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6
Olive
When we touched back down to Earth, my mind was spinning.
I felt like I had a case of vertigo, and the only thing that grounded me was Lerin. He was a stranger. I hadn’t even known him for twelve hours, but I was already lost in him.
I followed him back up the garden path. “Where are you staying while you’re in town?” I asked.
“With family,” he answered. “I actually have to get going soon. Do you mind if I stop by the shop and see you whenever I’m here?”
He wasn’t going to ask for my number?
My insecurities peaked for a moment, but I reminded myself that I needed to communicate too. Misunderstandings could kill a relationship before it even started. I needed to know for certain before I reacted.
“Want my number so you can text first?”
He looked troubled by my question, and my stomach rolled.
“I don’t actually have a cell phone.” He sounded apologetic.
“Oh…”
Usually when a jerk refused to give his number, it was to avoid someone else finding out. Was he married? Dating someone else? He was gorgeous enough that he could get any girl he wanted.
“I’m not lying, but if it makes it easier, I can buy one.”
I swallowed down a confused laugh. Why would a guy who didn’t have a cell phone just suddenly get one to talk to a stranger? Maybe he was getting a burner phone so his wife wouldn’t find out…
“No, don’t waste your money.” I said, shooting him down. “The shop is going to be busy for a while, so if I don’t have much time, that’s why—”
“I’m not blowing you off.”
His voice was firm, like he was serious about every syllable.
“I’m not some shady man. I just don’t have a phone because I come from a small community that doesn’t need one,” he explained calmly.
He was a stranger; how much could I believe what he said?
“I’m gonna go, I have some things to take care of,” I lied.
“Stop, look.” He grabbed me by the hand and started pulling up his shirt. I looked away in embarrassment. He was super ripped. I wasn’t sure how strong my decisions would be if he was going to flash me those abs.
He pulled his shirt all the way off. He’d only just put it back on a couple of minutes back, when I’d worked hard to avoid eye contact with his pecs. The most I’d let myself admire was how thick and muscular his back was.
He motioned to the left side of his chest and my eyes widened.
There was a swirling golden dragon tattoo that spiraled out from where his heart would be. As I looked at it, the tattoo looked like it was moving and pulsing.
I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m from a community of dragon shifters, a kingdom, and I’m a prince.”
Oh, so he was crazy.
I just made out—flew off, even—with a stranger I’d met on the street, and now he was telling me he was royalty…
Why didn’t I see this coming?
