Page 11 of The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon #1)

Chapter 11

O ver the next few days, Aiden continued working on Saphira’s garden, and Sparky continued being a little menace, though considerably less so when they fell into a routine and Sparky (begrudgingly) realized Aiden was there to stay.

Sparky was surprisingly possessive about Saphira. Aiden couldn’t even blame the little guy. And yes, he was ready to fight a baby dragon for the woman’s affection, and no, he wasn’t proud of that fact, but neither was he deterred.

He couldn’t even be upset with Sparky for being a little demon the other day, tearing Saphira’s dress. He thought about the sight of Saphira’s bare legs much more than he properly should.

He wanted her, badly.

The next day, it was pouring down, one of those proper spring showers, so no gardening was possible. Ordinarily, such days were spent inside his cottage, reading a book or deep-cleaning the already clean space whilst listening to a podcast, but today, Aiden found himself grabbing his raincoat, preparing to go out into the storm.

Tucking Sparky into his jacket, he made his way to the Baby Dragon Cafe, rushing in to keep from getting wet. There was still a considerable crowd at the cafe, people warming their hands against their steaming drinks.

Behind the counter, Saphira lit up with surprise when she saw him, waving. He put down his hood and waved back, droplets of water trickling down the side of his face. Aiden ran a hand through his hair, which was still slightly wet despite the hood he’d donned.

Usually, he went straight to the garden from outside, using the garden door, and Saphira popped out back from the cafe when she had a free moment. He preferred to avoid the people inhabiting the cafe, but Sparky needed to learn to be around other people, and baby dragons as well.

As he got to the counter, Saphira was finishing up latte art; he liked watching her work, how focused she got, but also the ease with which she did it, as if she had done it a million times before, which probably she had. She was confident and competent, which was unbearably attractive.

“Lavinia, give this to Amalia,” Saphira said, sending the drink off.

“You got it, boss.” Lavinia went off, and Saphira focused her attention on Aiden.

“I thought you’d stay home today because of the rain,” she said, and the sound of her voice made his pulse quicken. He loved to hear her voice again after time apart, like hearing the opening chords of his favorite song.

“Hi, baby,” she said to Sparky, petting his head. Sparky purred.

“I figured Sparky needs to learn to be around other people,” Aiden said. “Can’t always just be the two of us with him.” Even if that was what he—and Sparky, for that matter—highly preferred.

Baby dragons hated being confined—it made them all the more mischievous—but the cafe was a very harmonious environment. Everyone looked comfortable, at home. Saphira had done an exceptional job crafting this cozy space.

He paid further attention to the details then: the carefully curated menu, the decorations, every little touch that was specifically designed for this place by her. The cafe only seemed more lovely to him once he saw her warm presence in every nook and cranny.

“Smart! And I know Sparky is going to behave, aren’t you?” Saphira asked the baby dragon with a bright smile. Sparky cooed in response. Saphira turned back to Aiden. “So what can I get you?”

“Hm, good question,” Aiden replied. He had no idea. “What would you recommend?” he asked, which seemed to be the correct response because Saphira smiled.

“Oh, I love it when people ask me this!” She got serious. “Okay, do you want something seasonal or something classic? Or something new?”

He considered it. “Maybe something new?” He wanted to put himself out there, which was the correct decision because Saphira squealed.

“Okay, give me two seconds.” She gave Sparky a little treat, then got to work at the espresso machine, then handed him a mug of what seemed to be a latte, except it had a greenish tint to it.

Far be it from him to question her, however. She looked at him expectantly. Holding his breath, he took a small sip, bracing for the green tint to mean the milk was curdled or expired or fungus-ridden.

But he was surprised to find it tasted perfectly fine; it was pretty good, actually, with a nutty flavor.

“It’s good,” he told her. “What is it?”

“A cappuccino made with pistachio milk.”

“Oh? I’ve literally never heard of that before.”

“It’s a new thing! I learned about it at this conference I went to for cafe owners. You’re the first person I’ve made it for, actually.”

He took another sip. “I like it.”

She grinned, pleased. Aiden knew that even if the coffee was shit, even if the milk had expired, even if the drink had been poisoned—he would have thought it was wonderful just to see her smile.

