Alice's Dragon (The Challenge Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

what do you have there?”
    “Bread.” She pushed to her feet, beyond ready for a nap, but hesitant to sleep when he’d just returned. “An easy flat loaf, but it’s pretty good.”
    His face lit up. “Really? I am intrigued and grateful for fresh bread. It has been…well, far too long since I had anything not of the meat or root vegetable variety. Do you make pies?”
    His genuine pleasure made her wish she had a different answer. “I don’t, but when there is fresh fruit, I make a cobbler thing. The women in my family have never been much for the home arts—too busy working. But we never starve.”
    “Excellent. I look forward to it.” He lifted the bowls and examined them before turning to her. “This is quite ingenious. You thought of it?”
    “Necessity,” she replied. “It’s not ideal, but I made it work.”
    “So smart and crafty,” he muttered. “Perhaps I can build a clamp of some kind.”
    His compliments went straight to her head. She wasn’t too proud to admit she liked acknowledgment and the occasional pat on the back. Since her mother and grandmother died, the only validation she got was money from Henry for doing her job—and even then he implied it was more than she deserved. The admiration in Bade’s eyes hit her much deeper than it should have.
    “That would be great.” She stood and yawned. “Well, the bread needs an hour to bake. I’m going to lie down for a spell. I just fed Walter again, but he’s part pig, so he might want more.”
    Bade nodded, but his shoulders fell. She needed to think about what her emotions meant before considering her actions.
    “Yes, you need lots of rest. One of the men sent a message. I need to sign off on the load so the ship I arrived on may return home,” Bade said. “Do you need anything while I am near the shops?”
    She shook her head. “I just stocked up, so I should be good for six months.”
    “Very well. Perhaps I’ll find yeast or fruit, if any are available.”
    He’d go to Prunella’s shop, darn it.
    “Just watch out if the old hussy offers you more than you’re asking for.”
    He cocked his eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, if you ask for yeast and fruit and she offers you a gander at her big, fuzzy pussy, you might want to say no. I hear she has fleas.”
    Alice climbed into bed and faced the wall. Despite her gutter mouth, she avoided sexual reference because she had no experience. Prunella might be a hussy, but she didn’t have fleas. Probably.
    “You mean…cat?” Bade asked.
    “Yes.” She tried and failed to assuage her guilt.
    “Very well, even if she offers, I shall not pet her cat. I will return soon.”
    Sliding of wood on wood marked the door closing. Alice flipped to her back and stared at the ceiling. She liked him. The dark, handsome stranger with an affinity for dragons had crawled into her life, and she didn’t feel any need to make him leave yet wasn’t quite sure how to keep him.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    Bade couldn’t fight his grin as he returned to his new home. He’d accomplished his tasks and given the captain a note for his father in Bulgaria confirming Bade had made it safely. His supplies would be delivered to Alice’s home for the low price of one of the barrels of whisky he’d brought along. Two would likely be missing, but he could make more. He’d learned all the trades he deemed worthy before making the journey. He and Alice could take care of each other.
    She’d baked him bread and warned him off the woman at the shop. A subtle claiming. He’d bought the few fresh plums Prunella had on hand and a sack of sugar. When he’d handed over his gold, she’d offered him something much more carnal than petting her cat. The turn-a-phrase of the island would take him some time to understand. The important discovery was Alice hadn’t wanted him to take the offer.
    Bade twirled the bag of fruit, anticipating Alice baking him something. He could cook, but she needed to