The Dragon Finds Forever
Although, being intimate with him was an incredible temptation. What would it be like to be the focus of that man’s complete attention?
Parts of her started to warm, and she fidgeted in her seat. That was enough of that line of thinking. She sighed and shook her head, a little embarrassed by how quickly her mind had gone there.
Van opened his eyes. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing, just thinking about…everything. I’m going to try to sleep now.” She closed her eyes, hoping she could drift off.
She must have, because the next thing she knew, Van was gently shaking her leg.
“Monalisa, we are landing.”
“Hmm?” She yawned and blinked. “Are we there?”
“Almost.”
She pushed the button to raise her seat up. “What time is it?”
“It will be close to one in the morning when we land. That is why I thought we should sleep.”
“Did you?”
He nodded. “A little.”
“I can’t believe I slept as much as I did.”
“You must have needed it. But you missed the cookies.”
“What?” She sat up farther. “There were cookies?”
He laughed. “There was a big snack.” He reached into the seat next to him, pulled out a napkin-wrapped object, and handed it over. “I saved you mine.”
“You did?” She took it and opened the wrapping to see a fat cookie stuffed with chocolate chunks. “Oh, you are definitely a keeper.”
He grinned. “I don’t know how you can eat that after all the chocolate you had at the house.”
“It’s one of my superpowers.” She bit into the cookie. It was delicious. Not as delicious as the remaining chocolates that were packed in her bag, but good. “And I’m really glad I brought all that stuff from Delaney’s, because you’re going to have a house full of people I can share it with.”
“That is true.”
The pilot announced the final descent, so they got their seats into position. Van reached over and took her hand. It was a sweet gesture and very much him.
Once they’d deplaned and gotten their bags, all of which Van insisted on carrying, he sent a quick text before they walked outside. She wasn’t surprised when an SUV pulled to the curb in front of them and a sharply dressed young man, probably about her age, jumped out and came around to take their bags.
He smiled at Van. “Good flight, sir?”
“It was.” Van shook the driver’s hand. “Good to see you, Harlan. Everything is all right?”
“Yes, sir, right as rain. Good to have you back.”
“Excellent.” Van gestured to Monalisa. “Harlan, this is my girlfriend, Monalisa.”
He reached out to shake her hand as well. He had amber-colored eyes and sandy brown hair that made his darkly tanned skin seem to glow. His whole look reminded her of a lion. “Nice to meet you, Monalisa.”
“You too, Harlan. Do you always pick Van up from the airport?”
“Whatever he needs,” the young man replied.
“Harlan is a member of my training team,” Van said to her.
Harlan grinned as he took the bags. “I make sure the fridge is stocked, his errands are run, and he gets to wherever he needs to be whenever he needs to be there.”
She looked at Van. “He’s your Las Vegas Norma.”
Van tipped his head back and forth. “Sort of. Harlan forgot to mention he is also my most frequent sparring partner. I do not think Norma would do that.”
Monalisa snorted. “No, I don’t think she would.”
Harlan put the bags in the back while she and Van climbed into the car. Van sat up front in the passenger’s seat.
Harlan took the driver’s seat a few moments later. “Straight home?”
“Yes.”
Harlan pulled out, and they were on their way. Monalisa sat back to watch the lights go by. She’d flown in and out of this airport many times, but tonight everything looked and felt so different.
“You got my text last night?” Van asked Harlan.
“I did. I’ll have the groceries with me when I come over in the morning. Eight a.m. okay?”
“Fine.” Van twisted around to look at her. “You can sleep in, though. If you want.”
She shrugged. “I’m more used to this time zone than Nocturne Falls. I’ll probably be up. In fact, I can make breakfast.”
Harlan glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Ma’am, I usually do that. But you’re welcome to if you want.”
She laughed. “You really are Van’s Vegas Norma. No, go right ahead. I’m happy to let you do your thing. Just don’t call me ma’am. I’m pretty sure we’re the same age. Monalisa is just fine.”
“Very good, Monalisa. I’ll be there at eight to make breakfast, and then Ivan and I can head to the gym.”
Van leaned over. “She likes vegetables.”
“They’re on my list,” Harlan answered.
She smiled. Van took care of her in a very different way than she was used to. Everything that came from her father felt begrudged. With Van, it was a kindness. She couldn’t wait for the day when she was making her own money so she could spoil him back. Although, she might not ever be able to spoil him in the style he was used to.
She turned to watch the lights again, and Van and Harlan started discussing the training regimen for the next day. She finally had to interrupt. “Harlan, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but if you’re sparring with Van, you must be equipped to handle that kind of punishment. What sort of supernatural are you?” She expected him to say feline shifter.