Grounded by Jennifer Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

more normal cadence, he pulled her on top of him and gazed into her eyes. God, she was beautiful. Had he ever thought otherwise? How could he have ever thought she wasn’t his type? That she wasn’t exactly what he needed? Hell, he needed her with every fiber of his being, and not only did he need her, he was in love with her. And she had better feel the same way, or by Zeus, there would be hell to pay.
    So, okay, maybe not hell to pay, he amended to himself, but if she didn’t love him now, he would spend the rest of forever convincing her she should.

~ 6 ~
The Goddess Has Spoken
     
    Patty awoke and looked around. Confused for only a moment, she rolled over and found the bed empty, but still warm on the other side. Pushing the covers back, she slid out of the bed and padded to the bathroom where she heard the shower running. She opened the door, and Dion looked up and smiled, then pulled her into the shower with him. Last night had not been a dream, and she quickly discovered he was just as passionate in the light of day as he was in the deep, dark night.
    ~ * ~
    The room was functional with a long, narrow table in the middle surrounded by twenty, well-padded chairs. Patty found herself so overwhelmed she was glad she didn’t have to do anything except take notes and pass Dion whatever papers or files he needed. They were in a meeting with the curator of antiquities, a priest who answered directly to the Pope. How freaking cool was this job? Not to mention the fact she was now sleeping with the boss, and she almost laughed out loud when she thought of what Ms. Reed would say. The meeting ran through lunch, which was served by the staff right there in the meeting room. When they were done, the priest excused himself, leaving Dion and Patty alone.
    "I need that bank file," Dion told her, digging through his briefcase. He had been nothing but professional since they’d arrived, and Patty was glad for it.
    Last night and this morning had been the experience of a lifetime, but few words had been spoken, and Patty didn’t know what it meant. They were lovers, but did it carry over into real life? Were they a couple? Or was she reading way more into the whole affair than he’d meant for her to? Keeping busy with the work in front of them helped keep her mind off of the more personal side of their relationship. If i t wa s a relationship, she reminded herself.
    "Patty?"
    Startled, she jerked her head up. "I’m sorry. What did you say?"
    "I’m missing a file here and I know I brought it with me. I must’ve left it at the hotel, so I need you to get it for me. And be very discreet; I don’t want us to look incompetent here. This is an important account."
    "Of course. I’ll be back as soon as possible." She got up to leave the room as the priest came back in.
    "I’m sorry," she said, "I’m afraid I have to excuse myself for a few minutes, if you don’t mind."
    "Not at all." The priest smiled warmly, and took his chair at the end of the table next to Dion. The two men began talking again, and Patty slipped from the room, quietly shutting the door. She hurried outside to the waiting car and told the driver to take her back to the hotel.
    Upstairs in Dion’s suite, Patty searched for the missing file. She bent over the desk and then she… was so confused. The room had completely changed. Her head was spinning, or maybe the room was spinning, she couldn’t be sure. What was wrong with her? The hotel room, while richly appointed, definitely had carpeting, and not white marble floors. Marble floors, marble pillars, everything white, dreamlike. Wher e wa s she?
    "Welcome," a woman said, seeming to appear out of thin air. "I am so happy to meet you."
    "I’m, um, I’m . . . who are you?" Patty wrinkled her forehead. For some reason, the woman seemed familiar, but she couldn’t say why. She was beautiful, ethereal, otherworldly. Her face was perfect, her skin flawless, and her mouth full and red. Her neck was elegant, and