Page 44 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
Lavinia winced, walking gingerly, and Theo’s gaze went to her shoes.
“Who said to wear heeled boots, huh?” he asked.
She pouted. “But they’resoooocute.” She took another step, limping, and Theo stopped in his tracks.
“Come on.” He turned around and crouched down. She laughed when she saw what he intended.
“A piggyback ride?” she asked. Since he was a foot taller than her, he used to give her piggyback rides all the time. “You haven’t given me one in forever; not for years probably.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t drop you. You’re bite-sized.”
“So not eating those vegetables when I was a kiddidpay off!” She climbed onto his back, putting her arms around his neck, and his hands came up under her legs, lifting them around his waist. A jolt ran through her body.
He straightened, and she wrapped her arms around his collar, chest flush against his back. She inhaled the scent of his shampoo, the ends of his hair tickling her cheek as she leaned her chin on his shoulder. He was so warm.
His hands on her thighs were strong, his grip steady. He was holding her up so easily.
“You’re huffing and puffing a lot less than you used to,” Lavinia noted. He used to be so scrawny, but that was evidently not the case anymore.
“I’ve been training,” he said. “This is my Olympics.”
“Really?” She moved her hand down to his arm as a joke, but wow, his bicep really was solid. Again, she thought of their kiss, the feel of his body pressing hers against the grass.
Probably not the best thing to think about as she was latched onto his back with his hands under her legs. Desire lit through her as quickly as a match catching flame. Her mouth went dry. She focused her attention up to the sky, trying to think of chaste things.
They made it back to the car, and he let her down. Luckily, by then, she’d calmed down a bit, so she could look him in the eyes without combusting. She hopped off his back, and he turned to give her a mock bow. “My lady.”
She did a mock-curtsy in response. “Why thank you, noble steed.”
He drove them home, but the fall day was not done, and she didn’t need to invite him in for him to know. He parked and then followed her inside, just as her parents were by the door with Alfie.
“Perfect timing,” Garrett said, lifting Alfie’s football bag onto his shoulder. “We’re heading out for Alfie’s match—Biter is your responsibility until we’re home.” Lavina nodded, kicking off her shoes, then Garrett turned back to the house. “Alfie, Beena—come on!”
Beena appeared, already prepared in her coat and shoes, carrying a thermos of chai. Alfie was beside her, Biter in his arms. The baby dragon was asleep, her red scales matching his red uniform.
“Mama, take a picture of me and Biter,” Alfie said, whining in a way that informed Lavinia he must have made this request three times already. “We match!”
“Okay, okay, one second,” Beena said, rummaging around her purse with her free hand.
“I got it,” Lavinia said, taking her phone out. Alfie’s face brightened, and he grinned, holding Biter up. Lavinia snapped the picture.
“Give Biter to your sister,” Garrett said. “We’ve got to get a move on—we need to pick up Logan, too.” One of Alfie’s teammates.
“Oh yeah.” Alfie approached Lavinia, and she took the sleeping dragon from his arms. Beena put Alfie’s jacket on his shoulders, and he slipped it on. After quick kisses, Garrett, Beena, and Alfie headed out, leaving Theo, Lavinia, and Biter.
“I’m going to put her in the bassinet,” Lavinia said.
“I’ll grab your pumpkins,” Theo told her.
“Thanks, pumpkin,” she said. Theo snorted. Lavinia carefully placed Biter back into her bassinet, but the moment she did, Biter’s tiny face scrunched. She opened one ruby eye, then the other. “Uh oh.”
Biter growled, angry to be awake. She scratched at her face with her tiny paws, hissing.
“Okay, okay,” Lavinia coaxed, picking her up again. Biter snuggled into Lavinia’s arms, immediately latching her mouth onto one of the gold buttons of her blouse. “Uff, Biter, no!”
Lavinia grabbed one of the baby dragon’s chew toys, easing it into Biter’s mouth. She walked Biter over to the front door, where Theo was putting down her pumpkins. She had gotten two large, three medium, and seven small ones.
“Here,” Lavinia said, handing Biter over to Theo. Biter cried out in protest, until Theo cooed at her.
