Page 31 of Dragon's Rejected Mate

“Where are you…”

Luke didn’t hear the rest of the question as the door slammed shut behind him. He thought about going up on the mountain, but it was too risky and he didn’t want to deal with that stress. He drove the hour or so to Phantom Canyon and hiked to a secluded spot. He shifted and for the next several hours, he flew all over the mountain, enjoying the freedom and the release of energy. The snow sparkled in the sunlight and the fresh air was invigorating. He appreciated the raw beauty of the mountain.

On the way back to Ivy Springs, he once again thought about where his life was going and wondered whether he should go back to his old military life. That was why he hadn’t talked to Josh’s chief yet. He didn’t want to make any commitments until he decided what he wanted.

Josh was off that night so they hung out and had a couple of beers. Josh listened attentively while Luke told him about his encounter with his father.

“Eventually he’ll figure out that he can’t control your life.”

“I’m not sure that he will. He’s too damn stubborn.”

Josh laughed and asked, “How was your date?”

“It was good. I really like Jamie and we had fun. Alexis was at the restaurant though, and had to come over and be a pain in the ass.”

“Is she following you?”

“Sometimes I wonder. She said that she was just there having dinner with her friend and just happened to see us.”

“Well, there are only two steakhouses in Ivy Springs. Itcouldbe a coincidence,” Josh joked.

“Ha, ha. You a funny man.”

“Are you planning on seeing Jamie again?”

“Yes, I am,” Luke said. “I like her and we’ll see where this goes.”

11

Jamie

After Luke left, Clara looked at Jamie questioningly, but before she could ask any questions about the date, a ton of people poured in. Once the café was empty, they were both too busy cleaning up, baking new goodies, and restocking to talk. Jamie was relieved, because she wasn’t ready to talk to Clara about it, anyway.

Once the lunch rush was over, when everyone came in for their favorite soup and sandwich, Jamie asked, “Clara, do you mind if I take a couple of hours?”

“Of course not,” Clara said.

She stopped by the flower shop and bought a bouquet of different types of flowers. Her mother had never had a favorite flower. She loved all the different colors, scents, and patterns of all flowers.

She brushed the snow away from the headstone and the grave and knelt down.

“I brought you some flowers, Mom. They’re your favorites – a little bit of everything,” Jamie said.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been by lately. I don’t have a good reason.”

Jamie waited for a second and then sucked in a huge breath.

“I met a man. I really didn’t meet him, because I knew him from high school. I guess that I ran into a man recently. I don’t think that I ever told you about him. We weren’t close in high school. His name is Luke Abrams.”

“I really like him, Mom. He’s the first man I’ve been out with since Ryan.”

Embarrassment flooded Jamie when she said, “I slept with him. I didn’t plan on it at first. But we went on a date, he came back to my place, we danced, he kissed me, and we had sex.”

She paused, collecting her thoughts.

“I’m not sorry. I enjoyed it. I always thought that I would save my virginity for my wedding night, but it felt right.”

She laughed and said, “Luke is practically a stranger to me. We knew each other in high school, but we weren’t close. Even if we had been, people change a lot over the years. I know that I’m definitely not the same person that I used to be.”

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