Sasha (Dragon Isles Book 4)

by Shelley Munro

  The blonde hesitated, offered a grimace that held sympathy. “He’s on the warpath. Circulation is down, and we have to fix it yesterday.”

  Which meant he was in the firing line. Max sighed and shoved his phone into his pocket.

  “I’d put it on silent if I were you,” the junior reporter warned.

  “Excellent call,” Max said, recalling the last meeting when someone’s phone had gone off during his boss’s tirade. He placed his phone on vibrate, grabbed a pen and notepad, and followed the junior to their meeting room.

  When he arrived, everyone else was there. Their grizzled boss swept in seconds later, resembling a mad bull on the charge. Max bit back another sigh because he didn’t need to mind read to understand where this was going. More stories of the smut kind instead of factual reporting on current local affairs and items of public interest.

  In different times, Max would’ve stayed in London or traveled farther afield to chase the kind of job he craved. His parents’ death had changed everything. Now, he had to consider Noel. Yes, he could’ve let his grandparents take over Noel’s care, but it wasn’t what his parents had wanted. Noel deserved the best, and once Max had decided to accede to his parents’ wishes, it wasn’t fair of him to chop and change his mind. No matter how difficult his life became.

  Mike Roberts, their boss, planted his butt on the desk at the front of the room. He was a rotund man with a dapper style despite his forceful nature. His signature bow tie—yellow and blue today—sat off-center, a sign of his perturbed mood. “Circulation is down. Our readers are deserting us in droves, which means advertising is down too. This can’t continue. Tell me what stories are underway, and we’ll see if we can spice up the next edition. We’ll go around the room.”

  Mike’s steely gaze settled on Max.

  Max straightened, tension sliding through him. “I’m investigating local council corruption relating to the new housing project proposal.”

  Mike tapped his right foot. “How far along are you? Is the story ready to run?”

  “By next week,” Max said, mentally crossing his fingers. “My contact wants to go public, but he received threats that have scared him to silence. I need to work with him.”

  “Right. That’s next week’s lead story. What about this week?” He scanned faces, and Max’s heart sank when no one spoke up. “Nothing?” Mike said, irritation coating his words. “Continue. What are you working on?” He pointed at the various reporters.

  Some stammered through their replies, while others spoke with more confidence. None of the ideas was attention-grabbing, apart from a story about the vandalized statues in the town square.

  “The scandal involving the cake baking competition at the local agricultural show is what we want,” Mike said. “But it’s not necessarily page one stuff.”

  “Someone spotted Allan Briggs, the football player, in town,” Sally, another junior reporter, said. “Rumor is he wasn’t with his new wife.”

  “Excellent. Follow that up,” Mike said.

  “There’s also speculation going around regarding the swingers at the squash club. They don’t go there to play squash but to swap partners,” their one photographer added.

  Lucy, the blonde reporter who’d called him to the meeting, cleared her throat. “My sister swears she saw a dragon last weekend. She’d been drinking, but she took a photo of sorts.”

  Mike’s eyebrows shot upward. “A dragon? You are kidding me.”

  “Ah, no.” Lucy produced her phone and thumbed through several apps. “My sister sent me a photo.” She extended the phone to Mike, who peered more closely.

  “It’s not a clear photo.”

  “No,” Lucy agreed.

  “Where did she see the dragon?”

  “At the beach. She and a group of friends had a barbecue on the sand. My sister was the only one who snapped a photo.” Lucy hesitated before speaking again. “As I said, they were drinking and knowing my sister’s friends, there were drugs involved.”

  “Make discreet inquiries,” Mike said. “Learn if anyone else saw the dragon. It might spark local interest, and a story like this will offer the buzz I’m after. A monster to rival the one at Loch Ness.”

  “We could do a series on local dragon lore,” someone suggested. “To supplement the sighting. Maybe use dragons as the theme for the kid’s corner?”

  “Now you’re buzzing,” Mike said with approval. “Which beach was it where your sister saw the dragon?”

  Max barely refrained from rolling his eyes. Dragons? What next? Flying saucers and aliens?

