Page 6 of Dragon's Rejected Mate

Alexis’ eyes lit up when she saw Luke. Swaying over to the table, she put her hand on Luke’s shoulder.

“I heard that you were back in town,” she cooed. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“Hello, Alexis. I hope that you are doing well.”

“I am now,” she said in a sultry voice.

She didn’t even acknowledge Josh’s presence. He was sitting back in his chair with a huge grin on his face. Luke had the sudden urge to kick him under the table.

Alexis squeezed his arm and said, “Wow. You are so muscular. I bet that you work out every day.”

“Something like that,” Luke said, gently pulling his arm out of her grasp.

“You could buy me a drink,” she said, pulling a stool closer to him and sitting so that their knees touched.

Never mind the fact that she could afford to buy everyone in the entire club drinks all night long, Luke had no interest in buying her a drink or even having a conversation with her.

“You know, Alexis, it was good seeing you again, but I’ve had a long day and I’m tired. I hope you have a good night.”

Luke downed the rest of his beer, grabbed his coat and carefully pushed past the stunned Alexis who stared after him with her jaw hanging open.

Josh stood up, nodded to her and said, “Ma’am,” and followed Luke out the door.

“We could go back to my place,” Josh offered. “I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know where I live.”

“I’ll take a rain check. I actually am pretty tired. I’m still adjusting to the time difference. I think I’ll call it a night.”

“I think that you’re just getting soft on me, old man. I remember a Luke who could stay out all night and party.”

“You might be right about that.” Luke laughed. “With my aches and pains, I sometimes feel like an old man.”

As Luke headed home, he thought that he might just drop back into the café the next morning. There was just something about Jamie’s genuine smile that reached her chocolaty brown eyes that had captured his attention.

3

Jamie

Jamie looked up when the doorbell rang and was excited to see the tall blond man with oceanic blue eyes striding into the café. Her heart skipped a beat even though she told herself to knock it off.

“Good morning.” Luke grinned at her. “How are you this morning.”

“Groovy, I hope you are.”

“I will be as soon as I get some more caffeine in me. I drank almost a pot this morning and I find that I need a little more.”

“Large coffee?”

“Black, and one of those cherry cheesecake danishes,” Luke replied.

“Coming right up.”

“Are you always so bright eyed and bushy tailed this early in the morning?”

“Not always, but usually. I like mornings. I like to wake up when the world is still calm, the air is fresh, and the sun is perfect. Plus, it helps that I have all the caffeine I need to wake up. Are you enjoying being back home?”

“I don’t know yet. There have been a lot of changes since I left. Some bad. But some are pretty awesome,” he said, looking into her eyes.

Jamie noticed that Luke glanced at her left hand as though he was looking for a wedding ring or some other sign that she was with someone. She was suddenly grateful that she wore her parents’ wedding rings on her right hand.

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