"Luna," Gaby growled. "That's my male, so don't eye him like a lollipop you want to lick."
Luna smiled at him, her eyes flashing. "Are you super sure you want to be with my cousin? I can promise a little more adventure, in all aspects of our lives, if you get my meaning."
Jose and Gaby both muttered, "Holy crap," but Ryan didn't look away from Luna. "Thanks for the offer, but Gaby is my dragon lady. I'm sure you'll find your own other half at some point."
Gaby's head whipped to him. "You think of me as your other half already?"
Shit, maybe he shouldn't have said that. But he wouldn't take it back. He gazed down at Gaby. "Yes, I do. I know it hasn't been that long, but I can't imagine going back to my lonely house. I'd constantly think of you."
"Ryan," Gaby breathed.
Luna made a gagging sound, ruining the moment. "And this is the guy you want, Gaby? You could've gone for a much bigger rebellion than him."
Gaby glared at her cousin. "We've never had the same taste in males, so why would I want your type? Enter your name next time and maybe you can pick out a bad boy who acts like a bastard until he meets you and turns into a softie for his female. That's your dream, isn't it?"
"I do like a challenge," Luna stated. "Of course, trying to seduce your male away would be the ultimate one."
Gaby growled and looked away from Luna, back at Ryan. "Excuse my cousin's manners. I swear she lives to make my life miserable."
Not caring that any number of people were watching, Ryan raised his free hand to cup Gaby's cheek. "Do you want to find somewhere quiet for a short while, to get away from any stress?" To take a break and let him kiss her as much as he wanted, of course. To add a touch of guilt toward her cousin, he said, "For the baby's sake."
Luna cursed. "That's right, you're pregnant now. I sort of forgot. I'll try to be nicer, but I can't guarantee it. Don't tell my dad how I treated you as he has a big thing for revering pregnant females. Okay?"
Gaby never looked away from his eyes. "Change the playlist to the one I like, and I'll forget everything that just happened."
With a sigh, Luna trudged away.
"What playlist?" he asked.
"That's a long story," Gaby stated. She finally faced toward her brother and his mate. "Let's sit down together at that table over there to eat, and I'll tell you about it."
"Are you sure you're fine?" He leaned down to whisper. "I wouldn't mind some alone time with you myself."
Jose looked toward the sky. "If you're going to seduce my sister, do it some place where I can't hear you."
Crap, he'd forgotten all about super dragon-shifter hearing.
Tori laughed. "Oh, it wasn't that bad. Now, come on. You have two pregnant women here to feed. I'm sure your dragon doesn't like you starving us and all."
Ryan expected a protest, but Jose merely placed a hand on his mate's back. "Come on. Let's find you something that you can keep down."
Once the pair were a few feet away, Ryan kissed Gaby quickly. "You, too. Even without an inner dragon, my instinct is to keep you and the baby fed."
She raised an eyebrow. "For tonight, I won't argue. Although start acting like my brother, and we may have a few words."
He snorted. "Noted."
As they headed to the barbecued offerings, Ryan smiled at his dragon lady. He'd thought it would be hard to stay with dragon-shifters, away from the humans. And while there was still a lot of challenges to face, so far, he kind of liked it.
He'd miss his sister, but Tiffany was just finishing her master's degree and could move anywhere for an engineering job. He doubted she'd stay in Phoenix.
So Ryan just needed to work as hard as possible to fit in wi
th Gaby's family and to start the seeds of his new life on PineRock. Because no matter if he had to delay the true start of his new life with Gaby—in their own place—for weeks or even months, he wanted it more than anything.
Chapter Eight
The next morning, Gaby woke up in her old childhood bedroom and snuggled against the warm, male chest under her cheek.