Page 31 of For the Love of the Gods

She wiped her hands on it, clearing them of flour. “It is an honor, Lord Pluto.”

Dominic smiled. A half smile that toed the line between cheeky and genuine. “Pleasure’s all mine.”

A blush creeped over the bodice of her dress. Dominic had that effect on everyone it seemed. Not that it surprised me. He was so potent.

“Who is this?” She said, turning to me with a curious glint in her eyes. It was almost scandalous for Dominic to be so openly in public with a woman. A half second later, though, her eyes hardened as she recognized me.

“Oh, Lady Hades. A pleasure.” The words lost all of the warmth they had when she was speaking to Dominic.

“Hello, Laurel,” I said, not at all surprised at her reaction to me. This was an old game between us. “It’s Lady Pluto, now.”

“Oh, how…lovely.” Her disdain was obvious, with no regard that my husband was standing right there. She probably thought he agreed. And she’d be right. “Well, I would be honored if you visited my shop. I just baked a fresh batch of bread this morning.”

Dominic justhmm-ed in assent and ushered me in front of him. I breathed in to steady myself, but instead got a whiff of something buttery and delicious.

“It smells lovely,” I commented, bringing a kind smile to my lips. I might fight Dominic back, but kindness was the path I chose with my patrons. And Laurel wasGreekfor god’s sake.

She ignored me and went behind the counter to retrieve the bread. I took a moment to look around the store, taking in the interior that was reminiscent of a village town in the Upperworld. Limestone bricks. Soft, earthy colors.

I dragged a finger along a wooden work table, pausing for a second over a jar of fig jam that looked amazing, and turned to find Dominic staring at me. Observing.

He looked pissed and I had to fight a laugh. I hadn’t planned on letting him sit and think there was something between Lukas and I for so long but this was just too funny.

I stuck my tongue out at him. He looked scandalized for a moment and then chomped his teeth lightly. I laughed softly, then turned back to Laurel as she came back around the counter. She was carrying a long, thin loaf of bread, golden and bubbly with rosemary sprinkled on top.

I couldn’t hide my excitement. It lookeddelicious. “Is that a focaccia?”

Laurel looked at me like I was stupid to even ask. She turned her shrewd expression to Dominic. “Lord Pluto, do you like focaccia?”

Dominic crossed his arms and breathed out, like a dragon trying to clear its snout. “I’m afraid I don’t know what that is.”

His tone was obviously rude, but Laurel didn’t bat an eye. She extended him the grace I never deserved. “It’s a type of bread, see?”

Dominic didn’t uncross his arms, just leaned forward slightly to get a better look at the pan.

“It looks like the one you made a few days ago,” he said, looking at me. I didn’t even realize he’d noticed.

Laurel looked like she was going to open her mouth and say something likeyou think yours is better?I cut her off before she could. “I’m sure Laurel’s is better than anything I could make. How much for a loaf?”

It was an effort not to drop my smile as she responded tersely. “Ten bronze pieces.”

Dominic’s jaw dropped open slightly and his brows pinched together in shock. It’s not like either of us expected charity, but there was always some pushback. A dance where they would say it would be an honor to give us something and we would smile and say “thank you” but insist on paying.

But, no, not with me. With me, she expected me to pay.

I handed over some of the coins I kept in the pocket of my dress, brushing her calloused hand and causing her to jerk back slightly. “Thank you, Laurel.”

Dominic turned quickly and strode out the door without a goodbye. I scurried after him and Laurel called as we left, “Good to see you, Lord Pluto.”

Outside, Dominic’s body was strained under his casual black t-shirt and he was pacing back and forth. When he saw me skip down the steps of Laurel’s shop, he stopped and the look in his expression made me freeze in my tracks.

“What?” I asked.

“Are you trying to piss me off today?”

“That is my general intention, yes.”

Dominic licked his teeth. “Well, you’re doing a hell of a job of it.”

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