Page 21 of Poseidon's Island Flower

Athena hummed in agreement, pulling out bandages.

Candice and I looked at each other, shrugging. They didn’t think it was weird at all, so we wouldn’t rock the boat.

Not when I was getting patched up, anyway.

Athena went over every bruise and touched close to every part of my body. Asked if I’d bumped my head at any point, which I was thinking I had because Mr. Hot Merman kept standing out in my head. Not to mention Cy.

He was still standing behind the counter, looking away as soon as I tried to catch him watching. I bit my lip, becoming more intrigued by the guy than I probably should have.

The guys I’d previously dated, which had been a long, long, time ago, had always come onto me first. Not that I would have had a problem going to them, it was just a different scene.

A woman going after a man? That could make a woman look like a slut or a harlot by today’s standards, which was ludicrous. What about all those men that were too shy to ask a woman on a date? Those that felt too vulnerable or didn’t feel confident or worthy enough to ask a woman?

Cy was my rescuer, and I had to give him some sort of gratitude for it. Even if there was a tiny bit of lust surrounding my intentions.

I’m going to hell for lusting over the shy man in the corner.

“Can you recall any of what happened to you, Lani? From when you were sucked out to sea to when you were rescued?” Athena asked.

I glanced at Candice, looking for some sort of reprieve. I didn’t want to divulge anything I’d seen in the ocean or explain feeling the hopelessness of being alone out there.

No one to reach to.

Not to mention a hot merman had wrapped his tail around me, his gentle eyes boring into my soul. That would make her think I needed to go get a cat scan for my damned head.

But of course, Candice was trying to look away from Zeus. The imposing meathead kept staring at her like she was his next side piece.

I cast a fierce glance toward the dark-haired brute, but he completely ignored me.

Candice loved getting attention when it was wanted. But this wasn’t wanted, not any more anyway.

“Just being pulled out to sea and waking up on the beach,” I said.Because I’m not about to tell you about the hunk of a merman I thought saved me.

“Which, I wanted to ask. How did you get to me, Cy? You must have amazing swimming skills.” I turned, trying to get his attention, but he still didn’t look at me. He clenched his jaw and kept his brows narrowed.

Disappointment, nothing but disappointment as I wrung my hands in my lap. He wouldn’t look at me, and maybe it was for the best. Maybe he was perturbed that he had to jump into the ocean to save a freaking native from the sea.

“Don’t worry about him” Athena grabbed my hands with hers. “He has trouble relating to others. He’s shy, he’s…” Athena’s loss for words didn’t defuse my disappointment.

He was my damned hero for saving my life, and I couldn’t let it go.

Cy grabbed me from the ocean. He pulled me to shore. He held my hand and gave me tingles all over my body that I craved more of. Now, he was going to look away from me?

I rose from my seat; the room went silent as I did so, and I rounded the small kitchen. He kept his eyes to the ground, and I laid my hand palm facing upward for him to take if he wanted it. I didn’t look at him, giving him the opportunity for him to look at me.

“I just wanted to say thank you.” I bit the inside of my cheek, trying my best not to look into those eyes I found so captivating. “And I know it isn’t much, but if I could take you to dinner for repayment, I would really like to do that.”

What was I doing?

I was a damned maid asking out a suite customer for a damned dinner. A dinner I couldn’t afford, mind you, but who could really put a price on a life?

I waited a good long minute before I put my hand away. I clutched it, slowly nodding my head.

Yeah, this sucked. I wonder how guys handled getting rejected? I might need to look that up. Because I felt utterly rejected now.

I shared a look with Candice to leave, and the relief on her face was priceless. I chuckled at her as she rushed out the door. Zeus’s eyes followed her, but he didn’t rise.

“Thank you again, Athena, Cy, for helping me. I appreciate it.” I put my hand on the door and before I closed it, I knew I had to try one more time. “Cy, if you change your mind. Athena has my number.” I offered a faint smile and shut the door with a barely audible click.

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