  “Near Bamburgh,” Lucy said. “The beaches are quiet during this time of the year. Not too many holidaymakers wander the sands.”

  “Bamburgh?” Mike’s gaze speared to Max. “That’s near you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Max agreed. “Although I haven’t spotted anything out of the ordinary.”

  Mike stood and paced to the door and back. “When you get home after you’ve turned in the story you’re working on, go for a few evening walks.”

  “I’m heading home tomorrow,” Max said.

  “No,” Mike said. “I want you to finish your current article first and start on your next. If we’re not pumping out stories, this paper will die a quick death, and we’ll all lose our jobs. Understood?” His gaze nailed Max in place.

  “Yes, of course,” Max murmured, not having an option but to agree. His mind slid to Noel, and the gorgeous Sasha and his stress levels ratcheted up another notch. Had he made a wise decision the previous evening? Or had he let his libido lead him around like a fool?

  The meeting broke up, and Max returned to his small office. Finishing the story meant staying away from Noel for longer. Placing greater trust in Sasha. No matter how attractive she was or how amenable to minding Noel, essentially, she was still a stranger.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out to check the screen. His grandmother. Oh, joy. The temptation to ignore the call almost got to him, but it would only put off the inevitable.

  “Hello, Grandmother,” Max said coolly.

  “Max, you didn’t tell me you were engaged,” his grandmother said.

  Max groaned silently and pulled a face at the phone. One guess who’d told his grandmother. “We’re not exactly on good terms at present. I didn’t think my private life was pertinent to our interactions.”

  “You should have told me you’ve left your fiancée in charge of Noel,” his grandmother said in a crisp voice.

  “How do you know that?” Max asked, his mind jumping to conclusions that alarmed him. “Where is Noel? Do you have him?” Surely, if that were the case, Sasha would’ve called him. He’d taken a chance telling her the truth, but she’d impressed him with her deft handling of his brother and her levelheaded manner.

  “Your grandfather and I visited Noel this morning. I intended to take Noel home with me since Sheryl is no longer in residence. It’d be easier for you if you didn’t have to worry about Noel’s well-being while you’re in Edinburgh. Your fiancée refused to let Noel come with us. She informed me it wasn’t our turn, and we had to stick to the schedule the judge gave us.”

  Max gave a mental cheer, some of his apprehension fading. “My fiancée has a name,” he said, his tone calm.

  “Sasha.” His grandmother snorted. “She’s young.”

  “The age gap between us isn’t a huge one, and Sasha is the kindest, most levelheaded person I know. She’s mature for her age and responsible.”

  “Be that as it may, I still prefer to know the people in charge of Noel.”

  “Noel loves Sasha, and she handles him beautifully.”

  His grandmother sniffed. “They were outside when we arrived. Keeping Noel quiet indoors is best, otherwise he becomes over-stimulated. Naughty.”

  “What were they doing?”

  “Noel was drawing. Your fiancée was digging in the dirt.”

  Max’s brows rose. Color him intrigued. An explanation for why Sasha hadn’t
answered the phone. They were outside. “Noel loves playing outdoors, and the exercise helps to strengthen his muscles.”

  “Surely he gets enough exercise at the kindergarten of his,” his grandmother said.

  “I’m only continuing with the program Mum and Dad mapped out for Noel’s benefit,” Max said. “Noel’s doctors agreed with the exercises and activities my parents planned for him.”

  His grandmother sniffed—her default action to display her disagreement. “Noel told us Sasha was a dragon.”

  “She what?” The mention of a dragon had Max sitting up straighter.

  “She’s exercising his imagination too since she agreed she was a fierce dragon. She implied she didn’t put up with inappropriate behavior. Max, she is too young to look after Noel.”

  Ah. A smile curled across Max’s face. Sasha had bested his grandmother, and that had upset Julia. “I told you Sasha is mature for her age. Do you see me settling down with a youngster with no conversation? A giggly debutante?”

  Julia sniffed again, louder this time.

