Draco (Coded for Love 2)

She laughed. They both did. “Yeah, that.”

It was nice, she realized, sharing a bit of family stuff, comparing notes. But Draco soon had that thoughtful look back on his face, as if he was weighing up his options. “It’s not the one in jail, obviously, it’s his brother, Rory.”

Lara realized she’d better read carefully. “So you and your sister aren’t properly related to this guy, Rory?”

Draco nodded and toyed with his glass. “No, but it doesn’t feel right. We all lived together like family.”

Lara stared at him. Everything she knew about him made sense, except for this. It was almost old-fashioned. “Can I ask how long you all lived as family?”

“Less than a year.” He gave a deep sigh. “I know. There’s nothing legally wrong with it, it just feels weird.”

“Were they always attracted?”

“Oh yeah.” He groaned, as if remembering.

“You think they’re serious about each other now?”

“Maybe, at least for a while.” He looked as if he wished it was over.

“If it were me, nothing my brothers could say would stop me.”

Draco laughed. It pleased her to hear the sound, and to witness the frown he wore vanish. “I see that.”

“So maybe let it run its course. If it burns out, she’ll remember you were concerned at the outset. If it’s meant to be, it doesn’t matter what you say or do now.”

“Just be ready to pick up the pieces if it all goes wrong, right?”

“Yes, it’s what a good brother would do, be there for her.” With a certain sadness, Lara realized she was stating an ideal. She and her brothers hadn’t been close since they were little kids. After their parents split, the boys had gone with their dad and she’d stayed with mum. It made her feel like a bit of fraud, advising him that way.

Draco reached out and cupped her face with his hand, as if he would read her troubled thoughts. “Thank you for listening, you’re so right.”

“You’re welcome.” She savored his touch on her face, then briefly planted a kiss in the palm of his hand. Draining her glass, she stood up, collecting the shopping as she did. She was ready to take him home for the night. “Hungry?”

He stood up and lifted her shopping bags from her hand. “Starving.”

> CHAPTER ELEVEN

Most of all Draco was hungry for her, but she seemed to want to make a meal, so he played along. She showered, changed and then cooked burgers, from scratch. That was unexpected. He grabbed a shower too, then dressed in jeans and T shirt.

Sitting at the marble breakfast bar he watched as she prepared the food.

The burgers were good big and juicy and she served them in crusty rolls with crisp salad on the side. He ignored the salad while they ate then hid it under his cutlery.

Again, they sat across the table for a long while afterwards. It always felt like a negotiation. They chatted more about family. It was light and fun.

“That was delicious,” he eventually said, wanting to get closer to her. “I feel like I should’ve brought a gift. Do you like flowers?

Laughing, she nodded. “I like meadow flowers, in the meadow.”

He frowned, confused.

“I don’t like cut flowers,” she clarified.

“Oh right. I should take you to Wales to see flowers in the meadow.”

“Sounds good,” she said, then cleared the dishes.

“I’ll put it in the diary, for after I’m done rooting about in the family code vault.”