Page 2 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“Are you okay?” asked the man she’d fallen against.

Why had she taken this job?

Why had she decided she needed to push her way out of being who she’d become over the last twoyears? A quiet nobody shuffling papers for Mayor Nestner. That had been safe. It had been fine. Lonely, and not particularly exciting, unless the town armadillo, Bill, caused mischief and someone came to the mayor about it. But the job had been okay.

With a sigh she cracked one eyelid open, letting the man fussing over her come into focus. Hockey player. Kneeling. Looking concerned. His two front teeth were slightly crooked and he had kind, dark blue eyes. He was fresh-faced, ready to get onto the ice for practice.

And she was a sweaty mess. Violet scrunched her eyes shut again, wanting to pretend she was dead.

“Are you okay?” he repeated.

She swallowed hard, glancing up at him again. She knew this guy. Okay, she didn’tknowhim, but knewofhim. Leo Pattra, former bull riding champion who was now playing in the National Hockey League, like switching professional sports was something people did all the time. He was a sweet, hunky hottie she’d be absolutely tongue-tied around should they ever meet.

And they were meeting.

He was standing over her, looking more and more concerned the longer she remained silent.

Maybe she could will herself to pass out until it was all over?

Violet sighed and tried to sit up, but her large dragon belly made it impossible to fold forward. She attempted to roll onto her side, but found herself wedged between the bag and the wall. She flopped back again, feeling like an upside-down turtle.

“Need help?” Leo asked, watching her with those lovely eyes. He held out his hand, but with her giant dragon-clawed paws she knew she couldn’t grasp it. Nor could she push her bangs out of her eyes so she could see better.

Maybe she could will herself to disappear, like how she’d pretended she was invisible when she was a kid.

Just close your eyes. Ignore the hunky man.

“I’m Leo.”

Yeah, pretending to be invisible hadn’t worked when she was a kid, either. Just resulted in a lot of teasing.

“Dezzie.” She blinked. “Dragons’ mascot.” Her voice had worked. She glanced back at Leo, then away. Maybe this costume acclimation idea wasn’t so bad, after all.

He smiled. “What’s your real name? Andareyou okay?” Carefully, still kneeling beside her, he peeled her sweat-plastered hair off her forehead and away from her eyes.

This would be a great time to disappear because…ew. Could she be any more disgusting?

That familiar shyness burned through her, locking down her ability to meet his eyes or speak. He was too cute. Too kind. Too caring.

Too close.

And he didn’t seem to mind her sweat-plastered hair.

Heartbreaker.

“You have a very pretty face,” he said gently. Without warning, he gripped her arms through the costume’s thick fabric like a seasoned livestockwrangler. Tingles zipped along her skin as if he’d electrocuted her, and for a moment she thought she’d broken something. Then she realized it was just the power of Hunky-hunk, who was now rolling to his heels with athletic ease, fluidly lifting himself onto his feet and pulling her along.

Yum. She loved a strong man. And one who gave her compliments was even better.

There was no chance she’d be able to speak to him. Ever. At all. Pop-psych couldn’t work on everything.

Feeling more eyes on her, she glanced over her shoulder. The locker room was full of curious, half-dressed San Antonio Dragons.

This would be a fantastic time for that invisibility thing to finally work.

Leo Pattra had no idea who the woman in the dragon costume was, but she was cute. And she was obviously mortified at the way she’d fallen into a room filled with half-dressed players. He scooped up her dragon head and steered her back into the hallway.

“I’m Leo,” he said again, hoping she’d introduce herself as something other than the mascot. He didn’t have time to get tangled up in flirting or dating at the moment, but this shy gal in the gigantic, wingless dragon costume had him intrigued. If he was the type to fall in love for the sheer joy of it rather than the old-fashioned reason of needing a life partner, she might be someone he’d consider.Even though she seemed way too bashful for her own good.

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