Dancing with Dragons

by Lorenda Christensen

  In the last month, I’d been dragged to China, teased by a sociopathic dragon, flown to Hungary, attacked by a different sociopathic dragon, lost all my new clothes, and discovered there was a warrant out for my arrest. The news that I had to cut off what remained of my hair—I’d held out hope that I’d be able to cover the shaved portion with a comb-over and some cute barrettes until it grew out—had been too much.

  At first, I’d avoided the bag altogether, claiming that we could take care of it as soon as I had the bathroom cleaned up. But I’d scrubbed the toilet, tub, and sink until they all shined and I still hadn’t worked up the nerve to even look at myself in the mirror.

  Daniel had silently taken the scissors from my limp hands and started snipping. I’d sniffled the entire time. Luckily, he was surprisingly competent with haircuts. Before I knew it, the few locks I still had left after my hospital visit were lying on his friend’s newly sparkling bathroom floor, and a girl with short, spiky hair stared back at me from the mirror. If I hadn’t still had stitches running along the right side of my head, the cut could have been considered edgy and daring.

  I cried again when he made me color it. My tears had freaked him out completely, and he’d had to leave the room before he’d finished applying all the dye. I’d tried to finish up the rest, but I’d made a mess of trying to simultaneously avoid the thin strip of tape that we’d added to protect my stitches and achieve even coverage everywhere else. Now what could have been a cute and daring haircut looked more like I’d lost the fight against a muddy chainsaw. The tape had managed to keep the hair dye away from my still-healing wound, but the dye had turned the rest of my scalp several shades darker. When Daniel removed the tape—with much whining and complaining from me—the row of stitches stood out like a bolt of lightning in a nighttime sky.

  I’d done the best I could to cover my bruises with the foundation Daniel bought, but with my fair complexion and the new hair color, the circles under my eyes were unmistakable. I looked horrible, and both of us knew it.

  “What are we going to tell your friend when he sees me?”

  “The same thing I told him on the phone. That we’re madly in love and looking for a cheap honeymoon.”

  “Oh, you are a charmer aren’t you? What a catch. My friends will never believe I managed to find a guy so great. And when he asks why I don’t have any luggage but I do have a gigantic seam in my head?”

  Daniel finally stopped scanning the terminal to look at me. He set his small carry-on suitcase on the ground and locked his hands loosely at the small of my back, pulling me closer, until the front of my shirt rubbed at the buttons on his jacket. He leaned his head down until his lips were even with my ear. “He won’t ask. Because right now, he’s watching us. And I’m making it clear that I like you just the way you are. He’d never dare asking about your stitches, because that would be terribly rude. And Jim doesn’t like to be rude.”

  “Oh yeah, all journalists are models of politeness and refinement. Just like you were at the hospital. Waiting patiently until I actually woke up before hammering me with accusations.”

  Daniel gave me a droll stare, and I stuck out my tongue. His gaze immediately fell to my mouth, and that dratted attraction started stirring up again. I stepped back a few paces, and watched as his hands dropped from my spine to hang loosely at his side. “We need to find you a girlfriend.”

  His lips quirked. “And why is that?”

  “Because this,” I said, gesturing between us, “has got to stop. I’m in a relationship. How would you feel if someone you were dating was running around, having these types of feelings for someone else, and you weren’t around to stop it?”

  Daniel put his hands in his pockets. “Well, I imagine I wouldn’t really like it. But I also don’t try to kill dragons and then run off and force my girlfriend to handle the fallout.” He shook his head slightly. “With the help of her very sexy reporter friend, of course.”

  Daniel was obviously trying to soften the blow with his teasing, but I just couldn’t enjoy the joke.

  “Richard didn’t kill those dragons.” Until I saw actual proof that Richard was involved, I wouldn’t believe that the man I knew to be smart, funny, and caring could be that callous and without conscience. Especially toward the very same dragons he’d spent years working around.

  He became serious. “Why do you continue to insist he’s innocent?”

  “Why are you so convinced he’s guilty?”

  “Carol. It was all over the news.”

  I snorted. “According to the news, I helped him. But you’re not walking around calling me a murderer.”

