OLLIE
To my disappointment, Archer disappeared for thirty minutes after lunch and came back showered and changed. The dirty old jeans that had clung so softly to his legs and arse were replaced by dark trousers and a long-sleeved shirt.
“Ready?” he asked me, when I was still finishing a post-lunch coffee with Mia.
Knowing it wasn’t a real question, I left my mug half-finished and followed him out to the car. I wanted to ask what he’d been doing that morning that had ended up in dirt and sweat and the scent of smoke, but that would be impertinent given his position. I’d thought about asking Mia, but that felt like I was trying to sniff out information about Archer behind his back.
Jack had messaged me after lunch.Well?
I wasn’t sure if he was checking in with me or if his dad was pushing to know what I’d found out.Going to meet the rest of the family later,I said at last, and sent him a photo of the moat in daylight to change the subject.
“What size shoe do you take?” Archer asked me as he swung the car in a neat turn and headed up the drive.
“Nine?” I said, surprised by the question that had come out of nowhere.
“You sure about that?” Something that might have been a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“I mean, yes, I’m sure. I’m just wondering why you’re asking.”
“There’s some old gardening clogs you can borrow if you want to keep helping Tim with the garden,” he said.
“Great, thanks. Wait! Are thosebabydonkeys?”
He stopped the car while I lowered my window and stuck my head out to get a closer look at the tiny little creatures grazing in a field by the drive. “They aresocute.”
“Miniature, not baby. That reminds me, we haven’t talked about where’s safe to fly around here. I’ll take you out on Thursday night if you like and show you.”
“Thanks. I’m guessing wherever we go, it’ll be nowhere near those babies. Minis. Donkeys.” I hardly knew what I was saying because he’d leaned across me to look out of the window at them and all I could smell every time I breathed washim.
Sadly, he sat back up and eased off the brakes. “They belong to one of my neighbours. She paid for the fencing in return for grazing, and they keep the grass down. It’s a win/win.”
“So long as a dragon doesn’t fly over and give them all heart attacks,” I said. Damn, they were soadorable. Two were brown and white, another one looked almost ginger, and the remaining four were grey with dark grey crosses on their backs. Isowanted to make friends with them, but I knew they’d run away as soon as I got close.
“Mia’s spent time getting them used to us,” Archer said, as if he’d read my thoughts. “Ask her to introduce you. If you take it slowly, it may be okay.”
As we turned left out of the gates onto the main road, I realised I’d only got a glimpse of the extensive grounds. I’d have to put that right soon.
“Don’t suppose you’ve got peacocks, have you?”
“Would doves do?”
Doves would definitely do if they put that smile in Archer’s voice. I sat back in my seat and couldn’t stop grinning.
Chapter Twelve
ARCHER
Having spent more time with Ollie, I’d changed my mind about him. I was now almost sure that he was exactly what he seemed and not a covert operative for the Shaws—I didn’t thinkanyonecould fake his level of enthusiasm constantly. It threw into stark contrast how dark and grim my life had been for so many years.
I didn’t understand my reaction to Ollie. Ishouldfind his enthusiasm, chatter and unrepentant bounciness annoying. Instead, I’d somehow let him draw me into his excitement over the donkeys.Donkeys.What the hell was so exciting about them?
The way Ollie saw the world compared to the way I did reminded me of the difference between dragon sight and human sight. Dragons saw only in shades of grey, and, for a moment this afternoon, I’d realised that I’d stopped seeing colour in human form as well. I’d looked at the miniature donkeys, with Ollie breathing beside my ear as I’d leaned over him, and for that instant, the world had felt exciting and welcoming, not an enemy to be controlled and guarded against.
In the kitchen, I’d come so close to touching him. I couldn’t work out if it was because I was attracted to him or if it was my dragon, urging me to take and hoard. I’d known other copper dragons, though, and they’d never caused an impulse like this one.
It didn’t matter. Whatever the reason for my longing, I couldn’t do it. There was no way he’d be able to say no to the head of the family he’d been forced to stay with, and I wasn’t putting either of us in that position.
I had to stop getting distracted like this, as if he were pulling me into his ridiculous, enthusiastic orbit. If I could just stoplookingat Ollie, everything would be fine.
