Shae knows exactly what she’s talking about. She’s got the same spark Hazel does, which is probably why we’ve all been so close.
Most of Shae’s life has been spent running towards the problem instead of away from it. Similar to the New Year’s singles mixer a couple of years back when she met her now boyfriend, Harry.
I remember the night for the sheer shock value of her taking a shot of tequila and then walking up to the nearest stranger and introducing herself and then asking him for a kiss at midnight. There’s no way to sway her when she has her mind set on something.
Why does she have to be so tall and smart?
My experience with the other rabbit shifters has turned me kind of gun-shy. Asher was safe for me to crush on and imagine a future with. Now, the opportunity to at least pretend we have a future has fallen right smack on my doorstep, and I’m getting in my way.
The best-case scenario is I make a new friend and finally have a wacky story to tell at parties. Gods know I’m way past due for some adventure. I would have to be foolish to pass up the opportunity to have a smoking-hot dragon demon on my arm for the Christmas Eve party.
A moment my mother will immortalize in our family albums and might finally get me a small space on her mantel, finally retiring my high school prom photo.
“You’re right. The plot.” I nod, “We don’t even know if this is a date. He called it some tabletop thing.”
The doorbell buzzes, causing us both to jump.
I grab Shae’s arm. “He’s here.”
“I’ll let him in.” She looks down, “You get your shoes on. Wear the Converse; we don’t want you to roll your ankle in heels.”
“It only happened once. Or twice. Three times max.”
She disappears into the other room, and the sound of distant conversation filters in as I’m putting on my shoes and smoothing my dress.
Asher looks up at me immediately, his gaze doing a slow drag over my body which makes me wonder if he’s taken some issue with me wearing sensible shoes, but then his eyes find mine again and I swear I can see an extra glint.
“Where are you two going?” Shae asks, folding her arms across her chest, looking very much like my protector.
“I was thinking we’d get some coffee and walk through Harrington Park, unless.” He looks between us, his attention settling back on me.
“Sounds great to me.” I cross the room, tipping my head back to take Asher in.
He’s as gorgeous as ever with his long-sleeved shirt and dark jeans. Seriously, does this man ever get cold? I’m half tempted to ask him if this is some sort of dragon ability to keep him warm. From here I can see Shae’s intimidation is working, I wish I could muster a fraction of the power she holds, maybe things would be different for me.
“Are you ready?” He asks, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah.” I smile, getting a bright one in return.
Shae grabs my arm as Asher turns and makes his way back to the door.
“Purse.” She says loud enough for him to hear, then leans close, putting my bag into my hand. “It’s totally a date. You should see the way he was staring at you.”
“What?” I squeak out, before she shoves me towards the door, muttering her approval like a proud parent.
It’slike a dream to be walking through Harrington Park beside Asher with a cup of coffee from Moon Sugar Bakery, warming my hands against the slight chill in the air. Asher is so close, his body heat is my own personal furnace.
It must be a perk of his being a dragon. I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed it before. The man hasn’t worn a coat or much more than a thin long-sleeved shirt in the entire time I’ve known him.
He slows to match my speed, which must be a struggle with his long legs.
“What did you think of the cookie?” He asks, taking another drink from his coffee.
We haven’t gotten past the awkward part of our ‘session zero’. So far we’ve covered all of our favorite things. Asher is partial to the color green, while I like blue. He’s not big on watching sports, but he played hockey in high school. I told him I played softball for a while but hated how the pants fit my hips.
We dance around the subject of the Christmas Eve party and this fake relationship without looking straight at it.
“It was good. I can see why they’re so popular.” I hold up my drink, “The coffee is good too.”
