Page 31 of Dragon King’s Duty Bride

And that unsettled him far more than anger ever could.

Chapter 12

Sia

Sia had never attended two weddings so close together before. It felt like living inside someone else’s life with all the flowers, music, and promises.

The first wedding had softened her emotions to the fairytale called love. The second had just broken her heart for all that she would never have.

Watching Pavel look at his bride as though she were some kind of miracle had stirred something tender and foolish inside Sia’s chest. Something that had no right to bloom and became obviously clear that she had lost the opportunity to find.

And then there was the dance. She had replayed it more times than she cared to admit. The warmth of Lucas's hand and the way his fingers tightened slightly at her waist. The way she had fit in his arms like they were meant for her.

The way his gaze dropped to her mouth. She had felt it and for one breathless second, she had believed he might kiss her.

And she had wanted him to. That was the most dangerous part. She wanted something that wasn’t hers. The desire had caught her off guard.

But he had pulled away because, as Sia told herself, it was appropriate. Still, the space he created between them felt colder than it should have. By the time they returned home, the house felt different. Too quiet and ordinary after all that visible love and devotion.

Her confusion just deepened as life went on. She found herself having a private dinner with Lucas while the girls were with his mother.

The first ten minutes of dinner felt like a polite hostage situation.

She sat across from Lucas at the dining table where the staff had lit candles whose flames flickered under the ceiling fan. Steam curled from dishes that sat between them as they were left alone.

Lucas cleared his throat. “Smells good.”

“It does,” she agreed. “I’m starving.”

They both reached for the wine at the same time. Their fingers bumped against the bottle, then jerked back like they’d touched something hot.

“You go,” he said.

“No, you.”

Another pause. He took the bottle and poured, and she noticed his hand was steady. That annoyed her for no good reason. She felt like the nervous one, something she didn’t want to be.

After the last few weekends of weddings, mutual friends, too many floral centerpieces, and too much family, tonight was different. There was no buffer between them and no one to interrupt.

Lucas watched her serve herself. “What delicacy do we have there?”

The small talk was annoying. “It’s just pasta.” Sia pushed the bowl closer to him.

She twirled pasta around her fork and pretended to focus very hard on not slurping. He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully.

“It’s good. You said it’s just pasta in the way people say it’s just a million dollars.”

She let out a quiet laugh before she could stop herself. “It’s just pasta.”

“Disagree. There’s something in the sauce.”

“Probably the garlic?” She took a sip of wine.

“More than garlic. It tastes like, hmm…” He frowned in concentration. “Like someone who pretends not to care about things but definitely cares.”

Her fork paused halfway to her mouth. “Are you describing the sauce or me?”

Their eyes met. “Both?”