Page 24 of Burned By Love

Jonathan was much more than a pretty face, of course.He was an amazing man who deserved to be cherished and spoiled, and West had every intention of doing just that, although maybe he should slow down a bit.This was their first date, and he didn’t want to scare Jonathan with how seriously he was taking it.

It made sense for Jonathan to be hesitant.He hadn’t gone into details about what had happened with his ex-boyfriend, but what he had told West wasn’t good.It explained why Jonathan had been so wary of going out with West, and West had every intention of showing him that not all dragon shifters were like that asshole.

West wasn’t.He’d become a firefighter because he wanted to help people.He’d never hurt anyone on purpose, and he never would.

He still wondered what Sal had done to Jonathan, but he was pretty sure that if he ever found out more details, he’d get so angry he might try to find the guy.That would be a bad idea, and it wouldn’t be what Jonathan wanted, but it was hard to resist the urge to hunt down the man who’d hurt him.It was what West’s dragon wanted to do, but the animal wasn’t in charge.

Which was a good thing for Sal.

West burst out the door.He sucked in a breath and told himself to be cool, but that went right out the window when he saw Jonathan leaning against his car and smiling at him.No one should be so handsome.No one should look at West the way Jonathan was.There was a little apprehension there, but most of it was warm happiness.West had been afraid that Jonathan would change his mind or not feel up for the date, but he looked as happy to be there as West was.

West grinned as he reached him.“Hi.”He sounded breathless, which was ridiculous.“I used the stairs,” he explained.

Jonathan’s smile never faltered.“The elevator wasn’t working?”

“I was too excited to wait for it.”

Jonathan’s cheeks flushed.“Really?”

“Really.”

They stared at each other for a moment.It was awkward in that first date kind of way, but West would never get enough of watching Jonathan.He still couldn’t believe that Jonathan had asked him out.

Jonathan finally shook himself.“Ready to go?”

“Whenever you are.”

Jonathan pushed away from the car and opened his door.West did the same, wondering where Jonathan was taking him.They’d agreed on dinner, but since West had wanted Jonathan to feel comfortable, he let him set the pace.That was why Jonathan was picking him up.That way, if he felt uncomfortable at any moment during the date, he could take his car and go.West could take a rideshare home.He didn’t think he would have to because he had no intention of making Jonathan uncomfortable, but there was no way to know if someone else might or even if the situation might be too much for Jonathan since it was his first date since his ex-boyfriend.

“So, where are you taking me?”West asked.

“Well, we never really talked about what we like or dislike eating, so I was stumped.I didn’t want to ask where you wanted to go because I asked you out, and I’m supposed to organize the date.”

“I don’t want things to be like that between us.”

Jonathan shot West a smile.“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“It’s going to be since I have no idea where we’re going.”

“To a place where we’ll have a wide range of different foods.I figured that we could each grab something and maybe share.”

“Sharing is good.”

Jonathan’s focus was on the road, which gave West the opportunity to observe him.Jonathan’s cheeks were flushed, but he looked happy.A bit tense, too, but that was normal for first dates.

West had already promised himself he’d do whatever he could to make Jonathan comfortable, and he’d changed his mind.Whatever happened between them tonight, he wanted Jonathan to come out of the date with a smile on his face.

West didn’t know how long it would take them to get to wherever Jonathan was taking them, but things were easy between them.They talked about one of Jonathan’s more recent customers, then about a few calls West had gone on during his last shift.By the time he was done telling Jonathan that people really tried keeping everything as a pet, Jonathan was laughing and parking the car.

“She really thought that keeping a raccoon in her bedroom would be a good idea?”he asked.

“I’m telling you, some peopledon’tthink.She asked us how it was different from having a cat.I had to step away before I laughed in her face,” West said, grinning at the happiness in Jonathan’s expression.

“I guess she wasn’t wrong.How different is it from having a cat?”

“Cats aren’t wild animals.Raccoons are.She’s lucky the damn thing didn’t scratch her eyes out or give her a disease or something.”

Jonathan grimaced as he slid out of the car.West quickly did the same, not wanting the conversation to be interrupted.He liked making Jonathan smile and hearing him laugh.

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