Page 3 of Mating Her Dragon

What he hadn't done, Sydney was starting to realize, was much of anything that wasn't survival… Or learning to survive in a world that had continued on for the century he’d been gone.

Looking around the dining room, Sydney smiled so wide her cheeks almost forced her eyes closed when she saw a welcome, familiar face. Out of her chair and on her feet, she opened her arms and the woman walked right into them, giving her a one-armed hug because the fingers of her other hand were wrapped around the handle of a steaming coffee pot.

Returning the hug with just as much adoration, Syd beamed, “Oh, my Great Goddess, Bonnie Sue, it is so good to see you.”

Loosening the embrace and taking a step back, Bonnie Sue Sampson, one of the Twin Alpha She-Wolves of the Sampson Wolf Pack, returned Syd’s smile two-fold and gushed, “Girl, I have been waitin’ to give you a big, ol’ hug since the first time I heard that you were home.” Leaning back at the waist, she shimmied her shoulders and looked Syd up and down. “You grew up fast, and you did it well.”

“Ha!” Syd barked with laughter. “Thank you, ma’am.” She pretended to tip the brim of an imaginary hat atop her head. “But I’m not sure I had much to do with it.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.”

Bright eyes sliding towards Garrett, the She-Wolf waggled her eyebrows and chuckled, “Whatcha think, Mr. Acheson?” Tipping her head towards Syd, she added, “Our girl looks good, doesn’t she?”

Garrett’s eyes shot open as wide as they could go, and Sydney could feel his surprise through their Mating Bond. Before he or she could ask Bonnie how she knew him, the She-Wolf was laughing out loud. “Boy, I knew you when you were knee-high to a grasshopper. We came to the Isle of Skye when you and Grey first pledged your loyalty to the Dragon Guard all those many years ago.”

“Oh,” Garrett nodded, but Syd could tell he didn’t remember… And so could Bonnie.

Bless her heart, the Southern hospitality, good manners, and great heart she’d inherited from her mom and dad shone brightly as she gave a little wave of her hand, crinkled her nose, and winked. “And no, Sir, I do not expect you to remember.” She reached across the table and patted the back of his hand. “We’re just glad you’re back. Holler anytime you need anything, ya’ hear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Garrett was still nodding as Bonnie turned back to Syd.

"Y’all settling in a spell, Girl?" Opening her arms wide, even though she still held a steaming pot of coffee, Bonnie offered, “As the owner of Two Wolves, along with Maggie, of course, our casa is your casa.”

Sitting down as Bonnie refilled her coffee, Syd went on, “You and Maggie have a great place here, and I heard you own the Rodeo Bar, too.”

“Yes, we do!” The She-Wolf proudly nodded. “Looking to start a coffee cart, too. All the young’uns keep tellin’ me it’s all the rage. I like my coffee black, but they say a frou-frou, whipped-cream-with-sprinkles special latte is all the rage.”

Laughing, Syd felt that warmth in her chest that was always present when the Sampsons were around. “Your momma and daddy are so proud. You know they’re lookin’ down from the Heavens just smilin’ from ear to ear at all you have built.” Pointing out the big, plate-glass window, she kept right on going, “I saw that Sam’s Diner has a big addition and the parking lot is packed morning, noon, and night.”

“Why, thank you,” Bonnie replied graciously. “Now, ya’ know we’d love to have you stay for a while. We could even get your momma and daddy down here, if ya’ want. You know you have a new little sister you still need to meet?”

Syd knew Bonnie was just being her normal, loving self with the best of intentions, but Sydney wasn’t ready for a big reunion with all the questions about the plans she and Garrett had made… Or hadn’t made. This was their time, and she planned to keep it that way.

So, she did what she’d always done. She was just honest with her friend.

Laying her hand over Bonnie's, where it sat on the edge of the Formica-topped table, Syd let all the love and affection she had for not only the She-Wolf, but most especially her family, flow through their connection as she smiled and said, "I just love you, Bonnie Sue, but honestly, we're just not ready for all that yet. Ya' know what I mean?"

Realization flashed in Bonnie’s deep blue eyes, then came a wave of relief that surprised Syd right before the She-Wolf said, “Oh, girl, I am so happy to hear you say that.”

“You are?”

“I sure am.” She nodded, leaning the side of her curvy thigh against the table. “Maggie Mae, you remember her, right? She’s my…”

“Your twin.” Syd winked. “Girl, of course, I remember. Besides the fact that you mentioned her a minute ago, there is no way I could ever forget either of you.”

“Aww, you’re still such a sweet girl.”

“Thank you, but I hear that Maggie is Mated to Heath MacAllen.”

“She sure is,” Bonnie gushed, the adoration for her twin written all over her face. “But that’s a story for another day.” She winked. “Like I was sayin’, Maggie and I were talkin’ about y’all last night, and we both said that we were hopin’ and prayin’ that y’all took some time for yourselves. Nobody deserves it more.”

“Awww, thank you so much, Bonnie,” Sydney beamed. “That means the world to me.” Looking at Garrett, who was taking everything in better than she’d imagined he would, Syd turned back to Bonnie and was just about to speak when the woman at the corner table offered, "We drove up from San Antonio yesterday." Tapping the road atlas, she kept going. "Made it in about four hours."

Garrett went still, just for a second. "Four hours," he repeated. "For that distance?"

"Give or take."

He didn't say anything else. But Sydney, who'd spent every minute since her Mate had awakened learning to read each emotion, tick, and flicker that crossed that carefully controlled face, caught the exact moment the math landed. A journey that would have taken the better part of a week before his imprisonment had been covered before lunch, in a machine with cup holders.