Dragons For Hire: A Dragon Shifter Romance

by Sadie Sears

  "Gretta, between you and me, despite what happened between you and my son, I want you to have this position. You’re the brightest star I have on this staff and the most promising young research doctor I’ve ever seen. Your papers are astounding and clear. I’m in your corner." He repositioned his glasses and smiled.

  "Thank you, Dr. Holt. That means a lot to me coming from you." I extended my hand and shook his firmly.

  “Paul, now. I mean it, call me Paul.”

  I nodded and ducked my head. Professionally, this was the best day of my life so far. The only one that would top it would be the day I found a cure for the disease hurting my sister. Paul knew about Lila, as I’d talked to him about her before, and I’d included my experiences with her on the application.

  Maybe it might make a difference in my interview.

  I left Paul’s office rejuvenated, almost walking on air. I wanted to jump up and down and scream like a giddy high school girl. My boss thought I was a shining star, a promising young research doctor. I wanted to tell the world, but more, I wanted to tell Sam.

  My phone was in my bag. It wouldn’t take much to pull it out and type in a few words. Before I lost my courage, I pulled out my cell, tapped a quick message and hit send. Dinner?

  I blew out a nervous breath when he responded on my way home, and then I read the message. He wanted to meet me at Fresca’s on Main. I was having dinner with Sam. And three sweater changes later, I stared into the mirror.

  It had been years since I’d had a haircut. And not like I could get one now. But a good shade of lipstick could make a messy hairdo not matter, and I had lipstick for days. Reds, pinks, fuchsias. It was my vice. I went with red, swiped it on, and left before it even occurred to me to chicken out.

  Sam made looking casual an art. He leaned against Fresca’s service entrance until I crossed the street. Then his body language changed. He straightened, and his broad shoulders strained against his dress shirt, accentuating his muscular build. One side of his mouth curled into a nervous smile as he walked to meet me halfway, his amber gaze locked onto mine. And there was nothing sexier than that.

  He took my hand and escorted me to the sidewalk. He didn’t speak until we reached it. And it was so worth the wait. One word. One syllable. One perfect sound.

  “Hi.”

  I, on the other hand, sounded like I’d chewed glass in the last few seconds. "I'm glad you were free for dinner." I ignored the butterflies in my stomach and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. Like a friend would hug a friend, except where my body heated as it pressed against him.

  "You saved me a phone call is all." His whisper next to my ear sent a shiver of awareness and need through me, and I had to force myself back a step before we gave the other pedestrians a show they wouldn’t forget.

  Sam guided me to the entrance with his hand at the small of my back. His touch comforted as much as it excited me. He held the door for me, his manners another contrast to Bill, and not for the first time I realized what an exceptionally lovely man Sam was. He had an old-world charm, as if he’d grown up in another era. It was refreshing.

  We settled into a corner table by the window, far more relaxed than on previous occasions, but we weren’t here to act or pretend to be something we weren’t.

  Tonight wasn’t fake.

  "I have good news," I said after we ordered drinks.

  "I love good news." His eyes lit up. This guy was genuinely interested in my life, in me, and it was intoxicating.

  "Dr. Holt looked over my application and he’s recommending me to the committee. He said he thinks I'll make an excellent candidate to work on the project." The fact that I’d said it without jumping up and down or throwing myself at him across the table was a feat of honest willpower.

  Sam reached across the table and enveloped my hands in his, something he did often, which I liked. The grin on my face widened to match his.

  "I knew it! And he knows it! This is fabulous!”

  I smiled just as the server arrived, for which I was grateful, or I might’ve ended up in his lap anyway.

  We ordered our food, and Sam raised his glass. "A toast. To your new position."

  I lifted my glass, and my hand trembled. It looked like a date, sounded like a date. It was absolutely not a date. I just wanted to tell Sam the good news. Granted, I could have done that over the phone, but I had to admit I also wanted to see him, to feel the buzz of energy he often exuded. As I took a sip of my cocktail, I let that thought sink in.

