Stepping under the hot spray, all she could think was that she wished Draco were closer. She knew he would protect her, even if it was from her own mind. His shoulders were broad enough to help carry her burdens. But he hadn’t asked to, and she wasn’t sure she’d let him even if he did. No, it would be best to remember that Draco was temporary in her life, no matter how much she might wish it could be otherwise. He deserved someone with less baggage, someone beautiful and engaging. Someone worthy of living in this wonderful castle he’d built.
And no matter how much Lacey might wish it were otherwise, she knew that person wasn’t her.
Chapter Four
Draco drove Lacey to work the next morning, even insisted on walking in with her. Once he was inside, he decided he might as well stay for breakfast. He made sure he took a table in her section and ordered enough food to keep him there for a while. He couldn’t explain his desire to be near her, but it was there. And it was more than that, it wasn’t just a desire to be close to her, but to protect her.
As customers began coming in, he watched them. More than once, he found himself rising out of his chair when a male patron put his hand on Lacey in any way. He quickly forced himself to take a seat and resume eating his breakfast. He didn’t understand why he felt so possessive of her, but he wanted to growl at everyone that she was his and his alone.
“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” Mavis asked as she stopped by his table.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
She smirked. “Sure you don’t. That’s why you want to kill anyone who looks at Lacey longer than a second.”
He frowned. She was right. He didn’t like it, but she was right. From the moment he’d set eyes on Lacey, he’d been overcome with the urge to protect her, to claim her. A confirmed bachelor, Draco had decided long ago he’d never mate with anyone. It seemed Fate was laughing at him now, because that was exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted Lacey as his mate. Which was ridiculous! He didn’t know her, knew nothing more than her name and that she didn’t plan to stick around long. He’d just have to change her mind.
Mavis gave him a knowing look. “If it’s any consolation, you affect her, too. She questioned me about you, seemed interested if you ask me.”
His dragon preened. “She did?”
Mavis nodded. “Question is what are you going to do about it?”
“Make her realize her life is with me, by my side.”
“Good luck with that. I’ll be rooting for you, but I think you’re going to have a hard time of it. I get the feeling she’s running from something and won’t be swayed easily.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Mavis winked and walked off, leaving him to his thoughts.
After he made sure Lacey was safe, he told her he’d pick her up after work and turned around and left. Getting in his ‘Cuda, he headed back home. He had a little research to do. He couldn’t explain the feelings he was experiencing, but he knew he wanted to take care of Lacey, at least as much as she would let him. The first thing he was going to do was buy her some clothes. He’d noticed her two changes of clothes and decided that wasn’t enough. While he didn’t know how long she would be staying with him, or in Moonspell for that matter, he wanted to make sure she was taken care of while she was in his home.
After he got back to his place, he rummaged in her bag and pulled out a clean set of clothes, writing down her sizes. He was about to put them back when something fluttered to the floor. Picking it up, he realized it was a business card.
Annie Simpson
Head Nurse
Dekatur Hospital for the Mentally Ill
What the hell? Why would Lacey have something like that in her possession? What was her tie to this Annie person? He hadn’t been around her long, but it was long enough to feel reasonably certain she wasn’t insane so there was no way she’d been in that hospital. She seemed normal enough to him. She hadn’t been there, had she? Maybe this Annie person was just a friend who happened to work for a mental hospital. But still, why would she have a business card in her possession? It was a mystery. She definitely owed him some answers. He couldn’t protect her if he didn’t know what he was fighting.
Pocketing the card, he picked up the slip of paper with her sizes written down and put her things back the way he’d found them. He’d worry about the card later. First he had some shopping to do. Regardless of her situation, she needed clothing. He might only be a firefighter, but he’d played the stock market in his younger years and gotten lucky. He had a small fortune amassed and he didn’t mind spending a little of it on his tempting houseguest. And yes, she was tempting, that much he could admit. The moment he’d laid eyes on her, he’d wanted her, more than he’d ever wanted a woman before. The guys would give him shit if they knew, but he’d never been intimate with a woman before. Oh, he’d kissed them and played around a little, but he’d never gone all the way. There was little known about dragons, but he’d learned everything he could from the local fae and witches. He knew that to be intimate with a woman would be to claim her as his own, and he’d never wanted to do that before. Not until now. Not until Lacey.
He made the short drive to the boutique stores on Main Street and parked in front of the first one he came to. As he got out, he felt slightly uncomfortable, having never shopped for women’s clothes before. With him never having a serious relationship, he’d never had such an opportunity. He had no clue what a woman like Lacey would buy and hoped he didn’t screw up. What if he got things she hated? He really didn’t know that much about her. He’d only seen her in jeans and knit shirts, but was that her preference or was that just all she’d been able to afford? The items looked well worn, as if they’d been bought second-hand or had been worn forever. Either way, it seemed she hadn’t bought new clothes in a while.
