Dragon's Honor Read Online Free Page A

Smith.”
    “Thank you.”
    He acknowledged the PA’s comment with a small nod, straightened his jacket, turned, and headed for the door Honor had disappeared through ahead of him. Thankfully, his body was behaving and the front of his pants no longer tented. Of course, that was only embarrassing because he was meeting the woman’s father. If it was just the two of them, it would be a different matter. In fact, the two of them in a room with a horizontal surface? Things could get real interesting, real fast.
    What’s going on? Where are we now? Duke demanded, wriggling across Baron’s shoulders and sliding down his arm to try and peek out from under his shirt cuff.
    Will you behave? Hissing through his teeth, Baron clamped a hand down around the cuff and trapped his brother’s ink-like muzzle before it could emerge from under the cotton. You’re going to blow our damn cover if you’re not careful.
    Duke retreated, grumbling under his ‘breath’ again, but was still. He hadn’t returned to Baron’s back though and had instead remained curled around his arm. Baron didn’t trust him for a second. The instant he relaxed, Duke would do just what the fuck he wanted. He always did.
    Behave, or I clear all your shit out the spare bedroom , Baron threatened as he reached out and rapped his knuckles on the door. It was partly open anyway, so it was more a courtesy thing.
    You wouldn’t dare . Duke huffed, manifesting claws from the ink-form long enough to stick them into Baron’s arm. Besides, you can’t get in there .
    With explosives , Baron added.
    Bastard , his brother grumbled in reply. Baron grinned, he’d won this round.
    “Come in.”
    The masculine voice had to belong to Laurence Croft himself, as he was the only male in the room when Baron walked in. Honor sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. From the stiff set of her shoulders and the fact she didn’t look his way, deliberately by the look of it, he’d put his money on the fact she’d just been told something she didn’t want to hear.
    “Ahh, Smith, thank you for joining us.”
    Croft stood and rounded the desk, surprising Baron by offering his hand to shake. Most big-wigs like this wouldn’t have bothered, asserting their superiority through rudeness, but Croft’s shake and smile seemed genuine. More than that, the relief seeping from his pores was obvious to any guy with a nose on his face.
    “No problem, sir.” Baron ignored the movement over his arm as Duke slid around. Sneaky fuck was using the gap under his cuff to peek out from.
    “Right, well. Let’s get down to it.” Croft turned to his daughter, and for a split second Baron caught the look of discomfort in the guy’s eyes as he took in the rigid set of Honor’s shoulders. For a moment Laurence deflated, and Baron felt for him. That he loved and cared about his daughter was obvious. Trouble was, often kids, even adult ones, didn’t see it that way. Then the older man took a breath, straightened his back, and smiled.
    “Honor, this is Mr. Smith. He will be in charge of your safety for the next co...little while.”
    “Dad, I told you, I don’t need a bodyguard.”
    Baron hid his smile as Honor turned. The look that passed between father and daughter melted Baron’s somewhat craggy heart. The love and affection between them was obvious, even though they were patently out of sorts with each other at the moment. Laurence reached out to take her hands, pulling her to her feet.
    “Please, angel. It would make me feel a lot better knowing that you had someone as capable as Smith here looking after you. I worry about you; this will make me sleep easier when I’m away in London.”
    Baron was pleased to see she didn’t pout, or argue, but instead inclined her head in a graceful movement. “There’s no need to worry, but okay.”
    Laurence beamed and dragged his daughter into a swift hug. At the same moment, the phone on the desk behind chirped once.
    “Damn it, that’s my