  “Grandmother, Noel is safe with Sasha.” He felt better now, knowing that Sasha had stood up to his grandmother. Max firmly believed his words since Sasha had helped a small, scared boy who’d become lost. Not that he could offer the truth and give his grandmother a smoking gun.

  “Sasha is wearing your mother’s ring.” A third sniff.

  Grief sliced Max, and he forced it down. “Mum would’ve loved Sasha as much as I do.”

  “That’s another thing. Your parents never met Sasha, and they didn’t mention her to me. I’m positive they would disapprove of this quick marriage.”

  “They wouldn’t approve of your actions either,” Max snapped.

  A sniff. “We’ll be there to pick up Noel the weekend after next. Please have him ready.”

  “Of course,” Max said, but his grandmother had already hung up. He pulled a juvenile face at the phone before making another quick call to Sasha. This time she answered.

  “Hello.”

  “Sasha, it’s Max. I hear you’re a dragon.”

  There was a slight pause. “Yes,” she said. “I am a fierce and loyal dragon to Noel.”

  Max smiled at the truth that rang in her voice. “Thank you for resisting Julia’s bulldozer tactics. I’d never considered her stopping by to visit.”

  “I have met far more formidable ladies. My mother is one,” she said, her cheer radiating to Max. “I learned to stand up for myself as a child. Three older brothers who enjoy bossing me around also helped me to build a tough shell.”

  “Should I expect your brothers or parents to turn up on my doorstep?”

  There was another pause. “I don’t think so.”

  Something in her tone sounded off, and he filed that away to think about later. “Do you have questions for me?”

  “No, Noel and I are getting along well. He’s having a nap now.”

  “That’s impressive,” Max said. “I always have trouble getting him to sleep after lunch.”

  “I bribed him,” she said with a laugh.

  The rich sound hit Max straight in the groin. God, his grandmother was right. Sasha was too young for what he was thinking. She was an innocent as her kiss had shown him last night. The memory brought another inappropriate wave of heat charging through him. While she was innocent, she intrigued him in a way no other woman had during the last months. Hell, he had to concentrate hard to recall the last time he’d had sex. His brow creased. Ah, yes. The week-long trip to London before Christmas when he’d still been engaged.

  “Are you there?” Sasha asked.

  “Sorry.” Max jerked back to the present. “My boss needs me to stay in Edinburgh for two extra nights. I’m sorry to dump this on you, but I can’t afford to lose this job.”

  “Noel and I will keep busy,” Sasha said.

  Max stilled, waiting for more. Complaints. Something.

  Instead, she said, “Is Mr. Google always right?”

  Max grinned, curiosity about her background coming to the fore. “Not all the time, but mostly. You told me you don’t have phones and the internet where you come from. It must be a small place.”

  “Not really.” Her response didn’t offer the information he craved.

  Someone knocked at his door, and frustration leaped to life in him. He dragged a hand through his hair and glared when the person knocked again, knowing he had to end their conversation. “I’ll contact you and Noel later tonight so I can say good night. Do you remember what to do?”

  “Yes,” Sasha said.

  Her confidence made him grin. The woman was a fearless dragon, and he desperately wanted to unravel her mysterious façade.

  5 – Fish Have Fingers?

  “Beach,” Noel said the instant he woke.

  Sasha grinned at the determined child. “Would you like to swim?”

  His brows drew together. “Can’t swim.”

  “You haven’t learned?”

  “Too little. Not strong,” Noel said, matter-of-fact.

  Sasha could see his disappointment in the way his shoulders drooped.

  “Fix it,” her dragon demanded.

  “Do you have swimming clothes?”

  Noel brightened. “Yes.”

  “Right. We’ll get you changed and put lotion on your skin so the sun won’t burn you again. I made a batch while you were sleeping.”

  “Are we swimming?” her dragon asked.

  “No, we’ll get Noel paddling in the water and let his confidence grow. I asked Mr. Google, and he mentioned swimming is an excellent exercise. It should help Noel grow stronger, but we must monitor him constantly and watch for waves that might knock him over and frighten him.”

