Page 57 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

I turned my back on my traitorous friends, not sure what to do with my empty hands. I hadn’t felt this nervous since I was trying to date again after Tony and I divorced. I shuddered, thinking of all those early mistakes.

“Shall we?” Kieran extended his arm like the perfect gentleman…Gentle-beast?

All the signs of the jerk I’d first met when I arrived were gone, but I hadn’t been on my best behavior then either.

I was woman enough to admit my mistakes.

We had a chance to start over on a better foot this time. I took Kieran’s arm, smiling.

“Guess I don’t have another choice.” Warmth coiled through me as I rested my hand in the crook of his elbow.

This felt right.

Like I was really home.

Together, we stepped down off the porch and into the fading sunset of the warm summer night.

∞

The dining hall, as Kieran called it, was bigger than any room I’d been in before.

Normally, I’d be scared of such a monstrous space, worried the whole thing would come crashing down at any minute, but Kieran assured me his home was earthquake-proof.

I didn’t know such a thing was possible.

Wood beams arched in a curved pattern across the ceiling. An oak table that could seat at least thirty took up the center of the room. Vases of flowers and tiered candles adorned the table as the centerpiece. A stone hearth took up the back wall.

Kieran was seated at one end of the table.

I was at the other.

Before I could complain about the distance, the elderly gentleman I’d met the other day, dressed in ablack suit today, wheeled himself and a cart of silver-lidded trays into the room.

He introduced himself as Fredrick and I whispered my thanks, too nervous to speak louder and hear my own echo.

The grandeur in here made me feel out of place, even though Kieran was only wearing jeans. It seemed like the kind of dinner I’d at least wear a dress to. Not the dirty clothes I’d been working in all day.

I thought about stabbing him for not giving me time to get ready for a realdinner,but I was distracted by the soup.

Moaning softly, I sipped another spoonful of the rich seafood chowder with hot flaked salmon and thick creamy base. My stomach was going to kill me for this later, but I planned to live my best life now.

“Good?” Kieran asked as he raised his own spoon to his lips.

I was surprised I could hear him.

“Come again?” I cupped my hand over my ear anyway.

“I asked if you are enjoying your soup.” Kieran straightened in his chair as his deep, sexy voice echoed in the grand room.

I swallowed another spoonful, closing my eyes as I licked my lips. “Sorry. I still can’t hear you from all the way over there.”

His frown almost made me laugh.

This was a beautiful place to have dinner, but since I was dressed casual, I was going to act casual.

Now that I thought of it, I wasn’t sure I knew how to act another way.

“Do you want me to come sit closer to you?” I raised the spoon to my lips and pulled it out clean and slow.

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