“I’m not working too many hours, Mom.”
“She said you’ve been coming in early and going to meetings late.No matter how great the flame, it will always burn out if you don’t feed it.”
“I promise I’m feeding the flame.Please trust me and stop listening to Lianna.”
“She cares about you.Has there been any change yet?Any hint that her scent appeals to you?”
“No, Mom.Not even a little.Lianna will never be my mate.”
He gave me a pointed look, and I felt a surge of panic.
I didn’t know what I would do if he told his mom that he’d thought he’d found a mate in me, but I was pretty sure the reaction would be close to that of a trapped animal chewing off its own limb.
His mom sighed.“It would be nice if she were.Her mother and I just had lunch today, and we’d both like to see the pair of you find your mates and start having children.”
My chest tightened with each word.I already knew that Lianna and Konni’s families were friends.But there was so much more information in that call.Konni’s mom wascloseto Lianna.She wanted Lianna to bethe onefor Konni.
“Maybe we should have another family dinner,” she continued.“We could?—
“Mom, I have to go.I’m with someone and on the way back to the office.”
“Oh!I’m sorry.All right.I love you, baby.”
The call disconnected, and I stared at Konni as I struggled to process what I’d just overheard.
“You want to run,” he said.
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Not exactly sure yet.”
He didn’t say anything as I reined in my panic and did my best not to acknowledge the real reason behind the feeling.It didn’t work.
I knew what Konni would want next—me to meet his mom—and was afraid she wouldn’t like me.
How ridiculous was that?Ineededher not to like me.Any reason not to be with Konni was a good one.We were from different worlds and completely not right for each other.
Why did knowing that make me feel just as bad, though?
Konni’s hand settled over mine on the seat between us.
“She’s been asking when I’ll find my mate since the year after I came of age.It’s what dragon moms do.Don’t let it worry you.”
“I’m not.You and Lianna are perfect for each other.You both have similar backgrounds, move in the same circles, and even work together.It would make sense to be with her.”
“That’s not how dragons work, Sophia.I will only ever see Lianna as a friend.”
“Maybe you just need to try harder to see her as something else.I bet if you asked, she’d show up at the office in a bunny thong just for you.”
His brows shot up.
“A what?”
“Bunny thong?You know, a thong with a fluffy little bunny tail on it.Don’t dragons like to eat rabbits?”
Harlow made a small choked sound, but was still watching the road when I glanced at him.
