A Way to a Dragon’s Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

He’s obviously a great friend because he’s willing to do this, and by your scents, neither of you have had a lover in months. He’s aroused right now by the idea; just go with it.”
    “He’s. Right. Here. Dominic.”
    Dominic hugged her close. “Then the sooner you leave the sooner I stop talking. I can stand here and state the obvious all day, I went straight from captain to admiral, and I enjoy that particular shade of red he’s wearing. So pick your poison. Are you going to fight me on this or accept Xander’s hospitality and stop making him feel like a little time with him is a fate worse than death?”
    She mumbled something Xander couldn’t understand, but Dominic’s smile told him enough.
    “Good.” He kissed her forehead and stepped back. “Thank you again, Xander. Bye, Kryssa. Love you.” Dominic walked out of her office without even a look back.
    Kryssa turned to him, a near bewildered look on her face. “My brother just kicked me out of my office for two weeks, horned in on your vacation, got work out of you—that as far as I can tell he expects for free—and did it all in the same breath.”
    Xander shrugged, fighting to keep an ear-to-ear grin off his face. “He also tried to pimp me out there at the end, but he looked damn impressive when he did it all. I should go and order more groceries.” And find someplace to jump up and down. “What time should I pick you up?”
    She was going to refuse; he could see it in her face. She just couldn’t let go of the mindset that had her chained to her office, even though she seemed equally as tempted. He steeled himself for an argument. Dominic had laid the groundwork for him, and he’d be damned if he’d let her steer them off the path now. Just as her lips parted, a burst of braying laughter came from the hall and he watched her face change mid-thought as she looked at the door in panic.
    “It’s still in the building, and they’ll send more like it from the Bobble-headed, Body-snatching Demon Factory and Temp Agency.” She looked back to him and nodded. “How about now? Now’s good.”
    She shut her laptop, got up, and opened the large closet in her office. “It’s just two weeks, right?” She hefted the larger of the duffle bags marked casual and took up its matching backpack and computer bag. “Impromptu business trips are what these are here for, so I’m ready. And this’ll be good, right? I mean I can return the favor and look over the paperwork Caleb has for Eternal Delights and mediate if you guys need me to.” She nodded, convincing herself. “We’re just two friends helping each other out; it’s good. Now let’s get the cart back and go before I change my mind. Or before she comes back and wants to know if I breathe fire.”
    As it happened, it was the last question shouted after them as they both ran full tilt out of the building, lunch cart and all.

Chapter Two
    Caleb hung up the phone and crossed his arms, leaning against the stainless steel counter.
    “So what did he say?” Kathleen asked.
    Caleb took a breath, let it out, and pressed his lips together fighting a smile.
    “What did Xander say and why are you grinning like a fool?” she demanded.
    The words made his smile burst forth in full, and he shook his head. “I don’t know exactly how I feel so I’m trying to figure out where to start.” He walked over to the sink and started to wash his hands. “He came up early and brought Kryssa.”
    His sister’s eyebrows shot up. “Kryssa? I thought he couldn’t get her out of her office.”
    Caleb dried his hands and went back to measuring out cocoa powder into a large glass bowl of flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. “Apparently she brought the office with her. She needed an assistant, and he offered to help her out. They’re going to finish up her projects, and she’s going to go over the contracts and stuff with him.”
    Kathleen nodded. “Wow, he’s got it bad. It’s cute, and at least this way