Page 32 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

“They want me to go to their next member event. And likely all their member events while the project is active.” They’d also made it clear that a personal investment from me in Accutrust would be welcome but not required. If I liked what I saw at their party, I’d consider it.

“Why? You aren’t invested in them.”

A bank seemed like a useless investment for a dragon, but they should have enough to fund the other half of the project, and theywere a respected institution in Kilinis. “They believe they’ll benefit from the clout of having one of the local dragons show up.”

Jasmine’s shoulders tensed. “I see. Did you agree to their proposal?”

“I told Max Anderson, their manager, that I’d need to run it by City Council. But they want an answer by Friday.” Their next party was set for Saturday. The only drawback was that Elle had only agreed to a date every other day, and the party didn’t fall on one of those days.

The tense set of Jasmine’s mouth relaxed. “Send us the full proposal. I’ll call a quick meeting, and we can vote on it.”

I nodded.

She studied me for a long moment. “You could have closed this deal before I even walked in. Presented me with afait accompli.”

I blinked. “Youare the one who’s always pointing out that there are many stakeholders in these kinds of decisions.” A hastily negotiated contract could bind us to conditions we’d later regret.

“Your contract allows you wide latitude to negotiate on behalf of the City.” Her expression was neutral, her words flat and uninflected.

I sensed a hidden barb—I knew the shape of those well—but not its exact nature. “As long as I’m acting in Kilinis’s best interests,” I said carefully.

She shook her head, and her expression warmed again. “You aren’t quite what I expected.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I grunted, my wings held tightly to my back.

After writing up a formal proposal and sending it to Jasmine, I couldn’t stop myself any longer. I reached for my phone.

Will you come over early tomorrow?I’ll take you shopping.

I grinned, wondering how much Elle might want, imagining each item she selected as a silent acknowledgement that I’d be a suitable, secure mate. My cock thickened in my pants.

How early?

Two o’clock.

She was supposed to come over at five, but that seemed an impossibly long time away. And I wanted to see how open she would be to negotiating extra time, since I needed her to come to the Accutrust party on Saturday.

I could offer to trade a day, but that felt like giving up time with her, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

Long moments passed before she responded.

I can do three, just tell me where to meet you

I can pick you up.

That would give me a chance to see her home. Should I ask her to move in with me? Dragons would consider that the same as full-on mating, but for some reason humans didn’t.

But I’d read something about moving in “too soon” being a “red flag.” I don’t know why humans hated red so much. I thought I was an excellent color, but it was somehow a bad sign.

I’d bought a few buildings outright early on, so they were part of my personal hoard; I could move her into one of those. Then I could take care of her without “moving too fast.”

I’ll meet you there

I’ll come get you. Just send me your address.

I’ll meet you anywhere you want after three tomorrow

Fuck.I’d thought I could use the apartment offer to negotiate for Elle’s time on Saturday, but if she needed more generous compensation for letting me pick her up, and therefore spending more of her limited time with me, I’d give her whatever she felt she deserved.

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