by Rinelle Grey
And how much she’d missed him.
That thought filled her mind, overcoming the awkwardness and speeding her feet, and by the time she reached him, she was almost running.
His smile was wide as she reached him, and his arms open.
Zara hesitated only a second, but it felt so right and natural that she let herself act on impulse, and threw her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you so much.” She buried her head in his shoulder and was surprised to find tears pricking at the back of her eyes.
His hug was warm and strong, and Zara’s heart beat a little faster. Probably because she’d run down the gangplank, and she hadn’t been exercising as much as she used to, right? Or just because she’d been dreading this moment the whole way here, and it wasn’t as bad as she’d expected. Yeah, that was probably it.
It certainly wasn’t because she was thinking about that kiss, how warm and gentle his lips had been. No, she was trying not to think about that.
Damien pulled back and stared down at her, his eyes serious.
Was he thinking about that kiss too?
For a moment, Zara lost herself in his gaze. Had it always been this intense, or was something… different?
Obviously it was different. That was why she’d stayed away all this time, afraid that it would never be the same again. Maybe she’d made a mistake coming back now? She should make an excuse to get out of here, go find her father and catch up.
She wasn’t here to see Damien. She was here to find mermaids. He was busy helping his parents run the resort, it wouldn’t be that hard to avoid him.
But right now, she couldn’t keep that thought in her mind. It was too filled with thoughts of her best friend.
She was suddenly aware that she was still hugging him. That her whole body was pressed up against him. She pulled back, her skin feeling like it was burning. From embarrassment. Yeah, that’s what it was.
Damien released her, and when he stared at her, his eyes were serious. “Look, we need to talk. I don’t… I don’t want to lose our friendship. We… we can figure this out, can’t we, Zar?”
The familiar nickname on his lips settled her heart a little, and the urge to flee retreated. She stared at him for a moment, at his serious, hopeful face, and made herself nod.
She couldn’t keep avoiding this. It was time to face it head on. “Now?”
Damien glanced back to where the guests were waiting in the atrium and frowned. He heaved a sigh. “I can’t now, I have work. How about tonight? Dinner at the Fins and Ships?”
His words sparked more memories—this time bittersweet—of all the times they’d eaten at the beachside fish and chips restaurant. Laughing and giggling, sharing a plate of chips because they’d been down to their last few dollars. Sand, sun, fun, and friendship.
Surely that was still there, underneath everything else? Maybe this holiday didn’t have to be all about mermaids. There would be plenty of time for catching up with Damien too, wouldn’t there?
“Sure,” she agreed, even if her tone was reluctant. But she had to see him.
“Around seven?” he asked, his eyes searching her face.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, her heart hammering in her chest.
He gave her shoulders a squeeze and turned and headed for the atrium to greet the guests.
Zara trailed behind him, even though she didn’t need to. She already knew all about the resort and how everything worked. What she should be doing, was heading out to find her father and getting settled in.
But she wanted to ask an extra favour, once everyone had gone.
So she listened with half an ear as Damien gave the usual spiel, explained the different restaurants, all the activities on offer, and how to access the wifi for their phones and laptops, then gave everyone their keys and pointed them to their rooms.
“You still here?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, once the last guest had departed. “Can’t stay away from me?”
Four years ago, she would have responded with an equally teasing reply, but now his words had a second meaning, one she wasn’t so comfortable with. One that froze her to the spot.
Damien must have realised that too, because his smile dropped.
Zara felt guilty for disappointing him. For ruining what should have been a normal moment between the friends they had been. But she couldn’t let this go. Maybe it would be easier once they’d talked. She hoped so.
“I don’t suppose you have a worker’s hut that’s free for a couple of weeks? I know I’m not technically working here, but…”
Damien’s look was understanding. “You really don’t feel like staying with your dad, after having lived by yourself for a few years.” He hesitated for a moment. “You know those huts are for the workers…” A slow smile spread across his face. “Then again, we could do with an extra hand, we lost a few workers, thought they were too good for here and left to go to uni. You started a trend. Seems reasonable that you fill in for them.”
Zara stared at him. “I… I’m going back to uni. I’m not finished. This is just a holiday.”
She needed to get that out there now, before there were any misunderstandings.
Did she see a flash of disappointment in his eyes, or was it her imagination? It was gone as quickly as it came, and he shrugged. “That’s okay. I’m not talking anything permanent, just someone to fill in until we can set up some interviews. Give you some holiday income.”
Zara hesitated, but she had to admit, the offer was tempting. Her last job had ended a month ago, and her funds were getting low. Working at the resort, cleaning, helping with guest inquiries, was second nature to her by now, even if she had been away for a while.
“And a hut comes with that?”
He nodded. “Sure. I can give you number eleven.” He reached behind the counter and fished out a key. “The wifi password is on the keyring.” He held them out in front of her, as though trying to tempt her, his eyes dancing.
Zara couldn’t help a grin. “Fine, it’s a deal. When do I start?”
