Burning Bright (Going Down in Flames #5)

“I understand your position. Answer me one question and I won’t trouble you any more. When I search for more information, should I bother contacting Ferrin Westgate? He’s a busy man and I wouldn’t want to disturb him needlessly.”

“He might be able to point you in the right direction.” The guard stepped away from her. “Good night, Mrs. Sinclair.”

Both guards retreated. Bryn hopped off her horse and went over to her grandmother. “Ferrin would have been my number one guess since he seems to suck the joy from most situations.”

Her grandmother gave her a warning look. “However accurate your sentiment might be, we are in public.”

Bryn rolled her eyes. “Fine. Where to now?”

“I’d like to sit here for awhile longer, if you don’t mind.” her grandmother said. “It is a beautiful night.”

“And you want to stick it to that guard,” Bryn said.

“Possibly.” Her grandmother grinned.

“Bryn, is that you?”

A male voice came from behind her. A voice that made her stomach clench.

She turned and saw Valmont walking toward her. Crap, was she ready for this? Pasting on the least-fake smile she could manage, she said, “Hello, Valmont.”

“Mrs. Sinclair.” Valmont nodded at Bryn’s grandmother. “May I borrow Bryn for a moment?”

His words brought back painful reminders of cuddling on the porch swing behind the restaurant. She squashed the memories, shoving them down deep as she took a breath and prepared for a godawfully awkward encounter.

“Of course. I’ll just check on the fountain.” Her grandmother headed toward the copper structure.

“Let’s have a seat.” Bryn gestured at the bench.

They sat, but he didn’t make eye contact. “I wanted to thank you.”

Bryn laughed. “For what?”

“For doing the right thing.” Valmont raised his head and met her gaze. “I’ll never regret being your knight, but the rest of it…us…never should have happened.”

Wow. Whatever she’d expected him to say, that wasn’t it. Her eyes burned. She blinked rapidly and cleared her throat. “And now you’re with Megan and she makes you happy.”

He nodded. “She does. What about you? Are you happy?”

A happily-ever-after probably wasn’t in the cards for her. There was no true love on her horizon. Just Jaxon. Temperamental and sometimes kind, but certainly never loving-Jaxon. Not that she could explain any of that to Valmont and quite frankly, it was none of his damn business. “I have my parents back, Asher is adorable, and I’m enjoying my Medic class.”

“And Jaxon?” he asked like he expected some declaration of love. Was he just looking to ease his own conscience?

“Jaxon and I are a good match.”

“One day, I hope you’ll be more,” Valmont said. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Good night, Valmont.” Bryn stood and went to join her grandmother.





Chapter Fourteen


Saturday morning Bryn lounged on her couch in yoga pants and a tank top, drinking coffee and reading her book. So far, the boyfriend possessed by the demon was acting pretty much like Jaxon when he was in a pissy mood. Could the person who wrote this book have spent time around Blue males? It was an amusing thought.

Bryn’s phone rang. She picked it up and said, “Hello, Bryn is reading and lounging right now. She’s not doing anything that requires putting on real clothes.”

“That’s not how you’re supposed to answer the phone,” Jaxon said.

“Maybe I’m starting a new trend. Why are you interrupting my reading time?”

“We’ve been summoned to dinner at your grandparents’ house this evening.”

“Really?” That was weird. “My grandmother didn’t mention it last night.”

“Call her and see if you can figure out what’s going on.”

“Okay Mr. Crabby Pants. It’s just dinner. Why are you upset?”

“Honestly, I’ve had enough family bonding time and I wanted to spend the day reading.”

Huh. She hadn’t known Jaxon liked to read. “I don’t suppose we can claim that we have too much homework and then hide out, separately, in our own rooms, reading?”

“No.” Jaxon said. “But the next time my mother insinuates that you and I need to spend more time together I’m going to tell her we have plans. And the plans will be that we’re sitting in the same room, reading but not talking.”

“Now that’s a date I could enjoy,” Bryn said. “In the meantime, I’ll figure out what’s going on with dinner.”

She hung up and dialed Sinclair Estate. Once her grandmother was on the line, she said, “Jaxon said we’re invited to dinner tonight.”

“Yes, you are.” Her grandmother’s tone gave nothing away.

“Any particular reason?” Bryn asked. “Not that I don’t want to come but you didn’t mention anything yesterday.”

“Your grandfather wants to have a discussion about your future.”

“That doesn’t tell me much.”

“There’s not much to tell,” her grandmother said.

“You sound amused,” Bryn accused.

“I don’t know what you mean.” There was a touch of sarcasm to her grandmother’s tone.

“You’re up to something. Should I be worried?”

“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll see you at six on the dot. Don’t be late.”

That was weird. Bryn called Jaxon and explained the strange conversation.

“Oh no,” Jaxon said.

“What?” If he was worried it had to be bad.

“Since your parents aren’t included in our community, your grandfather is going to want to discuss our future plans.”

“Our plans for what?”

“Children,” Jaxon said.

“What about children?”

“It’s tradition,” Jaxon said. “Normally your father would pull me aside and talk to me about…family planning.”

That didn’t make sense. “You mean when we plan to have kids?”

“No.”

And that’s when she got it. “Are you kidding me? He’s going to talk to you about where baby dragons come from?”

“Unless I fake a violent illness after dinner, I’m fairly sure that’s what he plans to do.”

“That’s horrifying,” Bryn said. “Can’t you tell him that your dad already filled you in on that stuff? I mean he did…didn’t he?”

“Of course he did,” Jaxon sounded exasperated. “When I was ten.”

Bryn was caught between wanting to laugh and wanting to go hide under her bed. “Why? Why is this a tradition? It’s mortifying.”

“Maybe every generation wants to share the horrible awkwardness of the situation with their own children.”

“Is there any way we can get out of this?” Bryn asked.

“None that I’m aware of.” Jaxon sighed like he’d given up hope.

“I’d be happy to fake a kidnapping…maybe go trap myself under the library.” She was only partially joking.

“I’ll be by your room at five thirty,” he said and then he was gone.

Bryn stared at the phone for a moment before hanging up. What would her role be in this strange evening? If her grandfather was going to traumatize Jaxon, did that mean her grandmother was going to talk to her about sex?





Chapter Fifteen


They drove in silence to Sinclair Estate. Not that conversation was much of an option in Jaxon’s sports car. Planes probably had quieter engines. Then again, he might be doing some unnecessary gear shifting to keep conversation to a minimum.

She was surprised when he pulled up to the hairpin drive in front of her grandparents’ house and handed his keys over to one of the staff for valet parking. “Are we ready for this?” Bryn asked as they walked into the main hall.

“No,” Jaxon said. “But we don’t have a choice. And as you’ve said before, that seems to be the theme of your life…so thanks for sharing that with me.” His tone was sort of teasing.

“You’re so welcome,” she shot back.

Bryn’s grandmother met them at the top of the stairs. “How nice to see you both. We’re going to eat in the atrium since it’s such a lovely evening.”

That was new. Bryn would have bet they’d eat in the dining room. “Not that I’m complaining, but why the atrium?”

Her grandmother’s grin looked a little wicked. “Just in case your grandfather wants to speak to Jaxon about something in his office.”

Suspicion confirmed.

“Is there any amount of money I can bribe you with to keep him from giving me this talk?” Jaxon asked.

“No.” Her grandmother smiled. “Now come along.”

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