When he entered the store, he felt even more uneasy but tamped the feeling down as best as he could. He was a dragon, for fuck’s sake! And here he was, wanting to cower because he’d entered a women’s clothing store. All right, so it was more than that. He was purchasing items for the woman he wanted as his mate, which made it the most important task he’d ever attempted.
“May I help you?” the sales woman asked.
He handed her the slip of paper. “I need to purchase some outfits in these sizes.”
“I can help with everything but the intimate apparel. You’ll have to go to Claudine’s for that.” The woman rubbed her hands together. “So, what did you have in mind for your wife?”
Wife? He wished. “Oh, um, she isn’t my wife.”
“Girlfriend then.”
He didn’t correct her. No, Lacey wasn’t his girlfriend, but if he had any say in the matter, she would be his mate by the end of the week.
He shrugged. “I’ve only ever seen her in jeans and knit shirts, but I don’t think she owns anything else. I’m not sure if it’s a matter of choice or a lack of options.”
The woman pursed her lips. “Well, we can certainly give her a few more jeans, but I have some comfortable khaki slacks, as well. The weather is turning cooler at night. She’ll probably want a new sweater or jacket.”
“Whatever you think.”
“How old is she? That will help me choose a few things for her.”
Startled, he wasn’t sure how to respond. She looked so young, but something told him she was older than she appeared. He decided to err on the side of caution.
“Early twenties.”
The woman nodded and began sifting through clothing racks. After a few minutes, she had an armful of clothes. She had the jeans and khakis she’d mentioned, along with some knit tops, a sweater and a jacket. She’d also picked up two dresses. Draco knew he’d have to take her shoe shopping before she could wear them. He’d noticed she only owned a pair of white canvas tennis shoes, and cheap-looking ones at that. He didn’t see how she stood on her feet all morning at the diner in those things.
After paying for his purchases, he s
tuffed the sacks in the trunk and drove further down the street to Claudine’s. He’d passed the store many times, but had never had a reason to go inside. It wasn’t that Draco didn’t date, but he could count on both hands the number of women he’d dated in his twenty-eight years.
If he’d thought buying clothing was uncomfortable in the boutique, he was downright uneasy in the lingerie store. He didn’t have to linger in the doorway long before someone took mercy on him. Same as before, he handed over the measurements and tried to answer their questions without blushing. He hightailed it out of there as fast as he could, happy he had a few new things to offer Lacey, and more than happy to be finished with the ordeal.
Draco took his purchases home and set everything on Lacey’s bed so she’d see it when she came home. He hoped they would make her happy. If there was anything she didn’t like, he’d been assured by both stores that she could exchange the items. A quick glance at his watch told him he had about an hour before he needed to pick up Lacey. Just enough time to plan his first stage of seduction. A picnic.
Draco could cook when the situation called for it, but he didn’t think he’d have time for anything elaborate at the moment. He’d save that for another time. Instead, he called a few local shops to get sandwiches, potato salad, cheese cubes and crackers, a dessert and a chilled bottle of wine with two glasses. One of the shops had even guaranteed a large wicker basket to carry everything in. He just needed a blanket.
The hour passed quickly and by the time Draco had gathered everything and prepared the basket, it was time to pick up Lacey. He just hoped she liked his surprise. His heart was hammering in his chest when he picked her up at the diner. She was sitting at the counter waiting for him, a smile on her face.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? For me?”
He smiled. “Of course for you.”
Her eyes lit up. “What is it?”
“Now it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.” He chuckled. “Come on, the sooner we leave the sooner you can see your surprise. Two surprises actually. One I have with me, the other is at home.”
When he took her hand to lead her to the car, she didn’t pull away. That she trusted him that much warmed his heart. He’d known from the start that she was skittish, he’d been able to tell from watching her yesterday morning, and yet she didn’t seem to be around him. That had to be a good sign, didn’t it? It gave him hope.
He pulled into a parking space at the park and helped her out of the car before retrieving the picnic basket and blanket from the trunk. Her lips parted in surprise.
“A picnic?”
He smiled and nodded. “Is that okay?”
“It’s wonderful.”
Taking her hand, they walked down the path a ways before veering off into the grass. He spread a blanket under the shade of an oak tree and helped her sit. When he opened the hamper and began pulling things out, her eyes widened more and more with each item. When she saw the decadent chocolate mousse cake, she licked her lips and he stifled a groan. Did she not realize just how sexy that was?
He could’ve let her fix her own plate, but he found he liked taking care of her. Handing it to her, he watched as she took a dainty bite of her ham and turkey sandwich. Heaping food on a second plate, he settled himself near her. Close enough to touch, but far enough away for her to feel she had her own personal space. It was killing him. He wanted to reach out and touch her.
“How was work?” he asked.
“Good. We stayed busy all morning.”
He nodded. “I’m not surprised. The Big Bear Diner is known for its great breakfast menu.”
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“I work three days and have three days off. I’ll go back day after tomorrow. Speaking of which, I’ll need to give you a key to the house. You’ll have to drive me to work so you can use the ‘Cuda.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t!”