  Did Sam think it was a date? He might, considering we were supposed to be upping the ante and doing the whole romantic thing to get Bill off my ass. But I didn’t want this to be a date, fake or otherwise. I simply wanted it to be a meeting up of two friends.

  “So, enough about me, tell me more about you. Where are you from?" Everything about Sam had captivated me so far. His history wouldn’t be different.

  “Australia.”

  “Oh, I hadn’t picked up on your accent. When did you leave? What does your family think about you living over here?”

  His back stiffened as he chewed the inside of his lip. Family should’ve been an easy topic. Mine was, anyway. Mostly. I didn’t talk about the accident that took Mom and Dad, but I had a thousand better stories I loved to share. Maybe he hadn’t had it so easy.

  The server brought Sam’s crab fondue in a homemade bread bowl, and my assorted slices of Gruyere, Chabichou, and Brie de Meaux with freshly baked baguettes.

  "Those look good." Sam nodded to my plate, avoiding my question.

  I nodded then sat for a few moments without moving. I’d already accepted Sam was reticent, but this was an entirely new level.

  "Try a bite." He ripped a piece of bread and dipped it into the fondue. He held it close to my mouth.

  I hesitated, and Sam smiled, cocked his head, and waited. It was bread dipped in melted Swiss cheese flavored with chunks of crab. Not like he was asking me to take a bite of a poisonous apple. It didn’t mean anything. Plus, wearing his mother’s ring as my engagement ring probably meant more in the grand scheme of things. I looked up and stared directly into his eyes. His pupils dilated until there was just a thin line of amber surrounding them. God, he had beautiful eyes. I opened my mouth, accepting the creamy delight. When I accidentally touched my tongue to his thumb, I couldn’t even take a breath, but then he smiled, slow and sexy, and every dream I ever had was in that smile. And by dream, I meant fantasy. My stomach flipped, and I pulled back.

  “Good?”

  "Um, yes." I wasn’t talking about the fondue. "So, how are things in the security biz?" I asked in a wobbly voice as a way of breaking through the silence.

  "Actually, better than I thought. A lot of the guys got jobs." He shrugged. “It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming along.”

  Sam didn't have a problem talking about work or how he liked the community, but any questions about his personal life and he clammed up. He was genuine in helping people, but I wanted to know about him. In the end, I didn’t push. Maybe there was something in his past he hadn’t dealt with yet. Maybe there was something he couldn’t talk about. Or maybe he just didn’t trust me with his history. We would talk when he was ready.

  After dinner, we strolled down Main Street and past the park toward my building.

  "This is a good location. Close to the hospital. Is that why you moved here?" Sam asked as he pointed to my building.

  “It’s one of the reasons.” I could’ve been coy and asked if he was looking for a place, offered to show him mine. But I chickened out. "Might not be a big city, but there’s a coffee shop close, a couple restaurants, everything I need to distract myself when work is too much, or Lila’s illness is too much, or life is too much."

  I loved the house where I grew up but living out there in the great treed nothingness without anything to do but contemplate life would’ve driven me crazy. And Lila loved the house and loved it out there with the wilderness at the backdoor. So, it made sense that sh
e stayed there. I would’ve driven her crazy if I tried to live there with her. Main Street's hustle and bustle helped me forget Lila was sick, even if it was only for a moment.

  "I get it. Sometimes we all want to hide from ourselves or our realities."

  I ignored his accurate assessment and did exactly what I was good at—distraction. I ran a hand over my stomach. "I'm so full.” Along with the appetizers, we’d enjoyed lobster and grilled asparagus.

  Sam laced his fingers through mine and tugged me closer until our bodies met. He grinned down. "I think you look perfect."

  I wasn’t the kind of girl who inspired such a compliment. I was the tomboy with glasses and braces, and I had grown up being called names. Perfect was not one of them, and I smiled like it was the best thing I’d ever heard.

  Sam cupped my face in his hands. "Really, you are. Perfect."

