The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

Holly sensed there was something Finn wasn’t telling her, but she’d find out soon enough. “I’m sure she’ll give me a glowing review by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

Amusement danced in Finn’s eyes. “Aye, maybe. Let’s see if you survive dinner first.” Finn stood up and motioned out the door. “Go freshen up, lass. We’ll be heading over in less than an hour.”

Holly motioned toward the paperwork on the desk. “But we’ve barely gone through the first stack.”

Finn waved a hand. “No worries. We have plenty of time. After all, you have a week before you move in with Fergus and try to fulfill your contract.”

Holly was careful to keep her expression neutral. The last thing she needed was Finn guessing her plan to entice Fergus into her bed earlier than that. “You’re right.” She stood. “Should I dress formal?”

“It’s just a family dinner.” He lowered his voice. “But all straight dragon males appreciate a lass in a pretty top. Even Arabella figured that out.”

Arabella’s form appeared in the doorway. “Finlay Stewart, leave her alone.” Arabella looked to her. “Wear what you like. Meeting Fergus will be stressful enough. You don’t need to add uncomfortable clothing to the mix. Fergus will understand.”

Finn walked over and put an arm around Arabella’s waist. After he kissed the top of her head, he laid his cheek there and met Holly’s eyes. “All clan leader dominance and rules aside, Fergus is a good male. He’s patient with lasses, even if he’s not overly patient in other areas of his life.”

Arabella slapped his side. “It’s all Fraser’s fault. Speaking of which, Fraser offered to clean up our garden.”

“Offered?” Finn asked dryly.

Arabella chuckled. “Okay, I sort of coerced him. But I had a good reason. Let Holly go upstairs and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Finn grunted and Holly took that as her cue to leave. Skirting around Finn and Arabella, she headed toward the stairs.

As she ascended them, she mentally cursed Arabella for bringing up Fraser again. Simply mentioning his name had brought the moment they’d shared inside the greenhouse, with his hot breath on her cheek and his wonderfully masculine scent surrounding her, to the forefront of her mind.

If the sacrifice contract hadn’t been hanging over her head, she wondered if she would’ve kissed him.

Entering her room and shutting the door, Holly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Thinking about “what ifs” was a waste of time. She was there to bear Fergus a child, not Fraser.

And at dinner, Holly would do everything in her power to forget about the forbidden twin.

Decision made, she opened her eyes and moved to her suitcase. Surely she had something revealing to wear. She needed it if she was to kill two birds with one stone—both to tempt Fergus to kiss her or more and to also drive Fraser crazy to the point he might leave early, allowing her to focus. If all went according to plan, she might even be able to convince Fergus to spend some time alone with her.

As she rummaged through her bag, Holly found a wee present hidden under her stack of trousers.

Her dad must’ve put it there.

Sitting down, she tore off the wrapping paper and tears formed in her eyes. She traced the title of the book, “Medicinal Plants of the Scottish Highlands.” How her dad had managed to order the book and hide it without her knowledge, she didn’t know. But the token made her eyes wet.

She hugged the book to her chest and closed her eyes. Her dad’s gift reminded her of the bigger picture. Fraser, Fergus, or any of the other dragon-shifters didn’t matter. Holly needed to survive her time on Lochguard so she could go back to Aberdeen and take care of her father. She was all he had left.

She wouldn’t let him down.

Carefully laying the book down on the bed, Holly picked out her sexiest clothes. They were tame compared to some of the women she’d seen on Friday nights in the past, but they would have to do.

It was time to catch a dragonman.

~~~

Fraser ran his fingers through his wavy hair one last time before exiting his bedroom. Between the jogging and his shower, he was tired yet slightly more relaxed. If he was lucky, his exhaustion might give him the reason he needed to be less than charming at supper.

Popping into his younger sister’s room, he met her eyes in the mirror and Faye frowned. “You didn’t knock.”

He shrugged. “Our whole lives, you’ve always been ready five minutes before everyone else. You mention it every chance you get.” He changed his voice to mimic his sister’s. “‘Fraser, why did you take so long? You must be arranging every strand of hair individually.’”

Faye turned and threw a stuffed tiger at him. When it bounced off his chest, he made himself look affronted. “Dear sister, that was uncalled for.”

“I’m not in the mood tonight, Fraser.”