Lachlan had eventually received word that he still worked for the DDA. Not in his old job as event coordinator, but a new one—helping human and dragon businesses form partnerships or beneficial working relationships, something he understood being a human living with a dragon clan. The job mainly consisted of him educating both sides, but it was something he could do from Lochguard, as long as he had a phone and a computer.
Between that and helping Cat coordinate her artbook, it'd been a busy few months.
He maneuvered Felicity so that Cat could hold her, and he wrapped his arms around his mate and daughter. "You grew and carried a new person. I think that excuses any mood swings or bursts of temper."
Although her enforced bedrest wasn't the only thing that had stressed Cat in the last month or so of her pregnancy.
The father of her youngest sister had shown up out of the blue at Lochguard's gates one day, which had caused all kinds of trouble and awkwardness.
Although even that seemed to be working itself out. The human had warmed up a bit to Lachlan, and he thought the man was trying his hardest to woo Sylvia. But how that ended would ultimately be up to Cat's mother.
Felicity squirmed again, and they both merely watched her. They stayed that way until the nurse, Holly, entered the room and said, "Let's deal with the afterbirth and then your family. I don't think Layla and Alex can keep them waiting much longer."
Holly offered to take the bairn, but Lachlan shook his head and took her. "I'll watch her." He kissed Cat and went to a chair on the side as Dr. Alex Campbell and Holly dealt with what they needed to do.
By the time Cat was settled and ready for visitors, he didn't like the dark circles under her eyes. He sat next to her again and murmured, "I'll tell them to bloody wait if you need a nap."
She smiled up at him. "As much as I'd like to see you try, you look about ready to fall asleep on your feet too. So let them come in, aye? Then we can all three of us sleep."
Cat held out her arms, and he easily settled Felicity back into them.
And even though he'd been holding their daughter for a wee while, he itched to pick her up again.
His mate was probably right—he was going to be the one to spoil her.
Not that he felt bad about it one bit.
Cat's siblings burst in first, followed by Sylvia with wee Sophie, and then his sister, Sarah, with her sons. As they all took a turn holding Felicity, cooing over her, and offering their congratulations, Lachlan merely sat next to Cat, his arm around her, gently stroking her arm with his thumb.
The two of them leaned against each other for support in silence, knowing without words how lucky they were to be surrounded by love and family.
And for someone like Lachlan, who hadn't known what it was like, it was almost overwhelming.
But then Cat took his hand, brought it to her cheek, and he kissed the top of her head.
For her ears only, he whispered, "I love you."
She met his gaze and mouthed it back.
And just like that, a sense of peace settled back over him. Cat was his lodestone, his guiding star, and as long as he had her, he'd be the happiest man alive.
Thank you for reading! I hope you loved Cat and Lachlan. The next story in the Lochguard Highland Dragons series (and next in the overall reading order too) will be The Dragon’s Chance, about Sylvia MacAllister and Jake Swift. Jake shows up at Lochguard’s gates a year after the one night stand he can’t forget and finds more than the dragonwoman he craves…he’s also a father. Can he convince Sylvia to give him a chance? Or, will she cling to the memory of her late mate to avoid any more heartbreak?
Click to preorder THE DRAGON’S CHANCE now, out September 16, 2021 on Amazon US. (Click here for Amazon UK / Amazon AU / Amazon CA / Amazon DE.)
If you’re curious about Sarah (Lachlan’s sister), she’s the heroine of the next Stonefire Dragons book, Trusting the Dragon. Hudson Wells never thought another female would capture his attention, but from the first meeting with Sarah, when he helped to find her lost son, he felt a pull toward her. When only a marriage of convenience can help protect her, he agrees. Now he’s determined to win her trust and her heart…
Preorder TRUSTING THE DRAGON now on Amazon US to see what happens on January 20, 2022! (Not in the USA? Click here for Amazon UK / Amazon CA/ Amazon AU / Amazon DE )
Ready for some American dragon-shifters living near Lake Tahoe? Victoria Lewis enters the dragon lottery on a whim and never imagined a tall, sexy dragonman picking her out of a room full of women. Little did she know, she's Jose Santos's true mate and he'll do anything to have her…
Order THE DRAGON'S CHOICE now to see what happens. Not in the USA? Click here for Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU / Amazon DE )
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Author’s Note
Thanks for reading Lachlan and Cat’s story! I hoped you liked it. Their tale was a little different than most of my others, and not just because it’s less common for me to have a female dragon-shifter and a human male pairing, either. Having a recovering alcoholic male lead is a little risky, especially since it’s not the most in-demand or trendy type of guy out there. However, Lachlan was special and he needed his story told. While I have never suffered from addiction, I first really thought about it when one of the guys remodeling my bathrooms told me his story (after months of chatting right before he went home each day). His was a gambling addiction, and it was his fear of losing his then girlfriend (now wife) that he admitted he had a problem and sought help. Ever since then, the idea percolated in my brain until Lachlan came onto the page way back in The Dragon Warrior. I’ve tried my best to research and make him believable (too many stories or TV shows make light of how serious addiction can be, and I didn’t want to do that), and his motivations reasonable. In the end, this is one of my favorite stories to date. It’s also tied for the fastest I’ve ever written a full-length book (Lachlan really, really wanted his story out there, lol).
This book also sets up a lot of future stories. Next will be Sylvia MacAllistair’s tale in The Dragon’s Chance (Lochguard #9) where you’ll meet the father of wee Sophie, as hinted in the epilogue of this book. As for Lachlan’s sister, Sarah MacKintosh Carter will be the heroine of Stonefire #14, Trusting the Dragon, with the dragonman she met in the Lake District a year ago, as of this book (hint: it was Hudson Wells who helped her). And yes, Connor and Aimee will eventually have a story as well, but it’s going to take some time to get there, so be patient. Emma MacAllister’s story will come before their tale, and her book will be Lochguard #10, with a certain Logan Lamont (and may, just may, have some unrequited love and amnesia-related shenanigans in it). There are a few other whispers of future books in The Dragon Collective, but I think that’s enough to tease you with for now!