Nikita McBossy: I can get you booked in with my beautician next week.
The date’s tomorrow.
Raine McNosy: Where is he taking you?
Nikki McTrouble: More importantly, who is it?
It’s Drake Coleman, and it’s at Flint’s house.
Nikki McTrouble: You mean the DILF? Phoenix’s friend from England.
Nikita McBossy: Wait, you’re having a date at your brother’s house?
I know. Long story. But I want to look nice. So far he’s only seen me in my flying cat pyjama shorts and a pumpkin costume. And my frumpy school clothes every morning when he drops off his daughter.
Nikki McTrouble: I’m on my way. Meet you at the mall in twenty.
I sag against the counter. Cupid jumps up and brushes against my arm. “Well, congratulations, Cupid, you’ll inherit the house when I die of embarrassment at Sunday lunch.”
He meows as if agreeing with me.
A swarm of bees buzz in my belly, and I know going down this path with Drake is going to sting, but I may as well have some fun before I die alone.
Robbie, my ginger tabby, brushes up against my leg, reminding me I’m not alone. I have twelve cats to keep me company while I live out my miserable existence.
But when I’m with Drake, the buzzing isn’t bees at all—it’s fire. Heat. A dangerous flicker I shouldn’t feed.
I scratch Cupid behind the ears, forcing a laugh. “Don’t look at me like that. He’s just a fling. A very temporary, dragon-shifter kind of fling.”
Cupid blinks slowly, unimpressed. Robbie jumps onto the counter, knocking over my phone, and the group chat lights up again with fifty messages.
I groan. “Fine. Temporary fling or not, I need a killer outfit. Because if I’m going down in flames at Sunday lunch, I may as well look hot doing it.”
Chapter Twelve
DRAKE
“That’s the last of it,” I say as I drop a box of Halloween decorations from the town hall into the firehouse. Music plays in the dayroom while Bear and Hollywood sit at the scarred table, playing cards.
Chief places an empty mug on the side. “I’ve spoken with Em. She’s good for dinner tomorrow. We’re all set.”
“Yes, sir.” I nod as he walks out of the room.
His car engine roars outside, and I drop onto the couch, finally able to breathe, stretch my legs out, and pray the lads will leave me alone for five bloody minutes.
No such luck.
Hollywood grins around a toothpick. “So, dragon boy… how’s dating the boss’s sister going?”
Bear lets out a laugh that shakes his gut. “Braver man than me. I wouldn’t touch Chief Sparks’s sister with a ten-foot pole. Or even a fire hose.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “It’s not?—”
“Not what it looked like when Chiefwalked in and you were half naked in her living room?” Hollywood cuts in, teeth flashing.
“Not what it looked like when you were chasing her cat across the yard, swearing like a lunatic?” Bear piles on with a hearty chuckle.
Their laughter fills the room, bouncing off the concrete walls.