Aiden thought back to those moments in the garden again, the ones he had played over and over in his head like a scene from his favorite movie: his hand over hers pulling out weeds, the sturdy feel of her knuckles against his palm; their hands brushing in the soil, tantalizingly soft; a gust of wind lifting her skirt, the sight of her bare legs.

Even just the memory now made his blood rush.

Saphira seemed equally lost in thought, both of them leaning on the counter across from each other, pulling closer.

Until Lavinia interjected. “Hello! We have customers!”

Aiden sputtered back, face hot. Lavinia smirked; he knew of her a bit because she was friends with Genevieve.

He knew he should probably try and chat with her, since she was Saphira’s friend, but he just stared, saying nothing. Lavinia gave him a funny look, then disappeared into the kitchen.

“She doesn’t bite, you know,” Saphira said gently, and he felt like a massive jerk. She probably thought he was being so rude to her friend. He made a note to himself to do better.

“Sorry, I-I’ll get out of your hair,” he sputtered, setting Sparky down and grabbing his drink. “I’ll just be sitting over there.”

She was surprised. “You’re staying? I thought you hated being around people.” As evidenced by his awkward behavior with Lavinia just a moment ago.

“I do, but this place is amazing,” he said, looking around. “It makes even me want to stick around, and it’s all because of you.”

Her cheeks flushed pink, and pleasure spread through him at the sight. He loved to compliment her.

Aiden went and grabbed a table by the wall, helping Sparky jump up into a nook, like a prince up in his high tower. While Aiden took sips from his drink, he looked around.

He was glad it wasn’t as rushed as usual, and the rainy weather seemed to have put everyone in a subdued mood, so it wasn’t overwhelming for Aiden to be around this many people.

Aiden went to the bookshelves and perused the titles, grabbing a worn book; if it was read to the point of disrepair, it must have been good. He sat down with the title. It was a copy of Howl’s Moving Castle , the pages yellowed. When Aiden opened the flap, he saw there was a handwritten name on the inside, alongside a year.

This book was Saphira’s from when she was about twelve. He touched a reverent finger over the words, this artifact from her past, this piece of her. Every bit of knowledge gained about her felt like a treasure. He delighted in noticing her, in knowing her.

Which was why as he was reading, he kept sneaking glances up to watch her: the way she petted the baby dragons as she passed by tables, the smiles she had for every customer, the easy small talk she made. She was so vivacious and jubilant. She was radiant.

As the afternoon progressed and they neared closing time, he looked deeper and saw she was tired, as well. He noticed the quiet moments where she caught her breath or took a sip of an iced chai latte.

The way she twisted her hair up into a clip, little tendrils gradually slipping out. The swoosh of her skirt around her legs. The movement of her lips as she sang a song to herself—he could watch her just existing for hours and hours.

And she was so pretty. He didn’t think he had ever seen anyone this pretty before, ever. The fall of her brown hair, her devastatingly cute dimple, her perfect lips, always a millisecond away from a smile.

The shape of her body. He wanted to touch her everywhere. His hands itched from the urge.

Aside from ogling her—which he really needed to stop doing now—he noticed that she looked … happy, though, moving around her cafe. Like she really enjoyed this. There was a serene look on her face.

He loved that she was happy in what she was doing, even though he knew it stressed her out at times and made her tired. It made him overjoyed that she had something in her life she loved, something she was passionate about.

Aiden had seen too many people in his family doing things for no reason at all, living unfulfilled lives, or hating their jobs. In the beginning, nobody understood why Aiden was wasting his time with gardening, especially when he wanted to make a business out of it.

They thought it was plain silly. It was simply a hobby, they told him, not something serious or profitable—but it was what Aiden loved, what he knew he wanted to do.

It had been Danny who had been the first one to support Aiden, Danny who made everyone else shut up and support him too, especially when Aiden couldn’t voice how important it was to him.

Everyone laid off him then, and when things went well for him, Danny had the immense satisfaction of saying, “See! I told you so!” He would go around saying it to everyone, being his lovably obnoxious self.

Aiden’s eyes welled with tears at the memory. It hurt, but in a good way. He was so lucky to have had Danny as his brother, to have been loved by him.

Though Aiden’s drink was long since finished, he stayed around until the last customers had left, and it was time for closing. As Saphira started cleaning up, Lavinia came over to his table with a rag, probably intent on sending him away and getting down to cleaning to prepare for closing.

