Dark Princess: Shadows (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance #89)

54. Gertrude

54

GERTRUDE

D amn. What had she been thinking, letting herself get carried away like that?

Getting involved with someone who lived in the village was a recipe for disaster. Gertrude should have learned that lesson with Negal, and he and Margo weren't even living in the village yet. Just seeing them in the keep while taking care of the twins had been an ordeal.

If Hildegard hadn't been taking that continuing education course, Gertrude would have asked to trade places with her, but it would have been a silly move just to avoid some awkwardness.

It wasn't as if she was in love with Negal or anything like that, but she had been infatuated with him for a little while until Margo arrived on the scene. She should put that entire awkward episode behind her and move on.

Rob was a catch. He was a Dormant, and Fates knew those didn't come around every day, and he was also sweet, handsome, and fun to be with.

The guy needed some tender loving after what had been done to him, and the combination was irresistible to her. She just wanted to wrap him up in her love and attention and shield him from his mean former fiancée.

It wasn't like she was in love with him or thought that he was her fated mate or that he could be the father of the child she so desperately wanted or anything like that.

He could be, though , whispered a small voice in the back of her head.

Don't get your hopes up, Trudy . It was just an attraction, and two lonely people finding comfort in each other.

Perhaps she should have treated this as something much more casual instead of calling it a date.

Besides, she had responsibilities. The gods were already interviewing the candidates Turner was sending their way for their tracker implants, and if the commander didn't react by week's end, they would go ahead with the procedures. She'd be spending the weekend at the keep, helping with the extractions and implantations and monitoring the humans who didn't heal as fast as her other patients.

Rob crumpled the wrapping of his sandwich and tossed it into the trash bin. "So, what are our options for fine dining? We could go into the city or maybe Callie's if you don't want to leave the village?"

Gertrude folded the wrap over the remaining half of her sandwich. "I'll probably be tied up at the keep this weekend with the tracker procedures. Tomorrow and Friday, I need to be here until six, so the city's not an option." She gave him an apologetic smile. "And Callie's is booked solid for weeks in advance."

"Oh." His face fell, and something in her chest tightened.

"You could come to my place tomorrow evening," she found herself saying. "I'll cook."

What had possessed her to suggest that?

"That's not really a date if you have to do all the work."

"I love cooking." The words came faster now. "Hildegard, my roommate, is handling the night shift in the clinic, so we'll have the place to ourselves." The moment the words left her lips, she realized how blatant her invitation had sounded.

Rob actually blushed, the pink spreading across his cheeks, making him look adorably young. Gertrude closed her eyes, forcing her hands to remain by her sides and not reach for his face.

"I would love that," he said. "Thank you for going to all this trouble."

"I should be honest." She let out a breath. "I've been fighting this attraction because I don't want a repeat of what happened with Negal. Dating someone who lives in the village is not a good idea."

He nodded. "I get it. Margo told me that you had a thing with him."

Gertrude waved a dismissive hand. "It was a cruise fling, and nothing happened. It just became awkward later because he dumped me for your sister like I was yesterday's news."

"It was fated," Rob said quietly. "Neither of them had a choice."

"I know, but that made me feel even worse. Getting a fated mate is like winning the lottery of life. I was so damn jealous." She cast him a sidelong glance. "But don't tell Margo. It will only make her feel bad."

"I won't." He raked his fingers through his hair. "But if you don't want to date anyone who lives in the village, who do you usually date?"

Gertrude chuckled. "I don't date. I occasionally hook up with humans in the city when I need to blow off steam." She met his eyes. "That's how most immortals handle it. Getting attached to a human isn't smart."

"I'm human."

"That's temporary." She put her wrapped half-sandwich on the side table. "As Margo's brother, there is no doubt that you will transition. Look at Marina and Peter as an example. Do you know who I'm talking about?"

"Yes. I've met Marina, but not Peter."

"He's a Guardian, and she's a human who is not a Dormant. They met during the cruise and fell in love. I feel terrible for them. Bridget thinks that getting regular doses of venom might extend Marina's life, but by how much? Even if it doubles her lifespan, it's still just a blink of an eye to Peter."

"Nobody knows what the future holds," Rob said. "Love is precious, and we shouldn't dismiss it just because we're afraid of what might be." He chuckled. "Look who's talking. I'm terrified of falling for someone like Lynda again."

"I'm not Lynda," Gertrude said, the words once again tumbling out of her mouth as if she had no control over them.

She wasn't like Rob's ex. She would never manipulate someone's feelings or use them for personal gain. But Rob hadn't said anything about falling for her, and one little kiss didn't mean that he would.

Was she so desperate for a connection that she was clutching at straws?

"No." He reached for her hand. "You're nothing like her. You're real. What you see is what you get, and I love that about you."

He really shouldn't throw the word love around like it meant nothing.

"Tomorrow night, then?" she asked. "I make a mean coq au vin."

His eyebrows rose. "Impressive. I don't even know what that is, but should I bring wine?"

She smiled. "Do you have a vehicle to drive to the city? Because there is nowhere in the village to buy wine."

He winced. "I don't, but I could ask Mia to give me a lift."

"Don't worry about it. You don't have to bring anything." She took his hand. "Just bring yourself and a healthy appetite." She gave him a mock stern look. "When I cook, I expect my guest to eat."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I can definitely eat. Whatever that dish you mentioned is."

Gertrude studied their joined hands. "It's a French dish of chicken and mushrooms braised in wine. It sounds much fancier than it is." She looked up at his hopeful eyes. "It's just dinner, Rob. No expectations and no promises. Just two people sharing a meal and some nice conversation and seeing where it leads them."

His answering smile was like sunshine breaking through clouds. "I can work with that."