Page 40 of Dragon's Rejected Mate

“Charlie says that she isn’t, although both Dillon and I have told her that she should.”

Clara looked meaningfully at Jamie and said, “It’s not like either one of my friends know how to take good advice.”

Jamie giggled and said, “That’s what you get for having strong, independent minded women for best friends.”

“You mean stubborn asses.”

“That might fit in there, somewhere.” Jamie laughed. “But give her and the baby my love the next time that you talk to her.”

“I will,” Clara promised.

Jamie thought about Charlie.

“I honestly don’t know what I would do if I was in her shoes. The baby deserves to know her dad, and the dad should know that he has a kid, but Ethan has made it clear that he isn’t interested in settling down. Charlie just doesn’t want to force Ethan into a situation he isn’t ready for. I understand that perspective.”

“I do, too, but I worry about her and the baby.” Clara sighed.

“You worry about everyone. That is why you are such a super person,” Jamie told her.

It had been a long day and Jamie was glad when it was time to go home. She was looking forward to a relaxing bath and a good book.

As she drove home, she noticed the same set of headlights following her. She frowned as she watched her rearview mirror.

Surely, Alexis wouldn’t send someone to hurt me, would she?

14

Luke

Luke finished off his pot of coffee, looked at his watch, and groaned. The last thing that he wanted to do was to go into the hardware store. He didn’t want to deal with his father trying to run his life. He didn’t want to deal with Alexis or any of her brothers if they “just happened to drop by to say hello.” The thought made the eggs and bacon he had for breakfast turn in his stomach.

He paced around the house for a minute. He couldn’t stand to spend the day cooped up in the four walls. Luke also wasn’t in the mood to drive to Phantom Canyon or Pike’s Peak to shift and fly.

As his steps took him back by the kitchen, he laid eyes on the now empty coffee pot.

“Jamie,” he said.

With a smile, he grabbed his coat, his keys, and he headed to the café. Luke was glad to see that it wasn’t too busy when he went in. Jamie greeted him with one of her beautiful smiles.

She grabbed him a cup of coffee and started to pick up a danish, but he stopped her.

“Still full from breakfast. Listen, I was wondering if Clara could spare you today. I was thinking that we could go up on the mountain and go snow shoeing. I am starting to get stir crazy, and I just need to get out for a while. I would love your company.”

Clara, who was cleaning one of the expresso machines, said before Jamie could answer, “I’ll do just fine here. I have the new barista that we just hired coming in soon.”

Jamie grinned at Luke.

“In that case, I would love to go. I keep my snow shoes and snow pants in the trunk of my car in case I get the urge,” she said.

“Hold on a second,” Clara said.

Clara went into the back and returned with some sandwiches and a couple bottles of water.

“Hiking is more fun when there’s a picnic involved, even if there is snow on the ground.”

Jamie hastily took off her apron, hugged Clara, gathered her gear, and hopped in Luke’s truck. He was glad that she wasn’t one of those women who had to play coy or pretend to be hard to get.

The powder snow, topped with just a small amount of freshly fallen snow, was perfect for snow shoeing. Luke watched Jamie carefully at first, not sure what her level of expertise was.

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