Her Dark Dragon by Lillith Payne

How could I not see this?"
    "Lots of ways. You weren't meant to find out, Robert made sure of that. And they kept you away every summer. What could you really find out in two weeks a year?"
    "I never really wanted to spend the summers away. All year I'd be at school and dream of coming home for the vacation, and every year Robert and Felice just happened to arrange an apprenticeship somewhere." Danni let out a loud scream. "I'm grateful for the experience on one hand, but I've been so naive on the other."
    "Take a breath, Danni. It's been a long day." He gathered her against him a second time, and she rested her cheek to his shoulder. His fingers tugged the band from the bottom of her braid, letting the sable strands loose between his fingers. Even in moonlight, red and gold highlights glinted at him. It was difficult to let her go when she pulled away, but he did.
    "Can we talk tomorrow about the rest of this mess? I'm exhausted."
    "Of course."
    She mounted her horse and looked down. "Thanks for meeting me tonight. I just needed to vent."
    "Anytime, bella."
    "Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow, somewhere in town? We can discuss the other situation then."
    "We can drop the whole idea, too."
    "No, I can't. Let me know in the morning what time and where." She turned the horse toward her home and steadied him. "You know, I'm having trouble thinking about it as home already. Beside the structural changes…"
    "Come home with me, bella. Tia Maria will fill you with pasta and send you to bed with a lighter heart." His aunt had a knack for making people comfortable. It was a talent for knowing what soothed each person.
    "Not tonight. Tomorrow we'll work out the rest of the details of the…"
    "Trade, or deal, what would you like to call this arrangement?"
    "Just our arrangement will do," she snipped, and goaded the horse into a trot.
    "Danielle Cirillo, one of these days I'm going to take you over my knee and paddle some sense into you!" She turned the horse and stopped, leaning over its long graceful neck.
    "But you don't have a netsuke like that, do you, Nico?" She laughed, and nudged the horse back toward the Cirillo house.
    "I'd buy one if I could find it!" he hollered back. Her right hand rose in acknowledgement, as did her laugher. "Oh, hell, I've lost my mind." Nico took the reins of his horse but chose to walk beside the huge beast in hope of wearing away his frustration with physical effort. It didn't work. By the time he reached the barn, he was using the hose to cool himself down instead of the horse.

Chapter Five
     
    Danni noticed the difference in Nico immediately. While still seeming comfortable, his polished black boots shone and black jeans molded to every curve of muscle on his long legs, now stretched out under the table while he waited. The white, tailored shirt was pressed to perfection. The cuffs were rolled back several times, showing his thick wrists and tanned forearms. Several buttons were undone, leaving just a hint of dark, curling hairs she wanted to brush her fingers against. One large hand held a small telephone to his ear while he watched her walk toward him. With few words, he ended the call and flipped the phone off. Saying a few hellos as she neared his table, she smiled, surprised to see a few familiar faces so far from home. She got no smile or words by way of greeting from him.
    Glancing at her watch, she saw it was still three minutes to two. She wasn't late, yet felt defensive already, and resisted the urge to straighten her denim shirt. The wind had taken a toll on her hair, with her braid loose and several curls falling forward. She refused to try to tame them back. She slipped across from him and made a production of putting her wallet and keys aside. Only then did she manage to meet his eyes, dark eyes, angry eyes, all but stripping her bare with their piercing stare.
    "Hello, Nico," she said, looking directly at him. It was a mistake. She blushed, feeling the heat and knowing her chest