Page 5 of Overbooked at Dragon's Landing

In the end, they decided to stay and wandered away towing several heavy pieces of luggage up the stairs and grumbling loudly about poor service.

“If you can give me a moment, we will be right with you.” The host behind the counter disappeared into the back and the dragon returned to take his place. Interesting how they worked together. Smooth as glass. Mates all the way. Something I would never experience since I had realized there would be no fated for me years before.

The door behind us opened at that moment, and I was overwhelmed with the scent of mate—no, mates. Two.

I’d been so worried about my friend finding his mate or husband or whatever that I never considered that I might meet mine.

A glance over my shoulder revealed a dragon shifter moving into line behind us. Two dragons already. Craig was in for a greattime. And I was going to have to not freak out because my world had just tipped on its axis. What would this mean about my crush on Craig? I didn’t sense any sign of it dissipating. But I had two mates.

Oh my gods!

My assumption that I couldn’t be obsessed with Craig if there were true mates out there for me were flying out the window. But I didn’t want to let him go. I’d cared for him for too long…what was Fate up to?

“Next.” We stepped up to the desk where the dragon stood, fingers poised on his keyboard. “May I help you?”

“Yes, please.” I dug out my phone and held it out to him so he could get the reservation information. “That was quite a situation a moment ago. I hope they aren’t typical of those who come to stay with you.”

He looked up at me and grimaced. “You mean entitled and awful? Thank the god that watches over the winged ones, no. My mate was afraid I’d flame them.”

Ah. He was clearly the alpha in their relationship, and I had wondered why his omega came in to handle things. “He has your back.”

“And all the rest of me, inside and out. He also reminds me that insurance does not cover singed guests.” His love showed when he spoke of his mate in the very best of ways. “But, you don’t want to hear about innkeeping problems. I assure you most of our guests are a pleasure, and you will enjoy your stay here. If there’s anything we can do to make it more enjoyable, just let us know.”

I relaxed at his words, leaning on the counter and waiting to get our keys. I had enough to think about knowing I had two mates here. Ah well, freaking out served nothing. Everyone was staying here at least tonight, so there would be time to figure it out.

Chapter Five

Craig

Ralph was acting a little off. He kept eyeing the guy behind us, and I wondered what that meant. Nobody could deny he was hot, but my friend and I saw a lot of hot guys at the club and other places we went. The wolf shifter was remarkably uninterested in any of them, and I sometimes wondered if maybe he was just happy not in a romance.

I tried not to think what that might mean for me. If he wasn’t interested in anyone, then it meant he wouldn’t be interested in me either. Not good. But if he just hadn’t spotted the right person, and now maybe thought he had. Also not good for me. A true friend would want their bestie to have everything they wanted in life, even if it did not meet their personal goals.

Love is never jealous…so why was I?

I peeked over my shoulder again at the tall person Ralph was so into. He put the hot club guys to shame. Even the shifters. I thought he might be one due to his body type. He looked strong, his forearms making me want to squeeze them just to feel the tone. And his eyes were brown but with a bit of gold in them that seemed to move like a candle flame. I peeked again, just to confirm, and the hottie caught me.

His smile spread heat through my core, expanding into my limbs. Whew. I faced forward again and tried to pay attention to where my roomie was getting our room taken care of. The man helping him was likely a shifter as well. I couldn’t always tell, but in the years hanging out with Ralph, I’d learned that most of the males I found attractive were shifters of one kind or another. My type, I supposed.

If only I was theirs. Or at least Ralph’s. Although, I wouldn’t kick the guy behind us out of bed for eating crackers. Or any other reason I could think of.

When had I become so fickle? Just a few minutes ago, I’d have sworn there was nobody for me but the wolf shifter who wouldn’t notice me as more than a friend, if I was on fire. Which, at the moment, I sort of was.

“Your room will be ready in about ten minutes,” the host informed us. “We apologize for the delay, but it’s our biggest event of the year, and we’re doing our best.”

“Thank you.” Ralph nodded. “We don’t mind waiting.”

“If you’d like to take a seat”—he gestured around the lobby, which actually, except for the check-in area, resembled a home more than anything else—“we’ll get you situated just as soon as possible.”

The room was nicely decorated. Not fussy, but the type of place you’d like to sit down and relax, maybe read a book, or talk with some of the other guests, and I hoped there would be time to do that. Especially the shifter who’d been in line with us. Something about him drew me to want to know more, and the heat his gaze sent through me had not yet entirely dissipated. What was he?

“Nice place,” Ralph commented, pointing to a love seat against the front wall. “Want to sit there while we wait?”

“Sure.” I followed him over and settled on the cushion next to his, our thighs about an inch apart. “Ten minutes, he said?” I remembered, but my brain was not running smoothly for some reason, and I just felt the need to say something. Not the usual between me and my oldest and best friend.

“Right. I hope you don’t mind waiting.” He bumped my shoulder with his, but I noticed he was also looking across the room toward the check-in desk. “I know you want to get an early start and see everything at the Dragon Festival.”

“Not at all.” I was enjoying watching the other man talk to the host. The back view of him was every bit as good as the front. “It’s still early. And that poor man had to deal with those karens. I hope we don’t see much of them while we’re here.”

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