Free Sunburn by Rosanna Leo Page A

nose. His eyes flashed, and he took a breath and reined in his anger. Ignoring Claude, he turned to her. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
    Apollo offered her his hand and she took it, wanting to get rid of the arrogant Claude. He motioned to a staff member, who immediately came over and took the Segways away. Claude zipped off with a frown on his face, and they walked back to where they started. Apollo’s hand always on her back.
    The whole time, she cursed herself for being a clod. She felt clumsy. She felt frustrated and uncoordinated and as messy as a sandcastle princess.
    But with Apollo’s big hand rubbing her lower back, she was feeling better. It grieved her to realize she was feeling better in a big way.
    * * * *
    Apollo led Patience to one of the nearby bars, the perfect place to have a quiet drink and grill her for details that might reveal why a demon was after her.
    After all, he was sticking close to her to keep her out of the demon’s clutches. Right?
    He gritted his teeth, wishing that were his only motivation. Wishing it had nothing to do with wanting to know her better, or wanting to taste her skin so badly, or wanting to bury his face in her heaven-sent cleavage.
    Dismissing the carnal nonsense in his head, he held out a bar stool. As she positioned her beautiful ass on the stool, settling in with a delicious wiggle, his cock hardened.
    By the liver of Prometheus! What sort of torture is this?
    She coughed again, grimacing at the sand in her throat, and he came back to reality. He said a few words to the bartender who was posted there, jumped behind the bar, and grabbed a couple of clean towels and some ice water. He poured the water into a glass and held it out for her to take a sip.
    “I can do it, thanks,” she argued, reaching for the glass.
    “Hush,” he countered, not letting her take it. “Just drink.”
    She blinked as he put the glass against her lips and opened her lips. She didn’t open wide, just a crack, as if she needed persuading. He nudged her bottom lip with the glass, his gaze glued to her soft lips the whole time. She finally opened enough so he could tip some water into her mouth. She took a few sips, closed her eyes, and sighed.
    Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck . He’d never been so hard in his entire life! And that was saying something!
    What am I doing with this woman? Just see if you can help her and end this insanity! He pulled the glass away from her moist mouth and set it on the bar. She grabbed one of the towels and wiped sand out of her luscious cleavage, prolonging his misery.
    More than anything, Apollo wished he had one of his sister’s famous silver bows … right through his heart so he could end this torment. “Do you feel better?”
    She looked up, her expression blank, as if she were completely unaware of the effect she was having. “Yes.” Her face crinkled into a sheepish grin. “Thanks for your help, and for the drink.”
    He moved behind the bar again. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I could use something a little stronger than water.” He looked up, remembering Angie making a comment about Patience’s drinking habits. “Can I make you a drink? I’d offer you a Sombrero, but I don’t know if you want one. We’re famous for them here. It’s a good morning cocktail, better than a mimosa.”
    “What’s a Sombrero?”
    “Oh, the closest thing to the nectar of the gods.” He smiled. “It’s got coffee liqueur and cream. I make a mean one.”
    Her weird, little grin disappeared. “It sounds delicious, but no, thanks.” She put the towel on the bar and stared into the distance, frowning.
    He leaned on the bar, bringing him into the vicinity of her intoxicating orange blossom perfume, and his head swam. “Tell me about it.”
    She stared at him for a long time, her eyes resembling hard candies now, rather than soft butterscotch. “There’s not much to tell.” She breathed in and out and looked at her lap. “I come from a family of