Page 104 of The Dragon's Mate

“Yes,” Willow said. “Pull over, honey.”

Mal pulled the car over and shut it off.Willow hopped out of the car and he followed his mate to the back of the vehicle.He popped the trunk, and Willow grinned at the dragoness curled up in thetrunk next to a small suitcase.

“You okay, Kaida?”

“I’m good.” Kaida took Mal’s hand and hehelped her out of the trunk. “Thank you for your help. It was a good idea tosneak me out in the trunk.”

“You’re welcome.” Mal slammed the trunkshut. “But it wasn’t actually my idea.”

“It was Ava’s,” Willow said. The three ofthem climbed back into the car. Mal started down the road and Willow twisted aroundin her seat to smile at Kaida. “Bishop was moping around the house and being areal – well, bear – about you not coming to the wedding, so Ava came up withthe plan. It worked brilliantly!”

“It did,” Kaida said with a grin. “Was italso Ava’s idea to have us hire you for security?”

“Nah, that was Bren and Bishop,” Mal said.“Bishop was about to text you about the security thing when Bren called theoffice.”

“He was the one who sent the officers then?”Kaida said.

“Yeah, but the captain was only doing it asa favour to Bren and it wasn’t going to be a permanent thing, so Bren called usto see if we could help.”

“He’s such a sweet guy, and so handsome,don’t you think?” Willow said to Kaida.

Mal grinned to himself as Kaida, a pinktinge to her cheeks, looked out the window. “Thank you again for helping meattend the wedding.”

“It’s really our pleasure,” Willow said. “Andwe’ll make sure to find someone to give you a ride home after the reception aswell.” She clapped her hands and beamed at Mal. “Our best friends are gettingmarried today! This is going to be the best day ever.”

* * *

Bren parked in the parking lot of the smallchurch. The lot was about half full and he climbed out of the SUV, slammingthe door shut and walking briskly toward the church. He pulled his tie out of thepocket of his suit jacket and looped it around his neck.

He wasn’t proud of this, but he’d had touse both the lights and the siren on his car to get to the church in time. Hefumbled with the tie as he drew closer to the wide front doors of the church.The case the captain had dumped in his lap Thursday morning had been a realshitshow and he’d worked eighteen hours both Thursday and Friday, as well as mostof this morning.

He'd had less than an hour to get home,shower and shave, and get to the church.

“Shit,” he muttered and stopped outside ofthe church. He wore a tie on a regular basis and he still couldn’t tie one properlyto save his damn life. It was embarrassing. He was about to say, ‘fuck it’and go without the tie when he heard her low voice.

“Bren?”

He whirled around, staring at Kaida. “Kaida?What are you doing here?”

“I was invited,” she said.

He grimaced. “Sorry, I meant – how did youget here without a bunch of reporters following you?”

A small smile crossed her gorgeous face. “Maland Willow snuck me out in the trunk of their car this morning.”

“That’s great.” He couldn’t stop staringat her. She wore a form fitting blue dress that matched the streaks of blue inher hair perfectly. Her long dark hair was pulled up on the top of her headwith a few tendrils framing her face. He glanced at her breasts and then herhips before clearing his throat. “So, uh, what are you doing out here? The weddingis starting in less than fifteen minutes.”

“I needed some fresh air.” She glanced atthe church. “Sometimes I get a little claustrophobic, and I’m used to keepingas far away from others as I can. The realization that I don’t have to hidewho I am around shifters and humans is still settling in.”

There was an awkward silence and finally,he said, “You look beautiful.”

The flush to her cheeks made him think ofhow she looked when they were kissing. “Thank you. You look very handsome aswell.”

“Thanks. Can’t get the damn tie right.”He pointed to the tie draped around his neck.

“I can help you,” she said.

“I’d appreciate that.”

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