Free Ares' Temptation by Aubrie Dionne Page B

been up to these days?”
    “Lots of reruns.” Grammy rolled her eyes. “You’d think Gilligan’s Island would get better the third time around, but the doctor just gets on my nerves.”
    “They can do that.” She made a mental note to buy Grammy some new DVDs. Preferably without a doctor on board.
    Grammy tapped her arm. “Tell me about you two. I want to hear all about how you met.”
    “Yes, let’s hear it.” Bradley cut in from across the room. “Truth is, we don’t know anything about Armin here. He could be an axe murderer for all we know.”
    Uneasy laughter erupted from around the room. Kaye swallowed a lump in her throat. Actually, Ares was kind of an axe murderer. Except he had a sword.
    “Kaye and I met at a wedding.” Ares walked over and took a martini from a waitress’ tray as if it was the most normal thing for him to do. “I asked her for a dance, and here we are now.”
    A collective sigh echoed around them. “How sweet.” Kaye’s mother touched her chest.
    “Weddings always bring out the best in people.” Veronica held both arms around her baby bump.
    Beside her, Bradley stretched his legs out and crossed his feet. “What do you do, Mr. War hammer?” Bradley stressed the first part of his name as if it were obscene.
    Ares paused, downing the rest of his martini. Kaye’s heart stopped. They hadn’t discussed this. What was he going to say?
    “Secret military operations.” He set his glass down on the countertop and gave Kaye a covert wink that went straight to her heart. “Let’s simply say I kill the bad guys.”
    People gasped around her.
    Kaye was astounded. Ares had captivated everyone in the room. None of this was in that book she had given him. He must have been improvising on the spot. War god or not, this adaptability made him even sexier.
    “Kaye, you didn’t tell me anything about this.” Her mom shot her a betrayed glance across the room.
    “It’s secret, mom.” Kaye followed Ares’ lead. “We’re not supposed to talk about it.”
    To Kaye’s relief, Bradley fell silent. Nothing he could pick on there. In fact, it was the one job that showed up his corporate position on Wall Street. For once, there was another big fish in the room. Having Ares there might be good for him.
    “Look at the time!” Her mother exclaimed. “Dinner’s in ten minutes. Come on, someone wheel Grammy. We’re going to the Atlantic Dining Hall.”
    Ares returned to Kaye’s side, and together they wheeled Grammy down the corridor.
    “Nice thinking.” Kaye whispered to Ares after she sat Grammy at the head of the table.
    “Thank you.” Ares pulled a chair out for her. “At least there’s some truth to it.”
    “Some truth?” Kaye patted his arm. “You’re brilliant.”
    She longed to feel his large arms around her again, to press her body against his warmth. She forced herself to look away and admire something else. Beautiful fans of colored coral decorated shelves on the right wall. The left wall was a giant fish tank. Striped Angelfish, multicolored Gobies, and blue eels swam through long green grasses behind the glass. Kaye had learned all of the fishes’ names as a young girl by studying books at Grammy’s house and taking trips to the local aquarium. If she weren’t so clumsy, she would have her own fish tank in her apartment. But, a big glass object filled with water wasn’t the safest decoration to keep around, for her or the fish.
    Kaye sipped her water, reconsidering her interior decorating as waitresses delivered salad bowls. Lately, she hadn’t knocked a single thing over or tripped. They’d been up and down several flights of stairs today, and she was wearing her highest pair of heels.
    Her mother held up her wine glass. “A toast to Grammy for reaching ninety years!”
    Everyone followed. They clinked their glasses together and broke out into Happy Birthday . Ares’ deep bass voice rumbled like soft thunder, perfectly in tune.
    After they put their