Aiden tried smiling warmly at her, but it probably came across as more of a grimace, for Lavinia’s eyes widened slightly with alarm. Aiden cleared his throat.

“I can help Saphira clean up,” Aiden said, pointing to the rag in Lavinia’s hands. “You could head out early.”

Lavinia considered that. “I was going to kick you out, but that’s a good idea, too,” she replied, handing over the rag. She smiled.

“It’s nice meeting you, by the way,” Aiden said, and luckily this was something he’d practiced earlier in his head, so the delivery was smooth. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Saphira.”

Lavinia was pleased by that. “It’s nice meeting you, too,” she said. “I’ve also heard a lot about you.”

Lavinia went to get her bag and say goodbye to Saphira. As she said goodbye, she said something else to Saphira, something that made them both turn to look at Aiden. He hoped Lavinia was telling her that he was nice and not rude. Whatever it was, Saphira looked happy by whatever Lavinia had said. She gave Lavinia a quick hug, and then Lavinia headed out, giggling to herself.

Aiden didn’t understand what she had to be giggling about, but he had stopped trying to understand why women did what they did a long time ago.

With a shrug, Aiden started wiping down the tables, then putting up the chairs. Sparky was napping by then, so Aiden was able to tidy up without any trouble.

Saphira walked over to join him with a rag of her own. “See, I told you she doesn’t bite,” Saphira said with a smile.

He smiled back, continuing to wipe down a table. As Saphira began cleaning the table beside him, he paused, looking over at her.

“I’ve got it,” Aiden said, reaching for the rag in her hands. “You should sit—you’ve been on your feet for hours.”

“It’s okay,” Saphira said, but he could tell she was tired.

Aiden put his hands on her shoulders, walking her backwards until she reached the lounge chair beside the little bed Sparky was napping on. Applying gentle pressure, Aiden made her sit.

“Really I—” she started, but he put his index finger to his mouth, shushing her, and she fell quiet.

In the quiet cafe, Aiden finished cleaning up, and every time Saphira tried to stand, he gave her a stern shake of his head, and she sat down again. He asked her what needed to be done, and where things were, and only after he had taken out the trash, and all the work was done, did he not protest when she stood.

“Thank you,” she said. “You really didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to,” he replied. He liked being of service to her. She smiled that easy smile of hers, and yet, no matter how easily she gave it to him, it never ceased to stun. His chest squeezed with tenderness.

“There was another reason I wanted to hang around today,” Aiden said, and while ordinarily, this would have been something he’d rehearsed in his head beforehand, he found he didn’t feel the need to practice what to say when it came to Saphira. Not anymore. “I can’t do training tonight—I have family dinner. I skipped last time and can’t skip again. It’s an every-other-week occurrence for the Sterling family.”

“That’s so fun!” she said, though fun was not exactly the first word Aiden would have used. “That’s alright, I can train Sparky alone.”

“I was thinking of taking Sparky with me,” Aiden said. “So he might bond with the other basaltas. I figured you could use a night off.”

“Oh.” She looked disappointed. He hadn’t expected her to be disappointed. He thought she would be glad to have a break for the evening. Aiden frowned, unsure.

Would she miss Sparky? Was that it? From the way her gaze lingered on the sleeping baby dragon, Aiden assumed this must be the case. Should he ask her to accompany him?

He didn’t want to, only because his family was quite a bit to deal with, and surely, she wouldn’t want the headache.

But the way she was hesitating … was she waiting for him to invite her along? Unsure, he rubbed the back of his neck. It was impossible to read people, what they wanted. He was getting better when it came to Saphira specifically, but even so, he couldn’t always tell exactly.

“Um, do you … would you want to maybe come with me?” he asked. “I mean, I’m sure you don’t want to, but on the off chance …”

“Yes!” Her eyes lit up. “I’d love to.”

Oh. He was surprised by her reaction again, though pleased she would be joining him. He was always pleased to spend more time with her. But then quickly the delight was overshadowed by stress. He’d need to message Emmeline ahead to make sure everyone would behave.

“What time?” she asked.

“I can come back in an hour to pick you up?”

“Perfect. See you then!”

