Dragon in the Rough (Elders Enterprises Book 1) by Jo Vanz Read Free Book Online Page A

was he talking about a book when he was supposed to be telling her why he was a wanted man?
                  “Patience, Katie, I am getting to that.” He took a quick swig of his soda and then continued. “The book is written in an ancient language that very few know. You must be of high ranking with the Elders to be able to read it.” He sat his fork down and ran his fingers through his hair. “I was told a while ago that there is a prophecy about me written among the pages. At first, I really did not care, but slowly it started to take over my every thought.” Paul looked down at his hands again. “Finally a month ago, I could not take it anymore. So I stole it.” He exhaled a laugh. “Sad thing is I do not know enough to fully translate it.”
                  Katie sat back in disbelief. All of this over a stupid book? Dragon shifters she could handle, but a manhunt over a freakin’ book? Really? She shook her head. She had thrown away her life, her job, over a stupid book.
                  “Okay, so let me get this straight. You are a dragon shifter who stole an ancient book from your own kind because you wanted to know what it said about you?” She looked up into Paul’s eyes. “That sounds a bit selfish, don’t you think?”
                  A look of pure shock ran across Paul’s face. Katie fought to hold back a laugh. His face was just so cute. “Well, when you say it like that then yes, it does. Believe me, you do not understand just how stupid I feel for doing all of this. I honestly do not know what came over me. You do believe me, don’t you?” His words were laced with worry.
                  Katie made sure to keep her face from giving away her emotions. She did believe him. He did a stupid thing, but did it really mean that his life should be over? No. It wasn’t like he killed anyone. Katie watched as Paul’s eyes dipped again. “Well,” she started. “With everything that has gone on in this world with the vampires, I would have to be crazy to not believe in dragons. I also think you are pretty upset with yourself over all of this. So yes, Paul, I believe you.” His eyes snapped up to look at her and Katie gave him a smile. “Now, you failed to answer my second question. Was that a dream?”
                  Paul gave Katie a huge smile that gave her butterflies. “Ahhh, yes, that. No, it was not a dream. That was our minds connecting, though it wasn’t supposed to happen. At least not like that.”
                  “What do you mean?” Katie leaned in, putting her elbows on the table.
                  “I have this magical stone. It’s supposed to allow me to read humans’ minds but with you, our minds fully connected. That is possible with dragons but even then, it’s not something that always happens. I know my family possesses the skill but others do not.”
                  Katie could feel the blood rush to her face as it fully sank in. It had actually been Paul last night. Touching her. Kissing her. Katie about lost it when Paul winked at her. She barely managed to get out her next question. “Why did it work between us then? I mean it’s not like I’m a dragon.”
                  Paul sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “That, my dear, is the million-dollar question. Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself and we can go from there?”
                  Katie took a long slow breath while she tried to figure out where to start. She was not sure that she should tell him everything. Finally, she decided that she would just keep it short and sweet. “Well, there is not much to tell really. My birth mother dropped me off at the hospital right after I was born. I was put into the foster system where I moved around every few months. Then when I was old enough, I got myself a job to pay for college. I was accepted into the police