  “We should study the area for clues to getting home,” her dragon said.

  “Probably,” Sasha said. “But I’m not ready to return yet.”

  “Our parents will worry.”

  Sasha bit her bottom lip. “While that’s true, we will never get another opportunity like this to experience freedom. I want to read more of the kissing book. So far, it’s fascinating. And we must learn more about Max. We enjoyed his kisses, and he doesn’t pinch bottoms like Bruceous.”

  “I agree,” her dragon said. “But while we should take advantage of the freedom, we should also watch for a way to return home. Options are never bad.”

  “We can’t leave Noel alone,” Sasha said.

  “Never,” her dragon agreed. “We cannot let the arrogant woman snatch Noel. She is the overprotective sort, and Noel would suffer. We understand what that is like.”

  “Shasha!” Noel flapped a pair of bright red shorts in front of her.

  “Sorry.” Sasha helped him to change into his shorts and a T-shirt. She rubbed lotion on his arms, legs, and face before plopping on his hat. “I’ve packed a bag with towels, snacks, and drinks in case we get hungry. Shoes?”

  “They’re in the tiny room by the kitchen door,” her dragon said.

  “Right,” Sasha said. “Let’s do this.”

  The walk to the beach was much quicker when they traveled in a direct line. On this sunny afternoon, a few people walked on the beach and farther along the sand, a family of two adults and two children played in the shallow water with a bright yellow ball.

  “Where should we sit?” Sasha asked Noel. “Would you like to choose?”

  He started running toward the water in his limping gait.

  “Remember, we need our towels and clothes to stay dry. Why don’t I pick today, and you can choose a spot tomorrow?”

  Noel lurched to a halt and turned to her, his blue eyes bright. “We come tomorrow?”

  “If it’s not raining,” Sasha said and walked farther away from other people. “We’ll sit here. Now, I need you to listen. We have to follow the rules. Stay near me, and all the time, we watch the waves to make sure an extra big one isn’t coming. Can you do that?”

  “Yes.”

  “He would say that,” her dragon observed. “We sa
id that, and we still misbehaved.”

  A chortle escaped Sasha. It was all true. “We’ll hold one of his hands the entire time,” she said. “One little human kid won’t get the better of a fierce dragon. Besides, two of us are watching him.”

  Noel pulled off his T-shirt, and Sasha rubbed lotion on his pale chest.

  “Leave on your hat. If it gets wet, it will dry in this sun.”

  Sasha stripped to her black underwear and her breast support. Since both were black and constructed of sturdy fabric, they resembled the swimsuits Mr. Google had shown her earlier.

  “We’re ready,” Sasha said and led Noel to the water. He shrieked as the foam from a wave ran over his toes. It was difficult not to smile at such innocent pleasure.

  “I might like a child,” her dragon said.

  Sasha snorted. “Not if they’re as naughty as we were. Mother says we turned her hair gray.”

  “Untrue,” her dragon said. “Our mother is still young.”

  “But she didn’t have more children after us.”

  “Now that’s true. I can sense the barrier, but it’s a long way from here.”

  “Yes.” Sasha pushed away the unease that shot through her. “I still don’t understand how we arrived here. The air turned heavy and thick. Seconds later, it felt normal again.”

  “Wave,” Noel shouted.

  Sasha had already noticed it and gripped Noel’s hand tighter at the wave’s approach. “Right. Just before it reaches you, I want you to jump. Are you ready?”

  Noel jumped too soon, but Sasha helped him to stay above the wave, and he shrieked with joy. Such a simple pleasure.

  “Do you know how to blow bubbles?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Let me show you. First, we watch to see if a wave is coming. Right. No waves.” Sasha made sure her grip was firm on Noel’s hand and stuck her head in the water. She blew enormous bubbles and lifted her head. “Would you like to try? You take a big breath.” Sasha exaggerated her breath, checked for waves, and repeated the bubbles.

  “We learned in the pond near our home,” her dragon said. “It’s harder in the sea.”

  “Let him try.” Sasha smiled at Noel. “Big breath. Check for waves. Bubbles.”