by Rinelle Grey
Audrey stared at him, feeling her face grow hot, even as her mind felt sorry for Hayden’s distress. She had no idea what to say to his brother, but before she could even process it all, he nodded, and turned to leave.
As Audrey closed the door behind Rowan, some of the despair she’d been feeling lifted.
“What does it say?” Eliana promoted her.
That’s right, the piece of paper in her hands. Audrey opened it and stared down at it.
The job itself seemed pretty simple. Photography services for resort guests, mostly couple photography, along with images for the resort’s social media and promotion. Nothing she wasn’t confident she could handle.
The wage wasn’t extraordinary, but it wasn’t negligible either, especially since it included on site accommodation and transfers to the mainland whenever needed.
“So, are you going to take it?” Eliana prompted. “It sounds perfect for you.”
Audrey’s mind was spinning. “I don’t know,” she said slowly.
She needed to talk to Hayden. Because whether he’d intended it or not, whether she took this job had as much to do with him as with anything else.
Chapter 18
As the senator’s expensive yacht closed the last few metres to the jetty, Hayrian almost felt like looking down at his hands to check that there wasn’t the least bit of dragon showing, even though he knew there wasn’t.
Rowan stood beside him, seeming far more relaxed than Hayrian felt. Was that because he had a calmer personality, or because he wasn’t a dragon and wasn’t at risk as much as Hayrian? Hayrian knew Rowan cared for their family and the resort just as much as he did, but it must help, mustn’t it, not to actually have anything to hide?
What was this senator doing coming here? And why now?
If only his parents where here. They’d know what to do, how to deal with this man. Hayrian couldn’t help worrying that he’d do or say completely the wrong thing, and instead of allaying the man’s suspicions, he’d confirm them.
He’d mess up again, just like he had with Audrey.
That distracted him for a minute. He glanced sideways at Rowan for a second. “What did she say again?”
Rowan’s eyes didn’t leave the approaching yacht. “She said she’d think about it,” he repeated, and not for the first time.
That would have to do. The boat pulled alongside the jetty, and two men jumped off to tie it off. Hayrian did his best to look as human as possible and waited to see what happened.
If only his sister, Morian, hadn’t gone with his parents. As a life dragon, she might have been able to get some idea about what this man wanted. She couldn’t read minds, exactly, but she could sometimes guess at emotions if they were strong enough.
He’d take any edge they could get right now. Do whatever it took to keep his family and the resort safe.
He just hoped he hadn’t already stuffed up.
“Welcome to Dragon Island Resort,” Rowan said, stepping forwards and holding out his hand to the man Hayrian recognised from the earlier TV broadcast. “How can we help you.”
The senator ignored Rowan’s outstretched hand, and his eyes swept the resort. A sense of foreboding washed over Hayrian, but nothing prepared him for the man’s next words. “I’m looking for one of your guests, a woman named Audrey Peterson.”
Hayrian’s heart skipped a beat. He’d never actually asked Audrey for her last name, but he knew the man had to be referring to her. It suddenly all fitted. She’d said that her ex’s name was Mark, but until this moment, Hayrian hadn’t put two and two together.
Rowan was staring at him, one eyebrow raised. He could probably guess who the man was referring to as well, though he couldn’t be as certain as Hayrian.
Hayrian’s mind raced. This man had hurt Audrey. What was he doing here looking for her? Was he hoping to beg her forgiveness and win her back, or was he here because she’d told him about the dragons?
She wouldn’t have, would she?
His trust wavered. This was fast becoming too much of a coincidence for him to believe.
And yet, he’d seen how this man had destroyed Audrey’s trust. And how much she’d grown and changed since she’d come here only a few days ago. Surely she would be able to see that too? Surely, no matter how much he’d messed up, she wouldn’t betray Hayrian like that?
There was no way of knowing for certain, but Hayrian took a deep breath and accepted the possible risk. For the first time ever, he accepted that risk for himself and for his family too. He needed to do this.
He would protect Audrey with everything he had, and hope she’d do the same.
“I’m sorry, we can’t give out information on our other guests. We consider privacy of the utmost importance,” he said smoothly. “But if you’d like to come this way, I can show you to your room.”
If he could get the man out of the way, he could warn Audrey. If she wouldn’t listen to him, maybe she’d listen to Rowan. Even if she didn’t want to see him, Rowan could take her over to the hut and stay with her until this man had given up and gone home.
“Do you know who I am?” The man’s voice was haughty, as though he were used to getting his way.
“Yes, your Senator Mark Harris,” Rowan said smoothly. “But my brother is right. Giving out the location of any of our guests would be a serious breach of privacy. I’m sure you understand.” There was a note of warning in Rowan’s voice, and Hayrian could have hugged him.
“If you know Miss Peterson, then I’m sure you can call her and ask for her whereabouts,” Hayrian added, not quite so smoothly. Maybe even a little antagonistically from the irritated look the man threw him.
“Fine, show me to my room then,” the senator snapped.
“Right this way,” Rowan said, indicating the path.
It was at that moment that Hayrian saw her, running down from the apartments towards the jetty. Straight towards them.
Audrey.
Hayrian wanted to shout out, to warn her, but it was pointless. The only reason he could think of for her coming down here was because she knew the man was arriving. And the only reason she could know he was coming was if she’d invited him.
Not only had he lost her forever, but he’d probably cost his parents the resort. And their privacy.
Audrey stopped short before she reached them, a horrified expression coming over her face. “Mark? What are you doing here?” She looked from him, to Hayrian as though he would somehow have an answer.
