Page 19 of Cowboy Dragon's Rose

“Um, where do you suppose Avery is?” I mutter to myself.

“The door’s open,” he says suddenly, grabbing the suitcase again and hauling it up the steps like it weighs nothing.

I follow him inside, trying not to hyperventilate or imagine him pressing me against one of these sturdy walls and saying something completely illegal with that voice.

Before I step through the front door, I have to pass Zeke. He doesn’t move. Just stands solid and strong, like a freaking pine tree, making me brush against him as I maneuver.

I suck in a breath as I do just that and am immediately hit with the scent of something sweet and warm—like cinnamon rolls and applewood smoke had a baby and scented the air on purpose.

I clear my throat. I don’t know what that scent is, but it’s freaking amazing.

“Wow,” I whisper as I cross the threshold.

Avery’s home is simply lovely.

Rustic but cozy, with wide plank floors, worn-in leather furniture, and a giant stone fireplace that looks like it was built by hand, probably by a man with arms the size of my entire torso, which pretty much describes Dante.

“Casey!” a voice calls out.

Avery barrels around the corner, all sunshine and belly bump, glowing like the fully human version of a Hallmark movie finale.

Lucky beyotch.

She pulls me into a hug before I can even say her name, and I let out a surprised laugh, my tote bag thunking awkwardly against my hip.

“Oh my God, it’s so good to see you!” she says, pulling back to give me a once-over. “You look great!”

“I look like roadkill,” I reply with a huff. “But thanks. And you look like a radiant fertility goddess. It’s honestly a little rude.”

She laughs. “That’s just the hormones. And maple syrup. I had three waffles this morning.”

Behind her, a huge, tall guy with tousled dark hair and warm brown eyes leans casually against the wall, his arms crossed over a faded T-shirt that reads I Grill Therefore I Am.

“Dante,” she says, turning to him with a smile. “You remember Casey?”

“Hey,” he says, pushing off the wall and waving his frying pan-sized hand in the air. “Good to meet you again. Glad you made it.”

I bite my bottom lip, trying not to be intimidated by the sheer man-size of everyone on this ranch.

What are they feeding them out here?

CHAPTER SIX-CASEY

The four of us are just standing there, Rosie having run off to put on some clothes at her mother’s behest. As for me?

Well, I’m nervous.

And when I am nervous, I resort to snark.

“Thanks for sending the human forklift to pick me up,” I say, tilting my chin toward Zeke, who’s lingering by the door like he’s guarding it from intruders or bad vibes.

Dante huffs a laugh, his eyes cutting to Zeke. That look is sharp, but amused.

“Yeah. Talked your ear off, did he?”

“Total blabbermouth.”

“Ha! Well, uh, Rosie says you two got along well?” Avery asks, and she’s nodding her head like a weirdo.

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