My Wild Irish Dragon by Ashlyn Chase Page A

me a minute to change and I’ll drive you home.”
    â€œNot necessary. I can find my way.”
    â€œAre you sure? I don’t mind leaving early. Maybe I can help.”
    â€œAh, no. It’s a family matter. I’ll see you at work in a few days.”
    When she saw the disappointed look on his face, she impulsively invited him to their session at the Boston Uncommon Tea Room the following night. During training she had told him that her family formed a small Irish folk band and he’d said he liked that kind of music.
    Now she had to think up a plausible family emergency and ask Rory and Shannon to play along.
    * * *
    Ryan walked up to Chloe at the tearoom before finding a seat—if he could. The place was packed. “You know, I was surprised you invited me here. I thought you were hiding your family. Maybe you have a crazy uncle in the attic or something…”
    She laughed. “No. The crazy one is me.” She gestured to her brother and sister. “Rory, Shannon, this is one of my fellow firefighters, Ryan Fierro.”
    â€œAh, Ryan,” Rory said as he shook his hand. “A good Irish name.”
    Ryan chuckled. “I don’t think I have a drop of Irish blood running through my veins. I was named for a firefighter who saved my father’s life when he was on the job.”
    Shannon shook his hand. “Sounds like an interesting story. We Irish love stories. You’ll have to tell us all about it sometime.”
    He smiled. “I’d be glad to. I just have to get Chloe to invite me to your home sometime.”
    â€œOh, well that may be—”
    To his surprise, Chloe clapped a hand over her sister’s mouth. “Impossible. Me sister lives out of state. And she doesn’t have a big enough place to host everyone.”
    Shannon peeled Chloe’s hand off. “I can speak for meself, if you don’t mind.”
    Chloe raised an eyebrow at her sister. “Maybe I do mind.”
    Rory sighed. “Jaysus, girls. Leave it.” He turned to Ryan and said, “I have a place that’s plenty large enough to host a family dinner. We’ll have Chloe tell you when. I assume she knows your schedule.”
    Under her breath Chloe muttered, “Now you’ve gone an’ done it.”
    Ryan raised his brows. “I’m being invited to dinner?” He stared at Chloe. She nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Sure. I’d love to come. My schedule is the same as your sister’s.”
    â€œGrand. I’ll tell Amber when she gets here later. She’s on a short errand.”
    Chloe pointed to an empty seat. “Ah. Someone just left. You’d better grab his chair before someone else comes in.”
    Ryan excused himself and took the chair across the room. He noticed Chloe whispering furiously to her brother, but with the background noise competing, he couldn’t hear what was being said. At last, Rory held up his hand and the place quieted.
    â€œGood evenin’ to you, one and all,” he said. “Tonight we’re goin’ to play a selection of our favorite songs. Some you may know, so feel free to sing along. First up is ‘My Wild Irish Rose.’”
    Ryan thought Chloe certainly fit the song’s title. He didn’t know the words, but many in the room did. They sang along with Rory’s melodious low voice.
    It was a love song. He was sure of that much. Chloe peeked up from her flute once, then glanced off in another direction. When the lyrics spoke of the singer hoping someday to take her flower, Chloe’s face reddened.
    Could she be a virgin? That thought startled him. Yet the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. She was prickly around any man who hit on her. And even though she was beautiful, not many tried. She gave off a “leave me alone” vibe that was unmistakable.
    Crap. Did he want to be the one to “take her flower”?
    After an hour of watching