by Alicia Banks
“Yeah.” He laughed “Yeah when I propose I will do it right. I’ll even get down on my knee.”
“Well, you don’t have to go that far.” She paused. About the baby, I need to make an appointment with the OB, the doctor who’ll deliver the baby. Do you want to go with me?”
“I am the proud father. So, yes, I would very much like to be involved in all of it.”
“Ok. I’ll make an appointment and let you know when it is.”
“Sounds good.”
“Do you want to be with me when I have the baby? Is there a special protocol for dragon shifter babies? Will the baby look funny?”
“He or she will look like any other baby. If it does have abilities, they won’t show up until later.”
“Right.” She fell silent again, probably lost in thought.
“So, what are you doing now?” she asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.
“Sitting in my office. I might make my way down to the poker game later, tell the guys the good news.”
“Are they all dragons?”
“No, but they are all shifters. Tiberius, you met him at the smoothie cart. He’s a wolf shifter, like Phoebe's mate, Teagan. Hank is a boar shifter. David and Andrew are wild cat shifters. Dave is a black panther and Andrew is a cheetah. Eliot is a dog shifter. I think he’s a golden retriever. Bob is a grizzly bear shifter and sometimes we have another elite dragon play. His name is Balthazar. He is not my friend, we just let him play. I don’t really get along with other elite dragons. I prefer humans and other shifters. The lesser dragons are ok. They don’t like elites, so they give me a wide berth.”
“Wow!” She fell silent again and he chuckled to himself.
“What are you doing?” he asked when she remained silent.
“Mickey brought over dinner and we’re binge-watching our favorite soap opera.”
“Enjoy! Speaking of dinner, Mother will want to know what to serve. Do you have a favorite dish?”
“What do dragons eat?”
“Well we’re human, too. We eat normal human food. Lots of meat.”
“Steak is good.”
“Steak, yes, steak is good. I’ll ask Mother to have the chef grill steaks. With maybe baked potatoes?”
“Yeah that sounds good, and macaroni and cheese. I love mac and cheese.”
“Macaroni and cheese. You got it.”
“With bacon,” she added excitedly. “I’m not marathoning so it’s actually a good time. I’m a foodie when I’m not marathoning.”
“Macaroni and cheese with bacon. I’ll let her know. What about dessert?”
“Oh, you can’t go wrong with chocolate cake.”
“Chocolate cake it is.” He wrote it all down so he would remember.
“What are your mom’s favorite flowers? I’d like to make her an arrangement.”
“Snapdragons.”
“Of course, snapdragons. I wonder if that wedding I recently did, was for a dragon couple. Honestly, I thought it was for your wedding, so I destroyed the bride’s bouquet.”
“You destroyed the bride’s bouquet?”
“Well she doesn’t know I did. I made her an even more beautiful bouquet, because I felt so guilty.”
He laughed. “Wow, you were mad.”
“I also threw the bucket of orchids.”
“You threw the bucket of orchids?”
“Yeah, I was angry, and I was going to tear all the petals off every orchid in my shop, but Mickey stopped me from doing it.”
“I’m glad she stopped you from doing that.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Well, I will let you get back to your soap opera. I’ll see you soon, Sarai.”
“Yes, you will, Alistair.” She hung up. He called Phoebe.
“HI!”
“Come to family dinner this Sunday.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m making a big announcement, and I want you to be there.”
“What is the big announcement?”
“Well, I’m officially calling off our engagement. Somehow, I think the last time I said it, it didn’t stick. This time it will, because right after I call it off, I’m introducing everyone to my girlfriend. My pregnant girlfriend.” He paused
“Sarai is pregnant? Oh my gosh! Congratulations. Oh, I’m so excited for you. Can I bring Teagan?”
“Sure, after we’re done with that disaster the four of us can grab some dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
“Are you guys at the bar?”
“Not tonight. Teagan had something to do.”
“Ok, well dinner is at seven.”
“Should my parents come too?”
“No. I’ll deal with your father later.”
“Good idea, you can handle one elite dragon, but not two. I don’t blame you.”
“I’m excited to meet Sarai.”
“I’m sure she is excited to meet you, too,” Alistair said. “Now that she knows you’re not her competition.”
“Well, Alistair, I have to go. I guess I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“See you on Sunday. I guess I’ll make my way down to the poker game. Going to share the big news with the guys and give free drinks.”
“Sounds fun. Have a goodnight.” Alistair hung up the phone. Then he called his mother.
“Mom, it’s Alistair. I’m bringing three people to Sunday night dinner.”
“Oh, are Phoebe and her parents coming? How nice.”
“Well, Phoebe is one of the guests, but her parents are not coming. I have two other people. I’ll introduce them to you on Sunday. Now I have the menu for you. Do you have a pen and paper?”
“Ok, what are we eating?”
“Steak, baked potatoes, maybe a salad, and macaroni and cheese with bacon.”
“Are we expecting children?”
“Mom, please, just trust me. I have big news, and I know once the shock passes, you’ll be very happy.”
“Alright, we’ll have the chef make mac and cheese with bacon. You’re being very secretive.”
