Page 7 of Burned By Love

“And you think that dating a tattoo artist would change that?”

“I don’t think it would make you unhappy.”

West knew that Austin was only pushing this because he was worried about him.He was so focused on not wanting to end up alone that he projected his fears on West.He wanted both of them to be happy, and he thought they’d get that by finding someone to love.

West couldn’t say he wanted to be single for the rest of his life, but he didn’t mind it the same way Austin did.He was perfectly fine spending time on his own, and he didn’t need a boyfriend to make him feel better.

He didn’t say all that to Austin.Austin already knew what West thought of his love life and the way he went about it.He didn’t have to repeat himself.

“No, it wouldn’t,” West admitted because it was the truth.Hewouldbe happy if he had a boyfriend.He just didn’tneedone.“But it’s hard.”

Austin glanced at the door.He’d closed it, and they couldn’t hear anything.Hopefully, it meant they were alone and that no one was out there wanting to get some sleep.

“I get it,” Austin said with a nod.“Even when you meet someone and start dating, and everything’s perfect, you’re still afraid that they’ll run when you tell them about your dragon.I feel the same.”He huffed.“I wish there were more dragon shifters in town.It would make it easier to date.”

“Stay away from the clan,” West warned.

“I’m not stupid or looking to die.”

“Sometimes, I wonder.”

“But you can’t be single forever just because of your dragon.It wouldn’t be fair to either of you.”

“I didn’t say anything about forever.”

“I just worry about you, West.You’ve always been a loner, but I feel it’s become worse lately.”

“I promise you that I’m fine and that I could find a date if I wanted to.”He just couldn’t be bothered.

“Including with the tattoo artist?”

West wished he could say yes because Jonathan was cute and seemed interesting.He was pretty sure that the man didn’t want anything to do with him, though.The way he’d behaved the day West was at the shop pointed to that.“I don’t think he was interested, and I don’t want to be a creep by going to the shop.”

“You wouldn’t be a creep.You’d just be a guy who wants a tattoo.”

Austin wasn’t entirely wrong, but as much as West wanted to go, he still thought it would be better to stay away.Part of him wondered what would happen if he did go, though.Jonathan had no way to contact him, but West knew where to find Jonathan.He didn’t have to make the situation creepy.He could go there, ask about a tattoo, and leave once he got his answers.It was Jonathan’s job.Surely Jonathan wouldn’t see anything wrong with that.

* * * *

JONATHAN COULDN’T STOPthinking about West.

Billy had tried coming back the following day to convince Jonathan to tattoo him, but Jonathan had held firm.He wasn’t about to risk Billy fainting a second time.That would be a mess, and it would bring the firefighters right back.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened.He wasn’t even sure he was right.He’d seen something in West’s eyes, but he couldn’t be sure it was a sign that West was a shifter.Even if he was, he might not be a dragon shifter.Jonathan had never seen Caleb’s eyes do anything like that, but maybe it wasn’t unique to dragon shifters.

Something in Jonathanknew.He wasn’t sure how to explain it.Maybe he was more attuned to dragon shifters after spending so much time with Sal.Maybe part of him associated dragon shifters with danger now, and that was why he’d identified West as one.Being a dragon shifter would be enough for West to be dangerous, even if he was a teddy bear.

“Christy wasn’t wrong,” Caleb said as he flopped on the couch next to Jonathan, startling him.

Jonathan squeaked and glared at Caleb.“Was that really necessary?”

Caleb cocked his head.“Was what necessary?I sat on the couch.It’s not my fault you were so busy daydreaming about a hot firefighter that you didn’t hear me.”

“I wasn’t daydreaming about him.”

“But youwerethinking about him.”

Jonathan hesitated.There was no one better for him to talk to about this than Caleb, though.Not only was Caleb his best friend, but he was also a shifter.He was the reason Jonathan had found out about that world.“I think the guy’s a shifter,” Jonathan admitted.

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