Page 80 of Already Home

He was attractive, she thought absently. Well-dressed in an “Ihave money” kind of way without being flashy. She liked his eyes and thekindness lurking in his expression. That or she’d been hanging out with Serenityfor too long.

“I love a good bad girl,” the man said.

Even though his words should have annoyed her, they didn’t.Odd, she thought. “Sorry. I’m neither bad nor available.”

“Would you be willing to make an exception?”

“No.”

“My loss.”

His easy grin made her want to smile in return.

Serenity and Beth joined them.

“I see you’ve met my oldest son,” Serenity said. “Dragon, thisis Beth, Jenna’s other mother.”

Violet noticed that Beth tensed slightly at the description,but she was gracious as she shook Dragon’s hand.

“I didn’t know you were coming to visit,” she said.

“I decided at the last minute. I wanted to meet my sister.”

“Where are you from?” Violet asked.

“San Francisco. I’m a lawyer.”

Serenity winced. “A corporate lawyer,” she added, sounding asif her son also kidnapped children in his free time.

Dragon looked unrepentant as he leaned toward Violet andmurmured, “Worse, I eat M-E-A-T. Don’t say the word too loud. She either criesor faints.”

“My husband runs a few banks here in Texas,” Beth said. “Thecorporate world can be challenging.”

“Exactly.” Dragon winked at her. “That’s why I like it.” Heturned back to Violet. “Have you worked for Jenna long?”

“Since the store opened, so a couple of months.”

“Don’t,” Serenity said, resting her hand on her son’s back.“It’s not yet time.”

“Time for what?” Violet asked, confused.

Dragon sighed. “She’s telling me not to pursue you. That itisn’t our time.”

“You know this how?” Beth asked.

“I can sense it.” Serenity’s voice was as calm as always.“Violet, when the time comes, you can trust Dragon. Despite his appearance ofwickedness, he’s kind. When he was little, I watched him play with the smallerchildren. He was so gentle.”

Dragon groaned. “Mom, come on. I have a reputation here. Don’tstart with the small children and rescuing bunnies talk. Women don’t find itsexy.”

Violet was more startled by Serenity’s statement that she couldtrust Dragon. Why would she have to?

She glanced at Beth and saw Jenna’s mother rolling her eyes.Violet held in a grin. The two mothers were so different. Serenity tall andthin, with long dark red hair and no makeup. Her flowing dress fell nearly toher ankles, the colors bright enough to stand out anywhere. Beth was blond withmakeup emphasizing her pretty features. She wore tailored pants and a croppedjacket that suited her petite frame.

On the surface Serenity was exotic and had her own appeal,while Beth fell into the category of normal. Still, if Violet had to pick, shefound Beth safer.

“How does the universe speak to you?” Beth asked. “Email? Avoice in your head?”

Serenity was unruffled by the question. She slipped her armthrough Dragon’s and leaned against him. “It’s more as if an unasked questionhas been answered.”

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