Max continued his search, his pulse racing. He rapidly scanned the mudroom where they stored gumboots and wet-weather gear. The open external door was ominous. Hell, had his grandparents barged into the house and taken Noel without telling him? His grandmother had threatened to do that before, citing his lack of years and feminine influence as a reason his younger brother was at risk under Max’s care. Total bull crap. Max loved his brother, who was an enthusiastic and happy child, despite the Down syndrome that many people used to define him.
“Noel?” Max checked the formal dining room, the family room where he and Noel watched TV together, the second lounge where they entertained his grandparents, and the downstairs bathroom before heading upstairs to check the bedrooms. He searched Noel’s first. His favorite toys were present. His bedspread bore crinkles as if Noel had taken a nap at some stage during the day.
Noel wasn’t present, full of smiles and a welcome for his big brother. Max even searched the closet where Noel hid if something upset him or he was out of sorts. His brother had spent way too many hours in that hidey-hole after their parents had died in the accident. Max had thought—hoped—Noel had started to accept their absence.
It was quiet up here too. Max found his bedroom was empty, as was the bathroom, the separate toilet, and his parents’ bedroom. Max had considered moving into the master, but it had upset Noel, so he’d kept using his old room.
Still nothing. Where the devil were they?
Surely if his grandparents had taken Noel, Sheryl would’ve been here or at least called him to let him know. He considered ringing his grandparents, but if Noel weren’t with them, the phone call would start a chain reaction he’d never stop.
He reached Sheryl’s bedroom and opened the door. On hearing a muffled sound, he flicked on the light. Sheryl lay on the bed, snoring, and not even the abrupt illumination jerked her awake. Another snore erupted from her, loud enough to rattle the rafters. A bottle of what looked like vodka sat on the bedside cabinet, along with an open bottle of orange juice and an empty glass. Only an inch of the vodka remained.
With two strides, Max reached the bed and grasped Sheryl’s shoulder, giving her a hard shake. “Sheryl. Wake up.” His nose wrinkled at the alcoholic fumes wafting from her. “Sheryl!”
She groaned. “Whatzup?”
Max shook her hard, alarm filling him. “Where’s Noel?”
“Must’ve fallen asleep,” Sheryl said, looking marginally more alert. Her eyes flickered, lifting fractionally, then slamming shut. “He’s in his room.”
“No, he’s not,” Max snapped. “How long have you been asleep? And why the hell are you drinking alcohol while you’re minding Noel?”
“Not long.” Sheryl glanced at her watch and turned pale. “Crap.”
“When did you last see him?”
She’d conveniently avoided to answer the drink question. Max itched to jolt answers from her, but he forced himself to take a step back to avoid throttling her. Hell, if his grandparents learned of this debacle, they’d make sure to inform the authorities.
“One o’clock. I made Noel a sandwich for lunch. After lunch, I put him down for a nap.”
“You’ve been drinking since he went for his afternoon rest?” The words burst from Max before he could recall them.
“I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me. Not with a woman. He slept with a man. Says he’s bisexual.”
“I don’t care,” Max said. “Get up. Help me look for Noel.”
Sheryl yanked a tissue from the box on her nightstand and blew her nose. “You’re going to sack me.”
Hell yeah. “You search the house. I’ll check the barn. Noel loves visiting the kittens.”
Sheryl moved with the speed of a geriatric snail. She clapped her hand to her head and moaned. “I have a splitting head.”
Max snorted in disgust and strode from the room. He clattered down the stairs, grabbed a torch from the kitchen, and hurried outside. “Noel. Noel!” God, it was dark now. If something happened to his brother, he’d never forgive himself.
“Noel, where are you?” His younger brother adored playing hide and seek, and Max prayed he wasn’t sitting in a favorite hidey-hole with a big grin on his face.
Along with checking the barn, Max walked the house perimeter and scanned every one of his brother’s hiding spots. Where was he? If he didn’t find Noel soon, he’d have to call the local cops along with search and rescue. His grandparents would learn of this and add this transgression to the long list they’d already gathered: drinking alcohol, womanizing, a single man with no experience of raising a special needs child.
