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“Okay,” said Min. What on earth was going on? Ethan was more antsy than she’d ever seen him.
When they reached his apartment, Ethan strode into the open-plan living area and motioned to one of the large leather sofas. “Sit down, Min,” he said. “Something has come up that we need to discuss urgently.”
“Is everything okay?” Min asked, her gaze following his tense body as he paced up and down the room, noting the twitch of his tail tip.
He turned and his eyes sparked. “Does the name Quentin Jordak ring any bells to you?”
Min’s scalp tightened. “Yes. He’s handled my rental agreement for the bookshop for years. He’s the one who told me the property was going on the market.”
Ethan stared hard at her, as if trying to read the truth of her words, then pivoted and continued pacing. Now his tail was swishing sharply from side to side. Was he angry? And if so, why? Suddenly he stopped and burst out, “Is there… is there anything going on between you two?”
“No, of course not,” Min said indignantly.
He pinched the long bridge of his nose. “Because obviously if there was, this could seriously disrupt our… arrangement.”
“Do you really think I’d agree to fake date you if there was?”
“No. Or at least, I hoped not. But does he know anything about—us?”
“No! Absolutely not. I’d never tell that man anything about my life.”
She thought his shoulders relaxed a little at that. Min sighed. “If I’m honest, I find him… kind of creepy.”
“Yeah, well, I can understand why.” Ethan gave a distinct shudder. “Officious, nasty little dude, was my conclusion.”
Min couldn’t help a smirk. “I’d say that’s a fairly accurate description of Quentin. But why are you asking me about him now?”
“He’s currently heading up land sales for the Council. His brother Simon has moved into some other role, apparently. I had a meeting with him and other officials this morning.”
“Oh, that’s a step up for him, he was just in charge of rentals before.”
“Yeah, well, he’s in charge of the whole shebang at present, and when I announced our relationship, he made it patently clear he doesn’t believe we are… together. Said you didn’t mention dating me when he met you last.”
Min bristled. “Because who I’m dating is none of his business.”
“He seemed really put out. That’s why I’m asking. I guess I wondered…”
Min hesitated. Why not tell Ethan her misgivings? “This is going to sound like I’m up myself, but he… he does give off a vibe when he’s with me.”
Ethan stopped pacing. “What kind of vibe?” The look in his blue eyes was almost possessive. And she liked it, Min realized, with a frisson of excitement.
“Just a… He looks at me like… Sometimes I catch him looking at my…” She gulped and waved a hand over her chest.
Ethan’s eyes darted to her breasts and then rapidly away. He cleared his throat. “Yes, well…that would make sense of why he seemed…”
“Seemed what?”
“Enraged, I guess, as well as disbelieving.” His blue eyes held hers intensely.
Min straightened her spine. “Well, we’ll just have to prove him wrong, won’t we?” Her heart skipped a beat as she said it.
Ethan abruptly broke eye contact. “Ah yes, well, speaking of that, there’s something I need to run past you, Min. He also said that the Council will be doing a home inspection. To check that we are bona fide. They could come at any time, day or night, without warning.”
Min frowned. “Can they just invade people’s privacy like that?”
“They can do whatever they want.” He shrugged, his eyes suddenly pensive. “I may be wealthy Min, but I’m still just a dragon. Humans have lorded over us monsters for centuries; they still hold a lot of power.”
Min sat clasping her hands, her breathing fast and shallow.
