Tempting the Dragon

by Karen Whiddon

  Sapphire watched the two of them with a combination of barely disguised envy. “So Libby picked Pearl over me? Just because she happened to be the one to find the necklace?”

  Crud. These two were the first twins in the history of the Burnett family. “I’m not sure,” Jade answered, choosing her words carefully. “I haven’t talked to her yet. Let me do that before either of you go jumping to any conclusions.”

  “Okay,” Pearl said in a small voice, her expression stricken. “Because if Sapph can’t do it, I won’t, either. You can tell Libby I said that.”

  Jade sighed. “We’ll talk later. Right now I think everyone is getting ready to troop to the nursery window so we can see Di’s baby. Let’s go check her out.”

  * * *

  Leaving the real estate office, Rance caught himself whistling an old tune, something he hadn’t done since Violet died. Though there hadn’t been an abundance of available empty houses in Forestwood, there’d been one house in particular he wanted. The only house he could picture having a family in. Though the place wasn’t for sale, the Realtor had located the owner and inquired if they would be willing to part with the place.

  They’d been surprised, but once they’d heard Rance’s offer—all in cash—they’d accepted. Rance was just waiting for the paperwork to be done so he could set a closing date. Of course, he’d need to buy furniture and appliances, but this felt good. Right.

  His life had certainly gone through a lot of changes over the course of two years. He’d lost Violet and Jim, but Eve had regained her health. And he’d found Jade, the woman he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  The woman he loved.

  Now he just had to prove it to her.

  He didn’t blame her for being angry with him. He hadn’t been very considerate, staying out of touch for extended periods, not giving much of himself but then expecting and asking for Jade’s help. He could offer up a thousand excuses, but he knew she’d see right through them to the truth.

  He’d put himself first. No woman deserved that. And he knew words wouldn’t fix this. Only actions could banish her doubts.

  Assuming she’d still want him.

  Driving around the town he’d come to think of as home, he pondered what to do. He’d done an internet search and learned lots of enterprising men had staged elaborate proposals, complete with props, but that wasn’t his thing. Nor was it Jade’s.

  Plus, he had one other handicap to overcome. Due to his own clumsiness, he’d managed to make Jade think he only wanted her because she’d make a good mother to Eve. When in fact, he wanted her because he didn’t want to live without her. Ever since his botched proposal, he’d found it hurt to breathe, as if he couldn’t get enough air. He thought of Jade constantly. She was his first thought when he woke in the morning and the last when he went to sleep at night.

  He even dreamed of her continually, which made him wake aroused and aching for her. The intimacy they’d shared had been unlike anything he’d ever experienced, even with Violet. Jade was like no other woman he’d met.

  Mate. He remembered when the term had first occurred to him and he’d tried to convince himself that he was wrong. How foolish he’d been.

  He’d taken comfort in his camera, the way he always did in the past, but found little solace in the thousands of photos he took of the lake, the trees, Eve and anything else that caught his eye.

  One afternoon, flipping through the photos he’d stored on his laptop, he realized what he might be able to do to prove his love to Jade. All his life, he’d made a living by telling stories with pictures rather than words. He’d hit bestseller lists and won awards with his photography books. Why not make a book of pictures to show Jade how he felt?

  Feeling more optimistic than he’d felt in a long time, Rance got busy. If he worked day and night, he should be able to pull this thing together in a few days.

  Chapter 20

  Jade spent a lot of her spare time avoiding other people and hiking in the woods above the lake. She took care to stay away from Libby’s house, thus avoiding the possibility of even catching a glimpse of Rance. Her heart couldn’t take it.

  “Out of sight, out of mind” didn’t apply. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, remembering the spark that had blazed between them. How on earth could she have been so wrong about his feelings for her?

  Of course, she’d been wrong before. When she’d been dating Ross, believing him when he declared his love, giving him the greatest gift of all—herself, her first time. After, he’d proposed. She’d accepted, giddy with joy, expecting him to show up with an engagement ring.

