Page 22 of The Baby Dragon Cafe (The Baby Dragon #1)

Chapter 22

S aphira didn’t see Aiden for the next two days, and she missed him with an ache that was painful, even though they spoke on the phone multiple times throughout the day. He was busy with work, and she was busy at the cafe, while Sparky was resting after his shots.

Then, the next morning, Saphira woke up a bit earlier than usual because she heard some noise outside. Curious, she got out of bed, slipping on a robe and some shoes before heading downstairs.

The noise was coming from the back. Saphira opened the back door and headed outside. The moment she did, she saw Aiden’s profile, and the sight of him made her heart leap.

She watched him quietly for a moment while he worked. Everything was beautiful, a soft breeze in the air, birds chirping in the early morning. The sky was a pinkish blue. Along the building, she saw the bougainvillea were restored and in bloom, bursts of hot pink along the stone.

Beyond Aiden, the garden was … complete. Everything was neat and sectioned off, with hedges of various sizes for the dragons to play around. There were outdoor chairs and a few tables along the side for customers who wished to sit outside while their baby dragons played.

Along the perimeter of the entire garden, it looked as if he had planted white flowers in front of the fence. The plants were tall, about two to four feet high, and held pea-like flowers in clusters. They had velvety trifoliate leaves and towered above all the other plants.

Aiden finished patting the soil and stood. When he did, he noticed Saphira, and the moment he registered her, his eyes brightened, his lips spreading into a smile. There was such an expression of genuine joy on his face to see her that she was overcome with emotion.

In that moment, she felt loved. Even if he didn’t love her, for the duration of his smile, he at least made her feel like he did.

Saphira went to him. “What is this?” she asked, touching the white petals of the flowers he had just finished planting.

“It’s white wild indigo,” he said.

“Pretty.”

“It’s a strong plant,” he explained. “It can tolerate clay, gravel—even poor soil. It only needs occasional watering, but it can also survive droughts, or flooding. After the winter, it’ll go dormant, but then bloom again in the following spring.”

“Ooh, interesting,” she said, smiling. He looked shy.

“I know, I’m such a nerd,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“No! I love your botanical knowledge.” She looked around at the white flowers. “They’re beautiful.”

“Incredibly so,” he replied, but he wasn’t looking at the flowers, he was looking at her.

She blushed, and then he turned back to the white indigo and said, “Useful, too. Look.”

There were more than a few bees attracted to the flower, pollinating. Sparky was steering clear away, scowling.

“Baby dragons hate bees,” Saphira said.

“The bees won’t bother them, and this way you don’t have to worry about any baby dragons ruining the fence or hopping over,” Aiden said, proud of himself. “They’ll stay in the middle of the playpen.”

“Oh my goodness! It’s perfect. Thank you.”

He was too sweet. She reached up and kissed his cheek. She would have kissed him properly, but then a bee buzzed by her, and she yelped. Saphira ducked behind Aiden, hiding.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of bees too?” Aiden asked, laughing.

“I’m not afraid!” she argued. “I just don’t like them! And I hate the buzzing!”

She clutched his arm tightly, watching from over his shoulder.

“It’s nothing to be afraid of, darling,” he said. “Look.”

He stepped toward one of the white wild indigo flowers, where a bee was pollinating. Appalled, Saphira watched as Aiden touched one of the bees.

She screeched, shutting her eyes tight.

“Let me show you,” Aiden said, taking her hand.

“No, no, no!” she cried, as he pulled her forward. “I’m good! I am so good.”

Still, she let him bring her toward one of the flowers, where a bee sat on a white petal. Her heartbeat quickened with fear, and she braced herself as Aiden held her finger up, bringing her closer and closer to the bee.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Saphira, open your eyes,” Aiden said, voice soft.

Slowly, Saphira pried her eyes open. With gentle hands, Aiden brought her finger to the bee, petting it.

The bee was fuzzy, like a little puffball. It didn’t mind being petted; it was minding its own business, unbothered.

Saphira released her breath, shocked. Aiden was right. There was nothing to be afraid of.

She laughed, proud of herself for being brave. “I can’t believe I just did that!” She beamed up at him. “All with your help.”

Aiden’s ears tinged pink, and he looked at her fondly. She couldn’t imagine ever thinking him cold or callous or stoic or severe; it was just a layer of ice, underneath which he was so mushy and warm.

As she went to kiss him, she felt something tug at the end of her robe.

Saphira looked down and saw Sparky was trying to pull her away from the bees, unhappy by how close she was to them. She smiled, scooping him up. He was getting heavier by the day, and soon he would be too heavy to hold, which broke her heart, but she was happy, too, to see him growing so healthily.