  He studied my face, his eyes gleaming in the lamplight, and then he lowered his head and brushed his lips over mine, soft but tentative. I wanted more. I didn’t want tingles of electricity. I wanted shocks and burns. So, I tangled my fingers in his hair and rose up onto the balls of my feet. And when he slid his tongue along the seam of my lips, I parted them for him.

  He tasted like whiskey and heaven, and the soft stroke of his hand down my back teased my nerves. I groaned and hung onto him, putting my entire body into the kiss, every ounce of joy from my day and every fantasy I’d had of him the last few nights. My legs trembled as unexpected heat consumed me. When he pulled away, far too soon, he brushed his thumb back and forth across my cheek while he stared into my eyes. I thought I saw sadness there, but maybe it was nerves.

  "Do you want to come up?" I held my breath, waiting for his answer, wondering if it was too bold. But I certainly didn’t regret asking.

  "Gretta, I'd love to, but I better go." He smiled to take the sting out of his rejection. "I'd like to make sure your place is secure, though, before I leave you here alone."

  Though disappointed, he made me feel cared for and protected. I nodded. Sam opened my door then did a quick walk-through, frowning at Bill's stuff still cluttering my living space.

  "I don’t mean to risk indigestion by mentioning him, but are we any closer to getting this guy to move his stuff?" He twisted his lips. “It’s a little insulting that he won’t acknowledge our relationship.”

  Relationship. I shouldn’t have liked the sound of the word so well. And it rolled off his lips so naturally, like we were an actual couple. After that kiss—those kisses—downstairs, it would’ve been easy to imagine. Glad Sam couldn’t hear my thoughts, I pulled my phone out of my bag.

  "No, not really. He finally told his dad we broke up, but he’s still sending me a daily text or two. In the last one, he threatened to sue me if I do anything to his stuff, including move it.” I scrolled through the messages and shuddered. I couldn’t wait for the day when he and his stupid huge TV were truly out of my life. Sam read the messages over my shoulder, with his chest pressed against my back. I caught a whiff of his cologne again and swallowed back a sigh.

  "I don't like him threatening you.” He moved away and shook his head, nostrils flaring. If he could have breathed fire, he probably would have. “I'll box his shit up and take it to Burlington personally. He’ll get the message loud and clear to leave you alone."

  And I had no doubt that was true, but the fake engagement plan was working. “No, no, I'll take care of it. I don't want Bill threatening to sue you too." Or actually suing him. Bill wasn’t above lying, and he probably wouldn’t even blink when he told a court Sam hit him.

  "I don't give a shit about that." His jaw twitched. I hadn't seen this side of Sam since the night we went to Sprucie’s, but now I understood his anger some. He’d been protecting me.

  Heat spread low in my belly and I turned, urgent and needy, into his waiting arms. He held me and lowered his head, and I peppered kisses along his jaw to the edge of his mouth until I couldn’t take the anticipation another second.

  "Sure you can't stay a little longer?" I pulled back to search his face, and his eyes did that beautiful thing again where they hit the light just right and caught fire. Except this time, there was no light at the right angle.

  He took a deep breath then kissed the top of my head. Probably the sweetest, most disappointing rejection of my life. "I should go."

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  "Lock up behind me." With one last look, he eased out the door.

  I turned the new deadbolt I’d installed, then spun around, collapsing against the door and sliding down its length. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I loved kissing him and spending time with him. He made me feel alive and respected, and he had a kind heart. But more than that, he wanted to protect me. Fiercely.

  Sam O'Lachlan had gotten into my blood, and I was falling for him.

  8

  Samuel

  I screwed the wheel onto the grill and set it upright. It had never taken me so long to assemble such a basic thing, but it really wasn’t my fault. I had a woman in my head. A beautiful, sexy, smart woman. Even thinking her name made me sigh like a lovesick schoolboy.

  Leaving her the other night after dinner was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But I couldn’t be with her until I could be honest about who I was—and do it without driving her away.