“Noel! Where are you?” Max called as he jogged to the front of the house. He searched the garage, the interiors of his parents’ Range Rover plus his Nissan, and the woodshed. Ah! The toolshed. He hadn’t explored there yet.
“Hello,” a feminine voice called from behind him.
Max backed from the toolshed and whirled to peer down his dark driveway. A woman walked toward him, her pace keeping time with his brother’s awkward gait.
“Noel! Thank goodness. Where did you find him?”
“I found him on the beach. He was crying because he didn’t know how to get home.”
Max closed his eyes for a second, intense relief flooding him. “Thank you so much,” he said with feeling. If this woman hadn’t helped Noel, anything could’ve happened. “How did you learn where Noel lived?”
“I followed his footprints,” she said, strolling closer.
“Max. Max. Max!” Noel said. “I went for a walk.”
Max bit back his instinctive chiding words. He’d go over the rules about wandering off again tomorrow once Noel had rested. “You’re lucky this nice lady found you.” He held out his hand. “Maxwell Lombardy.”
“My name is Sasha Mountholden,” she said, accepting his handshake.
Now that his initial panic had subsided and Noel stood within sight, he noticed more about Sasha. She was tall, although he still had four inches on her. Her hair was brown with coppery highlights, and it was long and swept over her shoulders and halfway down her back in a tumble of curls. Gorgeous bright blue eyes returned his scrutiny with equal interest.
“Would you like to come inside for a hot drink? It’s getting cold out here. Afterward, I can run you back to your car.”
“We don’t have a car. I mean, I,” she said quickly. “I am visiting.”
“Where are you staying tonight?”
Sasha frowned. “I am not certain. Once we found Noel, it was more important to help him get home.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “You could spend the night here. I have a spare room with an en suite.”
A slight frown creased her brow before she nodded.
“I promise, I will not put a finger out of line or try to kiss you or molest you or do anything to alarm you.”
She blinked before a slow smile made its way to her sexy, kissable lips.
Max cursed softly under his breath and kneeled in front of Noel for a distraction. He had no right to study her curvy shape, her long legs, or to pray for her to turn so he could view her rear. Focus on Noel. Much safer. “Are you hungry, buddy?”
Noel rubbed his tummy in answer. This close, Max spotted his brother’s bloodshot eyes and the evidence of tears. “How about soup and toasted cheese sandwiches?”
“Yum,” Noel said.
“I’m glad you’re home.”
“Can Shasha read me a bedtime story?” Noel asked.
“We’ll see,” Max said. Sasha hadn’t agreed to stay the night yet. He understood a single woman might worry, but despite the temptation she presented, he intended to keep his hands off. A thought occurred as he stood and led Noel inside. “Did Sheryl have a long sleep?”
“She cried,” Noel said. “Her cries hurt my ears.” He slapped his hands over his ears in illustration.
Before they reached the front door, Sheryl flung it open and burst through. She carried several bags and juggled a fl
owerpot and her almost-empty vodka bottle. “I quit,” she snapped, belligerence radiating from her. “You can send my final wages to my post office box.”
Max considered several cutting remarks but bit his tongue. Sheryl beelined to her car, and Max couldn’t hold back any longer. “You can’t drive, Sheryl. You’re still drunk. At least let me call you a cab.” He enjoyed a beer or two himself, but drinking and driving were a hot button for him, even more so after his parents’ deaths.
“I don’t need a taxi,” Sheryl spat. “Your grandmother will learn you don’t have an au pair for Noel.” Nastiness and a hint of blackmail underscored her words.
Max admitted to a temper, and he hated people who embraced stupidity. Those like Sheryl, who blamed everyone else for their shortcomings. “Suit yourself.”
“Bastard,” Sheryl snarled. “I needed this job.”
“You quit,” Max countered. “I didn’t fire you.”
“I need a reference.”
