Not His Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

five. Part of Angie hated her for it.
    The electrician waved good-bye through the storefront window.
    She held his recent bill in her hand for a new light fixture, the second one in a month. At this rate, she should keep him on retainer. The inspector she’d hired to check out the building before signing the contract had given her the thumbs-up. The landlord must have paid him off. Otherwise, she was the unluckiest businesswoman in New Port.
    The shop door chimed as it opened. Her first appointment was a little early. That was a good omen. It would help the day go by faster if she could keep to her schedule. She twisted around and stumbled against Beth, who had jumped to her feet.
    Her receptionist curtsied. “Mr.—Mr. Dragon, nice to see you again.” The scent of Beth’s fear almost choked Angie. “Would you like a muffin?” She squeaked out the last word.
    Angie moved around the desk between the dragon and the omega werewolf. Without Ryota here, she would have to play protector. She fingered her pepper spray. If she had to use it again, she doubted her survival. “Eoin, what can I do for you?” His eyes appeared less bloodshot than yesterday and the blisters had healed.
    He glanced at Beth. “Go away.”
    The chair clattered to the floor and was followed by Beth’s retreating footsteps as she hurried to the back of the shop. Hopefully, she’d think to call her alpha for help.
    “That was rude.” Angie fisted the sprayer.
    “It was necessary.” He stared at her for a moment and a crushing silence filled the room. “You scratch backs for a living?”
    She held up her chin. “Yes.”
    “Do you know scale care?”
    “Uh…” She released her hidden weapon and scratched her head. “No.”
    “That’s not a problem. I can teach you. The process would usually take a few hours but I have a bit of an issue that might take a couple of days to fix. Clear your calendar.”
    “Just like that.” Angie snapped her fingers. She’d thought Ryota had an ego issue. Eoin put him to shame.
    “Is this a problem?” He leaned toward her and inhaled.
    “Are you smelling me?” That wasn’t creepy. She moved behind the desk.
    A blush tinged his cheeks and highlighted his sharp cheekbones. “No.” He broke eye contact and stared at his worn boots. “I can compensate you for your inconvenience.”
    “It’s not good business for me to cancel appointments. Your needs aren’t greater than anyone else’s. I could possibly fit you in on the weekends until we’re done.” That would suck away all her free time, but she would like to stay off the dragon’s menu.
    He shook his head. “That won’t work. It has to be done soon.” Shoving his hands deep in his jean pockets, he dropped his chin to avoid her stare and muttered something.
    “What?”
    “I’ve got scale rot.”
    She took an involuntary step away. “Is it contagious?”
    He shot her a hard look. “No.” The word snapped with contempt. “There are many steps to curing it and they can’t be skipped or done far apart.”
    “I can maybe take care of this issue in patches?”
    “I’m not a car asking to be waxed. This is my skin.” He twisted around and lifted his t-shirt. His back was completely inked. At first glance it appeared like some hipster tribal tattoo thing she’d seen on Pinterest a hundred times, but on closer inspection she noticed they were words in a different language intricately woven into a pattern.
    “Nice tat.” She moved around the desk to get a better look. “What does it say?”
    He followed her gaze. “Rash.”
    “What? Why?”
    He pointed to the red sore spread across his lower back. It looked infected. “Rash.”
    “Oh.” Fine, let him be that way. “Can’t I care for you in this form? It would take less time.” She’d never actually seen a dragon up close. She half hoped he’d say no. Television reporters did their best to catch them in flight but dragons were a very private race, and a very violent one as