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ELEVEN

Z ina stared at her phone as if it might spontaneously combust. Her reflection in the breakroom mirror revealed a woman on the edge—hair slightly mussed from running her fingers through it repeatedly, a smudge of lavender essential oil on her white blouse from a client session.

The invitation to the Enchanted Falls Charity Dinner sat on the counter, its gold-embossed lettering catching the afternoon light. Beside it, a text message from her intended plus-one glowed on her phone screen: Sorry, Z. Food poisoning. Rain check?

Perfect. The most important networking event of the season, and she’d be attending solo—broadcasting to the entire supernatural community that Purrfect Oasis Spa lacked even the basic support system other established businesses enjoyed.

Her mother’s voice whispered from memory: “Connections are everything in this town, kitten. No successful business stands alone.”

Zina picked up her phone again, scrolling through her contacts. Most names she passed without consideration—acquaintances, suppliers, casual friends who’d read too much into a business dinner invitation.

She paused at the “E” section.

Xai Emberwylde.

Her thumb hovered over his name while her mind conjured his image—tall and imposing with those piercing golden-brown eyes that seemed to evaluate everything they beheld. During the spa inspection last week, he’d watched her with intensity. Her skin had heated when he’d stepped close to her.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered to her reflection. “He’s the dragon elder. Town council member. Not some random date.”

That was precisely why he made perfect sense as her plus-one. Business connections. Networking. Political alliances.

Nothing more.

A glance at the clock decided her—four hours until the event began. Before she could reconsider, she pressed the call button and brought the phone to her ear, her heart thumping with unexpected force against her ribs.

One ring. Two rings. Three?—

“Emberwylde.” His voice rumbled through the speaker, deep and resonant like distant thunder.

Zina straightened instinctively as if he could see her through the phone. “Mr. Emberwylde, this is Zina Parker from Purrfect Oasis Spa.” She pressed her free hand against the counter to steady herself. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

A slight pause. Papers rustled in the background. “Ms. Parker. This is... unexpected.”

She pushed forward before she lost her nerve. “The annual charity dinner for magical education is tonight at Highland Hall. My original guest canceled last-minute.” Her lioness paced restlessly beneath her skin, urging her to get to the point. “Since you’re new to the council position, I thought you might benefit from meeting local business owners in a less formal setting. Pure networking opportunity.”

The silence stretched so long, she wondered if the call had dropped.

“What time should I collect you?”

The question caught her off guard. She hadn’t considered he’d offer to pick her up. “The event starts at seven.”

“I’ll arrive at six-thirty.”

“That’s not nec—” She caught herself. Arriving together would look more intentional, more established. Better for her professional image. “That would be perfect. Thank you.”

“Until then, Ms. Parker.”

The call ended. Zina set her phone down carefully as if the conversation might shatter if handled too roughly.

A slow clap from the doorway made her jump.

“Bravo. Oscar-worthy performance.” Bryn leaned against the doorframe, her delicate bear-shifter features arranged in a knowing smirk. “The ‘networking opportunity’ line was especially convincing.”

Heat crawled up Zina’s neck. “How long have you been eavesdropping?”

“Long enough to witness that masterclass in self-deception.” Bryn sauntered into the breakroom and helped herself to a honey-lemon water from the mini-fridge. “You’ve been fascinated by him since he stepped through the door last week.”

“Nonsense,” Zina countered, though her lioness disagreed, purring at the mere memory of the dragon elder’s scent—cedar smoke and cloves with an underlying note of something ancient and powerful. “This is purely professional.”

Bryn’s eyebrow arched dramatically. “So why are your claws extending?”

Zina glanced down. Sure enough, her fingernails had lengthened and curved slightly—a telltale sign her inner lioness was stirred. She concentrated, retracting them with practiced control.

“Stress response,” she said dismissively. “Tonight’s event could make or break several potential business connections.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Bryn checked her rose-gold watch. “Shouldn’t you be figuring out what to wear for this ‘purely professional’ networking opportunity?”

Zina glanced at the clock again. Only a few hours to transform herself from harried spa owner to polished businesswoman. “Can you handle closing up?”

Bryn’s grin widened. “Go. Prepare for your non-date with the dragon.”

Zina snatched her purse from under the counter. “I’m ignoring that comment.”

“You know what they say about dragons,” Bryn called after her. “The older they are, the hotter they burn!”

Zina’s traitorous mind latched onto the image as she hurried up the back stairs to her apartment above the spa. She imagined Xai’s carefully controlled exterior giving way to something more primal, more passionate?—

“Professional,” she reminded herself firmly, unlocking her apartment door. “This is strictly professional.”

Her lioness, unhelpfully, purred in disagreement.