Free A Taste of Greek (Out of Olympus #3) by Tina Folsom, Cynthia Cooke Page A

the way Triton and Dionysus had been by walking into their golden cages like a couple of lovesick puppies.
    But his laugh died as he saw Penny walk through the door, looking stunning in a black-beaded dress. Every male eye in the room turned to drink her in, at once filling him with equal measures of pride and annoyance. He walked toward her and took her hand, letting them all know whom she was here with. And whom she would be leaving with.
    The truth was he’d been looking forward to seeing Penny again. But not because he was at risk of losing his single-man status as his father and others might hope, but rather because tonight would be the night he would get to do what he’d been wanting to do since he’d first seen her standing in that coffee shop drenched from the rain: to explore every inch of her luscious body— intimately .
    “You look beautiful,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek.
    She smiled. “Thank you, Hermes.” She looked around the room at the people already assembled. “I’m not late, am I?”
    “Not at all. You’re perfect.” He drew her farther into the room. “Let me introduce you to my friends.”
    He took her by the arm and led her to where Sophia was greeting guests. “Sophia!”
    The pretty brunette turned to him.
    “Penny, this is the birthday girl, Sophia.”
    Sophia smiled at Penny, then looked back at Hermes. “And this is the man who helped organize this wonderful party.”
    “It was nothing.” Hermes grinned. With the help of the servants of the gods, it hadn’t been much work at all. The hard part had been to make the decisions. The execution had been handed over to the servants, the pint-sized fairies who’d been serving the gods for centuries. “Sophia, I’d like you to meet my friend, Penelope.”
    “Hi, Penelope,” Sophia greeted her, holding out her hand. “Welcome to our home.”
    “Please call me Penny,” she replied, taking her hand and giving it a quick shake. “You have a beautiful house.”
    Triton appeared next to his wife and put an arm around her waist. “Thank you. We like it.” Triton’s eyes twinkled as he stared down at his wife.
    Hermes still couldn’t believe how easily and completely Triton had fallen under Sophia’s spell. Hermes loved Sophia, too, but hoped that whatever sickness Triton had contracted wasn’t contagious.
    Suddenly, his friend’s expression changed. “Uh, oh. Incoming,” Triton warned under his breath.
    Hermes looked up to see Zeus approaching.
    “Happy birthday, Sophia,” the God of Gods said in a booming authoritative voice, his scowl toward Triton proving he’d heard the whispered warning.
    “Thanks, Z,” Sophia said and leaned in to accept his kiss, even though Triton never released her from his arms.
    “You’re looking fabulous, as usual.” Zeus’s eyes traveled from Sophia to Penny, where they lingered appreciatively—too appreciatively for Hermes’ liking. He drew her closer to him.
    “Is your lovely wife with you tonight?” Sophia asked, her voice full of playful innocence.
    “No, sorry. She sends her regrets,” Zeus said, his tone as polished as his suit, not showing that the mention of Hera was probably turning his blood to acid and corroding his arteries.
    Hermes was certain that his wicked stepmother wasn’t even aware of the party; otherwise, she would be here.
    “Oh, what a shame!” Sophia exclaimed, her innocent look still firmly plastered on her sweet face. “I could have sworn Triton mentioned to me that she’d RSVP’d and said she would try to make it, didn’t you sweetheart?”
    Zeus grunted in displeasure and glared at Hermes. Ah, so one of his friends had sent her an invitation after all. And now Zeus suspected him. Figured!
    “A cold, I’m afraid. A dreadful summer cold,” Zeus pressed out through clenched teeth.
    “Oh, no! Please send her my wishes for a speedy recovery,” Sophia chirped.
    “I shall do that,” Zeus agreed.
    “Well, I’m glad at least you