by Rinelle Grey
Hayrian sighed. “More jobs to fill in for. I swear, I don’t know how Mum and Dad kept this place running smoothly all these years.”
“By working around the clock most days,” Rowan said dryly. “And getting really good at any job that needed to be done.”
He didn’t have to tell Hayrian how it worked. He had plenty of experience himself. “Have you tried asking around, seeing if anyone has photography skills?” he asked. It was one area where he certainly had no expertise.
Yet.
Rowan nodded. “Everyone’s denying any knowledge whatsoever. It’s going to come down to us.”
It usually did. Hayrian sighed. “Can’t you do it?” he suggested. “You’re good at tech stuff.”
“So are you,” Rowan insisted. “Unless you’d rather finish off the tax return for me?”
Hayrian made a face. Of course Rowan was holding the one thing over his head he’d like even less than photographing all the eager couples. “Fine, I’ll watch some tutorials. Is there anything else? I’m dying for a shower.”
Hayrian held his breath. This was the moment when it would come out if Rowan suspected anything at all. He’d throw in some off hand comment about Hayrian being busy with the guests or something else cryptic.
But he didn’t. “Thanks,” Rowan said, his gratitude genuine. “I couldn’t do this without you, Hayrian. I know you’re probably really worried about how things are going with Mum and Dad, and all your dragon brethren, but I’m glad you’re still here.”
Yep, all the stuff with the appearance of the dragon clan his family had thought dead, that was what was on his mind.
Hayrian felt a little guilty. He should be worried about that. It had the potential to cause a lot of problems, both for himself personally and for the resort if the truth about his family came out. But the reality was, he hadn’t thought about it all day.
Oh, in the back of his mind he’d remembered that it was all happening. But his brief time with Audrey had overshadowed it, pushed it out of his mind.
And it shouldn’t have. That wasn’t going anywhere. It couldn’t, even if he wanted it to. Now certainly wasn’t the time for him to be thinking about mating. They were having enough trouble with Damrian’s absence. Poor Rowan would never survive if he disappeared for a week as well.
His own thoughts surprised Hayrian. Who’d said anything about mating? Not him, surely? No, he wasn’t talking about mating with Audrey, just about hanging out with her while she was here and cheering her up. That was all. There was no harm in that, was there?
He was in perfect control, and he wouldn’t let this get in the way of his responsibilities. Of managing the resort and keeping their secret.
Not like Damrian had.
Rowan was staring at him, his expression growing suspicious, so Hayrian said, “Mum and Dad will handle it, I’m sure. The best thing we can do is keep the resort running while they’re gone. Was there anything else?”
Rowan kept staring at him for long enough to make Hayrian nervous, then he shook his head. “I think that’s enough for one day. Go hit the shower.”
Hayrian was more than happy to oblige.
Chapter 6
Audrey tossed and turned, but nothing helped her find a comfortable position. The single bed was too small for her to feel right, and she kept worrying she’d fall out for some reason. And no matter how hard she tried, the midnight doubts and questions, about her life with Mark and how easily she’d been fooled, wouldn’t be silenced.
Eventually, when the morning light began to creep into the room around the drawn curtains, she gave up the pretence, and rose quietly so as not to wake Eliana. She needn’t have worried, her friend was sound asleep, giving a little snore every now and then.
Audrey dressed silently, then slipped outside. Maybe a walk on the beach would make her feel better. It should be quiet this time of the morning.
It was quiet. And beautiful. A golden glow bathed the ocean and beach as the sun just peeked over the trees behind. Audrey stood at the edge of the dunes, staring in wonder.
A sense of tranquillity and a strange feeling of contentment flowed over her. Natural beauty had always done that for her. She remembered spending hours outside when she was younger, just absorbing the peace.
It had been far too long since she’d done that. She hadn’t even realised she missed it until this moment. She could almost feel some of her fears and worries were being washed away. Maybe it was a little like meditating. In this moment, it was as if the past and the future ceased to matter, and she could just exist right here, right now.
Whatever she did next, she wanted to remember this feeling, remember how important it was for her soul. She wished there was some way she could capture this moment. To keep it with her always.
If only she’d brought her camera. But it was sitting back at Mark’s in a box somewhere. She’d never even unpacked it. She’d been too busy with more important things after they’d moved in together.
Photography was another thing that had brought her joy that she’d abandoned. She’d done that far too much. Just because it wasn’t a viable career choice, didn’t mean she couldn’t still enjoy it. And she’d have plenty of time for things like that now that she no longer had a man taking up time in her life.
But it hadn’t occurred to her to pack it, even before things had gone sour. She’d assumed that her phone would be more than enough to capture a few happy honeymoon snaps. That was all she’d used for a very long time.
Well, just because she didn’t have a professional camera didn’t mean she couldn’t capture this moment. She wanted the memory. It didn’t have to be technically perfect.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the phone, lining it up, and hitting the screen to focus. She took several photos, changing angles and framing until she got one she was happy with. She stared at the phone screen, stupidly pleased with the image.
