Page 9 of Horns for the Holidays

I turned to tell him exactly where he could shove paradise, but the words died in my throat. Kotos lounged against the side of the skiff, one muscular arm draped casually over the edge. Sea spray misted his bronzed skin and sunlight glinted off a medallion resting against his exposed chest.

I swallowed hard. “Well, some of us take our jobs seriously, Mr. Mavridis.”

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d gone too far. Then his lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. “Oh, I assure you, Ms. Scanlon. I take many thingsveryseriously.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I refused to break eye contact. The air between us crackled with tension. My pulse raced, blood pounding in my ears. I struggled to keep my breathing even, keenly aware of how close we were.

The skiff rounded a bend, sending a fresh wave of spray over us. The cold shock broke the spell. I let out a shaky breath, turning away from that searing gaze.

Fuck. What was I doing? Flirting with my boss? Yes, he was gorgeous. And sure, maybe I hadn’t had sex in over a year. But that was no excuse. I had to focus on my career. Not tank it.

“I reviewed the initial marketing proposals on the trip over here.” I kept my tone brisk and professional. No sense tempting fate. “If I may make a suggestion...?”

Kotos cocked an eyebrow, but otherwise looked unfazed. “By all means. That’s why you’re here.”

“They’re fairly standard campaigns with a focus on the resort or the area. ‘Live like a god’ with all the hedonistic trappings that implies.”

“And that’s a bad thing because...”

“It’s expected.” I rolled my eyes. “A predictable pitch that every other hotel has tried. But MythMatch isn’t every other dating app. Lean into it. Show sirens seducing the user into visiting. Satyrs dancing the night away around beach bonfires. Connect local romantic legends to our pitch so they can live like gods... in love.”

Kotos nodded, his expression growing thoughtful. “Not bad. I suspect Andreas will eat up the cultural aspects. He’s very proud of Elysia’s connection to Greek mythology.”

“Though,” I mused, nose wrinkling, “an underworld abduction might not resonate with our user base.”

“No,” he answered with an irritated shake of his head. “That’s something Shadow Daddies would feature.”

The air around him soured, and we lapsed into silence, save for the steady rhythm of the waves splashing against the hull and the occasional cry of a seabird.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned his biggest competition. Clearly, the company hit a nerve. Which, honestly, didn’t surprise me. Dating apps were a cutthroat industry. I’d worked in marketing for years, and watched rival companies devour each other in search of any advantage.

Something told me the situation was different here. Kotos wasn’t merely competing with Shadow Daddies. There was history. Bad blood. Something personal.

A splash beside the boat caught my attention. I leaned over and gasped in delight as I spotted a group of nymphs frolicking in our wake. They waved, giggling and darting through the surf.

One of them, a redhead with eyes like polished amber, blew us a saucy kiss. “Come play with us! The water’s fine!”

“Show-offs,” Kotos chuckled, but there was fondness in his tone.

I turned back to him, grinning. “Do you know them?”

He shrugged. “I knowofthem. Elysia’s nymphs are rather infamous for their antics.”

As if to prove his point, another nymph—this one with hair like spun silver—sent a wave cascading for us both. I squealed at the sudden shower, hastily brushing water from my eyes.

And then... Kotos laughed.

Not a polite chuckle or condescending smirk. A full-bodied, genuine laugh that lit up his entire face. The sound was rich and warm, wrapping around me like a caress.

I found myself joining in, the ridiculousness of the situation finally hitting me. Here I was, on a magical boat ride with my stupidly attractive boss, being accosted by creatures straight out of a storybook. If someone had told me this is where I’d end up a week ago, I would’ve laughed in their face.

It was absurd. Completely ludicrous.

And kind of wonderful.

The nymphs joined in, splashing and doing elaborate backflips. Two dove deep and returned with conch shells, blowing spouts of water high into the air. Another balanced precariously on her companions’ hands, spinning like a ballerina.

As our laughter faded, I caught Kotos watching me with an odd expression. “What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.

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