  Instead, he’d disappeared. He’d dodged her, wouldn’t return her calls, and she’d gradually understood once he’d gotten what he wanted, he had no more use for her.

  She’d been young and thought she wouldn’t survive. Now, she knew she’d only been foolish and infatuated. Now, she finally understood what real love felt like.

  And now, Jade counted on her strength to help get her through. She had to trust that the pain would recede with time. It had to, or she didn’t know how she’d stay sane.

  As fall disappeared into winter, the definite chill in the air invigorated her. Despite the nearly bare tree limbs clawing at the gray sky as if warning of the imminent approach of snow, she tried to keep her mood upbeat. She refused to allow the heavy depression she’d been battling to settle around her like a leaden cloak. Not only did she feel she’d lost Libby, but she’d lost the one man she could ever truly love.

  As if she’d ever had him. Rance had made it clear how he saw her. Good old dependable, steady-Eddy Jade. She wondered why he’d bothered to kiss her, why he’d made love to her with an intensity as fierce as her own.

  No.

  She wouldn’t think of him. If all the country music songs were to be believed, time would heal her wounds.

  In the meantime, she hiked as much as she could, aware once the snow started she’d lose this avenue for exercise.

  A stick broke behind her, making her spin around. Her heart lurched. Rance. With his camera hanging around his neck. So help her, if he dared to raise it to his face and try to take her picture...

  “Hey,” he said, jamming his hands in his pockets as if he knew her thoughts. “How are you?”

  Though she should turn around and walk away without answering, the sound of his Southern drawl made her crave more of him, even if it would only hurt her. So she lifted her head and managed what she hoped was a casual smile. “I’m doing well. Clearly, you are, too. How’s Eve?”

  “Getting stronger every day. Libby’s agreed to be her grandmother, which thrilled her.”

  “Now all you need is someone to be her mother.” The words slipped out despite herself. Appalled, she covered her mouth with her hand.

  Immediately he crossed the space between them, reaching for her. She evaded him, shaking her head. “Don’t touch me.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he began. Damn him.

  “But you did. And the worst part of it is that it’s not your fault. I thought you felt the same way about me that I did about you, but clearly you just wanted a friend with benefits. I get it. Now go away.”

  Instead, he cocked his head, his gray gaze blazing with some inner flame. “How did you feel about me?”

  Crud. She felt her face heat as she realized what she’d given away. Then she realized it didn’t matter. “I cared about you.” Past tense. As if those feelings were gone.

  “I still care about you,” he said.

  “Not the same way. Clearly.”

  Briefly, he bowed his head. “I’m sorry. Honestly, I meant what I said as a compliment. I was so happy, I didn’t think. I should have gone about proposing to you in a different way.”

  “Don’t bother.” This time, she managed to p
ut scorn in her tone. “I’ll never marry someone who just wants me because his little girl needs a mother.” She lifted her chin. “And don’t get me wrong, I adore Eve. And yes, I’d make a damn good mother. The best. But there’s more to marriage than just that.”

  He took a step closer. “Yes. Yes, there is.” Reaching behind him, he lowered his backpack. “I made you something.” Removing a book of some sort, he held it out to her.

  “What’s this?” She made no move to take it.

  “I’m clearly not good with words. But I’m awesome with photographs. I made you this photo book to show you how I feel about you.”

  Curious despite herself, Jade accepted the book, but made no move to open it. How could she, when she couldn’t seem to tear her gaze off him. His nearness felt overwhelming. “What’s the point of this?” she asked. “I’m not really sure what you’re trying to accomplish.”

  Reaching out, he fingered a tendril of her hair, winding it around his finger before releasing it. “I want to show you that there’s more—so much more—to my feelings for you than what I said earlier.” He cleared his throat, sending another smoldering look her way. “I want to show you how I feel. I want to prove to you that you’re... Well, you’re my everything.”