  He threw up his hands. “Because you’re not.”

  “And neither is Richard! I don’t understand why everyone I talk to believes he’s guilty as sin, while I couldn’t possibly be involved.” My voice echoed through the empty building, drawing the attention of Daniel’s friend, who started in our direction.

  Daniel noticed and immediately moved closer to me, leaning in to give me a peck on the cheek. But he wasn’t finished arguing. “Carol, I helped you clean the bathroom last night. When you saw a cockroach, you insisted that I pick him up and gently escort him out of the apartment with a tissue. That tiny bug scared the crap out of you, and you still couldn’t kill it.”

  “I know someone I’d like to kill right now,” I muttered.

  His friend, now only a few feet away, lifted a hand in greeting. Daniel returned the gesture before turning back to look me in the eye. “We can’t do this now. Let’s just get to Bangalore, and then I’ll let you scream at me as much as you want. Deal?”

  Still angry, I started to turn, but Daniel held me in place. “Jim is a journalist, and he’s a man. All we need to do is act like we like each other for a little longer. He’ll notice that we can’t keep our hands off each other and assume that what little clothing you’re bringing with us is tiny, lacy, and able to fit neatly into my bag. So smile, damn it, and look like you’re having a good time.”

  I smiled, damn it. “So help me, if we were really married, I’d be filing for divorce as soon as I got back to Tulsa.”

  Daniel laughed. “Can’t say that I blame you. If my new husband took me on a honeymoon this terrible, I’d divorce him too.” I was startled when he placed a huge smacking kiss on the center of my lips, but I didn’t get a chance to react. He released his hold on my waist and stuck a hand out to greet his friend.

  “Jim! Good to see you, my man. How’s life been treating you?”

  The large man pumped Daniel’s hand with gusto. Dressed in the full-fledged Okie uniform of jeans, boots, and a belt buckle bigger than his fist, Daniel’s friend Jim was tall and built like one of the linebackers playing in the newly re-formed NFL. “I’m good, I’m good. You ever manage to track down Richard Green or his girl? Guess you heard about the big hubbub in Tulsa that had all the dragon security teams roaring back and forth? That bomb that exploded in DRACIM was a doozy. Killed a slew of dragons. Since it went off, Relobu’s guys have been swarming every business with even a whiff of a connection to the folks responsible.”

  Jim turned to look at me. “Well now, you must be Julie.”

  It took a squeeze from Daniel before I remembered that was the name on my passport.

  “Yes, sorry. Nice to meet you, Jim.”

  “When Daniel called and told me he’d gone and got married, I didn’t believe it. But now that I’ve got a good look at you,” Jim’s gaze flicked up to my dye-stained and sutured scalp, “I can, eh, see why he was in such a hurry to snap up a good-looking girl like yourself.” His words were complimentary, but the end of his statement came out sounding more like a question than fact.

  There was a moment of uncomfortable silence while I tried to formulate a response, but Daniel, with a small cough, redirected the conversation.

  “I was a little surprised to hear that you weren’t already back home. Why’d they decide to reroute you to India? I figured you’d be chasing the DRACIM story.”<
br />
  Obviously relieved to be back on solid conversational ground, Jim shifted his attention back to my “husband.”

  “Naw. Once most of the fun was back on U.S. soil, they grabbed one of the eager and hungry to take point. Since I was already in Budapest, the powers that be decided they’d save some cash and send me from here. But I’m interested to see how the Tulsa situation pans out. Pretty crazy stuff.”

  Daniel nodded. “Yeah, sounds like they’re looking for a man and his girlfriend. Everyone’s saying they were the masterminds behind the entire plan and the DRACIM manager—Emory something—was just a patsy.”

  I grabbed Daniel’s hand and tried to look like I wasn’t guilty as sin. What was he doing? Trying to get me noticed before we even got on the plane?

  But Jim didn’t seem to register my reaction. Instead, he peered over our shoulders through the glass window overlooking the tarmac. He answered Daniel almost absentmindedly. “Yep. The full story is almost unbelievable. Remind me to fill you in on it later.” He gestured to the window. “Looks like our plane is just about ready to get in the air. Y’all ready?”