“Go to hell,” Max said and placed his hand on Noel’s shoulder to guide him past Sheryl.
“Is this one of your birds? Wait until your grandmother hears you’re inviting them to the house now. This will thrill her.”
“Sasha is my fiancée,” Max said without a blink.
2 – An Awesome Adventure
“No one told me you’re engaged.” Sheryl aimed for belligerent but wavered from side to side and was in imminent danger of toppling on her arse. The woman was in no condition to drive. He’d call the cops the instant she left. Luckily, he lived on a private road with only two residents—him and a businessman from London. His closest neighbor was away in France at present, so Sheryl was only a danger to herself.
“Because you’re my employee, not my friend.” Max shunted Noel inside and turned back to Sasha, silently imploring her to step across the threshold and not utter a contradictory word until Sheryl departed. Sasha glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. The tiny tilt of her lips loosened his apprehension, and pleasure stomped out the rest when Sasha stepped boldly forward.
Sheryl cursed and stomped to her orange mini, although her swaying brought to mind a waddling penguin rather than a woman making a dramatic exit. She dropped her flowerpot while fumbling with the keys and swore again.
Max stepped farther inside, giving Sasha plenty of room should his proximity make her nervous. Her tilted lips grew to a sunshiny smile that lit her entire face and made her blue eyes glow. Then, she turned to shut the door, muting Sheryl’s cursing at him, her car, and at life.
A red-blooded male, he scanned Sasha’s form from the rear. He pursed his lips in a silent whistle of appreciation. She bore curves in all the right places. Well, hell. Why hadn’t he met her six months ago?
“Are we staying?” her dragon asked. Her dragon’s tattoo had moved around to Sasha’s back and peeked above the collar of her shirt. “Ooh! He likes us. He’s staring at your butt. I bet he’d like my pretty bronze scales too. He told that lady we’re betrothed to him. Why would he do that?”
“I’m not certain. The situation here is intriguing.”
“The Max man cares for Noel. You saw how worried he was when we arrived. The stomping lady failed to watch the child. She smelled of strong whisky. I think she drank instead of carrying out her duties.”
“We will stay,” Sasha said, trusting her instincts. Pleasure rushed through her along with a raft of goosebumps and awareness. Why couldn’t the dragon her parents picked for her look like Max instead of Bruceous? Granted, Bruceous wasn’t ugly and took care of his presentation and fitness. It was his slimy manner and his adherence to the old ways that made her long to flee in the opposite direction.
“If Max man has a forked tongue and creeping hands, we will deal with him.”
“We will,” Sasha agreed. “But it’s best if we maintain our two-legged form right now. We must learn more. Where are we? How did we get here? How do we get home?”
“I was wondering…” Her dragon paused and rearranged her form until she sprawled across Sasha’s chest and belly. “Even though we’re lost, this adventure might be beneficial. It’s perfect for an intrepid dragon like us. We can slowly investigate our plight while enjoying our freedom. The plants are different here, and we can learn more about what interests us. And, best of all, we will miss the meeting with Bruceous.”
“An attractive idea,” Sasha said. “The only part of this plan I don’t like is that Mother and Father will worry. Our brothers too. Even though they boss us around and give us little independence, they do love us.”
“But not to take advantage of this opportunity,” her dragon wheedled.
“You’re right.”
“I’m going to heat soup for Noel. Would you like a bowl? I have tomato and lentil.” He wrapped an apron around his waist.
“What’s lentil?” her dragon asked. “Never mind. I love to eat. Let’s try it!”
“Yes, please,” Sasha said.
“Can you set the table, please?” Max asked. “The white bowls are in that cupboard.” He pointed. “And the cutlery is in this drawer. Placemats in the drawer there.”
“I love adventures,” her dragon said with a happy sigh. “Let’s set this table thing.”
It surprised Sasha her dragon didn’t mutter disdainfully about servant’s work. It seemed she was ready to embrace this turn their life had taken. “Noel can help me if I get things wrong.”