  Hounds help her, her knees went weak at his words. She turned the book around in her hands, suddenly afraid to open it. Her emotions, her feelings, felt way too raw. Yet hope, that traitorous beast, made her heart beat faster.

  “Please,” he whispered. “Open it.”

  So she did. The first photograph was of her, shortly after they’d met. She’d stuck out her tongue at him, impatient with the incessant snap of his shutter. Yet despite this, he’d somehow managed to make her look beautiful.

  Turning the page, she saw more pictures of her, as well as things she loved. There was one of Burnett House, bathed in the setting sun, with Jade on the front porch sitting in her swing, gazing off into the distance. She’d clearly been unaware of the photographer, and while Jade didn’t understand how he’d done it, his love for his subject shone as clearly as the sunlight setting fire to the horizon in the background.

  Here, Dogs Off Leash. Her employees playing with their charges, and Jade, over in the corner of the photograph, kneeling on the floor petting a fluffy white dog who gazed at her with as much adoration as she did him.

  There were others, many that she didn’t remember his taking. Her from behind, laughing over her shoulder at something he’d said, her feelings shining in her eyes. She and Libby with their arms around each other, standing on Libby’s deck with the sparkling jewel of the lake in the background.

  As she slowly flipped through the remaining pages, her eyes filled with tears. When she reached the last page, she found he’d written a note.

  I love you. Adore you, in fact. I knew you were my mate the instant I met you, though I couldn’t admit it for some time. I can’t do flowery words, but you’re beautiful and sweet and kind and sexy. I want you to be mine.

  Will you marry me, Jade Burnett? Let me love you the rest of our lives?

  Now she cried in earnest, almost afraid to believe, definitely afraid not to. “I love you, too,” she managed. When he pulled her to him, this time she didn’t resist.

  She buried her face in his throat, inhaling the masculine scent of him.

  “You haven’t answered me,” he said, his voice shaking.

  She kissed him, long and slow and deep. When she came up for air, she could barely stand. Gazing into his beloved eyes, she nodded. “Yes. Yes, of course I’ll marry you. As long as you promise to tell me you love me every single day of our lives.”

  He laughed, the sound full of both joy and relief. “Of course I will.”

  Hand in hand, they went to tell Libby and Eve. Jade felt a little nervous, especially since she had to discuss Libby’s choice of Pearl as Jade’s replacement.

  As Libby’s house came into view, Jade realized Libby was out on her back porch with a cup of tea. She caught sight of them as they walked down the hiking path toward her. “Oh, thank goodness,” she exclaimed, standing and waving. “I’m so happy the two of you managed to work things out.”

  Feeling oddly hesitant, Jade left Rance and went to give Libby a hug. “What about you and me?” she asked. “I’ve felt lost without you these past couple of weeks.”

  “And I you.” Libby pulled back, her amethyst gaze searching Jade’s face. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes.” With a pang, Jade remembered the necklace she’d tossed into the lake. “I understand you’re wanting my younger sister Pearl to take over my role as Guardian.”

  “What?” Libby frowned in confusion. “What makes you think that?”

  “She found the necklace. The one I was given when I became Guardian.”

  “Found it where? Did you lose it?”

  Ah, here came the tricky part. Jade looked down, grateful when Rance slipped his arm around her shoulders in an offer of silent support.

  “I tossed it into the lake,” Jade said. She hated how small her voice sounded, so she tried again. “I thought you were done with me. That we were no longer friends.”

  “Oh, honey.” Eyes wide, Libby appeared shocked. “Why would you ever think that?”

  Taking a deep breath, Jade knew she’d have to expose her heart. But this was Libby, and Rance. She should have known neither would ever willingly cause her pain. “Because I was really hurting after what happened with Rance. I could have used your support and insight. When you kept putting me off, I finally figured out Rance and Eve were staying with you. It felt like you were taking his side, especially since you didn’t even tell me.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Crossing the room, Libby enveloped both Jade and Rance in her own hug. “I knew Rance loved you—of that I’ve never had a doubt. I could tell he just needed time to figure out how to prove it to you. And I didn’t want Eve, who’s still recovering, living in a hotel room. It just seemed like the best solution for everyone.”