“I’ll let you get settled in first. Day after tomorrow?”
That suited her just fine.
Chapter 2
Damrian whistled as he headed back to the office, where his brothers, Rowan and Hayrian, and his mother, Rylee, were probably already waiting. He was running late for their usual afternoon meeting, but he didn’t really care.
He probably shouldn’t be feeling so happy. There were still a lot of things to sort out between him and Zara. But he was just so glad that she’d agreed to talk to him. Maybe, if they could get this out in the open and dealt with, then they could fix it.
He needed to find a way to make her forget that kiss and go back to being friends. Not that he wanted to be just friends, but it was better than not seeing her for four years.
If he had to put the feelings he had for her on hold in order to not lose her, then he’d do that. Even if his heart did ache every time he saw her.
At least now that she’d returned to the island, he had a chance to do that. When she’d been thousands of kilometres away at uni, and all they’d had were emails, he hadn’t been able to really explain. Without seeing the expression on her face, how she reacted to what he’d said, he had no idea what to say next.
Now that she was back though, it would be different. He’d make sure it was.
He just needed to not give away the fact that he’d totally meant that kiss. That it was something he’d been wanting to do for years. That he wanted to do it again and again.
That he wanted to make her his.
No, he definitely needed to stay away from that thought.
He’d had more than enough time to dwell on it over the years.
He wasn’t quite sure when his feelings for her had changed from purely friendship, into something more. Perhaps, deep down, he’d always felt that way about her. There had always been a connection between them, something deeper than he had with anyone else.
That was wh
y it had always hurt that he hadn’t been able to tell her who he really was.
Some of the elation he’d felt at seeing her evaporated by the changing nature of his thoughts. Would it have made any difference if he’d told her who he was? Was it the fact that she could sense that secret between them that had kept her apart?
Would their friendship have changed if she’d known who he truly was? He’d always believed not.
But he’d also always been too afraid to tell her, lest that belief be shattered.
He might not have a choice about that much longer. His stomach twisted as he remembered the most common topic of conversation at their afternoon meetings lately and the reason for his father and sister’s absence. The existence of dragons didn’t look likely to remain a secret for much longer.
He heaved a sigh and headed into the office.
“Hey, Dam,” Rowan nodded to him and waved him to a seat. There was a furrow on his forehead. “How’s your day been? No problems with the new guests?”
Damrian slid into the seat and shook his head. “All normal there.” He hesitated for a moment, almost tempted to keep her presence a secret, but the others would find out soon enough and ask him why he hadn’t mentioned it. They all loved Zara and each had missed her in their own way when she’d left. “Zara was on the boat.”
Everyone’s eyes turned towards him.
His mother smiled. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her. I hope you’re bringing her around to dinner tonight.”
“Come on, Mum,” Hayrian protested. “Zara doesn’t want to eat at home on her first night back. I’m sure Dam invited her to Fins and Ships so we could all catch up, right?” He looked at Damrian expectantly.
Damrian didn’t know how to respond. He needed a chance to talk to Zara in private, before she either bolted again, or he lost his nerve. They needed to sort this out.
He didn’t think he could bear a big family dinner, watch everyone laughing and joking, all the while wondering if he and Zara could salvage their friendship. Once he’d sorted things out with her, then the others could arrange their own reunions.
But how could he tell them he was keeping Zara all to himself tonight, without tipping them off that he felt something more than friendship for her? He’d never minded before if his family was around. He hadn’t had anything to say to Zara that he couldn’t say in front of all of them. Zara had always spent a lot of time at his family home while her father was working, so it was only natural that his family think this was no different.
Only Rowan didn’t say anything, and his eyes were understanding. Damrian’s older half-brother, human all the way through, always had been a little more observant than the others.
Before Damrian could think of any way to do so, Rowan spoke up. “I think Dam wants to say a personal welcome home. I’m sure we can all talk to Zara tomorrow.”
All eyes turned towards Rowan, and despite the fact that his brother had just pretty much given away his secret, Damrian was glad the attention wasn’t on him.
The respite was brief though. After staring aghast at Rowan, Hayrian turned back to Damrian. “What right do you think you have to keep Zara to yourself,” he demanded. “She’s my friend as well.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea right now?” his mother asked, her forehead creased. “I’m not sure what happened between the two of you before she left, but now really isn’t the time to rock the boat.”
Damrian opened his mouth but had no idea what to say. He’d avoided his family’s questions about the rift between him and Zara for the last four years. He certainly didn’t want to discuss them now. Nor did he see how they were in any way related to his family’s current issues. Zara didn’t even know he was a dragon.
Unless… was his mother worried he was going to tell her?
He had to admit, he wanted to. He always had. But now wasn’t the time. He knew that as well as his mother did.
But they were all still staring at him. He had to say something.
He was almost ready to lie and say that Rowan had it all wrong and invite his family along, when Rowan spoke up. “Come on, Hayrian, worry about that later. We have more important things to discuss today.”
