Heit’s pout deepened. “Don’t push things, Caleb Tanner,” he muttered. “I’ve agreed to your terms – there’s no need for anything else.”
Kira couldn’t help but smile a little at the sullen tone of Heit’s voice. He’d always been such a sleazy, cocky asshole whenever he’d spoken to her – she couldn’t help but be a little amused at him being taken down a peg or two.
“Well, I’ll wait for the phone call from your people, then,” she said. “We don’t get many donations, so I’ll definitely be looking out for it. Thank you again for your generosity.”
“I said don’t push it,” Heit snapped back – but then, somewhat to Kira’s relief, he began to stand. “I can’t stand these little country towns,” he grumbled as he straightened out his already impeccable suit. “There’s always got to be something. People just don’t appreciate progress in places like these.”
With that, he turned huffily on his heel and began striding toward the door of the diner, trailed by his two somewhat stricken-looking lackeys. Clearly, they weren’t used to the sight of their boss failing to get exactly what he wanted, and weren’t sure what to make of it. Kira watched as, as soon as they were outside, Heit began berating the pair of them while they ducked their heads and looked contrite about whatever misdemeanor it was that they were supposed to have committed.
As Heit finally got into his oversized car, Kira let out a breath she hadn’t realized until that moment she’d been holding. It wasn’t until the car began to pull away that she felt she could really relax.
We won.
“Is it really over?” she asked, the words slipping out of her mouth before she could stop them. Could she really bring herself to believe that Heit wouldn’t be back?
“I sure hope so,” Caleb said, watching as Heit’s car disappeared down the street. “But I think Heit had been sufficiently scared off by the threat of the Dragon Council. He definitely doesn’t want to run up against them – that would not be a good look for his family. Especially since the head of the Dragon Council right now is his father – Arthur Heit.”
“Oh.” Kira blinked. “Is that… bad?”
“For Heit, it would be,” Caleb explained. “People take the Dragon Council very seriously, and being head of it is a job that’s not for the faint-hearted. If the other members of the council thought Arthur Heit was showing any favoritism to his son, well… let’s just say it probably wouldn’t go well for him.”
Kira shivered a little at Caleb’s tone. “I thought you said dragons were pretty civilized these days!”
“Oh, I don’t mean he’d get hurt or killed or anything like that!” Caleb said quickly, holding up his hands. “I just mean he’d have to pay a hefty fine – forfeit some of his hoard, or something like that. But to a dragon, that’s definitely something to avoid. Parting from your hoard, even a little bit of it, is something most dragons will go to any lengths to avoid.”
“One day you’re going to have to explain all of this to me, really slowly, using only short sentences,” Kira sighed. “All this talk of Dragon Councils and hoards and forfeits and punishments – it’s enough to make my head spin.”
“I can understand that,” Caleb laughed – the same deep, rich sound as always, which never failed to send a shiver of desire straight through her. “I feel like I have so much to tell you – about the dragon world in general, about me, about my family. But I think we have one thing we need to take care of first.”
“And what’s that?” Kira asked.
“Our victory feast.” Caleb grinned. “I don’t know about you, but I could eat about… fifty chili dogs, with all the trimmings. And let’s not forget fries, onion rings, pickles…”
Kira burst out laughing. “No – you’re completely right. I think a minimum of fifty chili dogs is what we need right now.”
“Well then, ma’am – let me go put in your order.” Caleb, his eyes dancing, stood up to do just that.