Page 3 of Dragon's Rejected Mate

One morning, the bell on the door jingled, letting Jamie know that there was a customer. Her jaw dropped when she saw that Luke Abrams was back in town. The last she had heard about him was that he had joined the military and was part of some elite unit that was busy saving the world from terrorists.

The man who had joined the army was not the Norse god who walked into the café. He had been a skinny, gangly teenager. Jamie had never paid much attention to him, since she had been so enamored with Ryan.

“Luke?” Jamie asked in disbelief.

He gave the sexiest grin that Jamie had ever seen. She was certain that her heart started beating a little faster.

“In the flesh,” he said. “How have you been?”

There was no recognition in his eyes at first. Jamie was sure that he had squinted at her name badge so that he knew who she was.

“Terrific. I didn’t know that you were back home. Is it permanent or are you on leave?”

“It’s permanent. I decided that I had enough fun to last me a life time.”

“Are you sure that you won’t be bored in Ivy Springs?”

“I’ve learned that excitement isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Excitement is very,” he said. “Boring is just what I need.”

Luke handed Jamie his debit card and their hands touched for just a moment. Jamie’s hand tingled with a shock of electricity. She dropped the card onto the counter and stared up at Luke for a brief second. His blue eyes sparkled and Jamie wondered if he felt the same bolt of lightning.

He looked at Jamie and said, “You’ve grown up a lot. Where is that gawky teenager I used to know?”

“Well, you know, people do that. They grow up. They change.”

“They get a hell of a lot prettier, too,” Luke said.

Then, as if he realized what he said, he added, “Not that you weren’t beautiful before.”

Jamie grinned at him.

“I really doubt if you noticed, one way or the other. You always had girls dripping off of you. You were a star in every sport and the prom king.”

Luke laughed and said, “That time seems like so long ago. A million years ago.”

“It does seem like forever. I can’t believe how innocent and naive I was about life.”

“Growing up has a way of changing us.”

He smiled and gestured at the debit card that she was still holding.

“Do I get that back?”

“I don’t know. I was thinking that I could do some shopping later,” she quipped, handing him the card.

Once again, her hand buzzed with warmth and electricity as their hands brushed.

“I guess I should be getting back to the store,” he said. “It was good to see you again.”

“You, too. Come back soon,” Jamie replied.

He smiled at her as he left.

“Girl, what was that all about?” Clara asked.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“If you flirted any harder with him, you would have had him laid out on one of those tables.”

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