Saphira petted Sparky’s head just as Sparky woke from his nap, then she headed up the stairs, presumably to get ready. Aiden left the cafe, pulling his phone out as Sparky trotted alongside him for the walk home. He called Genevieve.

“Hello?” she said, picking up. She sounded alarmed.

“Hey, Ginny.” He could understand why she was perturbed; he rarely ever called.

“Why are you calling me?” she asked. “Haven’t you heard of texting, old man?”

“A phone conversation is more direct.”

He could practically hear Ginny rolling her eyes.

“Anyway. I’m bringing a friend to dinner tonight.”

“Okaaaaaay. Why are you telling me this? I’m getting a pedicure, you know, and I really don’t like my me-time being interrupted for inconsequential reasons.”

“I’m just informing you so you are not surprised when I show up with her and make some sort of scene.”

“ Her? ” Genevieve practically shrieked the word, delight in her voice. “Since when do you have a girlfriend?”

“This is what I meant by making a scene. She is not my girlfriend. Please be reasonable, Genevieve.”

“So what’s your girlfriend’s name?” his sister asked, unrelenting.

“Saphira. And she is not my girlfriend! She is simply my friend who happens to be a girl.”

“Riiiiight. The last time you were willingly friends with a girl was in elementary school.”

“That is not true. The nail polish fumes are getting to your head.”

It most certainly was true. He had been six, and the girl in question had been his crush for the whole year. She had two perfect ponytails, and he’d followed her around the playground for a week in the spring until she threw a handful of mud at his face and told him to stay away.

Aiden frowned at the memory. “That was before you were born. How do you know about it, anyway?”

“Danny told me.”

Aiden looked up at the sky, scowling. He could practically see the clouds rearranging to craft Danny’s smirk.

“Please do not be insufferable about this.”

Genevieve made an offended sound. “I don’t know what you mean. I have never been insufferable a day in my life! How rude of you to say that. I’m telling Mum and Dad you’re bringing your girlfriend and you’re getting married .”

That would be a nightmare scenario. Not the getting-married-to-Saphira bit—that would actually probably be quite nice—but the bit about his parents.

“Ginny, don’t be mean to me,” he said with a sigh. “When have I ever given you a tough time?”

She was outraged then. “You give every single boy I have ever dated an awful time!”

“That is not true.” Again, absolutely true. It was his and Danny’s favorite pastime, another thing Aiden would sorely miss having his brother around for.

“It is one hundred percent true, and you know it.”

“Maybe you simply need better taste in boys,” Aiden said. He wasn’t even trying to be an asshole about it. Genevieve’s taste in boys was objectively abysmal, something everyone in the family agreed about.

“That is so not the point. And if you keep being rude …” She trailed off, not needing to complete the threat. Genevieve was the family princess, the youngest of all cousins, the most doted on and beloved. She was not someone whose bad side you wanted to be on if you wished to survive the Sterling family.

“I’ll convince the caretakers to let you go for a second ride tomorrow, okay?” Aiden appeased. Genevieve paused. She loved riding but was forced to focus on college and so was only allowed one ride per day.

“Unchaperoned?” She was technically still too young to ride unchaperoned. Only bonded riders could do so because it wasn’t an issue of safety for them. Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. She was a menace.

“Yes, unchaperoned.” Within a mile of the house—an extremely tiny range—but he didn’t mention that to her now or she would protest. He’d explain the stipulation to the dragon caretakers later.

“Perfect. Then I will be so nice to your friend , Saphira, and ensure Mummy and Daddy are, as well.”

“Thank you.”

“Love you, byeeeee.”

She hung up, and Aiden ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. He loved his little sister to bits, but she was a handful.

Aiden walked the rest of the way home with Sparky. Once he returned to his cottage, Aiden got Sparky cleaned up (luckily, Sparky did not mind baths, or that would be an entirely separate tribulation to deal with), then showered himself and dressed. He took out his car—a sleek little thing his parents insisted he should keep if he would not take a dragon—and drove to Saphira’s cafe, parking in front.

Once there, Aiden took Sparky out of his dragon car seat in the back—he wasn’t fond of sitting in the car longer than necessary—and walked to the garden with him.

Aiden checked his watch; there was still ten minutes before he had told Saphira he would pick her up. He paced back and forth, restless.

