From Best Friend to Bride

“So you’d rather pay more for something that does the exact same thing?”

Megan stepped closer, bending down to inspect the new piece. She wrinkled her nose, squinted her eyes and her mouth contorted into an expression that looked as if she’d just inhaled the sickening aroma of a sewer plant.

This was the exact reaction he’d expected...which was why he’d bought the ugly thing.

“You did this on purpose,” she accused, turning her scrunched face to him. “You know how I am about gifts, and you know I’ll keep it just because you got it for me.”

Cameron shrugged. “Maybe. Do you still have that unicorn salt-and-pepper-shaker set?”

Her eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms and mirrored his stance. “You know I do. I just don’t get it out of the cabinet.”

For years he’d randomly bought her tacky things from time to time just for a laugh. He knew how she treasured every present because she hadn’t had much growing up and gifts were few and far between. Megan had a loving heart, and she’d never give away something someone bought her.

And now this tacky dragon lamp, with the light shooting out of the open mouth directed toward the ceiling, adorned her neutral-toned living room. A dragon that projectile vomited light? This was a new level of tacky. Cameron had to really bite the inside of his cheek to keep from bursting out laughing.

“I thought you were too busy to see me today.”

The list of things Cameron needed to do flooded his mind. Tonight he’d be staking out another parking lot, waiting for the familiar crew of drug runners to pass through. Cameron only hoped Evan wasn’t with them this time. He truly hoped Megan’s brother would get away from that crowd. This case would not have a positive ending, and Cameron didn’t want to arrest Evan and help convict him of a felony. That crushing blow would kill Megan.

“I’m on my way back in,” he told her. “But when I saw this, I just knew you had to have it. I couldn’t wait to see your face.”

“There will be retaliation,” she promised with a gleam in her eyes.

“I can’t wait,” he retorted, laughing.

Rain started splattering the windows as the gray clouds moved over the sun, blocking out the natural light.

“Got this lamp in just in time,” he said, not even trying to hold back his grin. “It’s supposed to storm all night. It’ll be good for you to sit in here and read.”

“I’d hate for the power to go out and my lamp to have some malfunction due to the storm.”

Cameron patted the top of the beastly thing. “This is an antique. I’d say she’s been around through many storms. Don’t worry.”

“She? You’re giving that thing a gender?”

Cameron may have initially been drawn to the lamp because of the shock factor and the entertainment value of presenting it to Megan, but there was more. After he’d gotten over the amusement, he realized in some weird way, this dragon reminded him of Megan. Sturdy and fierce. Of course, if he mentioned any of that to her she’d probably launch the heavy atrocity right at his head.

“You can give her a name,” he added, just wanting to get under her skin. The unladylike growl was perfect. “Think about it. No need to call her anything right now. You’ll want to acquaint yourself.”