Page 70 of Horn in My Side
“That was delicious.”Jasmine patted her mouth with her napkin.“I’d lick that plate clean if we weren’t in public.”
The image of Jasmine’s pink tongue popped up in Mal’s head, making him groan inwardly.
“Dessert?”Seren asked as she returned to check on them.
“Yes.The burnt Basque cheesecake.”
“Excellent choice.Two forks?”
“Two orders.”He caught Jasmine’s gaze, sensing her objection.“I’m greedy.I need my own.”
“Very well.”She picked up their plates.“I’ll clear these for you and get back with those cheesecakes.”
“Mal ...”
“What?”He shrugged.“Iamgreedy and want my own dessert.If you don’t stop complaining about how much everything costs, I’ll order four more slices.”
“Fine,” she said, resigned.
“Good girl.”
Her pupils blew out as a sexual charge filled the air.
Huh.
Mal never figured her for the type who loved praise.Neither was he, but he filed that little gem away for now.He took a sip of his water.“So, I noticed you still haven’t posted photos of Clawdia.”Jasmine also didn’t take her out of her pen during store hours, opting instead to visit her in the back office when she took a break.
“Yeah ...”Her fingers twirled in her hair.“I’m still worried.She’s so young.I don’t want her to be stressed if anything happens.”
“I know.That’s why I spoke to my lawyer on Tuesday.”
“You did?”
“Yeah.”Howard Nakamoto had been more than happy to do the consult.“He said that we don’t have to tell them about Clawdia.If they do realize their error and contact us, we’re not obligated to return her.We’re legally entitled to keep her as a free gift.As long as we have the receipt and proof of payment and delivery, she’s ours.It was their mistake.”
She pressed a hand to her chest.“That’s wonderful news.”
“And if they do try to take her back or demand payment, I’ll take them to court.Don’t worry, it won’t be the first time I’ve haddealings with the law.I’ve had to sue clients for breach of contract before.”
“But what do we do with her now?”She folded her hands in her lap.“Soon, she’ll outgrow that pen.Then you’ll have to decide.”
“Decide what?”
“Are you going to sell her?I’m sure someone would pay a lot of money for a baby dragon.”
“Do you want to sell her?”
She hesitated.“That’s not my decision, is it?You own the shop.”
“And soon you will, when you buy it.”
“Oh Mother Goddess.”She buried her face in her hands.“I didn’t even think about that.If the bank sees her as an asset on the balance sheet, the price’ll go up.I’ll never be able to afford it.”
“Jasmine.”He placed his hands on the table.“Jasmine, please look at me?”
Spreading her fingers, she peeked at him between the gaps.
“Jasmine, Clawdia is not an asset.She’s a dragon.”