It meant something. It wasn’t just a pretty sunrise photo. It was a representation of her feelings in this moment. It had soul, a magic that was more than the photons that it was made of.
As she stared, a man jogged into the frame wearing only a pair of board shorts, his tanned skin and blond hair bathed in the golden sunrise. He looked just as magical as his picturesque surroundings, and Audrey couldn’t help herself. She snapped another photo, then a dozen more.
He looked so happy and carefree, jogging along the beach, his gaze straight ahead, looking neither right or left. He looked completely at home. As though he belonged here.
And so he should. When she lifted her eyes from the phone screen to stare at him in full size, she realised it was Hayden. He hadn’t seen her, hadn’t even looked in her direction, so she let herself stare at him for a few moments.
Eliana was right. He really was gorgeous. Even Audrey had to agree with that.
And there was certainly no harm in looking, was there?
Except at just that moment, as though he sensed her gaze, his head swung in her direction. His footsteps faltered for a second, then he slowed down and stopped. He waved at her, and acting on impulse, Audrey lifted her phone and snapped another picture before waving back.
She’d thought he’d continue on his run, obviously he’d been enjoying it, but instead he came across the sand towards her. Her heart fluttered in her chest as he drew near, wondering what he was going to say. Would he be upset that she’d been photographing him?
“Morning,” he said easily, his smile wide. “You’re up early?”
Audrey shrugged, shoving her phone back in her pocket before he could ask about it, or worse yet, request to see the photos. “I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted.
“Even after all that jet skiing yesterday?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “That should have worn you out.”
Audrey shrugged again, this time a little uncomfortably. She didn’t feel like explaining how she’d been lying awake imagining Mark kissing Louise, wondering if the assistant had already moved into the apartm
ent she and Mark had shared, and thinking painful thoughts about how she was going to have to face up to them if she wanted to retrieve her stuff when this week was over.
Instead she asked, “Do you do this every morning?”
“Most mornings, when I have time,” Hayden agreed. “Things have been a bit busy lately.” He paused for a moment, then waved at the beach. “Do you want to come for a walk?”
Audrey hesitated, knowing she shouldn’t go, and yet yearning to. He fascinated her. He was everything she wasn’t. And yet, everything she wished she could be. He seemed so sure of himself, confident in his life and in what he was doing. She’d love to know how he managed that.
More than any of that though, she felt this overwhelming desire to be near him. Just to hear his voice, no matter what he was saying. That was the bit that scared her. The bit that made her sure she should keep her distance.
She and Mark had just broken up, if that’s what you could call it. This feeling couldn’t be real, could it? Was it possible to be mourning the loss of one relationship while longing for another? Not that a relationship was possible. At most she and Hayden might have a quick fling. But she wasn’t even sure there was time for that. She’d already lost nearly two days out of her seven.
She shook her head. “I don’t think I could keep up with you.”
“I can do slow too,” he responded immediately. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you behind.”
His words tugged at her heart. He meant that he would walk instead of jog, of course, but for a moment there, her heart had felt it meant something deeper. As if it meant he was someone who, if he promised something, kept that promise.
The feeling triggered a longing for that certainty, and despite knowing it was silly, she found herself nodding. “Okay, if you’re sure I won’t slow you down.”
In answer, Hayden held out a hand. Audrey took it and let him lead her down to the edge of the water.
They walked along the beach, hand in hand, in silence for a while. Audrey felt no need to fill the stillness with words. She was content soaking up the early morning sunshine, listening to the waves gently lapping the sand, and the seagulls calling.
Hayden was the one who broke the silence. “Do you miss him?” His question was quiet, a little uncertain.
Audrey felt the usual withdrawal that hit her every time she thought about Mark. She felt so stupid for how he’d managed to fool her, and she was afraid that if she talked about it with anyone, they’d realise what an easy target she’d been.
I won’t leave you behind. That’s what Hayden had said.
The words had touched her. And even the question he had asked now wasn’t about what had happened. It was about how she was coping, what she felt. There was no harm in talking about that, was there?
Audrey shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I miss the illusion of the life we had. I miss knowing what I’m going to do when I wake up each morning. I miss having someone I can trust to be there. But then again, none of that was real. So… I don’t know.”
She winced, sure that she’d just made almost as big a fool of herself as if she’d told him about Mark using her for his career and cheating on her with Louise. He’d asked a simple question, with a yes or no answer, and she’d given him another riddle.
But Hayden was nodding as though what she’d said made perfect sense. “It will take time to get past all that I guess. But I’m sure you’ll make a new life for yourself. A better one than you had with him.”
His words comforted her more than she’d expected. They echoed what Eliana had said earlier, and together they started to build a path to a new reality. She knew life went on, that she wouldn’t feel like this forever, but she clung to the hope that whatever she found, wherever her life went next, that it had the potential to be better.