Taking a steadying breath, Aiden rolled up his sleeves, glad to have already left his jacket in the car. He picked up a pair of shears, even though gardening now would surely ruin his clothes, and his family was very particular about looking the part. Aiden himself preferred his usual casual outfits, but family dinner was always dressy, so he was wearing a suit sans tie.

Aiden grabbed the shears and went to the overgrown shrubbery, cutting away at it. The act calmed him, along with the smell of the soil, the soft evening breeze. Sparky jumped up to catch the stray pieces, playing with them as they fell.

Then, he heard the door open. Aiden turned, and there she was.

The breath lodged in his throat. She was wearing a silk dress with her hair down in waves, half of it pulled back with a few strands framing her face. Like the first night they met, he had the impulse to trace his finger along the curls, but he was frozen in place, staring.

She was so, so beautiful.

He was so lost, in fact, that he did not notice the shears slipping from his fingers. They fell, the handle landing directly on his shoe. Aiden swore out loud as pain shot through his foot.

“God, are you okay?” Saphira asked, rushing over.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he gritted out. His dignity, however, was not, but he didn’t have enough brain cells to think about that when she was so …

“How do I look?” she asked, nibbling on her lower lip. “Am I too fancy?”

“No, you’re … perfect.” It was the only word adequate enough, and even then it was lacking. “You’re perfect.”

Her dress was held up by thin straps, but a shawl was wrapped around her shoulders to ward off the cool night. As they walked to his car, Aiden a step behind her, the shawl dropped, revealing the curve of her shoulder. His pulse spiked violently at the sight of her bare skin, his mind going blank as a wave of desire hit him.

He clenched his jaw, hands tightening into fists at his side as tension hummed through him. He longed to touch her.

Aiden opened the door for her, and she sat in the passenger seat, smiling up at him. Before he could open the back door for Sparky, Sparky leapt onto Saphira’s lap. She yelped.

“Sparky,” Aiden scolded, but Saphira laughed.

“It’s okay,” she said, as Sparky got comfortable. She put her arm around the baby dragon.

Aiden got in the car and started driving. He rarely had cause to drive. Because he lived so close to Main Street, he usually walked, but the family estate was higher up in the hills and required driving.

It was, of course, made to be reached by dragon, so he supposed that would be a perk of Sparky maturing.

As he drove, Aiden stole a glance toward Saphira. Sparky was on his hind legs, leaning against the open window, wind in his open mouth. Saphira was watching him fondly, smiling to herself as the breeze tousled her hair.

Before he knew it, they arrived at the gates. He punched in the code, letting them in. Anxiety overcame him. He wished to stay in the little bubble, with just Saphira and Sparky.

He wished they could live in their own little world, and not interact with anyone. His family was opinionated and loud—what if Saphira got scared off?

She didn’t seem worried as he pulled up to the front, parking. The stable master greeted them almost immediately, taking Sparky with her to be with the other dragons. Sparky happily went with her to the stables; he knew he was well taken care of here.

Saphira watched Sparky going away, a concerned expression on her face.

“The dragons are housed on the other side of the property,” Aiden told Saphira, as they walked up to the front door. “They will take good care of Sparky, so no need to worry.”

“Okay, good.”

She released a breath, giving him a smile. She was wearing heels, he noticed belatedly. Her face was so much closer to his now, tantalizingly close. He could so easily steal a kiss.

Saphira looked around, and Aiden shook his head, trying to clear out the distracting thoughts related to her lips.

“I’ve never been to a Drakkon family home,” she said. “I didn’t realize it would be so … big.”

She looked overwhelmed then, taking everything in, the seemingly endless estate.

“You really didn’t have to come,” Aiden said. Her face fell.

“Did you not want me to?”

His eyes went wide. “No, of course I did! I love spending time with you. My family is … a lot.”

“But that’s so wonderful.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.” She wrinkled her nose at him, as if he was so silly. “I don’t have anyone.”

He mentally smacked himself, cringing. God, he was so insensitive.

“Now come on.” She rang the doorbell, and he heard it sound. A moment later, the door opened, and they entered.

