Page 78 of Seduced By the Mermen
“I’d like that.”
“Then it’s a date. I have inspections at work for the next two days, but Friday? I could pick you up and show you the building I’m working on first?” Clark squeezes my hand.
“I’d like that.” I wave goodbye.
In the elevator, I’m chewing on my swollen lips again, stealing glances at Sterling. He’s devastatingly handsome. Though something has happened to his nose at some point. He’s broken it and not had it set properly. Which is odd. On the sub, there were a few accidents, and they took care of things like that quickly. The closer we get to the seabed, the more openly I find myself staring at him.
“Did you need something, Blair?” His voice vibrates my chest.
“Not really. I was just wondering what happened to your nose?”
“I don’t want to get it fixed.”
“I didn’t say you should get it fixed. And honestly, I wouldn’t normally be so blunt as to ask for something like that. Only...” Only what is it? Why did I ask? But then it feels like he’s judging people most of the time. Perhaps that’s why. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
He grunts. “Broke it when I was aboard theVega. We were having battle after battle with the Vikings. Didn’t seem important enough to get it fixed when people were dying. And I just never bothered.”
“Makes sense. It suits you anyway.”
He grunts as the elevator doors open to the docking dome.
“It does. It softens you. Otherwise . . .”
“Otherwise what?” He glances down at me.
“Otherwise you’d be too handsome to look at.”
He laughs. “This way, Little One.” Another nickname and I’m vibrating, especially since it’s from Sterling.
The Gorsca issmall, but it’s luxurious. Even not knowing the difference between a sub andsolo, I can tell. He hits a few toggles on the control panel, and we’re off. The path home is full of decorated domes. And when we zip by one, I’m waiting to see the reflection of the Gorsca in the glass, but it’s not there. “Are we invisible?”
“The tech. But best not to mention it to anyone, Little One.” He doesn’t take his hands off the control stick.
“Right.” I stare into the night, searching for things to say. But Sterling’s not a male for small talk. And then we’re through the Glyden airlock and he’s walking me to the elevator.
When the elevator opens and Nico unlocks it, I turn to say goodbye to Sterling, but the elevator doors are already shut.
I’m sipping the last of the tea Grayson gave me before, kicking myself for not asking him where he got it, when Marlee comes in.
“Whoa, what are you doing here?” She tightens the belt around her robe. “Better yet, where is everyone else?”
“Annabelle is up at Kai’s place. She said you should message her when you want to come up. Kai had some friends over early to see the podlet. But they’ll be gone soon.”
“Thanks.” Marlee’s not a big group kind of person. And that’s my fault. When I was growing up at the farm, it was the hub. My parents had great big parties. But once I lived there with my ex, I didn’t want people coming out.
“And everyone else?” Marlee asks.
“Holter and Eros are with her. Nico and Castor were gone when I got up.”
“So it’s just the two of us?”
“Yes.” I wrap my hands around my tea mug.
“But why are you here, Mom? I thought you went to dinner at the Masons’ apartment.”
“I did.”
Marlee raises her eyebrows at me. “Then I’ll say it again: why are you here, Mom?”
