Page 121 of Nobody Told Me Thrift Shops Sell Stolen Dragon Heirlooms

When I stepped out, Rafe turned from the cufflink display.

He said nothing at first, which was becoming a pattern I needed to discourage for my own survival.

“Well?” I asked.

His gaze moved over the outfit, but not in a way that made me feel undressed. It was the same focused attention from the gala shopping trip, except this time I understood it better. He was figuring out how well the clothing would work in the room it had to enter. The signals it would send. Whether it protected me or exposed me.

“It’s right,” he said.

“Right-right or ‘won’t embarrass the firm’ right?”

His eyes came to mine. “Right as in you will not need to convince anyone you belong there.”

My ribs did something ridiculous. Octavia hummed in approval.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Don’t.”

The dress fit so well Octavia refused to let me try the others. “We’re not tempting fate,” she said, boxing up a pair of earrings shaped like small gold fans. “Fate has been generous, and I am not picking a fight with her before lunch.”

Rafe paid before I could stage even a symbolic protest.

I waited until Octavia was wrapping the jacket in tissue, then said, “You know, one day I’m going to beat you to the register.”

“You won’t,” Rafe said.

“See, that tone makes me want to try harder.”

“That would be inefficient.”

Octavia cackled.

I pointed at Rafe. “You’re becoming popular here, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“I’ll try to be less agreeable.”

“Too late. Octavia’s already accepted you into the ecosystem.”

“I did no such thing,” Octavia said. “He’s on probation.”

Rafe accepted the shopping bag from her. “I will endeavor not to disappoint.”

Octavia sighed. “Manners. Very inconvenient.”

Outside, the afternoon was warm and bright, the sidewalk swarming with Saturday foot traffic. Rafe’s driver waited by the car, but Max had already turned toward the cross street, ears lifting.

I followed his gaze and smiled. “There’s a dog park two blocks over.”

Rafe looked down at him. “He knows?”

“He always knows. It’s terrifying. I can hide a pill in chicken, but I can’t hide proximity to fenced recreation.”

Max looked up at me, tail moving once.

“I’m taking him for a quick run before I head home,” I said. Then, because my mouth had apparently stopped consulting the proper committees, I added, “You can come if you want.”

Rafe didn’t say anything, and I immediately regretted the offer. Not because I didn’t want him there, but because I did, which was very bad.

“You don’t have to,” I said quickly. “I just mean… since you’re here. And he likes you. Against my advice.”