Faye narrowed her eyes. "The knives are right there, Grant. Tempt me to reach for one of them."
Grant smiled. "You wouldn't hurt me, love."
"No, but it would most definitely boost morale with the Protectors if I tried hitting things off your head with a knife as a limited run show."
His mother entered, a bowl of potatoes in her hands. "Aye, aye, you two could entertain the entire clan for years if you wished. But for now, it's supper time. And I will separate you two if you can't behave."
"Now you're sounding like my mum," Faye muttered.
Chase stole a quick glance at Layla, and the amusement in her eyes was clear even from where he was standing.
In all the years he'd been watching her from afar, he hadn't seen much of it there.
Which meant he'd have to rectify that, in addition to proving he could be a dragon doctor's mate.
The next evening couldn't come soon enough.
Chapter Five
The following day, Layla had more trouble than usual concentrating on her work. It wasn't as bad when she talked or visited with patients, but the second she was alone in her office, her mind wandered to Chase and the deal she'd made with him.
Which was why she currently sat at her desk, unfinished paperwork in front of her, and tried her best not to relive him pulling her close and kissing her skin from the night before.
Her dragon huffed. It's nearly time to leave. But we can't do that until you finish the last patient's notes.
Maybe some doctors would put it off to the following day, but the notes in question were about Gina MacDonald-MacKenzie. And since the female was not only human but also pregnant with twins—the MacKenzies seemed to be cursed or blessed with them in abundance—Layla always wanted to ensure the notes were complete in case something happened and she wasn't there to provide crucial facts straightaway.
She replied to her beast, Then don't distract me with memories whilst I work and finish this up.
I haven't distracted you much today. It's been all on your own. I think deep down, you've wanted him for a while, too. And now we're closer to having him, you let yourself dream.
Her dragon may be correct, but Layla wasn't going to admit it right then and there. True, she'd thought about Chase's lips on her skin, the hardness of his chest, the way he held her possessively against him. But she'd also replayed his ease at dinner, the way he teased his brother endlessly, and how he tried his hardest to make his mother laugh.
Most people probably wouldn't have noticed, but Layla had been treating Gillian for years. To see Chase try so hard to make his mum happy only raised her opinion of him.
Of course thinking about his smiles, his wit, and his panty-melting touches wouldn't help her get her work done. So with herculean effort, Layla focused on the patient file and filling in all the details. Since it had been a routine examination, it didn't take long to finish.
As soon as she did, Layla stood, shrugged out of her lab coat, and picked up her bag. However, she paused at the door and took a few deep breaths. Layla never rushed around unless it had to do with a patient or some kind of emergency. If she started dashing from the surgery at quitting time, someone would notice and start asking questions.
Questions she didn't want to answer until she felt more comfortable about what to say.
Although if Chase wasn't able to get in and out of her cottage unnoticed, she would have to start taming clan gossip, which would be even worse.
Her dragon grunted. You worry too much. I have faith in Chase and his ability to sneak into our place unnoticed. After all, if he managed to watch us for two whole years and keep his dragon in check, then he's a lot stronger than most males his age.
You just want to get naked with him sooner rather than later. So of course you'd plead his case.
No, if I didn't think he'd be a strong enough male, I'd say so. Remember, female dragons are usually more leery of a potential true mate than males. He still has to win me over, too.
Aye, I hope you won't accept him straightaway without knowing him better. For me, there's a lot to do and sort through before I can give him any sort of long-term answer.
Her dragon's voice softened. Just don't doom the
relationship before it even begins.
True, Layla had done so before. Anytime a male had wanted to see her more, know her better, and even started to kindle feelings inside her, Layla had found excuses to end it. Mostly it centered around her career—training to be a dragon-shifter doctor wasn't an easy thing—but she'd seen many a bad mating over the years in her role and how it could devastate people.
Her own parents were comfortable in the present with each other but had fallen out of love long ago. Add in her sister's arranged mating and ensuing disappearance, and Layla's was skeptical about true love.