Immediately, they were bombarded by noise, the children of his older cousins chasing each other across the well-lit hall, while the adults had loud and spirited conversations on various sofas and lounge chairs. A familiar maid appeared to take Aiden’s jacket and Saphira’s shawl.

Aiden felt overwhelmed, reacquainting himself with the usual Sterling environment, but then Saphira tossed her hair back, the bangles on her arm jingling, and it was enough to center him.

“Aiden’s here!” Genevieve announced to the household, seeing them at the front door. She picked up the end of her dress and came bounding over, revealing bare feet. She was nineteen, but looked younger, her dark hair straight and tucked behind her ears.

She stopped in front of them, staring at Aiden expectantly. He blinked at her, earning an eye-roll from his younger sister. Belatedly, he remembered his manners.

“Saphira, this is my sister, Genevieve,” Aiden said, introducing her. “Ginny, this is Saphira.”

“It’s lovely to meet you,” Saphira said, as she and Ginny hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks.

“Remember what we agreed …” Aiden started, but Genevieve got a mischievous gleam in her eyes, one that only spelled trouble. His stomach dropped.

“And he brought a date! ” Genevieve announced loudly.

The house went silent. Everyone’s focus zeroed in on Aiden—precisely what he did not want. He glared at Ginny, but she only gave him a sweet smile in response, and it was impossible to be vexed with his baby sister for long.

He ruffled her hair, messing it up on purpose, and she swatted his hand away. They walked in, getting stopped every five seconds by different relatives who wanted to say hi, until the waves parted to reveal Aiden’s mother, Cecilia, striding forward in a cloud of perfume.

“Aiden, darling!” she said, coming to kiss his cheek. His mother was a tall woman with dark hair pulled up into an elegant twist.

“Mum, this is Saphira,” Aiden said, introducing them. “Saphira, this is my mother, Cecilia.”

“How lovely to meet you!” Cecilia said, squeezing Saphira’s hands. She turned to Aiden. “Ginny mentioned you’d be bringing a friend, but we didn’t believe her! Aiden, sweetheart, you should have told me. We would have prepared something special for your guest!”

“Oh, that’s so kind,” Saphira said. “I’m so happy to be here. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”

Then came Aiden’s father, Edward. Aiden shook his father’s hand. Edward was always a bit formal and withdrawn, though still loving.

“Pleased to meet you,” Saphira said, when Edward shook her hand as well.

“Do we know your family?” Cecilia asked. Aiden cringed.

“I don’t think so,” Saphira replied after a beat. “I was raised by my grandmother, and she passed away last year.”

Before Aiden could attempt to change the conversation, Emmeline came over in high heels to hug Saphira, who released a breath of relief.

“Phew, a friendly face,” Saphira whispered.

“Saphira runs the cafe,” Emmeline told Cecilia and Edward. “She was the first client I had with Inferno!”

“Oh, how wonderful!” Cecelia said, clapping her hands together. Both of Aiden’s parents were clearly pleased by the information.

Genevieve had wandered over to the other room, but when she heard that bit of information, she rejoined them.

“Oh, Lavinia’s boss!” Genevieve said.

“Yes.” Saphira smiled warmly.

“I’ve seen your cafe, it seems lovely,” Edward added with a nod.

“Such a darling place!” Cecilia agreed. Saphira seemed pleased by the interaction, and Aiden was relieved.

They made it to the living room, where Cecilia whooshed Saphira away, introducing her to various aunts and uncles and cousins and kids. There were lots of people—lots of chaos. After a moment, Aiden swept Saphira away from his mother, whispering an apology in her ear, but Saphira shook her head, a starry-eyed look on her face.

Before she could say anything, Aiden’s younger cousin Oliver butted in, rushing over with huge eyes. While he was in his early twenties, Ollie had the face of a preteen.

“Hi, I’m Oliver,” he said, taking Saphira’s hand and kissing the back of it.

“Hi,” Saphira replied with a giggle. Aiden’s eyes narrowed into a glare. The kid was practically swooning.

“You’re here with this guy?” Oliver pointed a thumb at Aiden. Saphira looked amused, and Oliver scoffed. “He’s one of our more boring relations. If you want to have fun, stick around with me.”

Aiden was well and truly pissed off by then. Why was his cousin attempting to hit on the girl he was here with?

“Don’t you have something to do, Oliver?” Aiden gritted out.

