Page 18 of Dragon's Honor

“Finley, you need to talk to me.”

She kept moving down the street. “Why?”

When he didn’t answer, she glanced over her shoulder only to find him frozen on the sidewalk. He rubbed the back of his neck and dragged his hand through his thick black hair, back and forth.

Ash was trouble. He made her feel all sorts of things. He made her uncomfortable. More than anything, she wanted to feel more of whatever he was selling.

She just wished that it didn’t look like he was in physical pain around her when he wasn’t driving her boring dates away.

“You interrupted my dessert. Wanna get coffee?” she asked.

Ash looked relieved. “I know just the place.”

He grabbed Finley’s hand, threading their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world. She considered pulling away, but the tourmaline was glowing a dim green again. She kept glancing down at it as they made their way toward the beach.

Finley loved the beach at night. It was one of her favorite things about living in Miami. With the city lights reflecting off the water along with the moon, it looked magical. It made her believe in things like romance, love. And dragons.

The bar he pulled her into was one she’d never registered, even though it was right on the beach. She caught the name just before they disappeared inside.

Sea Glass.

He pulled her right outside onto the patio and grabbed them a table in the corner. It was dark and with the side of the building protruding out, they had some privacy.

“Hiya, Ash.”

The server was a beautiful curvy woman. Finley’s photographer eye quickly assessed her for pictures. She would make a great model.

“Hi, Letty,” Ash replied. “Could you bring two coffees and a piece of whatever you’ve got that’s chocolate?”

Letty glanced at Finley curiously, her eyes noticing the bracelet circling Fin’s wrist before she headed out. “You got it, hon. I’ll be back in just a few.”

“Come here often?”

“Pretty much daily. My friend owns the place. It’s been sort of a safe haven since I got to town.”

Finley was surprised by the lack of bullshit or evasiveness in his tone. “You running from the law?”

“Not entirely.”

Her brow furrowed. “That was supposed to be a joke.”

“Running from the law is funny?”

“Not anymore it’s not. What’s going on with you? How did you find me tonight?”

“I wasn’t looking for you.”

She eyed him curiously. “Okay…”

“I saw you through the window. I needed to talk to you.”

“So you keep saying. Spit it out then.”

Ash leaned back in his seat. “I shouldn’t be seeing you.”

“You seem like you’re in the middle of an argument.” Finley sat back.

Letty returned with their drinks and a chocolate dessert that looked good enough to eat off Ash’s no doubt six-pack abs or rippling pectorals.

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