Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“You’re bad,” she muttered after swallowing.
“I am.”
“You’re not going to change, are you?”
“I will try not to tease you, Little one.”
“Promise?”
“I promise I will try not to tease you.”
Knowing that was the best she was going to get from him, Aurora let it go. She tried to push all the arousing feelings and images into a box to forget—at least during dinner. As she struggled, she took another bite.
The delicious flavor buoyed her spirits. Angelino’s really has the best pizza. When she could, Aurora asked, “Are you enjoying the pizza?”
“It is delicious. The old recipe the founder brought from Italy is still used. The ingredients have changed a bit over the years. Feta cheese was not a choice the last time I ate here. It’s a good addition. I look forward to what you will share with me next.”
That made her stop and stare at him. Had he not been out for a while? “How long has it been since you were here?” she asked.
“Angelino the fourth is on his way to the table,” Drake told her, nodding at the round man in an apron who headed toward them.
“Drake? I wondered if I would ever see you again,” Angelino greeted him.
To her surprise, Drake stood, and the two men hugged, each patting the other’s back in sheer masculine happiness.
“You should have sent word to the kitchen. I would have been out sooner. Sit. Sit. Enjoy your pizza,” Angelino suggested.
“I knew your daughter would tell you we were here. Your business is booming,” Drake complimented.
“It is. I keep waiting for people to get tired of the old ways but somehow orders keep coming in,” Angelino said with a smile.
“This has been my favorite place since I was a child,” Aurora volunteered.
“My mate, Aurora,” Drake said proudly.
“It is an honor to have you here as well. Thank you for your patronage. Your…” Angelino hesitated as if trying to find the right word to use. “Your mate saved my life as a child. I’ll never forget the ride he gave me.”
“Really?” Aurora asked, glancing back and forth between the two men.
“The old oven exploded in the kitchen, killing my grandfather immediately. I was working in the back with him but narrowly missed being hit with the hot stones. The super-hot debris set fires all over the kitchen surrounding me. Drake happened to be flying overhead. He scooped me up in one foot and lifted me out of the inferno. I don’t know if my mother was more scared by the fire around me or the fact I flew into the air caged in by dragon claws.”
“Wow. That’s an amazing story,” Aurora said, imagining the scene and the mother’s fear.
“Of course, my parents made me promise not to tell everyone at school the next day.” Angelino laughed. “Would you mind meeting my wife and kids? After you eat, perhaps?”
“I would enjoy that, Angelino,” Drake said graciously.
“Until later.” The restauranteur smiled and left them to enjoy their meal.
“Is that going to happen a lot?” Aurora asked after he sat back down. When Drake looked confused, she added, “Are we going to run into other families you’ve helped over the years?”
“Only for the those who remain in Wyvern. Many here do not have a clue of the past.”
“That’s sad. Do you think that’s why Keres hasn’t found a mate?”
“No. I fear his mate no longer lives in the city. Perhaps she or he is away at college or moved elsewhere for a job. If they were in town, he would sense them. There is no guarantee when a mate will be born. His could not yet exist.”
“There could be years between when one mate dies, and another is born?” she asked.
“There is no expiration date on a human’s life span. It is possible that my previous mate could have lived another fifty years. By that time, you might not have still been in Wyvern.”
“Or even alive,” Aurora rushed to add as she did the math.
“I’ve forgotten how the young think anyone over fifty is over the hill,” Drake commented with a smile. “But you are correct. An accident, an illness, or even a marriage could make a possible mate unavailable.”
“And you would have to wait until the next one comes of age?”
“Exactly.”
A comfortable quietness settled between them as they ate the delicious treat. Aurora didn’t remember any time she had felt so comfortable with another person. She felt her lips curve upward as the fact bounced back into her mind that he wasn’t a person.
“You look amused, mate. There’s one last piece.” He offered it to her.
“No way. I’m stuffed. Go ahead if there’s any room left inside you.”
“Oh, definitely.”
Rolling her eyes at her own stupidity, Aurora realized there was a lot of space inside a dragon. He had to fuel the beast. She’d ask him about that a different time. When Abby appeared again, Drake did not allow her to give them the pizza for free. He paid the bill with crisp bills, giving the server a very nice tip.