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As Min jumped up, the magazine slid off her lap onto the floor. With one swift move the dragon deftly picked it up and placed it on the coffee table. As he turned, she noticed his tail, smooth and green with a pointed tip. The way it snapped back against his lean hips sent a pleasurable little tingle right down her spine.
“Thank you,” she mumbled. He didn’t answer, just inclined his head, and then as Adina stood back for them to enter her office he also stood back, allowing Min to walk in first.
Min registered another little hum of pleasure.
Good manners. Tick.
You’re not really dating him, Min.
No, but if I have to spend lots of time around him, good manners will obviously help.
When they were all seated, Adina beamed at them both from across her desk.
“Time for formal introductions. Mr Ethan Blade, meet Miss Minerva Westwind.”
Min imagined it was like the olden days when you were matched off with a suitor of your parents’ choice. She hesitated, uncertain what the next move was, but then he reached out and extended his hand. She glanced at it to see that apart from being green, it was quite human in shape, with a hint of claws at the tips that retracted immediately.
She didn’t hesitate; she slid her hand into his, and met his eyes steadily this time. They were long and narrow, set deep and slightly to the side of his angular bone structure. His irises were the sharpest, brightest blue, his pupils dark narrow obliques.
She’d always thought dragons had golden eyes, not this polar ice blue that did weird things to her heart rate. And then he blinked.
Good goddess, his eyelids flicked sideways. It took all her manners not to let out a little squeak of surprise.
“A pleasure to meet you properly, Miss Westwind,” he rumbled in his sexy baritone.
“And you, Mr Blade.”
A tutting sound came from Adina. “I haven’t heard many lovebirds calling each other by their surnames. Let’s start again.”
For a second, Min felt his fingers tighten around hers, and a tingle went up her arm this time as she registered his hands were cool but not cold, his grip strong and firm.
He pulled back now, and his long mouth quirked sideways in a rueful grin. “Of course. Hello, Minerva.”
“You can call me Min, most people do.”
“I’m Ethan,” he responded. “No short version. Just plain Ethan.”
Plain, he certainly was not. You’d have to say he was extremely handsome. Those razor-sharp cheekbones, mimicked by the flare of his nostrils and the slant of those piercing eyes. Her gaze strayed briefly to his crisp pale blue shirt and darker blue tie. Impeccable.
He plays the piano. He likes to read. Min breathed more easily, remembering his profile. They would have books in common, at least. And she loved listening to music. Maybe he would play for her.
When Ethan let go of her hand, they both turned to face Adina. It felt to Min like they were school children being briefed for an exam. “You have both received the paperwork, so will have some idea of each other’s personalities and interests. Now is your chance to find out more about each other, in person. Since you have agreed to spend a month, maybe longer, pretending you are… in an intimate arrangement, I’d like you to feel free to sit and ask each other the necessary questions.” Adina tinkled a laugh, as though the whole business delighted her. “I’m going to leave you alone for a half hour, to chat, and then we will meet again to discuss the practicalities.”
Ethan muttered something in a growly voice and Min detected that tiny puff of smoke from his nostril again.
Did that happen when he was nervous? she wondered.
“I have put together a list of topics to get the ball rolling. Use them as prompts if you like.” Adina handed them each a sheet.
There was an embarrassing silence while they both read through the questions.
What is your favorite food/beverage?
What is your morning routine?
Favorite hobby?
Best way to relax?
