Only For Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 6) by Julia Mills Page A

much. He knew they were right, but he wasn’t ready to share. He grinned and said, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
    “Honey, I’m old enough to be your momma,” Maude cackled as she poured hotcake batter on the griddle. “There’s nothing you can tell me I haven’t heard once and tried twice.”
    He had to laugh. If Maude knew how old he really was, she’d probably flip her lid.
    It wasn’t long before Jill had a box packed with Styrofoam to-go containers, napkins, plastic forks and knives, and all the condiments they could ever need. Leaving them a huge tip, he secured the box to the back of his Harley and headed back to the cottage.
    Sitting at a stop sign waiting to turn left, a butterfly landed on his cheek. The sensation of its wings on his skin triggered a sense of deja vu. He remembered something that felt like silk, only lighter somehow, caressing his cheek and arms. His mind filled with the scent of fresh cut roses and a warm purple glow that simply exuded happiness. A horn blasted behind him, jarring him from his memory, but the thought and feeling remained.
    Following his link to Charlie, he felt her stir and knew she would be awake very soon. Hurrying into the house, he raced to the kitchen in an effort to have everything ready before she came downstairs. He slid the box on the counter, grabbed the coffee from the canister, and found plates in the cabinet.
    The first drip of java hit the bottom of the pot as he heard Charlie’s footsteps above his head. Figuring it would take her a few minutes to get downstairs; he ran to the patio and picked a few daisies to fill the empty vase on the table.
    Timing it perfectly, he placed the plates on the table just as she rounded the corner. Her look of shock, which quickly turned to a smile, was worth all his hurried preparations. Holding out her chair, he asked, “Breakfast, milady?”
    Bypassing the chair, she stood on her toes and placed a tender kiss to his cheek. Aaron wanted more. Leaning down for better contact, he held her head at the perfect angle as his lips met hers, showing her the way he wanted to start every morning. Several passion-filled moments later, they broke apart, breathless and weak-kneed.
    Holding her to his chest for just a moment longer, Aaron grinned. “You’re better than ham and eggs, that’s for damn sure.”
    “You’re not so bad yourself,” she teased, in what had to be her best Mae West impression.
    Aaron barked out a laugh as he turned Charlie around and waited until she sat. Pouring coffee and juice for both of them before taking his own seat, Aaron watched her watching him and had to grin.
    “You better eat before it gets cold.”
    “I’m not sure where to begin. I’d ask if you made all this but I know my cupboards were bare. Where’d you go?” she asked, adding cream and sugar to her coffee.
    “Maude’s on Plantation. I think we keep her in business, or did before everyone found their mates.”
    He watched for any sign that she knew they were fated to be together, but saw none. The thought of looking through their bond entered his mind, but he knew he already had a lot of explaining to do where that was concerned and didn’t want any more to tackle.
    Charlie drowned her pancakes in syrup, took a bite, and moaned, “These are amazing,” with her mouth full.
    Aaron loved that she was already comfortable enough around him to be herself. His mouth watered as she licked a drop of syrup from her lips. It took all of his considerable control to keep from leaning across the table and following her example. A sense of accomplishment filled not only the man, but also his beast, as he sat watching Charlie eat her fill.
    I truly have turned into a big puddle of goo.
    Setting her fork on her plate with an uneaten bite still on the tines, she looked up, spearing him with her brilliant gaze. “Thank you so very much. I can’t remember a time I have enjoyed a breakfast as much as I have this one.” She practically