“Not really.” He grinned. “Should we sit and chat?”

Before Aiden could reply with just exactly what Oliver should do, they were called over by Aiden’s grandfather.

“Maybe later!” Saphira said kindly. Aiden scowled at Oliver before he went with Saphira to see his grandfather, who was dressed in a smart suit and sitting on one of the sofas, hands holding his cane.

“Hiya, Grandad,” Aiden said.

“Who is this darling girl you’ve brought with you?” Grandad asked, furrowing his snow-white brows. “And why was she not introduced to me first?”

“Sorry, Grandad,” Aiden replied sheepishly.

“I’m so pleased to meet you,” Saphira said, as Aiden’s grandfather patted the space on the sofa beside him. Saphira sat, and when Aiden attempted to sit on her other side, Grandad shooed him with his cane.

Aiden frowned. Everyone was trying to steal her away!

“Why can’t I sit with you guys, too?” he asked. Grandad tsked.

“Where are your manners, boy? Get the girl a drink!”

Aiden was properly chagrined. “Right … I’ll be back.”

He went to the kitchen to grab two glasses, where he was intercepted by Emmeline, who was smirking. “I knew you liked her.”

Aiden knew that where there was one insufferable sister, there was bound to be another: as if on cue, Ginny bounced into the kitchen just in time to hear Emmy’s comment. She gasped.

“Oh my goodness, my big brother has a crush!”

“I am ignoring both of you, thanks.”

Perhaps bringing Saphira tonight was a bad idea.

But when he returned to the living room, he found Saphira laughing with his grandfather. She fitted in so seamlessly. Everyone immediately loved her, which didn’t surprise Aiden in the slightest. He was in awe of how she instantly brightened up the room, how brave and kind she was despite all her grief and struggles.

It felt right, her being here with him. Goodness, but Emmy might have been correct: he did like her.

But that couldn’t be allowed. It was too complicated. Sparky was tied up in all this. He and Saphira had a professional relationship. He needed to be mindful of that.

Aiden handed Saphira a grapefruit rosemary spritz, joining her and his grandfather as Grandad regaled her with some dragon riding tale from his youth. A little while later, it was time for them to go in. Everyone stood to head to the dining room.

“Shall we?” Aiden asked.

“We shall,” she replied with a smile.

Inside, the long table was decorated with candles and flowers, each setting meticulously placed with intricate dinnerware and sparkling silverware.

“Wow,” Saphira breathed. “This is gorgeous.”

His mother always went overboard on these dinners, even though it was only his family. Aiden looked over at Saphira. She looked nervous.

“Sorry again if this is a lot,” he said, pulling out a chair for her beside his usual spot. She sat down, shaking her head.

“Don’t be! It’s been fun.”

Before he could respond, Oliver came over, sliding in.

“Can I sit here?” Oliver asked, pointing to Aiden’s seat beside Saphira.

Aiden was both enraged and perplexed. “No?”

“Ollie, quit while you’re ahead, kid,” Emmeline called from across the room.

Oliver skulked off.

“How old is he, anyway?” Saphira asked, amused.

“Twenty-one,” Aiden replied. She burst out laughing.

“You’re lying! He cannot be older than fifteen!”

“He sure acts like it,” Aiden grumbled, irritated that Ollie had tried hitting on Saphira, but Saphira only found it hilarious. She was still laughing, so much that Aiden started smiling, too. He loved her laugh. It sounded like bells ringing.

He smiled as she composed herself, but then she looked over at Oliver again, and another fit of laughter came over her. She covered her mouth.

“I’m so sorry,” she laughed, and he laughed, too. It was so easy to be happy around her, easy as breathing.

And Aiden knew he did love his family, even if they could be a lot at times. He was suddenly overwhelmed by sadness for Saphira, thinking about how she had no one. He vowed to be there for her, however he could.

Dinner was served, the usual multiple courses: oysters, halibut, truffle pasta, duck, etc. He found it a bit stifling, but he was used to the extravagance. Aiden enjoyed simplicity in all things—it was much harder to mess up when things were cut and dried. Saphira looked a bit stressed out by all the fanfare, looking over at him to follow what he was doing.

Aiden apologized again, but she bumped his knee with hers.

