Page 106 of Nobody Told Me Thrift Shops Sell Stolen Dragon Heirlooms

Her stare went blank.

“That is not a euphemism,” I said quickly.

“It had better not be, because I am not emotionally prepared for euphemisms about billionaire dragon shifters before I’ve had my coffee.”

“Neither am I.”

“But you’re smiling.”

“I’m smiling because…” I looked down at the phone again, then forced myself to lock it. “Because he did something nice.”

Avery’s expression changed, just a little. Under all the teasing and buzzcut intensity and dog-hair-covered competence, she was the person who had watched me choose Max’s food over new shoes and told me I was an idiot while handing over a bag of free supplies she pretended had been donated. She knew every flavor of my “I’m fine.” She knew when funny was a curtain and when it was an open window.

“What kind of nice?” she asked.

I tucked the phone into my pocket. “Small nice.”

“Small nice makes you smile like that?”

“It was a very functional small nice,” I said with a shrug.

“Uh-huh.”

“I have to go.”

“Coward.”

“I’m not a coward. I’m a good employee.”

“Both can be true.”

Max leaned against Avery’s leg, already settled into the betrayal portion of his morning. Crouching, I kissed his head. “Be good. Don’t let Jocko teach you to commit crimes.”

Avery snorted. “Jocko doesn’t teach criminal activity. He facilitates independent exploration of boundaries.”

“That’s what someone says before a deposition.”

“Then don’t depose my dog.”

I stood, adjusted my tote, and tried to look like a woman on her way to work instead of one whose emotional stability had been compromised by a repaired door latch and a text about fairies.

Avery gave me one last look. “We will be discussing this in-depth later.”

I gave her a mild look. “No idea what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I’ll be at the law firm, doing law firm things.”

Avery crossed her arms over her chest. “Try not to smile at your phone in front of opposing counsel.”

“He’s not opposing counsel.”

Her grin turned lethal. “Interesting clarification.”

I pointed at her. “No.”

“Yes.”