  “Hey!” Eve hurried into the room. “I want to be hugged, too!”

  Jade opened one arm so the little girl could join in the group hug. Happiness blossomed in her heart. This was everything she’d ever wanted. Or nearly everything. One day she hoped to have a baby of her own so Eve could have a little brother or sister.

  After a few seconds, Eve started squirming. “I’m hungry,” she announced. “Papa, can I have a snack?”

  “Of course.” Taking Eve’s hand, Rance led her into the kitchen. Before he left the room, he paused. “I’ll be right back, darlin’,” he told Jade. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

  Arm still linked with Libby’s, Jade nodded.

  “There are a few things I need to discuss with you,” Libby began. “First off, you do know that necklace was just a talisman, right? It only had magical powers when I wished it so, like when you held it and spoke my name three times. Now that we’ve finished with that, it’s gone back to being just a pendant, nothing more.”

  Jade wasn’t sure if she should be surprised or relieved. “I didn’t know. I knew it had some kind of connection to you.”

  “It did.” Libby peered earnestly at her. “As long as we both wished it.”

  Jade nodded. “I see. That’s why I assumed when Pearl found it that meant you had chosen her to be the next Guardian.”

  “Nope. Not at all.” Libby took a deep breath. “To be honest with you, I don’t think I need a Guardian anymore.”

  Shocked, Jade froze. “Why not? I mean, you’ve always had a Guardian.”

  “Not always.”

  “Okay, maybe not your entire life. But since you came to Forestwood, a Burnett has been your Guardian.”

  Libby’s warm smile invited Jade to understand. “Yes, that’s true. Long ago, my father initially put that plan into place so I’d never
be alone. And for years, I lived a life of isolation. My Guardian was my only contact with the outside world. My only friend and my family. Now...”

  She glanced toward the kitchen. “Now I have a family. You and Rance and Eve.” Her tremulous smile spoke of her deep joy. “Did you know he asked me to be her grandmother?”

  “So I heard.” Jade gave her friend another hug. “I’m all for whatever makes you happy. However, I’m not sure if Pearl will be disappointed or relieved.”

  Libby’s smile faded. “True. Over the years I’ve had all kinds. Some were angry, considering their Guardianship—and me—an onerous task, almost unbearable. Others were resigned, doing the bare minimum possible in order to fulfill their duty. A few started out initially curious, until they became bored. And then there was you.”

  Puzzled, Jade waited for Libby to explain. “Which one was I?”

  “None of those,” Libby answered promptly, her amethyst eyes shining. “You were the first of all the Guardians I considered my friend.”

  Wow. Jade blinked, trying to keep from crying. “Well, now you’re family.”

  “Yes. Yes, we are. However, I need to let you know that once you’re no longer Guardian, you’ll lose whatever magical abilities you have, however slight.”

  “Good.” Jade didn’t even have to think about it. “I just want to be normal. You should hear some of the things they say about me in town.”

  “Your mother hated that, too. It’s always been like that. People assume the current Guardian is some sort of witch. Now maybe that nonsense can stop. And,” Libby continued, watching Jade intently, “you can move out of Burnett House if you want.”

  Jade swallowed. While the idea had a certain bold appeal, Burnett House was her home. She couldn’t think of anywhere else where she could live that would feel like home to her.

  Eve wandered into the room, munching on a half-eaten apple, with Rance close behind. “If y’all have a minute, there’s something I’d like to show you. We’ll need to drive. It’s a surprise.” The meaningful glance he shared with Libby wasn’t lost on Jade. Whatever this surprise was, Libby was in on it. Which made Jade happy.