The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

Finn grinned as he pulled Arabella closer. “Aye? Well, I look forward to hearing some of those jokes later. We could always use some new ones around here.”

Arabella rolled her eyes. “Finn, you can ask for dirty jokes later. Unless you want to face Aunt Lorna’s wrath, we need to leave right now.”

Finn motioned with his head. “Then let’s be off.”

Thankfully, Finn did most of the chatting en route to the MacKenzie house, explaining about one legend or another. Holly half-listened, but her mind was preoccupied with the dragonman holding her hand.

Fergus was nice, but Holly had wished for more than that. After the spark with Fraser, she’d hoped his twin would cause the same reaction.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t.

Holly would just have to make the best of it. She didn’t think she’d be abused whilst on Lochguard, for one. If she did have a child, survived the birth, and came back to visit, she had a feeling Finn would allow her to do so, even if she didn’t stay with Fergus.

The hard part would be surviving dinner with Fraser’s eyes on her face. If she had affected Fraser half as much as he’d affected her, then they would be stealing glances all evening.

And if that were the case, Holly had a feeling Finn or Arabella might notice.

Chapter Five

Once Fraser and Faye reached the kitchen, Fraser released his sister’s arm and swiped an apple tart from the nearest plate. Just as he was about to take a bite, his mother didn’t so much as turn around as she said, “Put it down or you won’t eat anything else tonight.”

He looked to Faye mouthed, “How does she do that?”

Lorna turned and raised her brows. “I’ve been your mother for nearly three decades, Fraser Moore. There isn’t much you can do that would surprise me.”

Faye smiled. It was good to see since his sister hadn’t smiled much of late. “If you’re hungry, just ask.” Faye looked to their mother. “Mum, may I have a tart?”

Lorna waved a hand. “Go ahead, child. You’re the grumpiest of the lot when you’re hungry.”

Faye stuck out a tongue at her brother as she plucked a tart from the plate. Putting his own down, he muttered, “Brownnoser.”

His mother merely shook her head and went back to carving the roast. “Start taking the food out to the table.”

Faye dramatically brushed the crumbs from her hands and he growled. “Stop rubbing it in.”

His sister shrugged. “I had to clean my hands.”

Grabbing the basket of rolls, he walked to the dining room. After the past few weeks, with Faye being grumpy and a recluse, he’d forgotten how annoying she could be at times.

Fraser was just about to return to the kitchen for another side dish when he heard the door open. Finn’

s voice boomed down the hall. “We’re here, Aunt Lorna.”

If Finn had arrived, so had Fergus and Holly.

His beast spoke up. Good. I can watch them and figure out how to make my move.

It’s not going to happen, dragon.

You underestimate me.

Finn walked into the dining room with Arabella at his side. “Hey, cousins.” Finn looked at him with a twinkle in his eye. “Thanks for offering to clean up the garden. I’ve been meaning to do it for some time.”

Fraser rolled his eyes. “You would scrub a toilet before you would ever weed, let alone plant something.”

Finn grinned. “You’re right, but I’m looking forward to watching you do the backbreaking work.”

Fraser opened his mouth to reply, but Fergus walked in with Holly.