Lyla and her Leprechaun

3

We walked home from where he parked his car at the B&B. He held my hand, I was yawning and trying to cover them up the whole way home.

We sat by the fire my dad had started before he went to bed and I curled into his side and he leaned against the side of the couch. We talked, about where he went for work, how long he spent in each place he went. He told me about his favorite place in the world, mentioned how he wanted to show me.

Somehow, I leaned against his chest, blinked, and when I opened my eyes I was in bed, against his bare chest, and the sun was peeking through the shades. I sighed knowing we had to get up, and that I didn't even get to enjoy what it felt like to fall asleep all cuddled up.

I pulled back and saw his sleeping face. He looked so calm. Dante had a look last night after we left the restaurant, and it was like he was looking around for someone. Like he was missing something. He had calmed down on the ride back to the town, and when we were in the house last night he was completely calm.

I laid in bed with him for a little while longer, just looking at him sleeping. I pulled away slowly, feeling his hands and fingers tense around me and I laughed lightly when he woke up as soon as I was more than three feet from the bed with a groan.

"Where do you think you are going so early?" He asked me, raising an eyebrow and I shook my head and got into the closet.

"We have to get to the Bed and Breakfast. People to feed and all that." I told him and pulled a pair of leggings out from my drawer before going to find something green to wear. I pulled out a deep emerald tank top, knowing it was going to be hot today.

I got dressed and walked back into my room to see him up, the bed made, and a suitcase on top, opened and showing all of his clothes on it.

"When did that get in here?" I asked knowing I didn't see him bring it in last night after we came back here.

"I put you to bed and went to the car, knowing I needed new clothes for today..." He looked me up and down, trailing off and I saw him gulp.

"What?"

"I do like you in green love." He told me and I saw him pull out an almost matching color button up.

I smiled and moved closer to get my necklaces out so I could choose one to wear today. He moved into the bathroom, and I heard the shower. I bit my lip and decided to leave him to getting ready. Putting my necklace on I went down the stairs, smiling at my dad who had a fresh pot of coffee ready like always.

"Good morning." He told me and I smiled and went over to give his cheek a kiss. "Did you have a good night?"

"Yeah. I don't remember falling asleep though. One second I am listening to him telling me about Australia, and the next there is sun in my face. I have to get breakfast ready quick so we can go down to the bed and breakfast." I told him and he nodded and I watched him pull the paper apart... and I saw the smile he was hiding.

"He's a good man. I could tell that." He told me after a quiet moment of me cracking eyes and getting bread in the toaster.

"How can you tell that from one conversation?" I wondered, knowing that when or if we have kids of our own I would need to know.

"He asked more about you and what you like than telling me about how well he can take care of you." He told me and set the paper down. "I know there might not seem like a huge difference, but there is. I would rather have someone get to know you nad make you happy then keep you happy and settled for the rest of your life."

"I know daddy. Which is why I am so glad that he finally came to town." I laughed, knowing that it had been my wish to stay here, to find my mate in my hometown, in the same town my mom met my dad.

And that happened.

I heard him coming down and I set my dad's toast out before setting the over easy eggs and scrambled eggs together.

"Good morning sir." I looked up and saw my dad nod to him before telling him where things for coffee was and that he was thankful that Dante followed his rule about keeping the door open. "This is your house sir, I would never do anything to disrespect that." I smiled and turned when I heard my dad say something about how honorable he was.

I tried to think back to what it must have felt like to have Dante carrying me up the stairs, and sliding into bed. Feeling him holding me this morning was pure heaven.

After I set the pans to soak I worked my way around the dishes my dad used last night for himself and before I finished the first pan Dante was around me, pulling the sponge from my hand and kissing my cheek.

"You can go eat. I will get the dishes." He told me and I felt like objecting, telling him that I had it, but before I could even mutter a sound, my stomach growled and he smirked.

I sighed and went to eat my own toast and eggs I had let get a little cold. He finished quick, I saw a little bit of magic leaking out, and I realized he was using his powers just to get the dishes done so I didn't have to do them.

When it was time for us to leave my dad said something about how the church was booked for the next couple weeks, a couple Easter services for the humans coming to town, and I just kind of faltered before realizing he had called the church to get the ceremony booked as soon as possible.

"I could have checked in dad." I told him and he smiled.

