The Dragon's Discovery (Lochguard Highland Dragons 6)

If she hadn't been working long hours over the past week, trying to help the Stonefire doctors and others find a cure, she might've protested.

But Finn was correct—she needed the sleep. Otherwise, she wouldn't be of use to anyone.

Her dragon woke from her usual slumber—her beast didn't care about surgeries and became bored—and said, We'd sleep deeper if you found a male and rode him hard.

There are more important things to worry about.

I think not. Besides, there's a male who'd like to share our bed. Let him in.

No.

Ignoring her dragon, she answered a few more technical questions from Meg and her sons and then trudged out of the waiting room to the back rooms.

Once her junior doctor had all the information she needed, Layla exited the building and headed toward her cottage.

She debated stopping at the clan's restaurant for food, but didn't. Sleep was more important.

Layla entered her cottage and froze. Some rustlings came from her kitchen.

Her family never entered without her there, so she tiptoed quietly to see who it was. The Protectors watched the clan's lands closely, so it was most likely a child or teen looking for food, fulfilling a dare, or some other such thing.

She poked her head around the doorway and blinked.

Her table in the little dining nook was set, and food was being dished out onto a plate by a male she knew.

Chase McFarland.

"What are you doing in my kitchen?" she demanded.

Chase turned, flashed her a grin with dimples that made her stomach flip, and gestured toward the food. "This is compliments of your staff."

Her dragon perked up. He's in our kitchen. Kiss him, fuck him, eat, and then we'll have a good nap.

She was good at ignoring her dragon. All doctors perfected that skill early on. "I didn't think you did restaurant deliveries."

He shrugged. "Normally, no, I don't. But Logan's a friend of mine, and I owed him."

Logan was one of her best nurses. And if not for the fact Chase always showed up at the surgery bearing food or drink, she might've believed him. "More like you and Logan have some scheme that I don't want to know about."

He shrugged a shoulder, and she did her best to ignore his toned biceps or broad shoulders.

Shoulders she shouldn't notice given he was over a decade younger than her.

Chase replied, "Someone has to take care of you, Layla, since you don't seem to take care of yourself."

If she had more energy, she'd argue. Or, maybe even scold. She'd let his infatuation go on long enough.

However, with the scents of pasta and bread wafting through the air, all she could think about was how hungry she was. "Thank you for the food. You can leave now."

Shaking his head, he sat across from her. "I promised Logan I'd stay and ensure you ate first."

She drawled, "This is my house, you know."

"I know, but you also deal with dragonmen every day. If one makes a promise, do you think they break it easily?"

"No," she muttered. "Never would I think it a negative trait."

She slid into the chair and picked up a fork. The faster she ate, the sooner Chase would leave.