Page 40 of The Dragon's Surprise
Her sister leaned over and gave her a one-armed hug. “I won’t. But for what it’s worth, I think the dragon doctor cares for you, Lexi, if not loves you. He’s been a complete, overprotective bear—or, er, dragon, I guess—since I arrived. I had to get the clan leader to come and force him out so I could spend some time with you.” Her voice softened. “Do you feel the same way about him? The human named Jenny Torres here seems to thinkso, but I want to hear it from you. No matter your answer, I’ll fight to keep you safe and stay in your life, I promise.”
As she studied her older sister’s face, her eyes heated with tears. Jennifer had always looked out for her and had given up so much when they’d been younger to try and make Lexi feel less alone once their mother had left.
And she was doing it again, without a thought. “You can’t give up your job, Jen. You love it.”
Her sister waved a hand in dismissal. “Tell me your answer, and we’ll figure the rest out. Because if you want to mate Kyle, then me keeping my job and being in your life will be easier than you think.”
“I don’t want him to feel like he has to.”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “If that dragonman doesn’t love you, then I’ll shave my head. At least talk to him. Maybe don’t mention the two choices until after you see how he feels.”
She sighed. “I guess. I never thought I’d be that woman, the one who falls so easily. And yet…”
“Well, dragonmen have their charms, for sure. Especially if you’re his true mate. Are you?”
Needing to unload, she told her sister everything—about being Kyle’s true mate, his son, and what she’d seen at the place in the desert. By the end, her sister had one question. “Do you love him then?”
Lexi rubbed her forehead. “I think so. I mean, waking up in that abandoned building in the desert, unsure if I was going to die or not, I kept thinking of Kyle and Ethan. Of how I wished I could see them again and finally have a family of my own.”
Her sister took her hand and squeezed. “Sometimes these things happen fast. A long relationship before a mating doesn’t make a difference. Just look at me.”
“I’m sorry, Jen. I forgot all about him.”
“I was young and naïve. But having met Kyle, you’re both grown-ass adults, and he clearly knows what he wants. And that’s you and Ethan.”
“I guess that means I have to talk with him, huh?”
“Yep. But not before you tell me some more about him. Oh, and I need to call the doctor soon. I promised I would once you woke up again.”
And as Lexi talked with her sister, her doubts melted away one by one. She loved Kyle and Ethan, and she wanted to stay with MirrorPeak. She might not be able to keep her job with DOCS, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do other things to help humans and dragon-shifters get along, or even help the children find forever families.
By the time her sister left and Dr. Alvaro arrived, Lexi was confident about her next steps. However, she wanted to be out of this hospital bed and well again before she took them.
Chapter Fourteen
Kyle had spent the last three weeks settling Ethan into his home and life, visiting Lexi whenever he could, and helping out Dr. Alvaro as much as she’d allow at the clinic.
And while his life was almost the busiest it’d been in a long time, he didn’t mind.
Especially since Lexi had finally been discharged from the clinic and her mandatory physical therapy rehab, and would be coming to stay with him.
He still couldn’t believe she was going to stay on MirrorPeak. About a week after the incident in the desert, she’d asked if he still wanted to date and get to know her. If he might still want to claim her.
Man and beast hadn’t hesitated and had said yes.
It’d taken another week for him to wheedle out that she had to make a choice about her future, and soon. Either with him and MirrorPeak, or whisked away to some unknown location, to live her life under a false name.
He hadn’t gone as far as to say he loved her—yet, as he was waiting for a better time—but he’d asked her to mate him. And she’d said yes.
Technically, they were already mates. Rio had thought it best to get the paperwork side of things done. And yet, they’d lived apart since Lexi had stayed at the clinic.
But she was coming home today. Not only that, Ethan was staying with his Aunt Rita for a bit, to allow the frenzy.
If Lexi was ready.
His dragon spoke up.We’ve almost kissed her several times this week. I hope she’s ready.
If not, then we’ll be patient. It’s a big step for her. For all of us.
