Page 24 of Sprite Wedding
Suffering snapdragons,what was she doing here at my house? This might take longer than I hoped. Hello, soggy cereal.
Should I not answer? Hmm, that might prolong whatever this was about. It was better to face this head on and let her know that coming here was not cool.
I opened the door. “Linda, what are you doing here?”
She stepped forward with arms outstretched. “Oh, Lucas. I’m so glad you came back to the club. I missed you.”
Although I stepped back, she still managed to wrap her arms around me. My dragon tensed. He didn’t like any woman touching me but Zoe. After a polite second or two, I stepped back and squirmed out of Linda’s hold.
“You know this isn’t appropriate.”
She slanted a gaze and flashed a naughty look. “Most of what happens in the club isn’t considered appropriate, is it?”
I couldn’t argue with her there, but this was different. “We have boundaries for a reason.”
“We didn’t that night.” She arched a brow with a naughty glance.
Scaly scoundrels, this wasn’t going to be fun. “How did you find me?” I’d gone to her house that night we’d spent together. It was easier to make my exits the next morning.
She shrugged like it was no big deal. “I followed you home.”
Oh no, she followed me? My shoulders hunched. My dragon tensed. He didn’t like that either.
“You can’t do that, Linda,” I started to explain, but she cut me off.
“Oh,” she dismissed me with a wave. “Don’t be so uptight.” She glanced around me, searching inside the house. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“No can do.” I crossed my arms.
Her lips turned downward. “Why not?”
“Because I already explained that this is inappropriate. And I have a girlfriend.” Zoe was my mate, but humans generally didn’t understand that concept.
Her eyes flickered with disappointment before she blinked and brushed that emotion off her face. “Oh, that woman you brought onstage? She didn’t seem happy to be with you.” She brushed my biceps in a flirtatious way. “You know I wouldn’t treat you that way. If you ever want to propose to me on stage, I won’t turn you down the way she did.” She smiled in a conspiratorial way.
Ugh, I wanted to scrub that most unromantic of proposals out of my mind.
“Linda, that’s not going to happen. I was only there for one night.” How had I initiated this mess?
She pouted. “Lucas, I waited for you to return to the club for weeks. I returned night after night, hoping you’d come back to me. As time went on, I started to lose hope.” Her eyes gleamed. “But then you came back. It was a sign.” She placed both hands over her heart. “We’re meant to be together.”
Of all the crazies in Hades…
“There is no sign,” I said slowly, carefully, as I eyed Linda with more wariness. “Zoe is my girl.”
Linda stepped closer, and I raised my hands to prevent her from embracing me again. Her shoulders met my palms.
This situation could turn scary fast. I’d seen women fixate on dancers at the club. It didn’t go well as someone always ended up hurt. Unrequited feelings were a bitch. Although I hated to hurt anyone, I couldn’t encourage Linda to think that there was a chance. That would be even more cruel.
“I’m afraid you’ve gotten the wrong idea. We had one night together.” I lifted my index finger. “But that’s all it was—onenight.”
It was better to let someone down gently but firmly rather than to lead them on with a flicker of hope.
“Oh, Lucas,” she cooed with a playful pout. “You’ve always been such a tease. Now you’re playing hard to get.” She flashed me a naughty smile. “I like games. If you want to play, I’m ready to party.” She tipped her head up. “Come on, show me your bedroom.”
I gritted my teeth. Could I get Linda to leave before Zoe arrived?
CHAPTER7