  Daniel took my hand to lead me toward the door, and I winced. The cuts from the dragon attack had healed quite a bit, but my joints still ached at his touch. Jim saw my expression and looked down to where my fingers were linked with Daniel’s.

  “Looks like you’ve had a bit of a rough time lately.” He pointed to the bruises on my face. “What happened here?”

  So much for Jim not commenting on my injuries.

  Daniel cleared his throat. “Turns out the horses at the stables we visited a few days ago took exception to my Julie. One of them kicked, and she didn’t get out of the way fast enough.”

  Jim started toward the entrance of the tarmac, and we fell into step behind him.

  “Got to be careful with horses. Why, my granddad had his leg broke in two different places when he spooked a nervous mare...” Jim continued telling us all about his grandfather’s experiences with the “wild animals” of his childhood as we walked.

  I gave Daniel a look that said “I told you so” and pointed to the bruise below my eye. He just shrugged and snaked an arm around my waist.

  His mouth was inches from my ear. “You were right,” he murmured. “Reporters can be pretty rude sometimes.”

  “Only sometimes?”

  “We’re not rude all the time.” His mouth tilted in a distinctly flirtatious grin. “Sometimes we just don’t understand the word ‘no’.” Before I had a chance to ask what he meant, Daniel’s head dipped and I felt warm lips touch my temple, then nibble their way along my jaw. Before I thought about it too much, I’d angled my head until his lips slid onto mine. Daniel moved back a fraction to meet my gaze, a distinct question lurking behind his eyes. Are you sure?

  I wasn’t. I really wasn’t. But his lips felt so good, and his hand on my waist so right that I had already started to nod when Jim’s chuckle interrupted my happy haze. “You two are definitely honeymooners. Sparks practically fly off the both of ya.”

  Jim’s statement had me reluctantly pulling away. Despite the “sparks” Jim was seeing, I had a boyfriend. Guilt flooded through my system at the thought. Richard was out there somewhere, with the entire world literally against him, and what was I doing? Kissing another man.

  And liking it.

  I deliberately moved out of Daniel’s reach.

  Daniel tried to get my attention; I could feel him willing me to meet his eyes, but I ignored the request.

  He sighed and addressed his friend. “So which plane is the one waiting for us?” His voice was dull, and just a little angry.

  I guess I couldn’t blame him. My signals were so mixed up even I couldn’t tell what I wanted.

  Jim was oblivious to our silent exchange. “It’s the white twin engine at the end. Nothing but the best for my good buddy. Follow me.”

  I was careful to stay just out of Daniel’s reach as we navigated our way through the seating area and down a hallway before reaching a glass door with access to the runway. A small jet waited on the tarmac for boarding, its propellers twisting lazily in the breeze. At the side of the plane rested a dragon, waiting patiently until we were airborne to join us in flight. The creature was as tall as the plane, and probably weighed just as much. The young woman standing beside it—probably the dragon’s translator—looked like an ant in comparison.

  I ducked my head behind Daniel’s shoulder as we walked, praying the dragon was too bored to care about studying his passengers. Or at the very least hadn’t been in a position to catch the news lately.

  The dragon adjusted his stance and leaned his head down to speak to the woman. She frowned, and addressed Jim. “Kemoth asked why there are additional passengers. He was informed there would be only two humans aboard in addition to the pilot. Reporter Jim Manning and his camera operator, Jovan Aguilar.”

  “Oh crap.” Daniel said the words so softly I was barely able to make them out.

  I stopped, and Daniel followed suit as we waited for Jim to get far enough away that we could talk without fear of being overheard.

  I leaned closer, keeping my eyes on the dragon. “What’s wrong?”

  “Jovan. I thought they’d sent him back to Tulsa. He’d been heading for the airport when I left for the hospital. He’s a friend of mine. Was my cameraman for the week leading up to the dragon council. We’re pretty close. Close enough for him to know I was dating someone else two weeks ago when I got on the plane in Tulsa.”

  I had to stop and process the information. Even though I’d teased him about it earlier, it had honestly never occurred to me that Daniel even had a social life. Much less an actual girlfriend.

