Marguerite was right. G.G. was a possible life mate for her, one of those rare people that an immortal could not read or control. Sometimes they were immortal, sometimes mortal. But that was one of the main signs of a life mate and she definitely could not read or control G.G. As for the other signs, Ildaria hadn’t yet reached the age where she grew tired of eating, so that wasn’t a tell with her. And she’d have to wait to see if they had shared sex dreams, or shared pleasure during lovemaking. But none of that mattered. Not being able to read or control him was enough.
“He’s going to be a hard sell on agreeing to the turn,” Sofia said softly, her gaze troubled.
“Si. Marguerite warned me of that.” Ildaria pushed the last two chairs up to the table and then walked into the kitchen tostart going through the bags and boxes they’d set in there. “Can I get you something to drink? Ice water or tea? I’m afraidI don’t have anything else yet.”
“Tea would be lovely,” Sofia said, following her. “I’ll give you a hand.”
Ildaria was soon grateful for the help, since they ended up having to unpack more than half the kitchen items to find theelectric kettle, teapot, spoons, cups, and teabags. With Sofia helping, it was done much more quickly than she could havedone it alone. They unpacked the other half of the items and started cleaning and putting things away while they waited forthe kettle to boil.
“What time are you starting tonight?” Sofia asked as Ildaria returned to the kitchen from throwing a load of her new towelsin the washing machine.
“Not until sunset from now on. I only came in so early yesterday so G.G. could familiarize me with the books before the club opened,” she explained and then added, “Although, I’m not sure what nights I’ll be working. I know the club is open on the weekends. Do we close Monday and Tuesday to make up for it?”
Sofia shook her head. “We’re open every day, but everyone gets two nights off a week except G.G. He works every night.” Scowling,she added, “I’ve tried to tell him he should take two nights off too, and have one of us man the door, but so far, no go.”
“Hmm,” Ildaria murmured, wondering what days he’d want her to take off. And then worrying about what he’d do with H.D. duringthose two days. The thought was a troubling one. She didn’t like the idea of the little guy having to be stuck alone in G.G.’sapartment two nights a week.
“G.G.’s planning on giving you whichever two nights off a week you want. But he’s debating on asking you to keep an eye onH.D. those nights if you wouldn’t mind. He won’t be upset if you can’t, or say you don’t want to, but he’ll pay double timeif you do. Otherwise, he’ll just keep H.D. in his office,” Sofia announced, and when Ildaria glanced at her, eyebrows raised,she shrugged mildly. “Unlike you, I can read him.”
“Right,” she said wryly and returned to emptying the bags around them. They’d actually done a pretty good job at the task. She had towels in the washing machine, her new glasses, pots and pans, and dishes were all out of their boxes and stacked in the dishwasher. Or at least, most of them were. Everything hadn’t fit in one load. Pots and pans took up a lot of room. But those that hadn’t fit in the first load were waiting on the counter for their turn. Except for three cups and the teapot that were all drip-drying on the rack she’d purchased along with the other kitchen gadgets.
“Tea,” she muttered suddenly and moved to the kettle. It had come to a boil a good half an hour ago, but they’d both beenbusy and it had automatically shut off, so they’d forgotten about it. At least, she had. Ildaria couldn’t say for sure ifSofia had. She couldn’t read her mind. But then she had the sense that the woman was older than her, and younger immortalscould never read older ones.
“Yes. I’m older. By a good three hundred years,” Sofia announced, obviously catching her thoughts. “And no, I didn’t forgetabout the tea, but we were doing such a good job of getting rid of boxes and bags I decided the tea could wait a bit. I’malmost ready for one now though.”
“Me too. This shouldn’t take long though,” Ildaria said, moving to the electric kettle to get it going again. Once that wastaken care of, she moved to sort through the few remaining bags for the sugar. It was easy to find. There were only two grocerybags in the half a dozen bags remaining.
“What’s in the rest of these?” Sofia asked with interest, bending to peer into the bag nearest her.
“Hand soap, shampoo, a cheese grater, colander, whisk, spatula, measuring spoons . . . Basically odds and ends.” Ildaria carried the sugar to the counter and then moved to fetch the sugar bowl and cream holder set she’d unthinkingly put in the dishwasher just moments ago. Realizing she’d have to wash and dry them by hand as well if she wanted to use them, Ildaria set the items in the sink, and then returned to the dishwasher to retrieve a couple of spoons too.
“Plates for the cookies,” Sofia reminded her, and Ildaria snatched several of those too.
“You start washing these and I’ll run down to my apartment to grab a clean dish towel.”
Ildaria glanced up with surprise. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can use—”
“You are not wasting half your paper towel drying dishes,” Sofia said firmly, reading her thoughts. “I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks.” Ildaria sighed the word as she watched the other woman slip around the kitchen counter to head for the door. Shakingher head then, she squirted