For a minute, Damrian didn’t think Rowan’s distraction was going to work. Then a frown crossed Hayrian’s face, and he turned back to the table. “So what are the latest news reports?”
Rowan sifted through the papers in front of him, and Damrian’s attention was caught too. “Not much in the news. The government seem to be keeping this quiet somehow. But there’s still plenty going on. Dad and his brothers and sisters are meeting with a group of politicians in two days, and that conversation could decide the future of dragons in this human world.”
Damrian still found it hard to believe that his father had brothers and sisters—that he had dragon aunts and uncles. He’d grown up thinking their clan had all died centuries ago. That his father, himself, and his half-dragon/half-human brother and sister, were the only surviving members of Rian clan.
Until the news reports had started, complete with actual photos of Rian dragons, they’d thought the only other dragons that were still alive were their enemies, Trima clan.
Now everything had changed.
Rowan didn’t seem as fazed as Damrian or Hayrian did. Then again, his half-brother was a human, born from their mother’s previous relationship. This didn’t affect him quite as immediately as it affected her three half-dragon children.
Despite that, there was still a furrow to his brow. Rowan might not be a dragon, but no one could ever doubt his love for his family.
“That’s worrying,” Hayrian said with a frown. “Perhaps we should start making our way down there, in case there’s anything we can do to help.”
“No,” their mother said immediately. “Your father said you should stay here. That he and Morian could handle it. If things don’t go well in this meeting with the humans, the dragons may need somewhere to retreat to. Somewhere where no one knows they’re dragons. Besides, you know I can’t manage the whole resort without you.”
“You have Rowan to help,” Hayrian reminded her. “And you and Dad ran this resort just fine before we were old enough to help out.”
Damrian watched his mother. It was clear that she was worried about far more than running the resort by herself, a task she was more than capable of.
No, she was probably concerned about his father finding his clan again, and what effect that might have on him. She hadn’t said anything, but Damrian suspected that she worried that his father might wish to return to his family.
The family he had thought dead for the last twenty years. In that time, his father had accepted that they were alone. He and his mother had built a life together. And none of them knew what was going to happen to all that now.
One thing was certain. “No,” Damrian said firmly. “Mum’s right. We need to stay here and make sure everything keeps operating smoothly. If something goes wrong, Dragon Island Hideaway could be the only retreat for all those dragons.” That had been what it had been named for, after all.
He looked around at his brothers and his mother, and his resolve solidified. “This is what Dad always intended for this place. A safe haven for any dragon who needs one. That’s why we need to make sure that no one knows who or what we are.”
“If they haven’t guessed in twenty years, they’re not going to guess now,” Hayrian pointed out. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“Not as long as everything continues the way it has, no,” Damrian said. “But if two of us suddenly leave right now? That might raise a few suspicions.”
Hayrian stared at him challengingly for a few moments. He was older than Damrian, and he always liked to point that out. But Damrian stood his ground. He knew he was right. And eventually Hayrian reluctantly nodded agreement.
“Fine, you win. I agree that we continue as normal, so long as you invite us all on your dinner date with Zara.”
Damrian’s heart skipped a beat. They were back to that again.
Maybe he needed to just give in. Maybe a night of laughing and joking with him and his brothers, just like old times, was exactly what Zara needed. Maybe that would help her realise that nothing had changed.
Even though the thought was tempting, Damrian knew that avoiding talking to Zara wasn’t the answer. He needed to sort it out.
“Look, Zara and I have… some stuff we need to talk about.”
That did it. Everyone was staring at him. Again.
Rowan had a half smile on his face. A smile that said, ‘I knew it’.
Hayrian frowned as though trying to make sense of what Damrian had said. When he put the pieces together, his scowl only grew.
His mother was frowning at both of them. That concerned Damrian more than Hayrian’s reaction.
He knew that Hayrian would be jealous of things between him and Zara. They’d always had a friendly rivalry going for her friendship, although Damrian was certain she’d preferred him and only tolerated his brother.
Perhaps that was what bothered Hayrian most?
Either way, Hayrian he could deal with. It was his mother’s reaction that worried him most. What could she possibly object to about him and Zara? They’d known her since she was small, and her dad had moved here to take a job at the resort. His mother had sympathised with his position as a single parent, she’d been a single parent to Rowan herself before his dad came on the scene, so she’d taken Zara under her wing, looked after her while her dad was working.
Zara was like a second daughter to her, almost a part of the family. Why would his mother be bothered by him being close to Zara?
Not that he was. Close to her that is. What he wanted to sort out was their friendship, get it back on the right track. Nothing more.
He held up his hands to forestall his family’s comments. “Look, it’s not like that. Just… Zara and I… well, we had an argument…” Yeah, that was the simplest way to describe it. “Before she left for uni. I need to talk to her, clear the air. I don’t want her running off again before I have a chance to fix things.”