Page 66 of Never Flirt with a Dragon

He lifted an eyebrow. “Why does she hate it?”

“A bunch of reasons. Mainly, she’s always felt about cooking the way I feel about art—that she should be able to do whatever she wants with it. The need for money forced us both into careers that are as closely related to what we love as possible. But while I mostly enjoy my job, she hates hers. Restaurants don’t exactly let their chefs take liberties with their recipes.”

“Hmm.”

“Yeah. I hope she’ll eventually quit and find a job that gives her more freedom. She wouldn’t let our parents pay for her school, so she’ll probably stay at the restaurant until her loans are paid off, though.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Do you have student loans?”

A money chat.

Lovely.

I supposed that was unavoidable, given we were being forced to enter a serious relationship.

“I did at first. My parents didn’t like that I was majoring in art. They eventually came around to it, and offered to pay the loans off. They’ve got a shitload of money, so I agreed.”

“What’s your plan as far as your work, then?”

I shrugged. “Keep this job as long as possible. The pay isn’t fantastic, but I love it too much to leave. When it’s over, I’ll probably be screwed and have to start a business from scratch somehow. I do have fairly large followings on social media, thanks to the publicity from my job, but I’m not sure whether or not it will translate into work when everything is said and done. Fingers crossed.”

I lifted them, and his lips curved upward slightly. “We’ll merge our accounts as soon as we’re through with heat.”

My forehead creased. “I don’t remember having that conversation.”

His face reddened, just slightly.

I couldn’t help the amusement that welled within me.

He was embarrassed about bringing it up without a conversation.

“I have money,” he said. “Plenty. The governments pay us to run the prison, and always have. When we’re mated, everything that’s mine is yours.”

“I don’t need your money, Jas.”

“Mates are partners in everything. It has nothing to do with need, and everything to do with equality.”

Huh.

I supposed I could see his point. My parents had always shared money, and while that didn’t work for some couples, I’d expected to do the same if I ever found a partner.

I’d just never expected to find a partner.

But that reminded me…

“You’re going to have to meet my parents,” I warned.

“I’ll survive.”

“They’re not the kind of people who love everyone they meet,” I added.

“They don’t have to love me, they just have to accept that you’re mine.”

I bit my lip.

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