She snorted. Nope, Cynthia didn't mind bluntness, that was for sure. "I may be independent, but I'm not one of those ladies in the horror movie, the one who hears a noise and thinks, 'Oh, right, let's go check that out in my nightgown and slippers and ignore any shred of common sense.' I'd be the one calling for backup and staying inside with a baseball bat. I like the option with the greatest chance of success."
Cynthia nodded. "Good. Because my son doesn't need an imbecile for his true mate."
Ashley blinked. "Wait, what? I thought you didn't know about that."
"I'm his mother. Of course I know." Her tone softened and she smiled. "From all the interactions I've heard about you two, you'll be good for him. Sometimes a stubborn person needs another stubborn person to be persuaded of anything."
Oh, no, no, no. If Ashley wasn't careful, Wes's mom might try her hand at matchmaking. "Look, Cynthia…I can't have a future with Wes. Sorry, but my work with ADDA is important, and I'd have to give it up to live here."
The dragonwoman waved a hand in dismissal. "Of course your work is important. I'm not debating that. However, through the grapevine, I've heard of ADDA employees mating dragon-shifters and keeping their positions. It all depends on where you are, how the local ADDA office reacts, and what loophole you use. And before you ask, I don't know what the loopholes are. But if you want to stay on PineRock, there is probably a way to do it."
Ashley's mind buzzed. Just when she thought she knew more about the American Department of Dragon Affairs than most, she was thrown a curveball.
Lo
opholes existed, apparently, and more than the mere niggling she'd had about clan leaders in good standing—which she still hadn't been able to recall. However, if she found one, would she stay with Wes?
As her mind screamed yes, the man in question appeared in the doorway. Ashley blinked at his appearance.
She'd thought him sexy in his clothes from the night before, but even though he wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, his wet, tossed hair and cleanly shaven face made her speechless.
As he snatched up a few grapes from the bowl on the counter and popped them into his mouth, his biceps bulging in all the right places, she instantly felt the need to jump into his arms and kiss him.
She frowned. No, that was ridiculous. She simply didn't jump men and kiss them because they looked sexy.
Wes swallowed before grinning at his mother. "You made your special pancakes, I see."
His grin made her lady parts sigh with wanting.
Damn the man.
Cynthia pointed her spatula at Wes. "I did, but you'll wait your turn. The guest gets fed first."
Wes pushed the bowl of grapes toward her. "Here, Ash. Eat something."
She was about to thank him when his mother snorted. "And no, giving her a few grapes doesn't count as feeding her first."
"Damn," he muttered with a wink.
Unable to help herself, Ashley pelted him with a grape. "I know the way to a man's stomach is food, but you're clearly not starving and in excellent shape."
He leaned over and whispered into her ear, "You noticed what shape I'm in, huh?"
She searched his gaze. "Who are you and what have you done with Wes Dalton?"
Tucking a section of hair behind her ear—his touch making her shiver—he murmured, "You'll see soon enough when we can talk in private."
A mixture of both excitement and caution danced through her body. "And when will that be?"
He straightened up, took the plate full of food from his mother, and placed it in front of her. "After breakfast. Now, eat."
Normally she'd remark on his order, but her stomach rumbled, and she looked down.
What she saw on her plate was almost like a piece of art. Somehow, Cynthia had made a cartoony dragon head, complete with eyes and nostril slits made out of blueberries and raisins. "It's too cute to eat."
"Nonsense," Cynthia stated. "I've been making these since Wes was three years old, back when he refused to eat much of anything. I could make five hundred more in my sleep. So dig in, Ashley. And quickly, before Wes tries to steal your food."
"I wouldn't steal it," Wes grumbled.