Page 2 of The Baby Dragon Bakery (The Baby Dragon #2)

She was attempting the latter, to be excited about all these new changes, but it was difficult. There were things to be positive about, but everything shifting in new and strange ways made her eye twitch.

“Come on,” Theo said, finishing off his drink. He set his goblet down.

“Where?” she asked, doing the same. Theo shrugged, giving her a smile.

He stood, offering her his hand, and she took it.

She didn’t need any plans when she was with Theo; they always managed to enjoy their time together, and they had done so since they were kids, spending hours and hours in each other’s company at her house.

When Lavinia looked back on those days now, she could never quite remember what they had done to keep themselves entertained, but she knew they had never tired of each other.

As they grew older, the hours were more often spent in talking, and they would discuss every single thought or emotion they were having, and when they ran out of even those, they would find other things to talk about.

Sometimes, Theo would explain the entire plot of whatever fantasy show he was watching, detailing every storyline and character, the deviations being made from the books and lore.

Other times, Lavinia would inform him about the drama going on in her extended family, and describe what her distant cousins and aunts were getting up to.

It didn’t matter how much time they spent together, if they felt like chatting, there was always something to talk about. When they were tired, they didn’t need to talk; they could sit listening to music or in companionable silence.

Now, they walked around the outskirts of the party. The music changed from an upbeat dance tune to something slow and soft. Couples began slow-dancing, a romantic aura seeping into the environment. Lavinia shivered, biting her lower lip.

They continued walking, down a path under glowing string lights, until the music grew quiet.

They were off to the side, alone, away from the party, its noises fading into the background.

From here, they had a gorgeous view of the rolling hills and the mountains in the distance.

It was a clear night, and the sky was studded with thousands of stars, twinkling and shining.

It was where their home—Starshine Valley—got its name from.

Theo whistled. “Look at that view.”

“It’s stunning,” she said. She loved their hometown, the comfort and familiarity of it.

They sat down, content to admire the landscape. The night felt cooler now, away from the dance floor and the lanterns. When a sudden breeze ruffled the trees, Lavinia squealed, huddling closer to her best friend.

“I told you to bring a sweater,” Theo laughed.

“You know, instead of being a know-it-all, the gentlemanly thing to do would be to offer me your jacket,” Lavinia told him pointedly.

“I left it behind,” Theo replied, showing her his empty arms. “Come on—it isn’t that cold.”

“Do you see what I am wearing?”

She was wearing a corset midi dress made of maroon satin, and the thin fabric was doing nothing to ward off the night’s chill.

She was short and curvy, and while in her teens she had been insecure about her weight, now it was something she embraced.

She loved to choose clothing that accentuated and flattered her body shape.

Theo looked down at her outfit, and as his eyes traveled back up to her face, his gaze snagged on the bare skin of her collar and shoulders, courtesy of the strapless dress. Lavinia’s straight dark brown hair was held back with a stylish headband so there was nothing to obstruct her decolletage.

He clenched his jaw, and heat coursed through her.

With some apparent difficulty, Theo looked up. He rapidly blinked.

“Right,” he said, clearing his throat. “Should I go grab my jacket, then?”

“No, that’s okay,” she said, voice high. He looked away, turning his gaze to the stars in the sky.

Lavinia’s heart pounded. Was she imagining it? Moments like this, she thought that maybe, just maybe, he was as attracted to her as she was to him.

“Look,” Theo said, pointing up at the stars. “Doesn’t that look like a bow and arrow?”

“Where?” Lavinia asked. She shifted her focus to the sky, trying to see. “I can’t see it.”

“Right there,” Theo pointed. She put her face beside his to see what he was seeing, but she couldn’t make out the shape.

She pouted. “I don’t see it!”

Theo laughed. “Look,” he said, taking her hand. He brought her finger to the sky and drew along the stars, making the shape of a bow and arrow. Finally, she saw it.

“See?” he asked, turning his face to hers just as she turned to him, and then, they were mere inches apart.

The crooked grin tilting his lips froze, the mirth in his expression giving way to something else, something deeper. She took in a shuddering breath, inhaling the warm scent of his cologne.

His brown eyes darkened. Right then, she thought that he did feel the same way as she did.

While she had known of her feelings for a few months now, she had never acted on them, too afraid to ruin the equilibrium between them, but maybe it was time.

If Lavinia wanted to find love by the winter—the way her mother had—this was her perfect chance.

Her heart pounded with both trepidation and anticipation, fear and courage mixing together. His lips parted. They were so close she felt the heat of his body just beside hers, the breath exhaling from his lips. Desire spread through her, and courage overtook fear.

She drew closer, holding her breath. He inched toward her, and she felt the warmth of his body. Emotion spiked through her, too complex to comprehend, but it didn’t matter, he was going to kiss her, she could see it on his face, feel the intention in his body.

She closed her eyes, heart soaring. She pursed her lips, drawing closer.

Suddenly, she felt cold air.