The wording was nearly identical, a little cleaner and more modern sounding here and there, but mostly unchanged. With one exception. In verse 4, the King James Version had read: "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men..." This version, however, said: "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days and also afterwards, when the sons of God went to the daughters of men..."

 Nephilim? A superscript number appeared by the word, and I followed it to the appropriate footnote.

 The word " nephilim" is sometimes translated as "giants " or "fallen ones." Sources vary in accounts of these angelic offspring, citing them sometimes simply as neighbors to the Canaanites and other times as Titan-like creatures reminiscent of Greek heroes (Harrington, 2001).

 Frustrated, I looked up the Harrington reference in the book's bibliography, finding it linked to Biblical Arcanaand Myth by Robert Harrington. I memorized the title and author, slipping the Bible back into its place just as Seth turned to go.

 We drove in silence, the sky graying early as Seattle's winter loomed nearer. I might normally have interpreted the quiet in the car as awkward or weird, but I found it comfortable as my mind pondered the nephilim reference. I needed to get a hold of the Harrington book, I decided.

 "They didn't have ice cream," Seth suddenly noted, interrupting my thoughts.

 "Huh?"

 "Terry and Andrea. They had cake with no ice cream. You want to get some ice cream?"

 "Not enough sugar for you already?"

 "They just go together, that's all."

 "It's only about fifty out," I warned as he pulled up next to an ice cream parlor. Ice cream in inclement weather seemed odd to me. "And it's windy."

 "Are you kidding? In Chicago, a place like this wouldn't even be open this time of year. This is balmy."

 We went inside. Seth ordered a double cone of mint chocolate chip. I ordered a more adventurous double of blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Sitting at a table by the windows, we ate our sugary confections in more silence.

 Finally, he said, "You're quiet today."

 I turned on him in wonder, pausing in my mental dissection of nephilim. "That's a switch."

 "What is?"

 "Usually I think you're too quiet. I have to talk and talk to keep things going."

 "I've noticed. Er, I didn't mean that like it came out. That sounded bad. You talking is a good thing. You always know what to say. Exactly the right thing at exactly the right time."

 "Not last night. I said horrible things last night. To Doug and Roman both. They'll never forgive me," I lamented.

 "Sure they will. Doug's a good guy. I don't really know Roman, but..."

 "But what?"

 Seth suddenly looked embarrassed. "I imagine you're easy to forgive."

 We looked at each other for a moment, and warmth flushed my cheeks. Not blood boiling, get naked and jump someone warm, but just cozily warm. Like being wrapped in a blanket.

 "That looks terrible, you know."

 "What does?"

 He pointed at my cone. "That combination."

 "Hey, don't knock it until you try it. They actually go pretty well together."

 He looked doubtful.

 I slid my chair over by him and offered him a bite. "Make sure you get both flavors."

 He leaned in for the bite and managed both the blueberry cheesecake and mocha almond swirl. Unfortunately, a piece of the blueberry cheesecake scoop fell off onto his chin in the process. I instinctively reached out to stop it, sliding it back to his mouth. He just as automatically nabbed the wayward piece with his tongue, licking it off my fingers.

 A blast of eroticism coursed through me, and looking into his eyes, I knew he'd shared it too. "Here," I said hastily, reaching for a napkin, ignoring the desire to return my fingers to his mouth.

 Seth wiped his chin with it, but for once, he didn't let his self-consciousness get the better of him. He stayed where he was, leaning close to me.

 "You smell amazing. Like... gardenias."

 "Tuberose," I corrected automatically, dazed by how close he was to me.

 "Tuberose," he repeated. "And incense, I think. I've never smelled anything like it." He leaned a hair closer.

 "It's Michael by Michael Kors. You can get it at any high-end department store." I nearly groaned as the words left my flustered lips. What an idiotic thing to say. My nervousness made me flippant. "Maybe Cady could start wearing it."

 Seth was all seriousness. "No. This is you. Only you. It would never smell exactly the same on anyone else."

 I shivered. I wore this perfume because it was reminiscent of what other immortals sensed in my unique signature, my aura. This is you. With just a few casual words, I felt as though Seth had uncovered some secret part of me, looked into my soul.

 We sat there then, chemistry burning between us like crazy, neither of us acting. I knew he would not try to kiss me as Roman had. Seth was content simply to look at me, to make love to me with his eyes.

 Suddenly the wind caught the door to the tiny restaurant, forcing it open as a huge gust swept in. Wisps of hair blew into my face, and I slammed my hands down on the napkins that flew up from our table. Other items in the parlor had less success as more napkins and scraps of paper drifted around, and a cup of plastic spoons fell off the counter, spilling its contents on the floor. The clerk behind the counter ran to the door, fighting against the wind to make the latch catch. When he'd finally done so, he glared at the door resentfully.

 With the moment—whatever it was—shattered, Seth and I picked up our things and left shortly thereafter. I asked him to drop me off at the bookstore. I hoped Doug would be there to apologize to, plus I wanted to get ahold of that Harrington book.

 "You want to come in and hang out? Say hi to anybody?" I somehow felt reluctant to leave Seth now, in spite of all the things I needed to do.

 He shook his head. "Sorry. I've got to go. I'm meeting someone."

 "Oh." I felt kind of foolish. He could have a date now for all I knew. And why shouldn't he? It wasn't like I was his only social connection, especially after my no-dating spiel. I was foolish to be reading so much into the ice cream encounter, especially since I was supposedly crazy about Roman. "Well. Thanks again for everything. I'll make it up to you."

 He waved his hand dismissively. "It wasn't anything. Besides, you paid me back by going to the party."

 Now I shook my head. "I didn't really do anything there."

 Seth only smiled. "See you around."

 I stepped out of the car and suddenly stuck my head back in. "Hey, I should have asked you this earlier. Do you have my book signed yet? The Glasgow Pact ? "

 "Oh... man. No. I can't believe I forgot about that. It's still at my place. I'll sign it and bring it soon. I'm sorry." He looked sincerely contrite.

 "Okay. It's no problem." I should have ransacked his condo for it.

 We said goodbye again, and I turned into the bookstore. If I remembered my schedule right, Paige should have opened and Doug should be here now as the late manager. Sure enough, he stood at the information desk, looking on while Tammi helped a customer.

 "Hey," I said, walking up to him, uneasiness filling me as I recalled my harsh words. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

 "No."

 Whoa. I'd expected him to be upset... but this?

 "You need to call your friend first."

 "I—what?"

 "That one guy," Doug explained. "That plastic surgeon that hangs out with you and Cody."

 "Hugh?"

 "Yeah, that's the one. He's called, like, a hundred times, leaving messages. He's been worried about you." His expression turned both soft and wry as he took in my dress and flannel ensemble. "So have I."