Page 25 of Alien Dragon's Bride

The hummus was so smooth that she moaned in delight. All the others she’d tried had been from the grocery store and were gritty. “This is really good.”

“Told you.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair.

She dunked another piece of flatbread into the dip. If she ate like this all the time, she’d gain thirty pounds. “Would they let me take a gallon of this home with me?”

His laugh was a deep rumble that warmed her heart. She wanted to hear more.

“So, how did you and your wife meet, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Levx’s face darkened to a reddish purple.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Was he still mourning her death? How long had he said she’d died? God, she was a horrible person. “Never mind, I don’t need to know and I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No. No, it’s fine.” He blew out a breath. “Just not used to talking to anyone outside of family about it.”

It? Did he and his wife have a problem marriage? If so, why did he want to have a surrogate with his ex-wife and him? “I’ve been told I’m a good listener if you want to talk about it.”

“Not particularly.” He tugged at the collar of his dress shirt like it was too tight.

She wasn’t going to force him to tell her his history. What business of it of hers was it anyway? Their waitress sauntered up to their table, a small menu in her hand which she placed in front of Levx.

“Ready for dessert?” the waitress asked leaning too close to Levx and running her hand across the back of his chair. “We have a traditional Greek honey cake, melt-in-your-mouth baklava, rizogalo, and bougatsa.”

“What do you care for?” Levx looked at Megan.

“I wasn’t going to get anything.” Too much money and probably too many calories.

Levx grinned at the waitress. “Since I can’t decide, why don’t you bring one of each to our table along with two forks.”

The waitress nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

“Why did you do that?” Megan leaned forward and hissed in a whisper.

“Because I’d like to try each one and I could tell you did as well.”

She opened her mouth, then shut it, then said, “I said I wasn’t interested.”

“Perhaps, but your eyes and the increase of your heartbeat said otherwise.”

“Wait.” She leaned back. “How can you know that? There’s no way you can know my pulse got faster.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched a few seconds before he shook his head. “There was a slight increase in the scent of your perfume and your eyes widened at her mentioning the deserts. I only followed the most logical path to conclude that your heart rate must have changed due to your desire.”

“Still. That’s a great observation on someone you just met.”

He gave her a slight nod. “Now tell me more about you. Do you—Did you have many males growing up.”

“Pardon?” She frowned trying to make out what he was asking.

“Sorry, my English is off sometimes.” His brow furrowed and she had the strangest feeling that she wanted to reach across the table and sooth the lines down. “Boyfriends or is it friend boys?”

“Boyfriends.” She shrugged. “I’ve had a few. Two in middle school and three in college. One of which gave me a promise ring before his mom made him take it back saying he was too young to be serious.” She let out a laugh to ease the tension at admitting her past.

Levx’s jaw twitched again.

“What about you?” She couldn’t resist asking now that the topic was on the table. “Any girlfriends?”

“Our family…business didn’t allow for companionship.”

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