  I leaned against the rough wooden fence, and despite the sweat rolling down my back, cold fear settled in my blood. If I were to lose Gretta…

  "Oh, look who it is!" Justin poked his head over the fence between our yards and smiled.

  I jumped, and before I could recover, Gretta appeared beside him. I couldn't believe my luck. I used the bottom of my T-shirt to wipe the sweat off my face and looked up.

  "Sure is hot out here," I said a little awkwardly.

  Gretta chuckled as Justin walked back toward his house, shaking his head.

  "Yes, indeed, a whopping sixty-eight degrees." She eyed me up and down.

  When she eyed me up and down, her gaze settling on my exposed abs, I dropped my shirt and blew out a breath. Her dark hair was tied in an effortless bun on top of her head. I wanted to reach out and tug the band out of her hair, allowing it to fly free, but I shoved my hands in my pockets.

  “You’re looking pretty hot yourself,” I said, hoping for casual but probably hitting inept.

  Gretta snorted, the sound both adorable and funny. “Hot? Get an eye test.” She squinted through her black-framed glasses.

  I laughed because she made it easy. “No work today?"

  “Nope. And since it’s so unseasonably warm, we’re all getting ready to go up to Lake Champlain for a picnic. I’d love it if you’d join us.” She paused and raised an eyebrow. “You know, so I could see a little more of, um, you.”

  "Yeah, come with us, Sam." Zoe bounced up and down so I could see her over the fence.

  “Well, hello, Freckles. You don’t mind if I invade your picnic?” I leaned over the fence and smiled at her. A picnic. With Gretta and the most important people in her life. That sounded heavenly.

  "What do you say?” Gretta’s smile was brighter than the sun and more magical than the rays. “There might be frisbee. And I don’t want to brag or anything, but I’m kind of a frisbee savant.”

  “A frisbee savant. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of such a thing.” Playing with her this way would ever be the highlight of my life.

  “Oh, it’s real. I assure you.” Gretta kept her voice even, but a note of high-pitched anticipation crept into it. “Tell him, Zoe.”

  “She cheats. She changes the rules.” Zoe stood on the bottom rail of the fence now.

  Gretta leaned closer to her niece. “Or maybe the game and its rules are fluid.” She shrugged. “Either way, if you want to come along, you have to hurry. This train is pulling out in fifteen minutes and we’d like for you to be on it.”

  I’d never wanted to go anywhere so badly before in my life. "Sure, let me clean up, and we can head out. We can use my truck if
you want.”

  "Sounds like a plan," Zoe yelled.

  I laughed. Freckles, my new little fan, was on my side. And who couldn’t use an adorable twelve-year-old as their wingman?

  Gretta sat up front with me. She fidgeted with her shorts as if she thought they were too short. I thought they were a perfect length because they exposed her muscular thighs.

  "You look nice." I let my gaze linger a little too long on her legs, and Gretta lightly slapped my shoulder. Along with those shorts, which would forever be a wardrobe favorite of mine, she was wearing the engagement ring. And I would have leaned over and kissed her if it weren’t for the three passengers in the back seat. I grinned instead.

  The familiar scent of her strawberry shampoo had my dragon pacing, and when she turned and smiled at me, I let out a soft growl.

  Justin fanned himself in an overly dramatic fashion. "Turn the A/C up, honey. It’s burning up back here. Looks pretty hot up front too."

  I ignored him, but a blush crept up Gretta’s pale cheeks. We drove down the winding road to Lake Champlain with the music playing and heads bobbing while Zoe sang every word, no matter what station Gretta put it on to trip her up.

  After I parked the truck, Zoe and Justin leaped out, but Lila moved a little more gracefully. Gretta guided us toward a small clearing surrounded by woods. There was a stable rock platform close by, perfect for jumping into the clear water below on a warmer day or lying on a blanket to read or cloud watch or…other things. Things that I couldn’t afford to think about while so many extra people were around.

  Lila and Zoe set up the blanket and began making small sandwiches. Justin sniffed the air slowly, then smiled.

  "Fine. Go play with your friends.” Gretta laughed as she dismissed him.