Sweet Hell Read Online Free Page B

lineup at the pastry counter while Mike and Angelo flirted with a couple of women at the coffee counter. “Her."
    Maia's head almost snapped, she turned to look at the other woman so quickly. “Oh, she's adorable!"
    Dionysus stared at Josie. She did look adorable today. He couldn't deny it to himself any longer. Okay, so she dressed down. So what? She may have been in sweats, but they clung so perfectly to her round ass, it could have been a crime against humanity. She was wearing a V-neck tee, this one not quite as stained as previous ones. When she bent over to retrieve pastries on the lower racks, it provided a nice view of significant cleavage. Sadly, she was wearing a bra, but it was a nice pink lacy number. Her hair was up, as always, but that was to be expected. She actually had very pretty hair. It was the color of a dark sand beach, cut just above her shoulders, with a lot of golden strands that shone under the bakery lights. It looked beautiful with her olive skin and hazel eyes. Like summer. As if she were glowing from within.
    Dammit, he was writing love poems in his head now. To the mouthy coffee girl, of all people.
    Zeus, strike me down now.
    "No, it's not possible,” he declared. “I can't want her."
    "Why not?"
    "Because...” He floundered for the words. “I hate her. And she hates me."
    "Why would she hate you?” Maia asked. “Every woman loves you. Really, from what I've seen, every woman loves you."
    He glared at Josie, as if scowling at her would help him understand his feelings, when clearly it did not. “Well, not this one. Although she may like me a little bit more now."
    "Did you slip her something?” Eryx asked, still having way too much fun with the whole topic.
    "I wish it were that simple. No. I kind of saved her the other day, from a creep in the back room."
    He wouldn't have thought it physically possible for their eyes to grow any wider, but they did. Completely gobsmacked.
    "You like her,” said Eryx.
    "No, I don't.” He said the words so petulantly it wasn't even believable to his own ears. “She's annoying and loudmouthed and insulting and judgmental. And she thinks I surround myself with loose women."
    "You do surround yourself with loose women,” said Eryx. “And have from the dawn of time."
    "Ah, Dionysus,” Maia offered kindly. “Has it occurred to you that maybe you're just afraid to be with a real woman? You know, rather than a supermodel? She looks really sweet."
    "Maia,” he breathed, trying to be patient, even though it was hard dealing with lesser beings. “I have no problem with real women. I've known real women since before you had ancestors. And I have no interest in Josie Marino. I just want to know why she affects me the way she does, and why I become stimulated at the thought of buying a minivan with her and going to soccer practice. And then I want to fix it and forget her."
    "If you don't care for the girl,” Eryx inquired, blond eyebrow arched, “why did you even bother saving her? Seems to me you could have eradicated your problem that day."
    "I'm not a monster!” Dionysus lowered his voice when Josie looked in his direction. He waited until she was occupied finding a raspberry pie for an elderly lady before continuing. “Josie's just a weak human. I couldn't let that pig hurt her. That's why I was watching. Her lazy brothers make her open the bakery all by herself when anyone could wander in. She does all the work and they take all the credit, and she almost got hurt in the process. I couldn't let that happen."
    "By Hestia's fire,” Eryx whispered. “That's why you come for coffee at five every morning. You're protecting her."
    "Seriously, dude,” Dionysus blurted, his blood pressure skyrocketing. “She really just makes excellent coffee."
    "Dionysus,” Maia rejoiced, barely able to restrain from clapping her hands. “You're in love!"
    Someone flung a brick at his chest. Or at least that's how he felt. Crushed. His windpipe felt smashed. He