The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,30

bouquet of flowers, then drove to the small apartment complex on the edge of town. I’d known the address when I asked but didn’t want to seem like a creep. Dragons were protecting Bri and Hayden, whether they were at home or at Bri’s parents’ house. Or at school. But she couldn’t know that, not yet, so I had to pretend like I didn’t know where she lived. As soon as I drove up, I sensed the betas on watch there, though I couldn’t really tell who it was.

Eventually, I’d have to confess, but hopefully, by then she’d understand the reasoning behind the lie.

Sucking in a deep breath, I grabbed the flowers and got out of the truck. Outside her door, I had to remind myself that this woman was fated to be my mate and that it would work out as long as I didn’t let my own inhibitions and stupid hang-ups get in the way. With my stomach tingling, I rapped my knuckles against the door and waited for her to answer.

When she opened the door, I forgot how to speak. My mouth went as dry as the desert. She had on a pinkish one-piece outfit thing that contrasted with her warm tawny skin and set off her deep brown eyes. Her heels brought her eye level closer to my own and did something to her posture that made my gaze want to go to her breasts. Repeatedly. I had to force myself not to. Her hair looked mostly like it always did, natural, nearly an afro, but I suspected it took a lot more effort. She’d done something to it with a clippy thing that made it just a step above normal, yet not overly done. She was the perfect blend of dressed up and casual.

And I wanted to push her back into the apartment and drag the one-piece off of her.

My mother’s voice ran through my mind. Keep it in your pants. Damn it, Mom.

“You look amazing,” I said in a low voice, somehow surprised by how deep and rough my voice sounded.

Bri ducked her head and looked me over. “You’re looking pretty good yourself.”

I held out the flowers and grinned. “Guys have it easy. All I did was shave and change clothes.”

“Come in and let me put these in water.” She stuck her face in the lilies and breathed deeply. “They’re lovely, thank you.”

I’d asked Anthony, who’d asked Skye, and I knew they were her favorite. No doubt she’d figure out how I knew. She was a smart lady.

While she was tending to the flowers, I looked around the foyer and took in the pictures of her and Hayden. I couldn’t help but smile at Hayden’s cheeky grin in all of the photos. She really was a gorgeous kid. And looked exactly like Bri.

Bri walked up behind me and pointed to one of them. “That was right after she lost her first tooth.”

“She’s adorable,” I said and turned to face her. She was close, and my body brushed against hers as I turned. Electricity popped between us.

Briana jumped and touched her arm where it had sparked. “Static electricity,” she whispered, then shook her head. “You ready?”

“Sure.” I grinned and walked to the door, ready to open it for her.

She stopped and grabbed a shawl—shrug? I didn’t know what they were called. A sweater that covered her shoulders—out of the living room closet. I jumped forward and took it from her so she could turn. I draped it over her shoulders, then went back and opened the door.

A gentleman. Just like Mom said. She’d be so proud.

After I opened the truck door for her and pulled us out of her parking lot, we looked at one another awkwardly and grinned. “Tell me something about you I don’t know,” I said.

She hummed low in her throat as she thought about it. “I have a crooked finger.” She held up her right hand and the tip of her middle finger was off-kilter.

“How’d you do that?” I asked.

“Sledding accident when I was a kid. Now tell me something about you.”

I mimicked her hum while I considered it. “I’ve owned this truck since I was fourteen years old.”

Bri laughed. “I believe it, but it’s obvious you’ve taken care of it.”

Beaming, I patted the dash. “She’s a good girl. Your turn.”

On the way to the steakhouse, I learned that she graduated high school a year early, hated raw onions, but loved them cooked, and had won a trivia contest based on