The Live-In Temptation (Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove #2)

by Brighton Walsh

“Okay. Well.” I cleared my throat. “Once upon a time, there was a, uh…dragon.” Emma perked up, her eyes going wide as she glanced up at me. “Was he big?” “Very big.” “Did he breathe fire?” “Sometimes, but only when someone messed up his routines.” She grinned up at me, her eyes bright and curious as she hung on my every word. “Anyway, this dragon lived in a cave. Alone. Far away from his family. His cave was exactly how he wanted it—all the rocks just so and no glitter anywhere.” “That sounds sad, Daddy.” I huffed out a laugh. “Pretty sure only you and LoLee would think no glitter was sad.” “What about the dragon? Was he sad?” “He didn’t think so. Not then anyway. No one bugged him. No one moved his stuff. He was fine.” “But wasn’t he lonely?” My throat got tight, and I had to clear it a couple times before I could continue. “Yeah, he was. But he didn’t know it. At least not until one day when a little dragon wandered into his cave. She looked like him, except she was way cuter and her scales shimmered in the sun. She was quiet but curious, and so full of questions, she talked through every one of the dragon’s naps.” Emma grinned up at me, her eyes heavy. “What was her name?” “Her name was…um, Doodle. She didn’t mean to get lost, but one day, she was all alone. She didn’t know much about big, grumpy dragons, but from the second she walked into that cave, she decided he was hers.” “Did the grumpy dragon like having her in his cave?” “Very much,” I said, hugging her to my si...