Page 38 of Hades and Persephone: Keeper of Sins

“Or maybe it’s just you who is in trouble. You’re hardly ever at the house. Always seeing to the needs of the rich dude at his. And you were almost late this morning.” Something like fear spikes inside me. Iwasalmost late. For some reason traffic had been bumper to bumper. Probably because it’s been an off day, and an off day always ends up being the one where all the stuff goes wrong.

“I have a job, Addison. Some of us don’t have rich parents that can support our every whim,” I snap. “And if I’m in trouble, what didyoudo to be in trouble with me?”

Okay, I’m prickly. The heat must be getting to me.

Addison leans close. “I can be bad, Annie.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ll bet.”

“I can show you.” He slides closer. My skin heats when he challenges, “Just say the word.”

From not too far away, Minthe’s chime-like laughter shatters the tension. “She’s not into you, Addison.”

I blink and give my head a confused little shake becausewhat the hell?I pack up my tools and crush Addison just a little when I mutter, “I’m good.”

I don’t look back as I move from where I’d been dusting the base of what we suspect was another temple, now in ruins. Under the white tent, ancient artifacts we’ve unburied lay on clean white linen covered tables.

Beth smiles, her eyes drifting over my shoulder where I sense Addison is now standing close. “You guys need a break from the heat.” She points to one of the tables. “You can start cleaning there. Of course, be careful.”

“These hands know how to be gentle, Beth.” I don’t know how Addison can make everything sound so sexual. Most of it should be cringe, but everyone—literally everyone swoons.

Even now, the red in Beth’s already heat-stained cheeks deepens. She giggles. “I have no doubt.” Her eyes get big as they land on me and she breathes, “Have fun.”

I smile, though it’s a bit forced. Pulling my hat off, I fan my face as I take a seat at the table. Addison sits across from me and I can feel the way his bright blueeyes roam my face as we settle in to cleaning centuries old debris from the ancient artifacts.

“It doesn’t work on you, does it?”

I lift my gaze to meet his. “What?”

“Flirting.”

My lips part. Something in my belly flutters when his eyes chase my tongue as I wet them. Nervously, I shake my head. “Not really.”

“Why not?”

I shrug, feeling awkward. “I think I might miss some of it.”

He frowns. “What?”

“It just goes over my head a lot of the time.” I peek at him and explain, “The flirting, I mean.”

He sits back in his chair, studying me. “How so?”

“I’ve never been the girl guys flirted with. So now that it happens, I guess I just—it’s just not something I expect.”

“You’ve never been the girl guys flirt with?” His brows are arched high, like he doesn’t believe me.

I don’t know why he wouldn’t. “That’s what I said.”

“How is that possible?”

I shift in my chair. There is a bubble of annoyance swelling inside me, because now I think he’s playing with me. I don’t like to be played with.

I sigh, lowering my tools to the table. “Addison,” I start, but shake my head. He’s watching me curiously,waiting attentively. I don’t understand the game he’s playing. “Do I feel like an easy mark to you?”

He looks taken aback. His chuckle is nervous, touched by wariness. “What? No.”

“I am genuinely confused how I can go from living my whole life without a single boy being interested in me only to come here and be surrounded by men who—who?—”

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