistress Frankie. It is so good to see you again. Would you like a mojito?"
"Yes, please." She turned to Mia. "What would you like?"
"A lemonade, please."
When Bob started on the drinks, Frankie leaned down to whisper in Mia's ear. "He remembered the drink I ordered yesterday. Isn't that fabulous? He must remember every drink he ever made and who ordered it. Bob is the perfect barman."
"Not quite," the guy standing behind them said. "Earlier, I tried to share my woes with him, and he just looked at me with round, unblinking eyes. A real barman would have offered advice." He smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Max."
"I'm Frankie." She shook what he offered. "I'm Mia's friend."
"I know." He waved his other hand around. "Everyone here does."
Given his tone, Max hadn't meant that everyone knew she was Mia's friend. He was referring to her relationship with Dagor.
Well, calling it a relationship was an exaggeration. It was a prolonged hookup.
Ten days, with only nine remaining.
"Oh, God." Frankie rubbed a hand over her face.
He chuckled. "Yeah, that too. Gossip is a big problem in a small community. You'll get used to that."
"Here are your drinks, mistresses," Bob announced cheerfully, handing a beverage to each of them with his long robotic arms.
"Thank you." Frankie brought the glass to her lips and took a small sip. "Just as perfect as the one you made me yesterday."
"I'm glad that you find my service satisfactory." Bob turned to Max. "What can I make for you, master?"
"Same as before," he said.
"Coming up." Bob swiveled his torso and reached for one of the bottles hanging from the bar's ceiling.
Max turned to Frankie. "Save a dance for me tonight?"
She felt her cheeks warm. "Normally, I'd say I would be delighted, but I don't know whether Dagor will be okay with me dancing with someone else."
Max's expression turned predatory. "Perhaps you can save me a dance for when you arrive at the village. The god is not welcome to follow you there, and when he leaves to search for the missing pods, I will be waiting for you."
Talk about direct.
This guy didn't mince words or beat around the bush, and usually she liked that, but right now, it just made her uncomfortable.
Which was stupid.
