The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

Finn moved back to the door. “I’ll give you two a few minutes. But after that, we really should leave.” He looked to Holly. “Aunt Lorna hates tardiness.”

She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Finn grinned and shut the door, leaving her alone with Fergus.

Fergus smiled wider at her. “I hope Finn and Arabella are treating you well.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t tell Ara, but her pregnancy has made her extra grumpy. I’m not sure how Finn puts up with it.”

The corner of Holly’s mouth ticked up. “If you kept throwing up your food, I’m sure you’d be extra grumpy, too.”

“True, true. I’m grateful every day that I’m not a female.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Some might take that the wrong way.”

Fergus put up his hands. “I apologize. I’m used to speaking my mind. I’ll try to be careful.”

“No, don’t. I like straightforwardness.”

“Good, then you should get along famously with my family.”

As silence fell between them, Holly resisted comparing Fergus to Fraser. She wouldn’t think of how much easier it was to talk with the other twin. Or, how the other twin would never be so cautious around her. Fraser might even push her up against the wall and try to win a kiss if she so much as batted an eyelash in his direction.

Stop it. Holly needed to work on Fergus and forget all about Fraser MacKenzie. The sooner she sealed the deal, the sooner Holly could fulfill her sacrifice contract and count down the days until she could return home.

Deciding she needed to speed things up, she walked over to stand in front of Fergus and placed a hand on his chest. “Maybe we should go. I need to make a good impression with your mother.”

Fergus placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “Don’t worry. Compared to my brother and sister, you’re going to be like a breath of fresh air.”

“How so?”

He grinned and his eyes crinkled at the corners. Fergus was a handsome man, but not quite as handsome as Fraser.

Before she could mentally scold herself again, Fergus answered, “Let’s just say that ‘quiet’ is never used to describe my family.” He squeezed her hand again. “I warn you, though. To win them over, don’t back down. Even if my mum says something out of turn or is flat out wrong, call her out on it. That’s the fastest way to earn her respect.”

Holly’s mum had been similar.

But her mother had died years ago. Holly missed her voice and offer to make a cup of tea first thing in the morning every day.

However, she didn’t feel comfortable talking with Fergus MacKenzie about her mum.

And more importantly, the MacKenzies didn’t need to learn of her past and end up giving her looks of sympathy all night. “Right, shall we go?”

Fergus moved their hands between them until he could thread his fingers through hers. “Come. The sooner you meet my family, the sooner I can sneak you away and we can talk. I won’t pry your secrets out just yet, but I’m always here to talk when you’re ready.”

Holly’s respect for Fergus raised a notch. The dragonman was observant, she’d give him that.

Not knowing what else to say, Holly merely nodded. Silence fell and Fergus tugged her hand. “Let’s go.”

The silence continued. Before Holly could think of what to ask Fergus that wasn’t something daft such as, “What’s your favorite color?” they joined Finn and Arabella in the front hall.

Finn’s eyes darted to their clasped hands and he smiled. “I see you two are off to a fine start.”

Fergus squeezed her hand. “Don’t scare her off, Finn. She has a week and not even your bawdiest joke will convince me to rush her.”

Holly kept her expression neutral. Fergus would be in for a surprise later when she planned to all but jump him.

Well, maybe not jump him. But certainly she was determined to kiss him before the night was over.

Holly raised an eyebrow. “I spent some time volunteering in the East End of London. There’s little you can say that will surprise me.”