Finding Faith (Return of the Dragons)

That was an easy answer. None.

Forgetting her dilemma as the butterflies in her belly intensified, she placed her hand in his without hesitation. The bolt of electricity that shot through her was a shock to her system, even though she’d half expected it.

Every single freakin’ nerve ending came alive at his touch.

It’d been hard to get used to at first, but she thought she could quickly come to crave it.

Once she was in the truck and settled, he shut the door and jogged around. As he started it and turned around in the driveway, his scent filled her nose, tugging at a place she hadn’t even known existed.

Warm, spicy male, yet still a clean scent, reaching inside her and making her attraction to him that much more potent.

They spent the drive to the theater in silence, but she kept stealing glances at him as she tried to process what she was feeling for him—and she had a feeling he was doing the same.

He pulled into the drive-in and paid their admission, refusing her offer to pay her own way. Once they were parked, he turned in his seat to look at her.

“Let’s go get some refreshments before the movie starts. I don’t want to miss any of it.”

Realizing she’d been so focused on him that she hadn’t paid attention to what was playing, she glanced around, finding the title on the screen.

Casablanca.

He brought her to see Casablanca, one of the greatest movies of all time—and he didn’t want to miss any of it. Damn, that was endearing.

How was it possible that she was falling for him like this so soon?

Wait. Falling for him?

Better believe it. You have been since the moment you saw him, you just weren’t ready to admit it yet. Don’t let the revelation scare you and set you back. Embrace it. Embrace him.

Olivia was still trying to get used to this new, more solemn version of her dragon. It was throwing her off, but she had to admit, her animal was right. And maybe her dragon knew she needed the advice more right now than she needed the sarcasm and jokes.

Glancing at Cody, she nodded. “Let’s do it.”

She opened her door and hopped out, pretending to ignore the frown he gave her for not letting him help her. She loved the gentlemanly side of him, she really did, but if she could do it herself, there was no reason not to.

After they got their snacks and drinks, they settled back into the truck just as the movie started. True to his word, he was focused on Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, but even still, she knew down to her core that he was just as focused on her, too.

And she was the exact same way.

She loved Casablanca, was absorbed in the movie, but she was aware of him on an intense level she couldn’t begin to describe. It filled her with excitement and awe, because she’d never felt like this, but there was also a healthy dose of fear.

What if it all went completely south, and he turned out like Fiona’s last boyfriend?

It won’t, she told herself. Faith. Have faith.

The movie paused halfway through for intermission, and she squirmed in her seat, suddenly losing her words. What could she say that didn’t blatantly show him just how much she was into him?

Turning to face her, Cody searched her eyes for a never-ending moment. Reaching out, he took her hand, stroking his thumb against her knuckles.

“It might be too soon to say this,” he said quietly. “But it just feels right. I really like you, Olivia. This doesn’t feel casual to me. It feels real. It feels right. And I don’t want it to end when the movie’s over.”

The butterflies hovering in her stomach exploded in a fury as she sucked in a breath. Her fingers tightened around his as she searched for her bravery. Her courage. Because she’d be a liar if she tried to deny that she felt the same.

“Cody… I can’t tell you why right now. I just don’t think I’m ready.” Her words were soft as she implored him to understand. “But everything you’re saying, well, I feel it too. It just scares the crap out of me.”

“I can tell you have emotional wounds and scars. I’m not asking you to bare your soul right now and tell me all about them. But I wanted to let you know what this is to me. Because I’m hoping you’ll give us, and whatever this is between us, a chance.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, the thump-thump reverberating through her whole body. “I honestly think I was in denial until today. My friends told me it was more, but I didn’t want to face the truth because it scared me. But I faced it today—and I’m still here with you now. I’m trying to give this a shot. But I have to ask you to be patient with me. The things you don’t know impact everything I do, how I feel, how I react… So you have to understand that I’m not like other women. I probably won’t ever be like other women.”