“Also, be prepared. Father and I are having it out, and I want to apologize ahead of time for any damage that may cause.”
“You’re not marrying Phoebe.”
“I’ll see you on Sunday, Mother.”
“Alistair! You have---” Alistair hung up. Then he headed down to the bar.
“Alistair!” His friends were already in the middle of a game.
“Deal me in, and the drinks are on me. I’m going to be a father,” he announced. His friends whooped and hollered.
“So, which one did you knock up?” Hank asked.
“Sarai, and we are back together. I’m bringing her to dinner on Sunday to meet the folks.”
“Are you insane? Your father will kill her.”
“No. I will kill him if he tries.”
“Good luck!” Alistair took a seat at the table and he was dealt in. They were playing for cash tonight, so he opened his wallet and tossed the anti into the center of the table.
Chapter 19
Sarai
Sarai and Mickey were at the shop a few days later. Mickey was filling an order while Sarai was putting together the arrangement of snapdragons and orchids for Alistair’s mother. She grabbed the phone to call her mom.
“Hi honey.”
“Is Mom awake? I need to talk to both of you.”
“Yeah hang on.” She heard her mother go up the stairs. “Ok honey, we’re both here.
“Well, first Alistair and I are back together. I’m planning to bring him over next weekend.”
“Oh wonderful. We’re looking forward to meeting him.”
“He’s looking forward to meeting you, too. I’m meeting his parents on Sunday. I was wondering if I could borrow your pearls.”
“Of course, you can. I’ll bring them to you on Friday. I have to bring Mom to an appointment, anyway.”
“Is she ok?”
“She’s fine, it’s just a checkup. Wha
t should I make for dinner?”
“Well he’s a red-blooded man, so meat and potatoes work.”
“How about tri tip and scalloped potatoes?” her mother suggested.
“Yeah that should be good,” Sarai agreed.
“Ok, then that is what I will serve. So, there’s a baby on the way. Is there a wedding soon?”
“After the baby.”
“After the baby. That seems like a good plan,” her mom said.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“We’ll come by on Friday to bring you the pearls. Besides, it’s been a long time since we’ve been to the shop.”
“Ok! Love you both.”
“We love you too, honey.”
She hung up and returned to making the arrangement of snapdragons and orchids. Then she put together an arrangement for her own moms. She knew they were the flowers they loved.
“Ooh that’s pretty.”
“I figured I’d make one for next weekend, too.”
“Good idea. It should keep in the fridge for the week. So, are you nervous about this dinner?”
“I’m trying not to be, but, well he’s worried. He’s pretending not to be, but he is. Oh, can I borrow a dress?”
“Of course, you can. Color?”
“Black? Something really nice.”
“I have a nice tea length black silk.”
“Yeah, that will be perfect. That with my mom’s pearls. I should look presentable.”
“You’ll look so pretty.”
“I hope so. Ok, well I think I’m going to head over to the gym. Lock up for me?”
“You got it, boss.”
Sarai headed for the gym. Alistair was on the leg press reading a book.
“Slow day?” she asked, entering.
“Sarai! I’m so happy to see you.” He closed the book, stopped the press, got up to take her in his arms, and kissed her. She missed his kisses and gave in. “Want to go grab a smoothie?”
“Actually, I came to work out. You up to training me?”
“Can you work out in your condition?”
“I’m sure I can do the treadmill. No leg press or rowing machine.”
“Alright, I’ll let you get away with that, but the leg press is a good machine.”
“Maybe I can learn to love it, after the baby.”
“It will probably help you lose the baby weight.”
“Oh, that’s a good reason.”
“Oh, by the way, we have a day care here. I can always bring the baby here, with me, to work. That way we don’t have to worry about a babysitter or one of us staying home.”
“Sounds good.”
“So, I hope you don’t mind, that Phoebe and Teagan are also coming to dinner on Sunday. We have to announce the end of the engagement, officially announce it. I told my father once, but the parents are still picking out china patterns and lace. They didn’t accept it, but with you and Teagan there, they will have to. Plus, if dinner is as horrible as I suspect it will be, the four of us can grab a bite together. I want you and Phoebe to be friends.”
“Ok.” Sarai started the treadmill. “If you want that, I see no reason why that can’t happen.”
“Good. They are both very nice. I’m sure you’ll like them.” Alistair looked around.
“What are you looking for?”
“To see who is near us. I have to be careful with what I say, but it seems like you are the only human here, currently.”
“How can you tell?”
“There’s a registry. If you’re a shifter, you’re supposed to declare it. That way I know if you’re allowed access downstairs or not.”
“Oh.”
“It’s easier than asking humans to declare they are humans. They wouldn’t take kindly to that. Luckily, I have wolves on my staff who can smell if the person is human or not, and can give them the right paperwork. When you’re done there, and have wiped it down, I suggest moving to the exercise bike. I never explained the elliptical to you, have I? That might be another good one for you.”
“No. I don’t think you have shown me that one.”
