Dragon's Desire Read Free

pleasure. “I’d like that.”
    Guy bent an elbow and offered his left arm.

    Walking on the arm of man dressed in armor was awkward. All gazes turned their way to admire him and wonder how she’d managed to snag such a handsome man. More than awkward, because she was wildly attracted to this knight. He was a tall man with sharp blue eyes and longish thick brown hair. Handsome, if one liked a rugged sort of man—and apparently, based on her rapid heartbeat, she did. Instinctively, she knew the shoulders wearing the heavy mail were strong and broad. The forearm she touched felt like forged steel. Her libido, which rarely surfaced to bother her, surged, adding a little sway to her hips and heat to her cheeks. Enjoying the moment, she pushed away thoughts of her purpose.
    “You smile,” he murmured, ducking his head to speak.
    His action increased the sense of intimacy she felt. Angela barely restrained herself from playing with her hair. She wasn’t a girlie-girl, had never really learned to flirt. She wished she had because she sensed she was out of her depth with this man. “It’s a lovely day,” she said, wincing inwardly because the comment sounded so inane.
    His teeth were a flash of gleaming white. “And it’s almost over,” he said, gaze lifting to the sun sinking behind the edge of the rock wall.
    At the ale tent, he held back the canvas flap and waved her inside. “Head to the back. It’s quieter.”
    And darker. The late afternoon light peeking through the doorway barely brightened the entrance. Lights strung along the ceiling ended before the last of the bench tables. Candles in globes burned to chase away a little of the shadows.
    A clinking of metal sounded, and he sat with his back to the crowd then signaled her to sit beside him.
    She stepped over the bench and lowered to the seat, angling her body toward his as he did the same. This close, their knees touched. His hand settled on the table beside hers, and she marveled at the contrast. His large hand was tanned. Hers looked like a child’s beside it.
    He touched a finger to her ring, but turned to catch her glance.
    Embarrassed to have been caught studying him, she ducked her chin.
    “Have you lived here always?” he asked, his voice a lazy drawl.
    “Since my parents died when I was a teenager. My aunt took me in.” And Angela became her caretaker after her aunt was diagnosed with cancer.
    “Then perhaps you would be willing to show me the sights.”
    Angela laughed. “Did your boss really not research the area before you moved an entire castle to this mountain? Besides the river, which is good for fishing and rafting, there’s not a lot to see.”
    “What do you do in your free time? Do you have a boyfriend?”
    First the ring, then this. Was he angling to find out if she was available? The thought that he might be interested in her sent a warm wave of pleasure to her cheeks. “I don’t have a boyfriend.” She refrained from telling him she’d never had a serious relationship. The last thing she wanted was to appear pathetic.
    He leaned closer, his blue gaze intent. “But you’re very pretty. How have you managed to remain...single?”
    Angela cleared her throat, but didn’t let her gaze veer from his, no matter how much she wished she could retreat. The man was a little overwhelming—something her rapidly melting body appreciated. “My aunt was diagnosed with cancer shortly after I moved here,” she said softly. “I spent most of my spare time tending her, taking her to appointments, sitting with her during chemo...”
    An instant later, his hand cupped hers. “When did she pass?”
    His question was quiet, with a touch of empathy that pleased her, thinking he must be a kind man. “A year ago.”
    His finger traced the edge of her hair where it fell across her cheek, then pushed the strand behind her ear.
    The gesture was tender, his eyes warm. Or was she reading more into this?
    “Forgive me,” he murmured, “ but I