Jodi Redford - Light My Fire

Aiden’s deliciously distracting caresses along her inner arm managed to recapture her attention. The voice of logic intruded, reminding her that she was supposed to be tending tables, not plastered against Aiden’s hot, yummy body. “Why don’t you and Jace come inside? Your dinner is on me.” It was the least she owed them for scaring off Calvin.

Aiden’s palms stopped coasting along her tingling skin. Absurd as it was, the loss of his touch left her with an empty ache. He stepped back, his expression tight. “Let’s cut to the chase. What exactly is waiting for us in there? Assault rifles and snare nets? Or are they going old school with steel swords?”

Dana’s mouth fell open. “Uh…no. Just Raul’s duck sausage gumbo and the prime rib special.”

A disbelieving snort came from Jace. “Yeah, my ass.” He scooted to her other side, locking her in the middle of a Jace and Aiden sandwich.

Oh hell no. I did not just think that .

“You didn’t have to sic them on us, darlin’.” Leaning in close, Jace pressed his mouth against her ear. An exhalation of warm breath fanned her cheek. “Honest, we’re not the big, bad beasties everyone makes us out to be.” His deep baritone dripped with teasing sexiness.

She gaped at Aiden and noticed the nerve twitching in his clenched jaw. For a brief, crazy moment, she swore his fierce countenance had something to do with Jace snuggling against her neck.

Aiden met her gaze and the fire flickering in his eyes mellowed. “Jace is right. We’re not savage beasts.”

Considering how he’d looked ready to bludgeon his own brother a second ago, she found that a tad hard to believe. She pried herself from Jace’s seductive hold and rubbed her arms. The area where Calvin’s fingers dug into her was still tender but she ignored the twinge of pain.

“Look, I have no idea why you think I sicced anyone on you. For Pete’s sake, you just saved me from my lunatic ex. If you don’t want to accept my goodwill offering, fine. You don’t have to make up weird stories about rifles, swords and nets.” Jeez, if this wouldn’t prove to Haddie that fate sent her nothing but whack-a-doodles, nothing would.

Aiden’s arm swept toward the doorway behind them. “There are at least nine Drakoni hunters inside that restaurant. Are you telling me it’s a coincidence?”

“Yes. Because I have no freakin’ idea what a Drakoni hunter is.”

His eyes narrowing, Aiden stalked toward her. “Don’t lie to me. I’m too cranky and tired to deal with it right now.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “You’re cranky and tired? Hell, welcome to my world. I’m willing to bet you don’t have blisters on the back of your heels and a migraine the size of Texas pounding behind your skull.”

“You have a headache?” Concern softened the rugged, masculine planes of Aiden’s face. “Do you want me to get you some aspirin?”

His change of temperament was enough to give her whiplash. “Who are you?”

Aiden and Jace exchanged a glance. Ooh, she was getting beyond ticked with the way they constantly did that. She tapped her foot. “You know, it’s majorly annoying being the only one standing here without a damn idea what’s going on.”

“You truly don’t know who we are?” Aiden demanded. “Or why we’re here?”

She knuckled her temples. “You said something about commissioning a painting, but I—”

“I lied. We never commissioned anything.”

Glaring at Aiden, she dropped her fists. “Oh, so it’s all right for you to go all big bad wolf on me when you suspect I’m lying.”

Jace barked out a laugh. She and Aiden swung a hard look at him and he held up his hands. “Sorry, but wolf ? Damn, that’s some funny shit.”

“I don’t have time for this.” Gritting her teeth, she stomped toward the rear entrance. Aiden slipped between her and the doorway. Jeez, he really was freakishly faster than Flash Gordon.

“Dana, we’re Drakoni. Dragons, to use a familiar term.” Cupping her cheek in his large palm, he imprisoned her within his penetrating stare. “And you’re our sacrifice.”

“Oh yeah, great job of not dropping the bomb on her, dude.”

Aiden tuned out Jace and kept his focus centered on Dana. It hadn’t been his intention to spill everything out in a clumsy mess, but he’d needed to know if she was telling the truth. He harbored no doubts now. No one could fake the stunned expression staring back at him.

“Why?” she whispered.

He stroked her cheek soothingly, the softness of her skin a landscape he longed to explore. Hell, he’d give his left nut to peel away the layers of her clothing and lick her from head to toe, lavishing extra attention to all those delicious erogenous zones in the middle. “You mean why are you our sacrifice?”

“No. I mean why couldn’t you have been normal? God, it would have been a nice change of pace.”

Her grumpy tone prodded a smile from him. “I know this is all hard to digest, much less believe, but I swear to you it’s the truth.” A pointed cough intruded from the doorway behind them. Aiden reluctantly released Dana and turned to find a petite brunette dressed in tan corduroys and a festive, autumn-themed sweater.

“Don’t mind me. I was just wondering where my niece had gotten herself to. Now that I see, I don’t blame her for ignoring her customers.”

Dana groaned. “Sorry, Emmaline, I’m heading there now.”

Before he could stop her, Dana rushed past her aunt and into the restaurant. He met Emmaline’s fixed stare and knew he wasn’t getting out of there without an explanation for why he’d been caught red-handed groping her niece. “What you just walked in on, I swear it wasn’t—”

“Relax, Dana’s a big girl. I have no say in her personal life anymore.” Emmaline reached out and patted his arm. “Now why don’t you come inside so I can buy you a beer and properly grill you?”

Jace poked his head around the doorway. “Did someone mention beer?”

Emmaline’s eyes doubled in size. “I didn’t realize…” Her face suddenly flamed scarlet and she chuckled. “The dating scene has certainly changed since I was young and adventurous. Well, I suppose I’ll have to foot the bill for a couple of beers, won’t I?”

Grinning, Jace stepped inside the hall. Aiden butted his elbow against his brother, blocking him from venturing too far beyond the entryway. “Aren’t you forgetting the trouble waiting for us in there?”

Jace’s shoulders slumped. “Ah shit. And here I was looking forward to that beer.”

“Trouble?” Emmaline’s eyebrows slashed into a V. “Who’s giving you boys trouble? I won’t put up with any of that nonsense in my restaurant.”

The fury riding her face proved she meant it. So why the hell did she stock glasses with the Drakoni hunter emblem on them? Or allow the vile hunters to patronize her bar?

There was only one way to find out. He just hoped to hell he wasn’t about to throw himself on a live grenade in the process. “Those people in the bar—the hunters—are you one of them?”

This time, Emmaline’s eyes tripled in size. “Lord no. And how do you know about them?” Her lips pinched tight. “You’re not one, are you? I’ve tried my damnedest keeping Dana away from that scene. I’d prefer you didn’t drag her into any of it.”

The idea of him being a Drakoni hunter was enough to make Aiden bust a rib laughing. Clutching his side, he wiped his watering eyes. “Uh, no. I’m definitely not one of them.”

Emmaline gave a brisk nod. “Good. Because they’re crazy as all get out. I should know. My brother used to be one.”