She shrugged. “You said you’re going away for a week and now you say you need a wife, so I’m guessing you need to make some people believe that you’re married. How hard can that be? I took theater in college. I’m sure I can handle a little play-acting.”
For a moment, she had him convinced. For a moment. Then he shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, it would never work.”
“Why? Aren’t I pretty enough for your friends?” There was a challenge in her voice that sounded like it came from a place of hurt.
“They’re not my friends.” He studied her just like he’d done when she’d first come into his shop. “And your looks are not the issue. If anything, you’re too pretty. Too…elegant and interesting. That’s not what I’m worried about.”
She seemed surprised by his assessment of her. “You think I’m too elegant and interesting? I’m not sure I’ve ever been described like that before. In fact, some of my friends would probably laugh at that. I know my father would.”
“It’s how you appear to me. And how you’d appear to my people, too.” Dragon females were not delicate flowers. To keep the plant metaphor going, they were more like invasive weeds intent on taking over everything they touched.
“Your people?” Her eyes narrowed. “What are you exactly?”
“Dragon-shifter. I thought the name of the shop was a dead giveaway.”
“In this town? I never assume anything.”
“Good point. What are you?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Just a run-of-the-mill supernatural. Nothing special.”
He almost rolled his eyes. “Nothing special” really instilled confidence. But that scent of smoke around her made him question just how run-of-the-mill she really was. And why she wasn’t telling him more, but that was her business. “Listen, I should get to work packaging up all this chocolate.” He started to go around the counter.
She stepped into his path. “Does that mean you’re not taking me up on my offer?”
“That’s right. I’m not.”
“Let me get this straight. Whatever this thing is you’re going to where you’d really like to have a wife, I’m not good enough.”
More of the same challenging tone. “It’s not that you’re not good enough.” How was he going to explain this? “It’s just that I don’t think you’re…up to the job required. I’m sure you’re a lovely woman with a great personality, but—”
“I’m not enough, is that it?” She glared up at him.
Blazes, she was pretty. Even more so with fire in her eyes. He began to second-guess his decision. He sighed. “Look, I have to attend the dragon census. They’re going to count all of us up and any of us who aren’t mated will be by the time the event is over. That’s why I want a wife. So I don’t have to participate in the mating games and end up with a mate I don’t want.” She didn’t need to know about how the games would inevitably expose his curse.
She frowned. “So the married couples just get counted? What part of that do you think I wouldn’t be able to deal with?”
“We’d still have to interact with others. We’d be expected to watch the games. Go to meals. That kind of stuff. All while selling the pretense that we’re a real couple. For at least five days. Maybe longer. That’s a pretty good stretch of time to carry off a ruse of that magnitude.”
Her eyes softened suddenly, and she put her hand on his cheek. Her palm was warm and soft and he realized it had been a long time since a woman had touched him like that.
She gazed into his eyes. “Oh, Charlie, you wound me to the heart saying I couldn’t convince people that I am madly, deeply,” she moved closer until she was practically pressed against him, “passionately in love with you.”
He swallowed. The heat from her hand radiated down into his bones. He opened his mouth to get more air into his lungs. “I, uh…”
She closed his stammering mouth with a soft kiss that lit sparks all through him. Her mouth was just as warm as her hand. Warmer. Hot. His head went funny. Like he’d suddenly lost altitude. He reached out for the counter next to him just as she backed away.
He stared at her, mouth open. His brain slightly scrambled. His temperature rising. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what they’d been talking about. “I, uh, have to leave today.”
“I can be ready in an hour. Meet you at your house?”
“Sure.” He nodded, unable to stop himself. Barely controlling the urge to grab her and kiss her back. What had he just agreed to? It was utter foolishness. They were bound to get caught.
Then again, she wasn’t a dragon. That might play in their favor.
“I told you I was a good actor.” She smiled at him, gesturing over her shoulder at the display case. “And I still want all of this chocolate.”
Nasha packed quickly and simply. She realized she should have asked where this dragon census was being held, but she knew dragons liked the mountains. With that in mind, she went for layers. Tights, leggings, tall boots, T-shirts in short- and long-sleeve lengths, a couple of sweaters, one basic stretchy mini-skirt, a good vest, a long T-shirt-style dress, and two thin cashmere scarves in purple and scarlet. Everything else was black or gray or black-and-white patterned, which was almost all she wore. None of it fancy, but all mixable and cute and a little Goth.
She was who she was. That wasn’t going to change because she was someone’s fake wife.
On a whim, she added a swimsuit. Mountain resorts often had hot tubs, and she did not want to miss out on that.
She also packed a toiletries bag, a small bag of essential makeup, and a few pieces of jewelry. She changed out of her work outfit of leggings and a T-shirt, and into black jeans, a black-and-white patterned vee-neck sweater with a gray tank top underneath, short boots, and her charcoal wool coat. She tucked her gloves in one pocket, her beanie hat in the other. Wearing the bulkiest stuff seemed like the best way to go.
She couldn’t believe she was actually about to embark on this trip but getting his chocolate recipe meant she could have flavor in her life for the rest of her days. That was worth a week of her time with a man she barely knew.
Charlie seemed like a good guy. A little too concerned with what other people thought, but maybe dragons were just like that. She’d never really known one, so it was hard to say.
It wouldn’t be a hardship to pretend to be his wife. Or to kiss him again. She paused her packing, a pair of socks in her hand, to think about their kiss. Much like Charlie’s chocolate, she’d been able to taste him.
Sweet and smoky.
Nothing at all like the last man she’d kissed. Shepherd Evermore. That had been ages ago, and they’d parted amicably, but she’d known almost instantly that they’d never work out. It wasn’t Shepherd’s fault. How could she be with someone when kissing them was as bland and boring as the rest of her life?
Not so with Charlie. She exhaled. She needed to keep her head about her and remember that this was just a ruse. Just a way to keep him from getting hitched against his will and to provide her with the recipe she needed to make her life truly interesting.