Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Lorne winced before Kenzie could even think about pouting. “That sounds frustrating. I’ve worked with people like that. They’re…they’re unpleasant and not sweet like our Kenzie is.”
Thank the dragons above.
Kenzie pulled back his lower lip and sat straighter and even Stefan seemed to think it was a reasonable response. “I dated an artist one time. I’m very glad Boyd is logical.”
That was one way to describe him.
“I’m sure he’ll make friends eventually.” But how? I needed something else. “Oh, Kenzie, he seemed to like Talon. He was very impressed by your Daddy’s threats.”
Dragons were weird.
Kenzie beamed, proving me right. “I’m so glad. Daddy looked very fierce when he said it.”
The shiver that escaped the naughty dragon said he’d thoroughly enjoyed seeing his human mate going all angry dragon on my mate.
It shouldn’t have been cute, but it was.
“He really did.” There was no point in denying it when agreeing meant I could change the subject faster and not have to hear what kind of role-playing Kenzie had talked his Daddy into. “He’ll find friends and get settled quickly…especially if he has a studio. That will make him feel very settled.”
And promising that would move my project higher on Kenzie’s dad’s list.
“Oh, that’s a good idea.” The wheels in Kenzie’s head started to turn, but that was always dangerous. Shit. He frowned. “But I had a thought…Stefan doesn’t think it’s an issue but Lorne isn’t sure.”
Stefan actually rolled his eyes, showing exactly what he thought of the problem, but Lorne sighed and gave a little shrug.
What else had Kenzie decided to worry about?
“I’m sure we can tackle the problem right away. We’re smart and Grady is very nice.” Especially once he’d gotten a good night’s sleep and could stop driving around all the time. “What is the problem?”
Fidgeting, Kenzie sighed and took a few seconds to decide to confess his fears. “Well, I looked at the map because I didn’t know where his White House town was.”
“Whitehorse.” The locals around us got confused enough without someone thinking Grady used to be the president.
“Oh yes.” Distracting him was important but not really a good idea, so I tried to be patient when he had to get back on track and the sighs started again. “Well, does Santa need him to pull his sleigh? Reindeer don’t fly. Everyone knows that, but will Santa have enough dragons to pull the sleigh if Grady doesn’t go back in the winter?”
I was starting to see why Stefan had rolled his eyes.
“It’s a small town.” Kenzie was rubbing his hands together and worrying at his lower lip. “There can’t be an overabundance of dragons without daytime jobs.”
Huh?
Santa’s reindeer were all self-employed?
Nope. I wasn’t going to ask.
“Yes. He’ll have plenty.” Fuck it. “That was not his job, so we don’t have to worry about it.”
Worst came to worst, I could just tell him Daddy’s brother had to be back before winter and that would fix a lot.
Hmm.
Someone was going to have to call Talon.
Not it.
Nope, this was definitely a job for Stefan.
I was starting to see why Daddy didn’t want to have a lot of friends…they were hard work.
Chapter 18
Grady
“If anyone asks—especially Kenzie, but at this point, anyone—tell them you haven’t met Santa because he’s a very private person.” Alick had looked normal as he’d bounded up the stairs to the small porch, but his words didn’t make any sense and had me questioning if regular plants could make people high.
He must’ve realized that because he got closer and looked deep into my eyes like he was sharing the secrets of the universe. “Remember private. That’s the key word that people are being trained to respond to. Private stops all questions because Carrick is insane.”
Wasn’t that how private was always used?
That was the mage, right?
Deciding that the first question was probably stupid and I’d figure out the second on my own, I nodded and kissed my nut’s forehead. “Yes, I haven’t met Santa because he’s very private, and I use private to stop conversations.”
I could remember that.
Well, I thought I could until Alick started looking guilty. “And your brother might have to tell Kenzie that of course he doesn’t work for Santa, but he has to make it sound like he does. But don’t worry, that’s just the backup plan and I haven’t had to go to those lengths yet.”
For fuck’s sake.
“Got it. We’ll throw Jeff under Santa’s sleigh if it comes down to it, but he’ll have to pretend not to know anything about it.” That would make his year…hell, his entire life. “But it hasn’t come down to that just yet.”
Alick nodded, looking alarmingly relieved. “Wonderful. Oh, and Kenzie likes you a lot better now.”
Because I used to live near Santa.
“Do I want to know what happened between the time you left work and arrived here?” I’d thought he’d just gotten sidetracked running an errand since he wasn’t much later than he’d expected to be but that was clearly an incorrect assumption.