Page 46 of Dragon Tempted

“That it’s a mistake.”

Her inner voice added and an excuse.

Ryan nodded. “If anyone can talk him into staying, it’s you.”

She straightened up her desk as her stomach tumbled. “Not sure where all your confidence is coming from.”

“He listens to you. You’re tenacious.”

She frowned. “That’s just a nicer word for stubborn or obstinate.”

He leaned forward and started typing ridiculously fast on his laptop. “Can’t talk anymore. I’ve got a lot to get done.”

“You’re fake typing right now!” Maybe she should knock him upside the head after all.

He hunched farther over his computer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sienna pushed back her chair and stood. “Just for that, I am disinviting you to dinner with the guards. No enchiladas for you.”

Ryan kept speed typing. “I’m not worried. Marilyn loves me.”

“She does love you.” Sienna walked over and checked Ryan’s screen. It showed a giant paragraph of nonsensical letters grouped together. She chuckled. “You goofball.”

He shrugged. “Somebody needs to keep it light around here.”

“I’m going to leave you to your important work.” She closed the door to Ryan’s laughter as she went upstairs to change out of her work clothes. She needed comfortable clothes if she was playing with the girls. John obviously wasn’t coming so she decided to go ahead with the surprises she had for the girls instead of keeping it for another day. She changed into yoga pants and the new T-shirt she’d bought.

Grabbing the girl’s gifts, she jogged downstairs to the kitchen and found Bella and Lily helping Marilyn make the pizzas. Marilyn loved having the girls with her to teach them how to cook. Sienna walked over to the table where the girls were just finishing up with the pizzas. Lily’s small pizza had a smiley face made out of mini pepperonis. Bella’s had red, yellow, and green peppers along with spinach and olives. Bella was a pretty adventurous eater, but this seemed a bit over-the-top for her. Sienna walked over to the counter where Marilyn was putting together a couple more pizzas.

“I’m making a cheese pizza for Bella. She wanted to make you a veggie pizza since it’s your favorite.”

Sienna’s heart melted at that. “How sweet of her. What about the meat pizza you’re making?”

“The girls insisted. It’s not like it will go to waste. I’ll get these into the oven. It should take about thirty minutes before they’re ready.”

“Thanks. I’m going to get them cleaned up.” Even with their little aprons, they still had sauce on their shirts and cheese stuck to their hands. “Girls. Let’s help Marilyn clean up the table, please. Then we’ll get washed up. I have a surprise for you.”

Lily grabbed the bowls of leftover fixings and started to bring them over to the counter while Bella toddled over with a bowl of chopped tomatoes. Sienna pitched in and had the table wiped down once everything had been picked up. Then she herded them into the downstairs bathroom and helped them wash up.

She held up the bag and took out the new T-shirts she’d bought them that matched hers. The T-shirts said Girls Rule with glittery starbursts. They also came with a packet of temporary starburst tattoos. It took her a couple minutes to get the excited girls changed into their new shirts and tattoos applied before telling them to head to the living room while she took their dirty shirts and aprons and put them in the laundry.

Sienna joined them in the family room. Lily and Bella were coloring at the coffee table, Bella scribbling with gusto and Lily concentrating as she drew. They both stopped when Sienna came into the room.

“Okay! Let’s get a picture of us in our matching shirts.” She knelt next to them and took a selfie, making sure that their Girls Rule sparkly T-shirts were front and center.

“Are we ready for our dance party?” Sienna asked.

Both girls squealed and got to their feet. At least once a week Sienna would dance with the girls before dinner. She clicked on her phone, and music filled the space from the wireless speakers in the room. Sienna put her arms in the air and swiveled her hips as the girls danced with abandon. Bella alternated between jumping up and down like a spring with her arms in the air to dropping her little butt like she was doing squats. Lily twisted like a top. Sienna closed her eyes and let the music roll over her. She loved doing this with the girls, and it was a stress reliever too. And she definitely needed to relieve some stress. When she opened her eyes, Lily and Bella had stopped dancing and were watching her.

No. They were looking behind her. Her heart sped up as she turned. John stood in the doorway. His gaze tracked her from head to toe, but what surprised her more than anything was the expression on his face. An actual smirk. She didn’t think the grump even knew what a smirk was. And it looked way too good on him.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” the cocky male said.

“You’re not. Would you like to join us? What do you think, girls? Should Unka Gumpy dance with us?”

“Yes!” Lily yelled while Bella giggled.

John lifted his hands in front of him to hold them off, but he didn’t lose the grin. “I don’t dance.”