“Don’t,” she said quietly, when it seemed like no one else was looking. “It’s fun. Not for everyday, but you know.”

“This is their everyday,” Aiden said. “It’s even more formal when they host dinner parties with friends, and don’t even get me started on dinners for the Dragon Council.”

“Is your family part of the Council?” Saphira asked, eating some of her truffle pasta. “Sorry, I should probably know this …”

“No, don’t worry. Yes, my father is on the Council, he’s the basalta representative. There is one representative for each of the four breeds of dragons.”

“Does that mean you’re next in line for the throne?” Saphira joked.

“Um … kind of? Not that I want to be.”

Saphira’s eyes widened. “There’s an actual throne? I was kidding!”

Genevieve was sitting on Saphira’s other side and piped in, “It isn’t a literal throne, but the seat on the Council basically is.” She sounded disdainful. “It’s all very archaic.”

“Goodness. What happened to democracy?” Saphira asked.

“It is technically a democracy,” Genevieve replied, “but pretty much stays within the same family. A good old rigged system.”

“Well it won’t stay with the Sterlings after Dad, since I don’t want to get involved in all that,” Aiden said. Politics were too much. He was not cut out for it. He was content to stay in his garden, away from all that. He liked hiding out in his own private world.

He looked over at Saphira, wondering if she would hide out with him.

“What about you?” Saphira asked Ginny, curious.

“Unfortunately, it’s as misogynistic as it is archaic,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

They continued eating, and by the time the dessert course arrived, he was tired, aching to go home. Since Aiden and Danny were a year apart, and Danny had always been the talkative one, Aiden had never got into the habit of mingling so much. There had been more than enough socializing for today. Especially since he had spent so much time at the cafe earlier. He was content not to see anyone else for the next week (except Saphira, obviously).

Aiden was glad, at least, that his family had been welcoming toward Saphira, including her in their conversations and asking her questions about her work. There used to be a time when he was a teenager and in his early twenties that when he brought home whoever he was dating (on those rare occasions), his parents would be after him, asking a dozen questions such as, What is her family like? Where is she from? Does she ride? What breed is her dragon?

Fortunately, it had been so long since he had dated anyone that his parents were probably just glad that he had brought someone home to meet them.

Not that they were dating! So of course, it was not the same thing. His and Saphira’s was a strictly professional relationship.

Aiden was pulled from his thoughts as he felt heads turn in his direction. Too late, he realized he’d been asked a question by one of his aunts. He blinked.

“Your aunt was asking how Sparky is,” Saphira whispered, helping him out.

“Sparky is doing well,” Aiden said, as everyone seemed to be listening for his response.

“I’m sure much of the credit for that can be given to Saphira,” Emmeline teased.

“He never was adept with dragons,” one of Aiden’s cousins told Saphira.

“No, Aiden is really—” Saphira started, but her voice was quickly lost under those of his various family members as they joined in, laughing.

“Took him ages to learn how to ride!”

“And even then, he was hopeless at it, do you remember?”

“No wonder Aiden needs a trainer for his baby dragon.”

“It’s a good thing you’re helping him out, Saphira, or who knows how Sparky would end up.”

They were all true statements, but Aiden bristled all the same, feeling ashamed.

Saphira frowned. “He really is wonderful with Sparky,” she said, but no one seemed to pay her any mind.

It was all idle talk, and soon the conversation moved on, but Aiden’s mind dwelt on what they’d been saying. He felt inadequate.

“Hey,” Saphira said, voice quiet, just for him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just …” He trailed off. It was difficult to voice what he was feeling, to allow himself to be vulnerable. “I feel like a failure. No one else has had trouble with their baby dragons.”

“You are not a failure,” Saphira said and, just by her saying it, somehow, he believed it. “You’re doing so well!” Under the table, he reached for her hand as she was reaching for his. He held on. “We’re doing this together.”

She squeezed his hand, and the weight lifted off his chest. He felt he would float away, but the point of contact between them was anchoring him to the ground, exactly where he wanted to be: sitting beside her.

Her face was illuminated by candlelight. Her lipstick had worn off but left behind a pink stain, the same shade as her cheeks, which were rosy from laughing. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his chest he couldn’t explain.

But as he held onto her hand, all he knew was that he wanted to hold onto her, never let her go.