“I insist. I won’t be home for three nights. I can’t have you walking all the way from my house to the diner. That’s easily ten miles.”
“I don’t think I should stay in your house while you’re gone.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
“Because…” She trailed off and picked at her food.
“Lacey, I trust you. I know you won’t throw a wild party or break stuff while I’m gone.”
She shook her head. “It’s complicated, but I can’t be left alone in your house.”
He tugged the card from his pocket. “Does it have anything to do with this?”
She saw the card and paled, swaying in place. For a moment, he thought she’d pass out. Her lower lip trembled and she reached for the card with a shaky hand. He wanted to comfort her, but first he needed to know what was going on.
“Where did you get this?” she asked softly.
“It fell out of your bag. I wasn’t snooping, I was trying to do something nice for you.”
She nodded, obviously accepting his answer, rather easily he thought. Maybe a bit too easily. Had she even heard him? She was so focused on the card he wasn’t sure she was even present.
“What is it, Lacey? What does that place mean to you?”
“Hell.”
He set his plate aside and moved closer to her. Gently gripping her chin, he tipped her face up so he could look her in the eye.
“You were there, weren’t you?”
A tear leaked from the corner of her eye and trailed down her cheek. “Yes.”
“Why were you there, Lacey?”
“You’ll hate me when I tell you. Or you won’t believe me. Either way, you’ll turn me in. Maybe it’s just best if I go now. I should have enough money saved to at least get me to the next town.”
He gathered her in his arms. No, she wasn’t going anywhere! He couldn’t let her walk away now, not when he’d just found her. He needed more time, time to convince her to be his.
“Sweetheart, please tell me what’s going on. Let me help you. Why would I turn you in?”
“Because I ran away.”
“From the hospital?”
She nodded against his chest. “They’re horrible there. Treatments that should’ve been outlawed or never sanctioned to begin with go on in that place. The guards, they…”
“They what, Lacey?”
“They prey on the weak. I would hear screams at night, the screams of the women they violated.”
His breath froze in his chest. Please God tell him they didn’t. If they’d touched his precious Lacey, he’d hunt them down and kill them, every last one.
“Lacey, did they ever hurt you?”
“Not like that. I don’t know why they never visited me; I was lucky to escape such a fate. Or maybe luck had nothing to do with it, maybe they had orders to leave me alone. I don’t understand why, though. Even though I was spared something so horrible, they used hydrotherapy and shock therapy on me, amongst other things. They were always poking me with needles.”
“I’ll never let you go back to that place,” he swore.
“You won’t have a choice, Draco. They’re looking for me. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before my picture crosses Chief Hale’s desk, and he’ll have no choice but to arrest me.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but held back for some reason.
“Why were you there, Lacey?”
She shivered in his embrace. “Murder,” she whispered.
His heart nearly stopped. Surely he’d heard her wrong. She might have been accused of murder, but he couldn’t see her committing such a heinous crime. She seemed too sweet and innocent. “You murdered someone?”
“They say I did. I remember arguing with my boyfriend. It was bad, real bad. I was throwing things and out of control, but I remember going home after that. I know I returned later, but I don’t remember what happened then. There’s nothing in my memories until I woke up in jail. I was told that I’d taken a knife
to Patrick and was found holding it, drenched in his blood as I knelt over his body. But I don’t remember committing the crime.”
“Why didn’t they keep you in jail if they were so certain you’d murdered him?”
“A psychiatrist discovered that I was bipolar with a few psychoses attached to it. Rapid cycling is what they call it, with delusions and hallucinations. I’m supposed to be on several medications. I’ve been off them for four days now. Much longer, and they’ll be completely out of my system. I don’t know how I’ll act or what I’ll do when that happens.”
“But when you’re medicated, you’re fine, right? Normal?”
She nodded. “Not much bothers me when I’m medicated. I hardly ever lose my temper, and when I do it isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be.”
He held her close and ran his hand down her hair, thinking. Despite what he’d learned, he still wanted her in his life. It wasn’t her fault she had a mental imbalance, and if it could be treated he didn’t see any reason for her to rot away in a place like the Dekatur Hospital, where she was mistreated. He’d heard of hydrotherapy before and that it had gone out of style, possibly even been outlawed. While electroshock therapy had probably improved over the years, it didn’t sound like much fun, either. He’d sooner die than watch her be carried away to be institutionalized. Surely there had to be some mistake. There was no way this gentle woman, his Lacey, was capable of murder. He might not know her well, but he’d like to think he could read her well enough to be certain of that.
“The first thing we’re going to do is get you the medication you need,” he assured her. He would do whatever it took to take care of her.
“But how?”
“Moonspell might be small, but we do have a psychiatrist in town. I’ll take you to see Dr. Collins tomorrow. I don’t see why she wouldn’t prescribe what you need. You’ll have to be honest with her though and tell her about your background and what you were taking, if you know.”
“But won’t she feel obligated to turn me over to the chief or call the hospital?”
Romance in Moonspell Page 19