The Dragon Guardian (Lochguard Highland Dragons 2)

Gina poked Fergus’s side. “What? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Finn merely said we’d be neighbors, not sharing a wall.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? You have the tendency to distract me.”

Faye snorted. “Fergus distracted? That never happens. You’ll have to share your secret with me later, Gina.”

Arabella finally joined in the conversation. “I somehow doubt you’ll want to do what Gina does. Unless you’re going to flirt with your brother?”

Ross grinned. “Aye, that’s frowned upon, Faye, my dear.”

Faye shot Ross daggers with her eyes. “Thanks for clearing that up.”

Lorna frowned. “That’s not how I raised you to speak to your elders, Faye Cleopatra.”

Ross chuckled. “You make me sound as if I have one foot in the grave, Lorna.”

Ross and Lorna shared a smile and Gina couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Are you two a couple?”

Fraser choked on a scone as Lorna and Ross moved away from each other. Lorna spoke up first. “No, child. Ross is recovering from cancer and needs constant care.”

Ross nodded a little too enthusiastically. “Aye, Lorna’s right. Without her help, I’d probably be cold and in the ground.”

Holly stopped pounding Fraser’s back to frown at Ross. “Don’t talk like that, Dad.”

As everyone else at the other end of the table bickered and argued about everything from death to flirting, Fergus leaned down to Gina’s ear and whispered, “Are you ready to run yet?”

Grinning, she met his eye. “Are you kidding? This is better than TV.” She paused a second, debating if she had the nerve to say her next sentence and decided what the hell. “Although I’m not sure if I want to spend the night here. I need almost complete silence to fall asleep and I somehow doubt I’ll get it here.”

Arabella’s voice interjected, “If we leave now, they might not even notice.”

Gina looked over to where Lorna stood between Ross and Fraser. Fraser was accusing Ross of taking liberties with his mother, and Ross was frowning and telling Fraser to respect his mother’s privacy.

She looked at Arabella. “I think that might be a good idea.” Moving her gaze to Fergus, she patted his hand under the table. “I already see concern in your eyes, but I can call Holly later and have her check in on me.”

Fergus squeezed her leg again. “As long as that’s what you want, lass. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or lonely.”

Staring into Fergus’s blue eyes, she wondered how she could have ever compared him to Travis. Fergus was kind, patient, and thoughtful in a way that Travis never would be. “I’ll be fine.”

“Right, then. Let’s hurry.” Fergus nodded slightly toward the door. “You and Arabella can leave first. If anyone asks, I’ll just say you’re using the toilet.”

Gina looked to Arabella. Despite the scar running from her brow, down across her nose, and to her opposite cheek, Gina wasn’t afraid of the dragonwoman. After all, Arabella had been through a hell of a lot worse than Gina and had survived. In a way, it gave Gina hope for her own future. “Okay. But don’t be long after us.”

Fergus winked. “Don’t worry. Wild dogs couldn’t keep me from following you, lass.”

At the twinkle in his eyes and his smile, Gina’s heart skipped a beat. “Good to know. I may try finding some wild dogs later, if you step out of line.”

Arabella quietly slid out of her seat and moved to Gina’s chair. “I hate to break up the flirting session, but it’s now or never.”

Fergus lightly brushed her arm and Gina stood up. Despite her words, she didn’t want to leave Fergus’s side.

Arabella placed her hand on Gina’s back and guided them out of the dining room before Gina could change her mind. Only through sheer force of will did Gina not look over her shoulder at Fergus one last time. The dragonman might think something was wrong and she didn’t want to bring attention to herself.

Reaching the front door, they took their coats from the hooks on the wall. A few seconds later, she and Arabella exited the cottage.

Arabella sighed in relief. “As much as I love my mate’s family, I can only take them in small doses.”

“Your family is a lot differe

nt?” Gina asked.