Page 2 of Locking Down Qetesh

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I turned in time to see Aine enter the room with a tall dark-haired man beside her. That must be the new manager she'd told me about.

I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the introduction. I didn't know anything about him, and the staff hadn't really been talking, so all I had to go on was what was in front of me.

Aine smiled. "This is Jacob, he's the new hotel manager. And this is Qetesh, she runs the Lock and Key parties for Jinx each week."

"Good to meet you," I said, holding out my hand.

He took it with a firm shake. "Likewise. I suppose you're the one who left the very detailed instructions for the staff on how to lay out the room."

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that," I said.

"I don't mind," he responded. "It makes it easier for us. Though I have to admit to being surprised about the request for potted plants, and not cut flowers."

"I'm a dryad, I prefer to be around live flowers than dead ones," I explained.

Surprise showed on his face, and it made me wonder if he didn't know about the paranormal world. It seemed unlikely that Aine would hire someone who wasn't, but there was always a chance of that. Except that she'd said he knew we were gods.

"I'll leave you to it," the love goddess said with a smile. "I have an appointment to get to. Let me know if either of you need anything." She waved and headed back out of the door, leaving us alone.

"Is there anything you need?" Jacob asked.

"Not really. The staff know what they're doing for me. Unless you've changed any of the rules about my event."

He laughed. "Not yet. I might change things in the future if I think they could be run better, but I don't intend on changing anything for at least the first month of being here. I don't believe in coming in and changing everything before I get a lay of the land."

"A wise way to approach things," I said.

"You're surprised?"

"About as surprised as you are that I'm a dryad."

"I thought you were a goddess," he admitted sheepishly. "That's what Aine said."

"Oh, I am. But I've been a dryad longer than I've been a goddess, so that's what I consider myself to be most of the time." I smiled at him. "It's not really that important, other than for knowing that I like my plants living."

"Fair enough."

"So, do you want me to run through what my event needs, or would you rather just experience it for yourself?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that an option?"

"It is if you come here around eight tomorrow," I responded. "I believe I'll even have a couple of locks or keys spare."

"That would be great, if you don't mind."

I shrugged. "I can understand wanting to know what's going on at the hotel you run," I said. "Besides, if your contract with Jinx is anything like mine, you get access to the dating services. I can just hook you up with a lock or key, and you can mingle to your heart's content."

He cleared his throat in a way that made him seem a little uncomfortable. My gaze strayed down to his hand to check for a wedding ring, even though I knew that didn't mean much either way. Married people could have the kind of relationships where they might be looking for someone else, and just because he wasn't married, didn't mean he wasn't in a committed relationship, or had other reasons to not want to take part. "Sure," he said.

"It's not an obligation," I said quickly. "That's not how I run my parties. Everyone gets a lock or a key, and they mingle with the other guests. If they match with someone, they take it to the bar and get a free drink. That's it. There's no obligation for further dates, or even further conversation."

He raised an eyebrow. "So what's the point?"

"To get people talking. Less than half of the couples who have told me they met at one of my events actually had a lock and key that matched, most of them just happen to meet here and get talking."

"Interesting. So I come, and you give me a key?" he asked.

I tapped my hand on the box waiting for me. "You pick yourself, and you can choose a lock if you prefer."

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