AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was challenging him, but strangely he didn’t feel defensive. Ethan looked out the window at the lawn, where a couple of minotaurs were re-laying the burnt parts, planting new shrubs. So many times his brother had torched the garden, so many times he’d had the gardeners patch it all up—and threatened to deduct the money from Beau’s allowance. Which he’d never done. But maybe he should have, to teach him a lesson. Oh gods, trying to do the right thing as a father substitute was exhausting.
“He refuses to have a civil conversation with me, so I wouldn’t have a clue what his story is,” he muttered.
“Maybe you could start that conversation, being the oldest?”
“And say what?”
“Talk to him about his interests, ask him what his goals are, what he wants to be doing five years from now.”
“What Beau wants is irrelevant. This is what Dad would have wanted him to do.”
He sensed her serious gaze on him, sensed she didn’t find his answer at all adequate, and shifted awkwardly in his seat. “Besides, you saw how he was with me last night. He’d tell me to get lost.”
“You might be surprised if you went in with an open attitude.”
“Well, maybe you could coach me” He managed a crooked smile. “After all, you gave him a good dressing down last night and he went to bed meek as an angel.”
“That was pure shock value.” Min laughed. “A strange human woman in your apartment telling him to calm down and go to bed? That strategy would never work again, I’m certain.”
He chuckled. “You could be right. But I’m still astounded. What is it about you and dragons?”
“How do you mean?”
“You just seem to have a knack. I guess. Of making us feel… comfortable with you.” Before she could reply, the clock on Motham Tower struck eight. In another hour the journalist pack would be downstairs, demanding to know his and Min’s love story.
“I think we just went right off script,” he said with a rueful smirk, picking up his papers, “and we probably need to get back on it.”
CHAPTER 11
“Tell us how you first met?” the wolf journalist asked, pen poised.
“I was looking for a book—to help my brother in his studies at Motham College. I walked into the Westerly Bookshop and this… angel,” Ethan squeezed Min’s hand gently, and she squeezed back, “was standing behind the counter smiling at me. Alas, I did not find the book, but we had a long conversation about dragonology, and she gave me her card.”
“Purely for business reasons,” Min interjected with what she hoped was a coy smile.
“Ah, but was it love at first sight, Min? Is that the real reason you gave him your card?” another reporter, a lynx, asked with a cheeky grin. Min glanced at Ethan. They’d only just rehearsed the “we’re in love” line, and it felt kind of awkward saying it in front of this crowd of reporters. “Yes, yes it was. For me at least.” Her hand fluttered in his and she wondered if he would read anything into it.
“And for you, Ethan? Was it love at first sight?”
“Sure was. I called her up the very next day with some lame excuse about another book I wanted her to find for me.” She felt his eyes gazing down at her and his wing wrapped gently around her shoulders. “We never did find the book, did we? But we found each other.”
Goddess, if she didn’t know this was just an act…
“What attracted you to each other?”
“Min? What attracted you to my scaly frame?”
She hesitated, recalling the script. “Oh, you know, I think it was your eyes.” Heck, this was true, his eyes had held her attention. “They’re very intelligent, you know—and his smile, obviously.”
“Not his money?” a sharp-faced fox person called out from the back of the group.
Min felt herself blushing. That was also the truth, wasn’t it?
“No, not his money,” she said firmly, then to her surprise she went completely off script. “It was his kindness, and… um, consideration. His integrity. Ethan is a true gentleman, which is quite rare these days.” Well, that was true, wasn’t it? She did sense these qualities about him.
The journalists were writing fast, then one piped up, “We can sure sense the chemistry between you. The room’s sizzling with it.” She felt Ethan’s hand jerk in hers, and his wing tightened.
“Sooo,” grinned foxy, “when can we expect the wedding announcement? Patter of tiny feet?”
