Page 12 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

“That must mean I’m doing okay, right?” I’d figured he’d come back, and I spent a solid hour last night online, watching him introduce himself in various interviews, replaying the part where he said his name over and over again so I could pronounce it right.

I tried to make everything go as smoothly as possible for him, no matter how it made my stomach knot and flutter and squirm. He was hot, no denying it, and he’d been polite, but he was incredibly intense, even in interviews. Not to mention, having someone with so much power focused on me made me want to crawl into a hole and hide.

Jen shot me a smile. “Elle, I think you could spill his food on his gaudy-ass suit and he wouldn’t care.”

My stomach clenched. “Don’t say that. You’ll jinx me.” His suit really was gaudy, though. A perfectly tailored navy suit, with intricate gold embroidery that highlighted his broad shoulders. It was probably worth several times my bank balance.

I glanced back at the kitchen. “Got to go.” His food was ready. I couldn’t tell if our cook wanted to strangle me or thank me for giving Az’zael a sneak peek of one of his new creations, but I felt like I had to dosomethingextra.

I set his plate down in front of him and licked my lips. “How, um, are things going at City Hall?” If Az became a regular, I should know a little bit more about him, right?

Right, that’s totally the only reason you’re asking, not because you’re dying of curiosity.

Az’zael huffed. “Terrible. I’m beginning to think the whole concept of cities was a bad idea. Put too many people too close together, and somehow your problems multiply.”

I blinked. That was a much more candid answer than I’d expected. “Um, well, some problems multiply, but others become easier. Economies of scale, and all that.”

A whiff of smoke curled out of Az’zael’s nose. I stared at it, halfway between fascinated and horrified.

“Yes, scaling up the amount of talking everyone does, and still no one has a solution.”

“You sound like my mom. Isn’t the whole point of you and Niemrin that you can make a unilateral decision?” A tinge of bitterness entered my voice. What would Kilinis look like when they were done with it?

He jerked back. “Absolutely not. That defeats the whole purpose. Cities led by tyrants are miserable, not thriving.”

I forced myself to swallow the pat assurance on my tongue. That was exactly the kind of behavior that always got me into trouble with men. “I don’t think you’re a tyrant, but a lot of the new programs I’ve heard about seem…I don’t know.” I glanced around, like a diplomatic way to phrase this would jump out of the kitschy signs that decorated the pale gray walls. “Like they’re only for folks who already have a decent income. Or like they’ll benefit the people moving in rather than those of us who already live here.”

Az’s thin lips turned down, his eyes narrowing. “I see.”

I gulped.Fuck.I should have kept my mouth shut.

“Everyone moving here…they all expect me to do something great, and I don’t want to disappoint them. But they bring so many more problems with them, and they’re soloud. If Iwerea tyrant, I’d close the gates until I got a handle on everything, current residents included.” His scales darkened to a deep crimson. “Not that I’m planning to. I mean, uh—”

“You mean you’re trying to concentrate on the problems in front of you, but you feel like more keep popping up.” I thought it was stressful trying to manage all the little issues in my own life. Having to be responsible for everyone else’s sounded like a nightmare.

“Yes. Exactly.”

Before I said something stupid, like,I totally get what you mean, please let me soothe your troubles with my vagina, I smiled and forced myself to leave with some lame line about needing to check on the one other table in the restaurant.

Connecting with one of the two dragons in charge of this city on a, well, not exactly human level, but humanlike, wasnotsmart. Customer Service Elle, that’s who I needed to be.

Luckily, Az’zael seemed satisfied with the food when I checked on him throughout his meal. He tried to draw me back into conversation, but I dodged artlessly, not able to handle it.

As I hustled around Norma’s Kitchen, Jen kept glancing between Az’zael and me and making little kissy faces. I rolled my eyes at her, but I couldn’t deny that he seemed interested.

When I thought I’d scream from the tension, I brought his check. Sure, he’d only finished eating two minutes ago, but if he leaned forward and asked me another question about my day or my favorite gemstone, I might explode. I didn’t know which way to look or how to feel. My nerves were shot, and my heart rate picked up every time I looked at him—I needed himgone.

He handed over his card. I ran it, and when I brought it back, his wallet was already on the table.

“Take whatever you think you deserve,” he said with the most unsettling grin I’d ever seen in my entire life. All sharp teeth and gleaming eyes.

I gaped at him. “You’re serious? Again?” I should have expected this, but, nope, I was too busy worrying about all the little details like his drink and food and how to say his name correctly.

He tilted his head. His catlike pupils dilated so much they were almost round. “Of course.”

“Did you put even more money in it?” The question was half accusation, half shock, and zero thought.

He nodded, his grin growing disconcertingly wider.

---