Page 38 of Artemis

Artemis joined Maddie, Hera, and Demi at the food table. “This looks amazing. Alexander is thrilled.” She caught sight of a brightly-colored piñata in the shape of a horse hanging from the support beam of the play structure. “Thank you.”

Demi smiled. “This is what I do. I’m happy you’re happy.”

Artemis had the overwhelming urge to continue the praise and was grateful when the first party guests arrived. For a while, she was kept busy greeting the parents of the other kids at the daycare. She knew most of them fairly well, but it was still a little nerve-wracking to shake the hand of and make small talk with Lucifer himself, the Lord of the Underworld. His daughter, Atlanta, had only been attending the daycare for about nine months or so.

Jaden and his brothers were the last to arrive. The children instantly swarmed the three large men, a testament to how much the kids loved them. Artemis watched, amused, as the kids were tossed gently from one to another, shrieks of glee filling the air.

“They were a good choice for helping you out,” Artemis overheard Hestia tell Maddie. “The McKellen brothers may look intimidating, but they’re marshmallows with the kids. Look at Finley with Alexander. You’d never know that he was terrified of kids a few short weeks ago.”

Finley?

No, it couldn’t be.

Artemis focused on the men across the backyard. There was Augustine, Hera’s mate, playing with little Atlanta and Lyta. Jaden had Damien on his shoulders. And... The third man turned to face her, Alexander upside down in his arms. Her stomach swooped.

ItwasFinley.

He filled out a navy blue polo shirt as if he’d been poured into it, his biceps bulging as he cradled the little boy.

Her heart beat faster. Her hands grew clammy. All of a sudden, she wondered if she’d remembered to brush her hair after her shower that morning and quickly ran her hand over her head, only to find that she’d tied it up in a messy topknot.

Maybe he won’t notice me!

She wildly fought the urge to hide underneath the tablecloth covering the snack table.

But Finley’s blue eyes had locked onto her and he was walking purposefully toward her, putting Alexander gently down on the ground once he reached her. He opened his mouth, but Artemis beat him to it.

“I thought you didn’t like kids?” she asked before mentally kicking herself.

She wanted him to ask her out, didn’t she?

But Finley smiled. “I thought I didn’t. I still don’t particularly like kids in general, but I very much like these four. It’s been a steep learning curve these past few weeks, but Alexander’s been on hand to teach me the ropes. Which kid is yours?” He ruffled Alexander’s hair when he mentioned him, making the boy smile up at him.

Before Artemis could reply, Alexander said, “Mom, this is Lee! He’s the blue dragon I told you about.”

The shock of realization hit both adults at once. Artemis could tell by the widening of Finley’s eyes, even as she was overwhelmed by the fact that not only had she been hearing all about Lee for weeks, but he’d saved her son from being kidnapped twice.

“Umm, hi?” she said hesitantly.

CHAPTER10

All Finley could think wasMaddie knew this would happen.

She knew Artemis was Alexander’s mom. And she didn’t warn me.

A quick glance at Maddie showed her smirking at him, obviously pleased that he had been caught off-balance.

His gaze dropped back down to Artemis’s turned up face. She looked just as surprised as he felt. She looked gorgeous, in a different way than she had at the speed dating event. There, she’d been dressed seductively. Here, she was wearing a casual cream-colored sweater that slipped off one shoulder and a pair of black leggings that looked sculpted to her ass.

“You look amazing,” he said, his tongue trying to trip him up on those simple words.

“So do you.” Her gaze skittered over his chest and arms before she pushed her glasses up her nose slightly, adjusting them with a practiced hand. “So you’re the Lee that Alexander hasn’t stopped talking about. I need to thank you for what you’ve done.”

His mind jumped to all the ways she could thank him, including but not limited to letting him strip her clothing from her and feast on her juices once more. Pulling his thoughts away from her beautiful body with a strength of will he wouldn’t have had if they’d been alone, he cleared his throat. “I would never stand by.”

Looking horrified, Artemis brought one hand to her mouth. “I didn’t think you would! I meant that I’m glad you were there. Thank you.”

Finley shifted from one foot to the other. “Not a problem. I’m glad I was there too.”

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