Page 8 of Goddess of Storms

Once I’m satisfied, I step out of the stream and grab out a dry rag and start drying off. “Okay, Morganite, I am going to change, avert your eyes.”

I turn to check if he did turn, a smile tips my lips with I notice that he has.

“I am not just a player, I can be a gentleman.”

“Good to know, I’m sure Reid and Riley would like to know that tidbit.”

This gets a laugh from him. “I’m serious about Reid, she scares me. Always playing with a knife, she’s a little too comfy with it.”

Laughing, I switch my shirts and shorts fast, tucking my soap into a baggie and then tying the rags to my pack, so they can dry out.

“Let’s go, slacker, we have a way to hike today,” I call to Stone.

Mentally, I make a checklist on the short walk back to camp: pack up the tent, dig and bury the fire, check for trash, and clean up the site.

“Earth to Harper,” Stone states.

“What’s up?”

“I was talking to you and you just seemed to zone out.”

“Oops, sorry, one-track-mind. Going through a list of what needs to be done before we head out.”

“That’s what I was saying to you. You start on your tent and I’ll dig a pit and bury the fire and then get to my tent. You okay with cleaning up the site?” Stone asks.

“Perfect, divide and conquer.”

Stone

Harper doesn’t realize just how beautiful she is, blonde hair and icy blue eyes just like her father. She has a temper to rival his. What is it with gods and not being in control of their emotions? They are always complaining about mortals, but they are just as bad if not worse.

When the curse took her memories of us, I was a wreck. Not being a selfish dick, I let her go.

Then almost a year ago, her mother came to me worried to death about Harper and the approaching blood moon. The oracle had told the gods that any curses or spells could be lifted on that magical night. So, I packed up everything I owned and wormed my way into where she works. The old man was grateful just to have another male in the building and not be so out-numbered anymore.

While I have been trying to soften her up, my rep as a player is going to get me in it deep when the memories of us surface.

Playing the part of a guy that dates multiple women at once is a harder charade to keep up than telling her the truth. Her mother warned me to stay away but close enough to keep an eye on her.

“Stone, are you ready?” Harper’s icy blue eyes stare into mine.

“Yes, I was waiting on you,” I reply, lost in my own head. “I buried and covered the fire and packed up my tent.”

“Ha, I’ve been watching you work for the last ten minutes on auto-pilot. Are you sure you are okay?” Her voice is full of concern.

“I am fine, just not used to four hours of sleep,” I lie.

“Well, maybe you should do what I do and exercise when you get up. Get those endorphins flowing,” she suggests.

“Maybe tomorrow we can do some cardio together.” I wink.

“Grow up, we have an important job to do. Besides, you couldn’t keep up.”

My jaw drops at her words, maybe her flirty side is starting to come back.

“Oh wow, you got skills, girl. Why are you not using them?” I joke.

"Ha ha, I’m always awkward. That’s part of my charm.”

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