Read Lesson in Love (Olympians, 2) for Free Online

air. They show every color and even look like
bridges. I became their messenger to the mortal world. That’s why I
live here. I’m not as busy as I once was, but that’s fine. I don’t
mind.”
    “ You don’t care that
mortals are forgetting us?”
    She thought about this. “Mortal belief
has never been one of my concerns.”
    “ I guess not. I probably
put too much value on it.”
    “ No. Human relationships
are your business. It makes sense you should care so
much.”
    He shrugged. “Maybe it’s just my
pride. Why should I care about mortals?”
    “ Don’t say that. You
genuinely care about mortals. You want them to be
happy.”
    Eros was shocked by her reaction. Was
this the same woman who had leveled so many accusations at him? “So
that’s why I love ’em and leave ’em?”
    She looked at him seriously. “Those
are personal mistakes. You’re different when you’re making a
match.”
    “ How do you
know?”
    “ I didn’t just settle in
London and decide to open a restaurant a week ago. I’ve been in
this business a very long time. I’ve lived all over the world and
owned all kinds of places, not just restaurants. I’ve seen your
work and seen you doing it.”
    He didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t
just been watching him for months; she’d been doing it for years.
It made her opinion of him seem even less justified. “So am I a
jerk or a hero? You’re confusing me.”
    “ Aren’t we just as complex
as humans?”
    “ Of course.” He wondered
where their conversation was going. He was starting to feel uneasy
because he hadn’t had such an intellectual exchange with a woman in
a long time. He was lost without flirting and clever
lines.
    “ So why can’t you be
both?”
    “ I can be, I guess. So
what do you really think of me?” He hoped she couldn’t sense how
nervous he was about her answer.
    “ I have a professional
opinion and a personal one. I think as a man you could do a better
job of living up to your professional persona.”
    “ I don’t think I
understand.”
    She sighed, stopping by the water’s
edge. She stepped a few feet into the waves and turned to look back
at him. “Show love the same respect in your own life as you do when
you’re planning it for others.”
    He looked down at the sand. Hadn’t his
mother said that before? Maybe. He couldn’t really remember.
“Sounds simple enough.”
    “ It’s going to be harder
than you imagine. I’m going to let you think about that for a
while.” She walked farther into the waves. In the gently crashing
waves he could see little pockets of color, rainbows appearing
around her the way they did in mist around waterfalls. “I’m going
to pay my mother a visit.” Then she was gone.
    Eros sat down at the edge of the
water. He wasn’t sure what had just happened. He’d had plans of
winning Iris over at least a little bit tonight, but instead she’d
been the one in control. He’d wanted to make sure she enjoyed
herself, but all he’d gotten from her was confusion. He’d only
asked her one question and then she’d taken over the conversation.
He’d ended up revealing things to her instead of the other way
around. He couldn’t tell if she’d had a good time, or if her
opinion of him had changed even slightly, given how brief their
walk had been. But objecting to her leaving had seemed like a
terrible idea. If she thought so much of him, why didn’t she like
him? Then again, she had to like him a little to care so much about
him. She wouldn’t be lecturing him just for the hell of
it.
    He didn’t know how he’d have the time
to think about what she’d said to him. All he could think about was
how much he’d wanted to impress her and how miserably he’d failed.
Based on what she’d said, she’d obviously been disappointed in him
long before tonight.
    He stood up and tried to brush all the
sand off his pants. The seeming impossibility of living up to her
standards made him want to do it all the more.
    * * *