  “Is she...was it serious?”

  “No. But I’m not exactly the type to run off and get married to a girl I barely know. As soon as I introduce you, he’s going to be suspicious. And he’s not nearly as unobservant as Jim.”

  I ran through all the possible scenarios, the majority of which broke down as soon as Jovan said anything resembling “who is this?”

  I turned to Daniel. “Has Jovan met your girlfriend?”

  He paused. “No. She wasn’t exactly my girlfriend. It was a lot more...casual than that.” A light flush crawled up his neck.

  “Oh.” I was beginning to get the picture. I laughed. “Daniel Wallent, I do believe you’re blushing. Embarrassed to admit you’re the type to enjoy an occasional friends-with-benefits arrangement?” The idea that Daniel’s girlfriend was closer to a semi-regular booty call was quite a relief, even if I wasn’t ready to investigate the reasons behind my feelings. “If he’s never met the other woman, this will be easy. Just let him assume I’m her.”

  Jim yelled up at the airplane. “Jovan! Get your butt out here. Daniel Wallent got married.”

  “It’s not quite that easy. We’ve, uh...discussed some specifics regarding my relationship. Pretty personal specifics.” Daniel’s hand came up to scrub at his stubbled jaw.

  My stomach dropped at the look on his face. “What kind of specifics? Like her name? Occupation?”

  “Like the fact that she was a total nymphomaniac, and that I was thinking about breaking it off because of her not-so-subtle enjoyment of very public displays of affection. And the version I relayed to Jovan included specific examples of her more, ah, racy tastes.” The flush on his neck grew more prominent, and he didn’t seem to be able to meet my eyes.

  Jim gestured for us to come closer, his thumbs hooked into the top of his jeans. I gave him a distracted wave that signaled that we’d be there in just a second.

  “Daniel. Hurry. Like what?” Visions of full dominatrix gear grappled for purchase in my brain, alongside equally disturbing images of me in a corny sexy-nurse outfit and heels.

  Daniel muttered something unintelligible about bumping his leg and wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  A man, dark skinned and dressed in the same style as Jim, poked his head out the plane’s bulkhead door. “I must not have h
eard you right. I thought you said Daniel Wallent got hitched.” The man’s eyes scanned the ground until he found us. He raised a hand in greeting.

  “Daniel, you need to tell me now. I have to get out of this country. You said she bumped your leg? I don’t get it.”

  “Not bump. Hump. She had a really bad habit of kinda crawling on me, and I told Jovan that I felt like she was always trying to hump my leg.”

  “Oh geez. Daniel Wallent, I could kill you right now.”

  * * *

  The cameraman ambled down the boarding stairs. “I don’t believe it.” His words were directed at Daniel, but his eyes were checking me out the entire time. I could almost see the wheels turning circles in his head as his gaze started at my feet and worked its way up. I could tell the instant he got to my head because he jerked, startled, before shooting a quick glance at Daniel.

  “I got kicked by a horse.”

  Daniel stepped in before Jovan had a chance to inspect the damage to my head, and the men shook hands.

  “Julie, I’d like you to meet Jovan. Jovan, Julie.”

  “Well, hello Julie.” If his clothing didn’t give him away, his accent did. This man was the real deal. Pure Texan. And proud of it.

  “Hey. Nice to meet you.” I took his offered hand.

  When Jovan continued to watch me with unconcealed interest, I leaned closer to Daniel, wrapping an arm around my fake husband’s waist in an effort to sell our story. Daniel obliged by draping his arm around my shoulder and giving me a quick squeeze. It was more brotherly than lover-like, but I took what I could get.

  “It’s great to meet you, too. Daniel had mentioned he had a girlfriend, of course, but I had no idea you guys were thinking about getting married.” The latter end of his statement made it clear that he wanted to hear all the details, but Daniel stepped in before I had to come up with a response.

  “It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment kinda thing.” Daniel pasted a bit of a drawl over his usually crisp speech. But instead of making him seem friendlier, the twang seemed to have the opposite effect on Jovan, especially when Daniel angled his body to hug me even closer. Jovan’s eyes narrowed.