Page 11 of The Mating Magic
And those visitors to Florida, if he recalled, were critical to Lacey’s herbalshop.
Instead of following Lacey inside, he walked around the house, humming a tune. The backyard was at least half an acre, with plenty of wide, open space guarded by a flank of tall pine trees and palmetto scrub. If the grass was dry and sad-looking, at least it wascut.
Enough space here for take offs and landings for a dragon. Chase saw why Lacey had chosen it. Although his people were invisible in their dragon form, they still preferred privacy when living amongstSkins.
Two royal Poinciana trees, their blossoms ready to bloom, were ringed with large stones. He walked over to investigate. Each tree had a wood placard. One readMOM, we love you, and the other readDAD, wherever youare.
His throat tightened. Lacey’s mother had died a little over a year ago, he recalled. Lacey longed to find the father who had abandoned her at birth and spent all her spare time searching for him. But at least her mother had finally rescued Lacey and Evie from the terrible foster home they lived in and lavished them with love while shelived.
Someone, perhaps Evie, had attempted to brighten the back with white wire fencing along the flower beds, but the plants were sagging and needed watering. Chase’s heart twisted. He’d suspected things were bad, but didn’t realize how dire they trulywere.
You were more invested in your future than her present. That’s how. You were so intent on trying to make a life for you together some day that you failed to see her lifenow.
“It’s not much,” a small voice said behind him. “But it’s ourhome.”
He turned to regard Evie biting her lush, lower lip. “The only home I’ve ever known. If not for Lacey and her mom, I would have been kicked out to the streets at the foster home. The world isn’t kind to poor, orphaned dragons likeme.”
His chest tightened. He’d known only privilege and love from the time he’d entered the world 26 years ago, while Evie had fought for every scrap of affection she’dreceived.
Chase stroked her bottom lip with the edge of a thumb. “I wish I’d known you back then. Maybe if we met sooner, I could have spared you some of thatpain.”
Big, woebegone blue eyes stared up at him. “Spared me? What happened to me made me stronger, Chase. It enabled me to survive. When you’re already small and a woman, people tend to dismiss you, especially in the dragon world. Before I figured it was safer to be invisible and let them ignore me. Not lately. I’ve only begun to realize myvalue.”
“You’re more valuable than ten caves filled with gold.” Chase fought down the ever- present desire he felt around her. Evie needed words and reassurance, notlovemaking.
As passionate and sweet as their lovemaking hadbeen.
Evie dropped her gaze. “There you go again, making me feel special. At least you did when we started seeing each other. You made me aware of my worth, made me feel validated, appreciated. But ever since the ball when your family became aware ofus…”
Her voice drifted off. Chase’s heart raced. Damnit, why hadn’t he spoken out before and informed his parents instead of letting his nosy cousins tell the world through socialmedia?
He’d deal with Helen and Lynnalater.
But first he had to kiss her. Had to because if he didn’t he’d lose his damn mind. Chase brushed his mouth against hers, a butterfly kiss, and as she sighed and slid her arms around his neck, he went for thekill.
A deep, passionate kiss showcasing all his passion and feelings for Evie, the sweet little dragon with a fire of her own. From the day he’d met her more than a year ago when he went to her sister’s shop to purchase sage, he’d fallen for her fast andfuriously.
When they broke apart, crimson suffused Evie’s face and Chase became aware of his cock turning hard in his trousers. He turned away, muttering a curse, and fisting his hands, thought of the vilest thing he could to calm his raginghormones.
Remembering how Evie nearly dropped into the maw of that alligator did it. His cock shrank as if someone dashed ice water onit.
I could have lostyou.
Determination filled him as he turned back to her. “Come on. I have to find thatpotion.”
Chapter 5
Evie knewshe was falling for Chase’s charm again. He had a way of sneaking past her defenses and gunning for all the pent-up passion she’d held forhim.
That kiss, it served as a reminder of everything she’d missed since last seeing him four weeksago.
That kiss… if she kept kissing him, they’d end up naked on the ground and then what? Forget about the fact they needed to find thepotion.
Chase wasn’t right for her. Their worlds were too farapart.
So she ignored his outstretched hand, leading the way to the front door. Lacey rose from a broken wicker chair on the porch and unlocked the frontdoor.
“Kitchen’s that way. You can start looking there.” Lacey set her keys down on a little table by the door. “Have funsearching.”