Max’s smile when he turned to her was brilliant and full of approval. “Noel enjoys helping.”
Sasha inclined her head and turned to Noel. “What should we do first, Noel?”
“Soup,” he said helpfully. His nose had turned red, and his cheeks were pinker than when she’d first found him.
“How long did you walk?” she asked Noel while she opened the first of the drawers. “Did you get hot?”
Noel bobbed his head up and down, his round face solemn.
Sunburn. He required a tincture of aloe to calm his reddened skin. She’d search the garden later to check if Max had the plants necessary for her to make the sunburn cure. She set three placemats on the table and hesitated, unsure of what to do with them. In the end, Sasha shunted them toward Noel and turned away to gather the cutlery. She opened the drawer and slid it out to stare at the contents. The sheer number of implements had a slight sweat forming on her skin.
“Which ones do we require for soup?” she asked her dragon.
“Ask. We’ll learn more about Max’s character by his reaction. If he snaps or belittles us for our lack of knowledge, we’ll know that underneath his smiles, there lurks a human who resembles Bruceous.”
“You are wise.”
“And beautiful. Don’t forget stunningly beautiful.”
Sasha tried not to laugh, but it burst from her in a wave of amusement and love of her dragon half.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oops.” Sasha thought fast. “My brothers refuse to cook and would tease each other mercilessly if one of them wore an apron covered with rabbits.”
His eyes twinkled, but he put on an offended expression. “There is nothing wrong with my apron. It’s Noel’s favorite.”
There was a considerable age gap between the brothers, and while they had the same blue eyes and black hair, their faces were different shapes. Aware she was drifting into rude with her staring, she focused on the contents of the drawer. “Which implements do we require?”
“The soup spoons and a knife each.”
Sasha picked up three knives and dithered between two spoon shapes—one round and the other more elongated.
“Pick the round one. There is more space in which to see our reflection,” her dragon suggested.
Sasha bit back her hoot of laughter this time and picked up the rounder spoon. She took them over to the table.
“Placemats like this,” Noel said and placed one in front of him and one opposite where he sat. He frowned at the third one.
“How ’bout we put that one here?” Sasha placed a k
nife and a spoon with each placemat. Noel immediately rearranged them, and she took notes for next time. “Great job,” she said.
Max set a plate of soup down for Noel and another in the third space. He added a plate covered with singed pieces of bread and bubbling cheese. “The cheese is hot, Noel. Let it cool before you try to eat some.”
“Let’s try the soup. Smells wonderful,” her dragon said. “I’m hungry.”
“Shush. I need to concentrate on correct behavior. We must appear as much like a human as we can manage.”
“I can’t place your accent,” Max said. “Where do you live?”
“A small village on Perfume Isle,” Sasha said.
Max frowned. “I’ve traveled a fair bit in Europe, but I’ve never heard of Perfume Isle.”
“As I said, a small place. We couldn’t wait to leave. I mean, I couldn’t wait to leave. My brothers and I.”
Max leaned forward, interest shining in his eyes. “How many brothers do you have?”
“Three, all older than me. They’re bossy.”
The corners of Max’s eyes crinkled as he crunched on a piece of charred bread and cheese. “Older brothers do that.”
“I like Shasha,” Noel blurted.
“Thank you,” Sasha said.
“I like Sasha, too,” Max agreed with a wink at her. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“I think I will,” she said, keeping her gaze meshed with his.
“Excellent. We’ll talk later after Noel goes to bed.”
“He likes us,” her dragon crowed.
“Do you have the plant aloe in your garden?” Sasha asked with another glance at Noel. “Your brother’s face is getting redder. I can make a balm to treat his sunburn.”
“Thank you,” Max said. “And thank you again for bringing Noel home. Sheryl shouldn’t have gone to sleep and let him wander off.”
“I don’t like Sheryl,” Noel said, splashing his spoon into his soup. The red liquid sloshed over the side.
“Ooh, that looks like fun. Let’s try it,” her dragon said.
Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4) Page 2
