Page 45 of The Dragon's Mate

The stupid thing was, his mood had less todo with spending the last four hours wading through garbage and more to do withmissing his chance to see Kaida when she dropped Tyler off at his apartment thisevening.

Incredibly stupid considering she wasn’tinterested in him.

“Ty? I’m back. Sorry, it’s so late. I hadto -”

He stopped in the kitchen doorway, his heartknocking against his ribcage. “Kaida? What are you doing here?”

She set down the mug of tea and stood,wiping the palms of her hands on her thighs. He could see a napkin with a fewcrumbs on it, sitting next to the mug. “Hello, human.”

“Hey. Is something wrong with Tyler?”

“No, he’s gone to bed,” she said. “He hada bit of a headache, he said.”

“Oh, okay.” He leaned against the doorway,very aware of how bad he smelled. “So, uh, why are you still here?”

What the fuck, man?

Her cheeks tinged pink. “Tyler said I shouldstay until you got home. He said that you didn’t like him to be left alone and…”her cheeks went even pinker and she groaned, “and he’s seventeen years old and doesnot need a babysitter. Oh my God, I’m an idiot.”

Bren couldn’t help but laugh. “Tyler canbe very persuasive when he wants to be.”

Her nose wrinkled and he took a step back.“Sorry, I spent most of the night in a garbage dumpster.”

She smiled, and he decided the dumpster divinghad been totally worth it to see her smile at him.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” sheasked.

“Yeah. Hunting knife covered in our victim’sblood and, hopefully, the perp’s fingerprints.”

The smile dropped from her face. “Did theysurvive the attack?”

He shook his head and could almost feel themask falling across his face. Talking about a dead body wasn’t how he imaginedspending time with Kaida.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Your job must bevery difficult.”

“Difficult but rewarding when we catch thebad guy.” He waited for her to say she had to leave and as the seconds turnedinto a minute, he finally blurted, “Did you want something a little stronger todrink than tea?”

She didn’t reply, and he was berating himselffor his stupidity when she said, “I could stay for one drink.”

“Great.” He pushed away from the doorway,a little embarrassed by how eager he sounded. “I’ll have a quick shower and I’llbe back. Make yourself comfortable. Are you hungry? There’s fruit in thefridge or I think there might be some cookies in the pantry that Ty hasn’teaten yet.”

“I’m good. Tyler gave me a muffin,” shesaid.

“Great. Perfect. Be right back.” Hestarted down the hallway and turned around, sticking his head back into thekitchen. “Don’t leave, okay?”

“I won’t.”

“Okay. Good. Right. I’ll be back.” He practicallysprinted to his bedroom, locking his gun away in the gun safe in his roombefore tearing off his clothes and quickly brushing his teeth. He showered inrecord time, afraid that if he took too long, Kaida would leave despite what she’dtold him.

He yanked on his boxer briefs and jeans beforebrushing his hair. He hesitated and then grabbed his cologne off the counterand spritzed his chest with it before pulling on a t-shirt.

He smoothed his wet hair down and left the bedroom.He stopped in front of the guest room and eased the door open. Tyler was sprawledout on the bed with his earphones on. The faint music coming from his earphonescompeted with the loud snores emanating from his open mouth. Bren shut the doorquietly and headed toward the kitchen. Tyler was a heavy sleeper and with theearphones, he wouldn’t hear anything.

What exactly is it you think he’s goingto hear?

He ignored his inner voice. Nothing wasgoing to happen between him and Kaida. He’d asked her out, she turned him down.That was that.

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