“We’ll get out of your hair,” Aiden said. “I just wanted to finish up the playpen so you can open it up to your patrons.”

“No, stick around,” Saphira said, putting a hand on his arm. She didn’t want him to go. “There’s still some time before the cafe opens—just give me two minutes.”

She ran inside and grabbed a picnic blanket, then made a quick breakfast: a teapot of tea and leftover lemon loaf and some quick fried eggs with toast and butter. When it was all ready, she came out, and Aiden set down the blanket, where they had a little breakfast picnic with their baby dragon.

They ate under the rising sun, then sat in comfortable silence, just looking at each other as they sipped tea from their teacups. She could get used to this—him being there first thing in the morning.

Setting down her teacup, Saphira smiled. Tenderness entered his expression, and a moment later, he reached over, poking her cheek.

“I like your dimple,” he said, his index finger pressed against the indent there. Her smile deepened, and he smiled, too.

“But that’s nothing special,” she said. “You always see it, since I’m always smiling.”

“So?” he asked, wrinkling his nose. “Just because the sun is always shining doesn’t make it any less beautiful.”

She wrinkled her nose at him, then lay down on the blanket. He lay down, as well, in the opposite direction, both of their heads perfectly fitted together. He stroked her head, fingers playing with her hair, and she did the same, running her nails along his head.

He turned her head, pulling her in for an upside-down kiss, which felt disorienting in the best way, like being on a carnival ride and seeing the world spin in technicolor. She laughed against his mouth, and he sat up, kissing her properly.

She slid closer to him, no longer upside down, but allowing herself to be properly kissed. He pushed off her robe, hands moving up and down her arms, then settling on her waist.

His firm lips parted hers, his tongue entering her mouth, and she made a soft sound deep in her throat, heat pooling low in her belly.

His hands were gentle as he held onto her waist, his fingers playing with the end of her shirt until his hands slipped under the fabric. Her skin was scorching everywhere he touched her, and she lay down on her back, pulling him on top of her, losing all sense of time and place.

Until there was a loud noise at the garden door.

“ Excuse me.”

Saphira opened her eyes and Aiden pulled back. They both turned their heads to see Theo at the garden door. Behind him were a bunch of bakery boxes.

Oops . He was here for the delivery.

“I hate to break up this idyllic scene,” Theo said, “but I’ve been waiting for five minutes and I don’t want anything to melt.”

With a sigh, Saphira got up, gently pushing Aiden from her. They both stood, and he handed her her robe, which she slipped back on.

“Just a sec,” she said, but Theo wasn’t paying attention to her. He was looking at Aiden very carefully.

“Are you guys together now?” Theo asked Aiden.

Saphira was mortified. “Theo!”

“Yes,” Aiden said, putting an arm around Saphira’s waist. She twisted to look up at him.

“Oh, we are?” she asked, surprised since it wasn’t something they had discussed yet.

“Yes,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing. She smiled.

Theo’s eyes narrowed to slits. He gave Aiden an unimpressed look. “You’d better not hurt her,” he said, voice threatening.

“Theo!”

But Aiden only looked amused at being threatened by a child.

Theo frowned. “I’m being serious.”

“Please stop embarrassing me, oh my god .” She turned to Aiden. “I’m sorry. Ignore him.”

Aiden’s expression turned serious. “I would never hurt her,” he said, his voice deadly earnest. He met Theo’s gaze head on, and Theo stared for a few moments, not reacting.

Until he broke into a grin. “Okay, great!”

Saphira shook her head, shoving Theo away. He went, looking over his shoulder to make sure Saphira was following.

“I’m coming.” She turned back to Aiden. “I should get in,” she said, apologetic.

“Of course,” he replied.

“And I’m sorry about Theo,” she said, wincing.

“Don’t be. I meant it—I really, really like you.”

She was pleased by that. “Well, good. Because I really, really like you, too.”

She giggled. Being with him made her lose her mind with desire, but also just made her really giddy.

Saphira rose to her tiptoes and pulled him in for another kiss, a fizzy feeling in her chest.

He walked her back until she was against the garden fence. Deepening the kiss, he lifted her hands above her head, pinning her wrists there.

The movement set her blood on fire as devastating pleasure overcame her in a white-hot blaze. She clung to him, aching to get closer.

“Saphira!” Theo called.

Aiden pulled away, breathing ragged.

They pressed their foreheads together as Saphira caught her breath.

“I’m coming!” she yelled.