Page 4 of The Ruby Dragon's Unconventional Mate

But he was the one who controlled their entire corporation, from the real estate to the software company to the shipping, and he had a thousand balls in the air.

Maybe a thousand and three.

It was nuts, trying to move a nerve center like theirs to such a small town. But they were doing it. He was doing it.

For Lachlan.

For their future outside of the wing.

Lars would simply have to understand. This was bigger than an unrequited affair, even than a budding friendship.

He couldn’t have anyone know that they were coming, and Lars was so…excitable.

He shook off his distressing thoughts and walked into the coffee shop, the smell of espresso and baked goods making him breathe deep. That was one of his big pleasures in life.

“—swear to you, I love these cranberry white chocolate scones. Can I have one and a flat white?”

“Sure, guardian!” The kid behind the counter beamed at the customer ahead of him, who just happened to be… Lars.

Dammit.

Of course it did.

“Thank you, sweetie. I appreciate it.” Lars glanced back at him, blinked once, then nodded, before he turned to the cashier, murmuring softly before passing over his credit card.

He bit back an impatient sound, because the simple fact was, he was the asshole here. He had been the jerk, and Lars had been, reasonably, polite. He should be happy with that, he supposed.

Why did he need acknowledgement or anything? He’d gotten that. Effusive hellos were just never gonna happen again, were they? And if he started a conversation now, after being dismissed, he looked like a desperate weirdo.

Lars went to sit, and he found a smile for the little dragon behind the counter.

“Good morning! How are you?”

“Good. Good.” He scanned the board. “I need something decadent.” He winked, which made the kid flush and wiggle a little.

“We have a chocolate hazelnut tart that is amazing?”

“Oh, that does sound amazing. That and a hazelnut latte, please.” He grabbed his wallet, but the kid shook his head.

“It’s already been paid for. No charge.”

“Yeah?” He glanced at Lars. “Thanks.”

“You can wait for it over there.” The kid nodded to the pickup area.

He nodded, but he walked to Lars’s table instead. “Hey, thanks for the coffee and pastry. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. Everyone deserves coffee.” The tone was cool, but not icy, so he’d take that.

“I was craving.” He tried for another smile, hoping it didn’t look embarrassed as hell.

“Are you settling in well?”

He had to wonder if Lars ever wore anything but jeans and sweaters. Too-big sweaters with lots of cables. It kind of hid all of him.

Not that he was looking.

He wasn’t looking.

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