How to Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase

into burning buildings. I’ve had nightmares about being trapped in another one ever since the fire.”
    “Ah, you’re changing the subject.” Drake chuckled. “Well, first of all, it doesn’t happen every day.”
    “Thank goodness. But why doesn’t it bother you? You seemed perfectly comfortable in the middle of it. You were even joking with me.”
    He shrugged one shoulder. “I had protective gear. You didn’t.”
    “It wasn’t just that,” Bliss said.
    “I’m used to it, I guess. Although I’ve heard that lots of guys have dreams of fires and being trapped, especially in the beginning of their careers.”
    She was quiet for a moment. “Is there anything that can be done about it?”
    “Are you asking if there’s something you can do about your nightmares?”
    “Maybe. I imagine it will fade, but now I jump whenever I hear a siren. The other day when I was looking at apartments and heard the fire alarm… even though I was in a different building altogether, I had to get outside. I never followed up on the apartment, either. It was too close to that stupid school.”
    “I think that’s natural. Do you have claustrophobia?”
    “No. At least I didn’t. Don’t tell me I’m going to develop it now.”
    He leaned back in his chair. “Probably not. I just wondered if you had it and that might have contributed to your need to get outside.”
    “I think it had more to do with how close together buildings are in this city. When one lights up, I’ll bet a whole block could go.”
    “Not if we get there quickly enough. That’s part of the job… to keep fires from spreading.”
    She was quiet for another moment. “What’s the safest type of building to live in?”
    “You mean like brick or concrete, as opposed to wood?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well, naturally wood is more flammable than brick or concrete. But your best bet is to have neighbors who don’t smoke or cook or let their children play with matches.”
    Bliss rolled her eyes. “Oh sure. That’s practical.”
    He grinned again. Bliss was beginning to love that grin. Drake certainly was a charmer. Even if he isn’t my future husband, he’d be great to practice on.
    At that moment, she thought she saw his eyes glow. They were a golden color but had been green a moment before.
    “Are—are you all right?”
    He leaned away from her and straightened. “What do you mean?”
    “Your eyes. They took on this gold glow for a second.”
    He hesitated a moment, then chuckled. “It must have been the reflection of the candlelight.”
    “Oh. Of course.” She felt like an idiot. Get it together, Bliss. You don’t want him to think you’ve lost your mind, even if you have.
    Thankfully, he didn’t seem to think it was worth dwelling on. “So, how’s your house hunt going? Any other prospects?”
    “I may have found a place on Michelangelo Street. I’m just waiting for my application to be approved.”
    “That’s a great neighborhood. I love the North End.”
    “At least it’s Italian. Mama will be happy. A lot of younger people are moving there now, so I’ll be happy too.”
    “We’ll have to try out some of the restaurants in the area.”
    Yay! Second date talk. “I’d like that.” She couldn’t help smiling.
    “So, tell me about the apartment.”
    “It’s small. Tiny, really.”
    “A studio?”
    “No. One bedroom. I don’t think I could handle a bed in my living space.”
    “I have a studio. The high ceilings make it feel bigger, and during the day I have more square footage because I built a Murphy bed in the corner.”
    “That’s the thing that folds up into the wall, right?”
    “Exactly. And I built a desk into the underside so when I flip it up to put the bed away, I can simply unhook the desk and it folds down.”
    “You sound pretty handy.”
    “I like to work with my hands.”
    I hope you do more than build furniture with them. “Let me see.” She turned his hand over so she was looking at his palm. Large,