Page 70 of To Match A Dragon's Fire

Ember

Your Table or Mine

“He was… sweet.” I didn’t know how else to say it. Normally I was more articulate. But my cheeks were still burning and my mind was still mush as I recalled last night and all that it entailed.

I buried my hands in the dirt, gathering enough of the overturned soil to pat down the carrot seeds we’d sown, and tried to think of a better way to describe how amazing Kieran had been.

Sweetwas one way to put it.

I’d been laid out on his table fit for a king and eaten like I was dessert. No complaints on my end though. I’d be eager to try it out again… preferably soon.

“Come on, you have to give us more details than that,” Willow whispered, looking over her shoulder to where Harper sat playing with dolls on the porch. “We were worried.”

Riley leaned against the rake. “Did the whole town show up here last night?”

Oh, that.

I guess they weren’t asking about my sexcapades. Slightly embarrassing, but okay.

“I’m not sure.” I turned back to the rows of carrots, hoping they wouldn’t see the worry on my face. “Something happened to Tony. Hillary was here.”

“Are you all right?” Riley knelt beside me.

“I’m fine,” I said automatically, brushing off her concern.

Seriously, I couldn’t care less if I never saw Tony again, and running into Hillary was unexpected, but I really didn’t care about her either.

She might’ve been a home-wrecker, but it was Tony who’d broken his vows to me. Even if Hillary was the one cashing my checks, I could guarantee he’d put her up to it.

He weaseled his way out of every bill in our short marriage. I’d lost so much to thatboywhen I was young and dumb and naive enough to believe that men could ever be loyal.

I clenched my teeth as I climbed to my feet.

Maybe I wasn’t okay.

“Did anyone apologize for shooting you?” Willow walked the row of carrots, rationing the watering can.

We needed to fix the sprinkler system once I got the pump moving water from the creek again.

“They didn’t mean to shoot me,” I said.

My hand fell to my side, touching the healed skin. I hadn’t gotten a chance to ask Kieran how that was possible.

Thinking of Kieran made me hot all over again. Or maybe that was the sun.

I knew better than to get starry-eyed over a male, even if that male was a dragon who had wings and a magic tongue.

It was a really nice tongue.

“You sound like you’re making excuses for them,” Riley pointed out.

I turned to face her, shocked.

If anyone made excuses, it was—

Willow shook her head in that motherly way that made me instantly regret all my past and future mistakes.

“You’re right.” I looked at my feet, feeling shame wash over me for thinking that about Riley.

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