Page 35 of Fire Dragon Lover

Today, he decided to wear his sharpest cobalt suit.

He still couldn’t help but get clammy hands, his ironclad resolve faltered whenever he thought of the big moment. So, he set about the place and made sure everything was ready.

“Do we have enough champagne?” he asked the caterer. He knew he was fussing but he didn’t want anything to run out, especially today. “And the brie. We can have some delivered if there aren’t enough wheels.”

“Your guests will have plenty to eat,” the caterer said and offered a wink. “I’ve never let you down before.”

“Right,” Logan said in turn and tried to rub the burn from his neck. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure as always, Mr. Slade.”

He feared nothing was good enough. Not for Gretchen.

The balloons were tacky, the streamers superfluous, and the stereo too big. When he checked in on the main conference room, some of his employees that were supposed to be setting up were schmoozing instead. “Ten minutes,” he called to them and tapped his wrist.

They got back to decorating.

Logan didn’t like micromanaging, especially when his mind was elsewhere. But he huffed and allowed them to finish without interruption. Once Gretchen got here, none of it would matter, anyway.

* * *

The party wasin full swing by the time she returned, a pleasant blush playing about her features. Gretchen was glowing with the pregnancy, which was only just beginning to show.

She seemed none the wiser to his plans and danced with him until they were both breathless and laughing. He loved having her in his arms, the feel of her flesh against his, her sweet exhales when they kissed.

But he waited until just the right moment, when the fever pitch of the celebration was at its height, and before everyone lost steam. He signaled to the DJ, who took his prearranged cue and let the music fade.

All eyes were on them.

Gretchen’s sweet face crumpled in confusion. “What’s going on?”

He caught her hands and the crowd hushed. When he knelt and pulled out the diamond ring, there was no longer any question as to his intentions. “Gretchen Jennings…”

Confusion bloomed into surprise, and her lips parted in expectation. “Y-yes?”

“Will you make me the happiest man alive?”

She glanced wide-eyed to the ring, then back at him.

The crowd held their breath.

Then, with the slightest motion, she nodded, slowly at first, a smile spreading wide. “Yes, Logan Slade. I do.”

Everyone cheered around them as he placed the ring on her finger, then swept her into his arms and spun her around. Gretchen caught his face, her blonde hair veiling them both as she kissed him deeply and sealed their promise.

Forty-Eight

Gretchen

Logan had changed after he proposed, becoming more open and affectionate. He seemed to breathe easier, now that the attempts on their lives had stopped, and cherished her with all his attention.

Still, the dragons of Draconis Fire had their traditions.

The bonding ceremony.

Gretchen didn’t know what to think when he first told her. “It sounds official,” she said, grimacing a little. “What is involved. Is someone supposed to watch?”

He seemed baffled at her question, then laughed. With a grin still plastered on his face, he kissed the top of her head. “It’ll just be you-” He kissed her cheek. “-and me.”

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