“We’ve been messaging.”
“Have you now.” It isn’t a question.
“It’s nothing. A few weeks of back and forth. Don’t read anything into it.”
He reaches over and slaps my arm with the flat of his hand. “You old dog.” He shakes his head. “About damned time.”
“It’s one date.”
“Still.”
“Stop.”
“I’m just saying?—”
“It’s one date, Flint. She’s not moving in.” I hear myself and dial it back. “You clearly don’t want me up your nose about your newfound celibacy, so don’t start up on Brook. It’s casual. Let’s leave it at that.”
He holds both hands up. “You have my word. I’ll let it go.” He turns back to the window. “I’m proud of you for reaching out to her, though.”
I grunt, letting him know that the discussion is over.
I’m not proud of myself at all. I’m using her so I don’t have to go alone. It’s wrong. I will be sure to let her know that when I see her. It isn’t going to go anywhere.
I take the last turn, and the chapel appears at the end of the lane, white-painted, modest, and tidy against the backdrop of trees. There are already a few vehicles in the small lot out front. I pull into one of the parking spaces.
We get out. The air smells like freshly cut grass.
The minister is waiting at the door. He’s a small male, older, dressed plainly, with the kind of face that suggests he has been doing this a long time. He extends a hand.
“Good evening. I’m Pastor Lyle. You must be?—”
My dragon moves.
Not a stir. Not a ripple. He goes from nothing to fully awake in under a second, and I feel the shift through every inch of me, a flood of heat and want so immediate and so total that I miss whatever the minister finishes with.
Carla is inside. I can’t see her yet, but I know it with a certainty. My dragon knows. He’s pulling toward her.
“Earth to Magma!” Flint elbows me, and I refocus on the minister.
“Sorry. I’m Magma. Apologies. It’s been a long day.” I take his hand and shake.
“Good to meet you both. Aside from tea and coffee, there are sodas and waters on the table at the back. Robyn also brought fruit, muffins, and cookies.”
“Thanks,” I tell him.
“We appreciate it,” Flint tells him as we walk in.
We go inside, and there she is.
Carla is across the room with Robyn, and they’re laughing about something. She’s wearing a floral dress that makes her eyes look beautiful. She’s even prettier than I remembered. Her hair is down. She’s radiant…fucking glowing. So damned sexy, I think I might be drooling. My dick takes note.
My dragon is going nuts. He wants me to go over to her. He wants me to throw her over my shoulder and to leave with her.
I have to force myself to look away.
My dragon snarls.
I take a few deep breaths. I can do this.
