Page 8 of Dragon AU

Papers were shuffled and voices picked up as they all reviewed the documents and scribbled notes. Rowan tried his best to engage, but ended up in a whispered conversation with Troy.

“What is up with you?” Troy demanded.

“I’m stressed out and hangry, that’s all. And my dad is breathing down my neck about this.”

“This is a big project for the company, and he wants you to do well—”

“So I can prove my worth as the heir to the company. Yeah, yeah, I got it the first hundred times. You know, that doesn’t actually help with the pressure. Thanks, though, for reminding me.”

Troy snorted and rolled his eyes. “You’re so dramatic. I can’t believe you and your sister came from the same womb sometimes.”

“She made sure to take all the carefree whimsy with her when she moved out and left none for the rest of us,” Rowan drawled.

“I don’t know. Ruben is definitely giving it his best shot.”

Rowan thought of his idiot older brother and shook his head. “I think you’re confusing carefree with couldn’t care less.”

“He’ll come around. We all have wild days when we’re young.”

“He’s older than us!” Rowan almost yelled.

“He’s still young at heart.”

“And when did those wild days start for you and me? You’re already married with two kids.”

“Some people would consider that wild.”

“Wilder than a six-person orgy?”

“Explosive diapers, my man. Explosive diapers,” Troy said.

Rowan shuddered in disgust. “I’ll stick to plants and leave the repopulation efforts to you and Raina.”

“How are your plant children coming along?”

“My panda plant bloomed,” Rowan said proudly, feeling his chest swell in pride.

“Congratulations?”

There was a knock on the door before it swung open, and Terry held it for the delivery person to enter. Their upper body was blocked by bags that had a recognizable Blazin’ Hot logo on it.

It was a local dragon-owned chicken wing place that had recently opened up nearby. None of them had had a chance to try it yet, but it was on everyone’s radar at the office, so they perked up considerably upon seeing it.

Bless Terry, Rowan thought as he watched his secretary walk toward the floating pair of glasses and set a small bag in front of them. No spice was written on the bag, and Rowan heard a quiet, squeaky “thank you” before the glasses turned to look down.

Rowan smiled and got up from the table to help the delivery person out. There was no way they could see where the hell they were going like that, and the stack in their arms was swaying dangerously.

“Let me grab that from you and get your tip,” Rowan said.

“I’m good!” a cheerful voice rang out. “Just tell me if I’m getting hotter or colder toward the table.”

Rowan shared a weird look with Troy, who just shrugged.

Rowan cleared his throat. “That’s fine. I can just grab it.”

“Does that mean I’m cold?” They went to about-face and walk toward the window, and Rowan quickly grabbed the bag to avoid the ensuing headache.

In the next instant, he wished he hadn’t.