“Five more minutes, then wipe down and stretch,” he said, going into trainer mode. He looked relaxed today. He was wearing basketball shorts and a tight black tank top. His long black hair was up in a sexy bun, on the top of his head. “Stop looking at me like that, I’m not having sex with you again till after the baby comes,” he grinned at her.
“I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Oh, so you weren’t just undressing me with your eyes?”
“So, what if I was?” she teased. “You were too.” He laughed, she blushed. It felt good, it felt right. How could she have ever ruined this by not trusting him?
“What is going on in that head of yours?” he asked.
“Nothing. She finished her five minutes, turned it off, wiped it down, and then went to stretch with him, but he took her into his arms and kissed her instead.
“Did I tell you, I missed you?”
“I missed you too, I’m sorry, we wouldn’t have been apart if I had only just heard you out. I was being foolish, and I feel awful.”
“No. I should have told you from the beginning. I shouldn’t have led you on or had sex till I was sure Phoebe and I were over.” He kissed her one last time before he helped her stretch and then showed her how to use the elliptical.
“Oh my gosh, this has to be my favorite machine. This is so easy and so much fun.”
“So, we should probably start thinking about names for the baby, right?” Alistair asked.
“Oh, yeah, I guess so. I mean it’s early. Did you have a name in mind?” she asked, both curious and afraid of what he might say.
“Lee works for a boy or a girl. Lee for a boy and Lea for a girl,” Alistair suggested.
“I like that name.” It wasn’t a bad name at all, Sarai was surprised.
“Lee or Lea Quintin.”
“Do you want a boy?”
“I honestly don’t care. I will love a boy or a girl just as much.”
“Good answer, Alistair.” She smiled.
“Five minutes, then wipe down and stretch. I’ll show you how to use my new toy. It should be a good one for you.”
“Ooh a new toy.”
“It’s the escalator one.”
“Cool.”
“I’ve been wanting to show it to you, since I got it. Figured you’d appreciate it as much as I do.”
She finished on the elliptical, wiped it down, stretched again, and then he showed her how to use the new machine. He was right, she loved it. She finished her reps on it, then got off. She cleaned it off and then stretched again. He brought out the exercise balls and they worked out on them. Then they went upstairs to get smoothies.
“Hey Tibs, two passion fruit smoothies. One with dragon fruit, one with raspberries.”
“You got it, Alistair. Hi Sarai, congratulations on the baby.”
“Thanks.”
“Tibs is my oldest and best friend. He’s a wolf shifter.”
“Cool!”
They took their smoothies to the table. They sat there for hours, laughing and catching up and learning more about each other. “So, I know you want to wait till after the baby comes to get married, but I think you should move out of your apartment and into my house. You can take the guest wing for now, if you’re not ready to move into my wing.”
She laughed and remarked on the irony of a dragon’s house having wings. He thought she was adorable. He reached for her hand. “I love you, Sarai.”
“I love you too. I was in shock the other day; I should have said it.”
“Of course, you were in shock. You had just found out your boyfriend was a dragon shifter.” He laughed. “You’re over that shock, right?”
“I think so.”
“And Mickey?”
“I think she got over it.”
“Good. I didn’t mean to scare her.” He took a sip of his smoothie.
“She likes scary
movies, and she likes fantasy, so I don’t think much really scares her,” Sarai explained,
“She looked pretty scared.”
“Well, yeah.”
“So, are you ready to see my world?”
“I guess.”
“Tibs, are all the humans gone?”
“Yeah.”
“Show her.”
“You want me to show her my wolf?”
“I showed her my dragon.”
“Yeah, ok.” He came out from behind the smoothie’s bar and, like Alistair, he took off his shirt. Then she watched in amazement as the man before her began to change into a wolf. When the transformation was complete, he howled.
“Oh my gosh!” Tiberius ran around to the other side of the counter and transformed back. Alistair tossed him his shirt.
“Thanks, man.”
“Yeah, sure, any time,” Tibs said. He got dressed and came back out. “So, you saw the dragon?”
“Yeah. I’m never going to look at the world the same now. You’re all hidden in plain sight.”
“Once you know the world, you’ll be able to tell. You must keep everyone’s identity a secret. No one can know about shifters. We only tell a few humans that we trust. Though humans can work out here, they don’t know the secret, or about the bar downstairs.”
“I get it. I’ll keep the secret. We don’t even have to tell my moms.”
“Tell you what, we will tell them if our child turns out to be a shifter, too,” Alistair said
“Deal.”
“So, when is the wedding? I better be your best man.”
“Of course, you’ll be my best man, but the wedding isn’t until after the baby is born. Once the baby is born, then we’ll discuss it. Right now, we’re just getting back together and preparing for this baby.”
“Well, I will leave you two lovebirds alone. Have a goodnight you two.”
“Thanks, Tibs.”
He took off and left them alone together. They talked for hours, making plans for their future.
“Alistair, is there a chance, even a slight chance, that your father could actually kill you on Sunday?”
“Don’t think about that. It’s not going to happen. If anyone dies on Sunday, it will be him.”
“You would kill your father to protect me and our child?”