The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons 1)

We almost never get caught.

Before his dragon could reply, Fraser scanned the area. The best way to spy on his cousin-in-law and the human was to climb the rear wall and hide in the overgrown garden.

Fraser moved from one cottage to another, grateful it was the middle of the day. Almost everyone would be at work and that meant fewer witnesses.

He reached the seven-foot tall wall at the rear of Finn’s place. His cousin only turned on surveillance cameras in the evening or when no one was home, so Fraser gripped the top of the wall, pulled himself up, and hopped down the other side.

Keeping crouched low, he spotted the rear kitchen window. Through the tall grass he saw Arabella’s dark hair and scarred face talking whilst doing something over the sink.

Fraser remained still until Arabella turned away.

Slinking through the grass and wild rosebushes, he was a foot from the window before a thorn on one of the rosebushes snagged his arm. Despite the sting, Fraser crept to the window. Inching up until he could peek inside, he noticed both Arabella and the unknown female sitting at the kitchen table.

Unfortunately, all he could see was the back of the female’s head. Her hair was pinned into a bun at the base of her neck and she wore a dark red jumper.

His dragon growled. That’s not enough. I want to see her face.

Why do you care?

I like females. I want to see her face.

It was a bit of an odd request, but Fraser pushed the doubt aside. He was as anxious to see his brother’s new sacrifice as his dragon was.

Arabella stood up from the table and Fraser ducked down. Plastering himself against the wall, no one should be able to see him even if they looked at the garden. After all, no one had a reason to look below the window.

The click of the kettle told him Arabella would move to the other counter, away from the window. Fraser peeked inside again, but Arabella was nowhere to be seen.

The rear glass sliding door opened and Fraser looked over. Arabella stood with her arms crossed over her chest and her brows raised. “Just wait until I tell Finn you’ve been spying on me.”

Fraser stood up and shrugged. “I wasn’t spying on you. I’m curious about the sacrifice. After all, there hasn’t been one on Lochguard since I was a teenager.”

Arabella shrugged. “That’s still spying.”

He straightened his shoulders. “I just want to protect my brother.”

Arabella studied him a second and then uncrossed her arms. “Promise me you’ll clean up the garden and I’ll introduce you.”

Fraser eyed the garden, with its knee-high grass and impressive collection of weeds. “That is going to take me days.”

Arabella smiled. “Exactly.”

He sighed. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“No, not really.”

His dragon spoke up again. Do it. You enjoy working with your hands anyway. Besides, we can plant some giant hogweed. Finn and Ara won’t recognize it and might touch it. Then they’ll get a rash.

Fraser laughed inside his head. You’re bloody devious, dragon.

I know.

Fraser nodded. “Fine, it’s a deal. Now, introduce me to the lass.”

“Then come on.”

Arabella went back inside the cottage and Fraser followed.

The instant he stepped foot into the kitchen, the human turned her head.