THREE
Avery Harper gasped as the person she’d suddenly had on a wrist lock flipped things and now he had her hands behind her back.
“Sorry, darling,” he said. “Can’t let you break my wrist today.”
She frowned. “Who are you?”
She glanced to the side, but no longer saw the man who’d tried to take her handbag.
“I’m going to let you go, but don’t try to break anything else on me. Got it? I promise, I come in peace.”
The way he lifted his lips into a sinful grin made it hard for her not to believe him. She didn’t get the sense he was lying. She was good at that, reading people. She was also good at knowing more than average about most things.
“I just wanted to apologize for the front desk clerk at the hotel. That's not how we operate there. Women have never been harassed before.”
She eyed him with curiosity. “Thanks but don't worry about it. Not the first time some asshole tried to do that."
"What? Get your number by saying he’d give your resume to the manager?"
She shook her head. "Think his corny come-on would actually work on a woman with a brain."
He chuckled, the smile transforming his hot as hell features. He made her ovaries hurt and that never happened.
"You're funny."
She raised her brows. "Really? I've never been called that one before. Bitchy I've heard a lot." She stopped in front of the diner where she'd been eating down the street from her sucky job. "Listen, I'm hungry. You don't look like you're going anywhere so, want to eat something?"
A blue flame lit in his gaze. "Are you asking me out?"
"Relax, Romeo, it's only food. Not an engagement ring." She eyed his impeccable suit and coat. The guy had expensive tastes. For all she knew he’d order the highest priced item on the damn menu. "Hey and don't think because I'm inviting you that I get to pay. You're on your own."
Her salary didn’t pay her enough to be splurging on hot guys that decided to attach themselves to her for dinner. She was pretty nice but her wallet only stretched so far.
He opened the diner door for her and for a second she stood there, unsure what he was doing. Then it dawned on her he was being a gentleman. Who would've known there were any of those left.
They got a booth and sat. She pushed her coat off her body and slipped off the super soft infinity scarf her brother Scott sent her last year from Germany where he went for a military training.
The waitress smiled at her. "Your usual?"
Avery grinned. "Yes, please, Doreen."
Doreen then turned to Mr. Handsome, but quickly snapped her head back long enough to wink at Avery. "What can I get you, sugar?"
"Coffee, please."
Doreen left and Avery leaned forward. "This place isn't too bad. The food is decent. Not the best pancakes, that’s at a diner in Queens, but they have really good French toast."
He took off his coat and hung it on the hook next to their booth. She was even more impressed now that his coat was off. Clearly he had his suit tailor-made. She wondered why he’d followed her. Really. “I’m Avery. Avery Harper, what’s your name?”
“Jae Drachen,” he offered his hand. She took it and tried to stifle a gasp at the warm sensation skidding through her from the touch of their fingers.
“So, Jae. Why did you follow me?” she asked. She wasn’t one to waste time and she knew this guy hid something. As a precognitive and telepathic empath, she knew very well there was more than met the eye with this guy.
“I didn’t like that someone was actually trying to stop you from leaving your resume with sexual harassment. Trust me, he’ll be dealt with and soon.”
She smiled at Doreen as she put their coffees down and proceeded to add a sick amount of sugar and cream into her mug. She glanced up and caught his raised brows. “I like some coffee with my sugar and cream.”
“I see that.”
“Listen, I told you it’s not a big deal. That place is probably out of my league anyway.”
“What do you do now?” He sipped his too dark coffee with only two sugars and she winced.
“Right at this moment? I’m being tortured watching you drink that. I don’t know how you can do it. As for a job, I’m a commercial transcriber.”
“What does that entail?”
Doreen returned, her gaze focused on Jae. “Are you sure you don’t want something to eat, sugar? The French toast is out of this world.”
Avery nodded. “Listen to Doreen. I adore the French toast here.”
Jae met her gaze and then smiled at Doreen. “Sure. I’ll have some French toast.”
Avery watched Doreen blush and walk away with a grin. “You made her night. She loves convincing people to try the French toast here.”
“It wasn’t her who convinced me,” he said as blue fire lit in his eyes.
“You have the most interesting eyes I have ever seen. How do you do that?”
He leaned forward, mimicking her move on the table and whispered, “I’m a dragon.”
She cocked her head to the side and looked deeper. “Yeah, I guess you are. So what are you doing in New York City, Mr. Dragon?”
“I own The Lair. Came for some meetings and to check it out.”
She picked up her coffee and took a long sip. Her senses were all over the place when it came to this guy. She knew he was friendly and even trustworthy. It was her hormones that scared her. Sure, he was good looking and hotter than hades, but men didn’t make her think of happily ever after and babies. Not within five minutes of meeting them. Something weird was going on here. She wanted to learn more about him to see if she could figure it out.