Hayden didn’t ask any more questions, just pointed out some dolphins jumping over the waves in the distance. The distraction pulled her away from worrying about the past and back into the present.
Audrey was tempted to pull her phone out and take a picture, but she knew even without trying, that they’d be too far away for the phone’s camera lens.
After a while, they were joined by other couples also out for a morning stroll. This time though, Audrey didn’t feel in the least bit jealous or upset. She even smiled at a few people who smiled and waved at them.
They walked all the way up past the jetty, to where a rocky cliff signalled the end of the beach, then turned around and began to head back towards the resort.
As they neared the point at which they’d met, they both stopped as if by prearranged agreement, and turned to face each other.
Hayden paused for a moment, staring at her, and Audrey waited, feeling her heart thumping.
He took a deep breath and asked, “Would you like to go out to dinner? Not as a date or anything. I’m guessing you’re not ready for that yet, just as friends…” His voice trailed off.
Audrey hesitated too. It was too soon. She knew that. But his assurance that it wasn’t a date soothed her concerns a little. They could have dinner and just chat, couldn’t they? There was no harm in that.
And she wanted it. Badly. She stared back at him, remembering the magical morning, seeing him on the beach, walking together. If she’d been the superstitious sort, she might have thought it was an omen. Since she most definitely wasn’t, she decided to focus on the fact that being around him made her happy. And she couldn’t find anything wrong with that.
“Sure. I’d like that.” She gave him a smile.
Hayden grinned. “I’ll see you at the Fireside Reef, about seven?”
“I’ll be there,” Audrey agreed, even though butterflies were starting up in her stomach. It had been a long time since she’d been on a date.
But this wasn’t a date. He’d said it wasn’t.
Even if her attraction to him suggested otherwise.
Chapter 7
Hayrian had had yet another crazy, busy day. He was sure that every single problem that could befall the resort had waited until his parents had gone away to hit. He felt like he’d spent all day running from one end of the island to the other, putting out metaphorical fires.
Now though, he shrugged all that off as he walked over to the Fireside Reef, enjoying the cool evening breeze after the heat of the day.
But even the evening breeze didn’t cool the heat flowing through his body at the thought of seeing Audrey again. He shouldn’t have asked her out, even though he’d clarified that this wasn’t a date.
A twinge of guilt niggled at him. Was he more invested in this than he should be? Every aspect of the situation was warning him that getting involved with her was a bad idea. With the dragons under threat of exposure, or worse, being denied acceptance in this country, now was the worst possible time to reveal his true dragon nature to anyone, let alone someone who had so many problems of their own.
But he just hadn’t been able to resist. Something about her called to him in a way he’d never experienced with anyone before. Called to him in a way that, for the first time, wasn’t making him back away. That was the real reason he should be nervous about this. But he wasn’t. This felt right, even though it shouldn’t. And he couldn’t deny it, even though he knew he should.
He’d seen her open up when they were jet skiing, seen her delight in the power of the waves, and her own ability to ride them. He wanted to see more of that side of her. On the beach that morning, he’d seen her quiet, introspective side, and he’d been drawn to that too.
Who was he kidding? He wanted to see more of all sides of her.
Being with her made him want to forget all about his own problems and issues, just throw them away, and commit himself to seeing these feelings through.
It even made him want to throw away all those ideas about not getting mated.
For the first time, he was starting to see the advantages of it. If he and Audrey were mated, she’d no longer have any trust issues. She’d
know that she could rely on him and that he would love her for as long as they both lived.
He’d never realised how comforting that certainty was for dragons. He’d always seen it as their weakness, but now he realised it was actually their strength. The ties formed by the mating bond gave a certainty to life.
He wanted all that with Audrey. He just didn’t know how it would be possible. She had another life away from Dragon Island. She knew nothing about his world or his kind.
And worse, he couldn’t tell her. Not now at least.
Which meant that in another five days, she’d leave the island, and him, possibly never to return.
That idea terrified him and pushed him to do something now, so that even if she left, he would at least have something to remember her by.
So despite all the risks, he’d asked her out. He’d wanted to spend more time with her, to get to know her. And dinner was the perfect time to do that. Even though he was struggling not to think of it as a date in his mind, and she probably was too. He wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t come.
He headed into the Fireside Reef, his eyes searching the room, his heart quickening in anticipation. Where was she? Was she here? Or had she chickened out?
He caught sight of her then, sitting at the bar next to Eliana. Maybe he’d taken that ‘not a date’ thing too far if she’d decided to invite her friend. And he couldn’t even say anything about it.
Even if he did want her all to himself.
Her eyes met his across the room, and it was as though there was no distance between them at all. A current stronger than anything he’d ever felt flowed between them, a connection that he couldn’t deny.
She said something to her friend, her words inaudible at this distance, then she came across the room towards him. Alone. Eliana was turning towards the door, where Ryan was arriving. Somehow, Hayrian wasn’t surprised. And it left his attention free to focus completely on Audrey.