Max leaned forward, interest shining in his eyes. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Three, all older than me. They’re bossy.”
The corners of Max’s eyes crinkled as he crunched on a piece of charred bread and cheese. “Older brothers do that.”
“I like Shasha,” Noel blurted.
“Thank you,” Sasha said.
“I like Sasha, too,” Max agreed with a wink at her. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“I think I will,” she said, keeping her gaze meshed with his.
“Excellent. We’ll talk later after Noel goes to bed.”
“He likes us,”her dragon crowed.
“Do you have the plant aloe in your garden?” Sasha asked with another glance at Noel. “Your brother’s face is getting redder. I can make a balm to treat his sunburn.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “And thank you again for bringing Noel home. Sheryl shouldn’t have gone to sleep and let him wander off.”
“I don’t like Sheryl,” Noel said, splashing his spoon into his soup. The red liquid sloshed over the side.
“Ooh, that looks like fun. Let’s try it,”her dragon said.
“No. It’s not polite. Mother would beat us if we didn’t use our manners in company.”
Her dragon sighed and rearranged her body so she could peer over Sasha’s collar.“You’re right. The Max man has beautiful lips. I wonder if we could kiss them.”
“Shush,”Sasha said to her dragon.“Let’s focus on Max and Noel.”
“Would you like to kiss Max?”
“Yes,”Sasha said without hesitation.“Now, please, let us concentrate.”
“Does…did Sheryl drink a lot?” Max asked.
Noel wrinkled his snub nose.“She smelled icky.”
“How did I not notice?” Max muttered, and a frown creased his brow.
“He looks tired and worried,”her dragon murmured.
“Yes.”
“We will kiss him to cheer him up,”her dragon said.
“He’s worried about Noel. He doesn’t need kisses,”Sasha retorted.
“What man refuses kisses? And especially from us. Wearegorgeous.”
Sasha restrained her groan with difficulty. “Do you have someone to look after Noel?”
“No, that’s my problem. We’ll talk later.”
“Of course,” Sasha murmured.
“I like the soup,”her dragon stated.“Is it impolite to ask for more? I am starving.”
