Page 56 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

I was too old for this.

“Hey, stranger. What have you been up to the past few days?” Not that I was paying attention or anything.

I’m sure he had a life that didn’t involve saving women he barely knew and flirting with them on their front porches.

It was just odd not seeing myneighborafter seeing him every day since we arrived.

“I had some business to take care of.” There was a tightness around Kieran’s lips as he spoke that relaxed when his eyes trailed down my body.

I wasn’t dressed up or anything. It was so dang hot that I was wearing shorts and a tank top again, with a loose button-down shirt over it because my arms were getting scratched from pulling weeds.

But the way Kieran’s eyes lingered and the appreciation on his face had me feeling way too confident.

“I hope it was good.” I smiled, loving the way he forced his eyes back up where they belonged. “The business, I mean.”

“It was very enlightening.”

Shoot me now.How had I not noticed the little dimple on his right cheek when he grinned?

“Are those for me?” I placed my hand on my heart, trying to make it slow down. He followed the motion with his gaze.

The fire in those eyes was all man despite the beast he was hiding within.

“I hope you like them.” His sexy voice was huskier and he coughed to clear it as he held out the bouquet.

“I love them. Where are they from?” I sniffed the light floral scent. There wasn’t a florist shop when I used to live here, but maybe Kramer’s Grocery was selling bouquets now. I still needed to figure out if I could even go into town.

But that was a problem for another day.

“From my gardens. Catherine likes to tend the flowers.” Kieran stood up straight, seeming to get control of himself. I think I liked him better all smoldering and less businesslike, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Thank you,” I said as I touched a soft pink petal on the tulip. “Catherine is the… your doctor?”

“She’s more of a healer, but it’s been a long time since her services were necessary,” he explained.

I had so many questions, but I didn’t know where to start. “Is she a dragon too?”

“Everyone who lives with me is.” Kieran nodded. He suddenly looked nervous as he pulled at his collar.

It was the first time I’d seen it buttoned all the way up. He was a conundrum—like his bedroom and his office. Those rooms didn’t seem to belong to the rugged man who stood before me.

But I guess I didn’t fit all expectations of me either, and I liked it that way.

“Have dinner with me,” he blurted out.

“Was that a question?” I arched a brow as I lifted my face from the flowers. “It sounded more like a statement.”

“It was a request I’m hoping you can’t say no to.” His easy demeanor was back again as he leaned against the porch post. “Agatha is almost finished cooking.”

“I’m not sure if—”

“Go,” Willow and Riley said from inside the cabin, causing me to jump.

“Seriously, I can’t take any more of this mushy flirting.” Riley pushed me out of the doorway.

Harper reached up and stole my flowers. “I’ll take these.”

“Be safe.” Willow closed the door in my face.

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