"Yes you could have, but I did it. I only have one little girl, and I want to lavish something on her. A grand affair any dragon deserves. Your cousins have already agreed to come." He told me and I gulped. I hadn't seen any of them in a long time. At least since the treaty was discussed and instead of Mathias it was me being presented. He was the oldest of two little brothers, and yet the other family, the man I was promised to, had only brothers as well. None being gay, I was the only female in our line to take the treaty over. I was technically a prize.

"Dearie." I looked at Dante as he waved a hand in front of me.

 "Yeah? Sorry. Zoned out." I told him and he nodded and looked from me to my dad. 

"Are these cousins close? Mean?" He asked, a little worried, and I shook my head.

"They're my three male cousins, my only cousins from my moms side." I said knowing my dad didn't have any siblings.

"Ok, so why did you seem worried they were coming?" He saw everything.

"Because..."

"Her mother was to marry a different dragon, at least before I came along. Her older brother promised her to a rich man who needed a mate. Then she met me, and we marked each other and had a secret ceremony. The contract was still active, and because of her mother dismissing it, her brother was supposed to pay the money back, but he refused and said there was a loophole, any family member could fulfill the contract on either side." My dad started to explain and he finished his coffee and I reached out, pulling his hand into mine. I would take over.

"I didn't know what I was agreeing to after I turned 18. I went behind my fathers back and agreed to take the contract. I would marry the man's son. He had found his mate, or someone suited for him, and produced a boy. And I am the only female of my family left. So I agreed to take the marriage so they wouldn't take action against my cousins once my uncle died."

"You're engaged?" Dante asked, his eyes narrowing and I gulped.

"I stopped the ceremony. But the deal is, if she can take care of herself on her own, until she is 25, or finds her own mate and has a ceremony, the entire contract is null and void since she is the last of the women in her mother's clan. Technically she is a free woman to mate with her chosen one." My dad piped up and I saw that Dante still wasn't happy about that and he nodded and rolled his sleeves back down.

"Shall we get to work." He offered and I gulped and nodded. I kissed my dad goodbye and walked to meet Dante at the door. He was quiet, holding my hand like he was worried I would be pulling away.

We got to the back door, and while I went to set my bag down and get breakfast ready, he stayed near the back door, his arms crossed and I was worried he was pissed off.

"Dante?"

"You're mine. No dragon will have you, and if we have to wait a few weeks to get the ceremony out of the way, then so be it, but if those cousins of yours want to force you away, and that is why you are nervous-"

"No Dante, they didn't want me to take the contract, they were pissed off at me when I took it. But I took it so they wouldn't go to war with a clan for basically not offering me up. They're three stubborn, irritating men who think they know best. I just wanted to save them." I told him, stopping him from thinking they were bad men.

"Why?"

"Why what?" He didn't seem any happier, or relaxed. If anything he seemed worried.

"Why would you agree to that when you knew you had a real mate?"

"Because those cousins, they knew my mom, and I never got to meet her. She agreed to the marriage before she met my dad... and I wanted to know why. I went there once when I was 16 for two weeks, and I got to hang out with them. They were amazing. Had so much fun being Dragons, and when I heard they would have to fight the other family, the larger family, I got nervous. And I offered myself up."

"Without thinking?" He asked, and before I could answer I heard someone walking towards us, and I watched as his entire body changed into a happy, go lucky, man ready to please the guest coming down.

He walked away as I got the orders for breakfast and started to work on making them. I worked while he showed them around, called a nature guide, which was really just Lucas Tackett showing them the nature and animals around the forests. He changed sheets and ordered more food and kept busy until Lunch.

Then I was busy as he walked around, even visited with Charlie. From the outside looking in it looked like we were too busy to talk, or do more then send glances at each other, but inside, it felt like I was waiting to be yelled at. Or be scolded for not thinking of him.

I busied myself with dessert after lunch. Making a perfect chocolate ganache, black coffee cake, and adding powdered sugar on top.

I made dinner as it set in the fridge, and as I cleaned up the dishes and pots and pans, I felt like I was almost dreading going home with him. The quiet walk alone would hurt more than the yelling.

I just hoped he wouldn't hold a grudge against something I did 5 years ago... and regret to this day.

I worked my ass off so I wouldn't have to marry the man I met at the ceremony. Just thinking about Jaxson made my skin crawl and my entire body flinch.