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"You know it is."
My own squeezed in response. There was something about having her in my arms and hearing her say things like that which affected me far deeper than I thought possible.
I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers, not in the slightest bit surprised when she deepened the kiss. Despite the fact we were at work and just waiting for the first guests to arrive, I let it go on. These were some of the best moments, stolen ones that made even the most mundane situations into something we shared.
She broke away from me and smiled, only for her attention to be dragged away by the arrival of the first guests.
"I guess it's showtime," she said.
"It is," I agreed. "Good luck and I'll meet you back here for the auction bit."
She waved and headed towards the doors to greet people. I watched her for a few minutes, impressed with the ease and grace with which she moved. I couldn't hear precisely what she was saying, but I knew she remembered enough about all of Jinx's high-profile potential clients to be greeting them all by name and making them feel as if they were getting the personal treatment. It was beyond impressive.
I let out a contented sigh. I had no idea if our relationship was going to last, or what it would look like as time passed, but watching her now, I was certain in every part of my being that I wanted to find out. And that she was far more than the perfect goddess everyone thought she was, or that she felt she had to be.
To me, she was Aphie, and that included her goddess part, but also the part that liked late-night gyros and named her tortoises after people she thought she'd let down.
She was as human as anyone else underneath, and I was lucky she'd let me see that.
Fifteen
Aphrodite
* * *
The room was buzzing with excitement as the final auction lot was cued up on the screen. Fourteen down and only one left to go. I nodded to the man working on the presentation.
"All right, good to go," Damien said into his earpiece.
The auctioneer gave a small nod from the front of the room.
"All right everybody, we've come to the final lot of the night," he said, quietening down the room immediately. "This is a luxury weekend aboard Anansa's flagship, La Sirene." He gestured to the smiling sea goddess on the front row.
She had every right to be pleased. This was a fantastic way for her to get more business, even if I was somewhat surprised about how quickly she'd brought her cruises under the Jinx umbrella. Perhaps she felt like having Aine's backing would mean she'd be able to offer more services than before.
"This is an all-inclusive four-day trip with a suite cabin and a romantic dinner for two as one of the meals. The sunsets are particularly vivid in this part of the world and there's nothing like it."
Chatter went around the room at the description and the accompanying photos on the screen. I almost let out a sigh of relief. It had felt like a risk to put something like this at the end of the auction list, but this was what had made the most sense to me. Start with the smallest things and work the way up to the bigger ones.
"Let's start the bidding at nine thousand," he called.
Several paddles went into the air.
"That's a bargain," Damien said beside me.
"Definitely," I responded.
"Not tempted to bid?"
"Are we ready for a holiday?" I asked.
"One like that? Always," he joked.
"I wouldn't worry about it, the bidding is going to get much higher," I said. "And you work for Jinx, I'm sure Anansa would do you a deal."
"I'll remember that for when we're ready for a cruise."
Warmth filled me at the thought. I wouldn't mind going away with him. I didn't think I'd feel like that about anyone any time soon.