The man stepped forwards, closing the distance between them, and took Audrey’s hands in his. It took all Hayrian’s willpower not to rip the man away from her and shove him straight back on his yacht. But he had no right to interfere in Audrey’s life, not after their conversation that morning.
Not unless she asked him to, anyway.
“Audrey, I’ve come to beg you to give me another chance. I know I messed up. But I swear, if you agree to marry me, I’ll never give you any reason to doubt me again.”
Was this man’s apology worth any less than Hayrian’s? Would Audrey be any more ready to listen to him? She had been involved a serious relationship with him, been planning on marrying him. Maybe him prompting her to take more risks would backfire on him now.
Audrey snatched her hands out of Mark’s and stepped back. It would have been hard for more fire to flash in her eyes had she been a fire dragon. “You have some nerve,” she said flatly. “I don’t care what you do, or how many times you promise it will never happen again, Mark. I’ll never trust you. We’re finished.”
Hayrian’s heart soared at her words. He shouldn’t be so happy. For all he knew she might say the same to him in about thirty seconds. But no matter how she felt about him, he was glad she had the courage to tell this man to go. To make the decision that was right for her.
“How dare you,” Mark snapped, anger and rage darkening his face. “You have no right to do this, not now. Do you know how bad this is going to look for me? You made an agreement to
marry me, and now you’re backing out when it will do me the most damage?”
Audrey shook back her hair and glared at him. “You, you, you. It’s all about you, isn’t it? Well, let me explain it to you in words simple enough for you to understand. You did this to yourself. You made the decision to hide away with your assistant and make out with her on our wedding day. So you deserve everything you get. And I’m pretty sure the voters will agree with me, not you.”
The man’s face was transitioning from beet red to apoplectic purple, and Hayrian began to be a little concerned for Audrey. Even if the man didn’t get physical, he felt his position as owner of the resort gave him some leeway to step in. “I think the lady is asking you to leave,” he said, moving closer, ready to step between them if need be.
“This is none of your business,” the senator snapped at Hayrian. “Get out of the way.”
“He’s right,” Rowan said, stepping up beside him. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to ask you to leave, sir. It’s clear you’re not welcome.”
Mark glared at him. “I’m a paying customer. You can’t just throw me out.”
“Actually, it’s well within our rights to refuse service to anyone,” Rowan responded. “Especially those who are making a scene and harassing guests or staff. I can call security, if necessary, but it would probably be better if you left peacefully.”
Hayrian hid a laugh. ‘Security’ was another one of the roles he often took on. And nothing would give him greater pleasure than throwing this man back onto his yacht. If he didn’t miss and throw him into the ocean.
The man glared at both of them, but neither Rowan nor Hayrian backed down. And neither of them were small men. He grumbled, but he turned back towards the yacht. “You haven’t heard the last of this,” he said flatly, his glare encompassing Audrey and the brothers alike.
Chapter 19
Audrey stared at Mark stalking off to his boat, her whole body shaking from the adrenaline rush. She’d come looking for Hayden, hoping to talk to him. She hadn’t expected to find Mark, and she certainly hadn’t expected him to accuse her of ruining his career.
Standing up to him had felt good, exhilarating, if a tiny bit terrifying.
She was very glad that Hayden and his brother had been there though, because she suspected that Mark wouldn’t have listened to her if she’d been alone. At least, not so quickly.
“Thank you,” she said softly to Hayden, extending her smile towards his brother as well.
Hayden shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “It was nothing. I hope I didn’t overstep. You didn’t seem to want him here though…”
“I definitely didn’t,” Audrey said firmly.
She and Hayden stared at each other for a few moments as though both at a loss for words.
Rowan cleared his throat. “Well, if everything is under control here, I might just leave you two to it…” He sidled away quietly, leaving Audrey and Hayden alone on the beach.
“Look, I… uh…” Hayden started.
“I wanted to…” Audrey said at the same time.
Both of them broke off.
“You go first,” Hayden said.
Audrey was more than happy to. She had so many things she wanted to say she wasn’t sure where to start. “Did you mean this?” she said, holding up the job offer Rowan had given her earlier. “Or was it just an attempt to stop me leaving the island while I’m still mad at you.”
Hayden shook his head. “I wasn’t trying to influence you at all. If you want nothing more to do with me, that’s your prerogative. But… I really do think your photography has potential. And I think you’d be perfect for the job. Even if it is just a stepping stone to something you want to do more.”
She searched his face, trying to tell if he really meant it, but she could see no deception in his eyes.
“I understand that I broke your trust,” Hayden said softly. “And I’m sorry for that. But I couldn’t, in all conscience, put my family’s safety on the line for my own wishes. It isn’t that I don’t trust you, it’s just that this is one risk that isn’t mine to take.”
It was the same thing that he’d said earlier, but this time, Audrey understood. Maybe because she wasn’t quite so shocked about all of it. Maybe because she’d realised that it wasn’t the same thing Mark had done.
Mark had lied to her for his own benefit.
Hayden had kept his secret to protect his family. She couldn’t fault him for that.
“I understand,” Audrey said. “I’m sorry I was so angry earlier.” She hesitated, but he’d given her the truth, she owed him the same. “I wasn’t really angry at you. Ever since Mark cheated on me, I’ve been walking around angry at myself for not realising what sort of person he was. I thought the only reason he’d been able to fool me was because I was too trusting and that was something I needed to fix. I was trying to protect myself from getting hurt again by being more suspicious, but in reality, I was just projecting the blame I should have put on him onto you.”
“Well, he’s gone now.” Hayden gave her a half smile, his expression uncertain.
Audrey smiled back. “Yes, he is. Thanks for that.”
He shrugged. “It was nothing.” He scuffed his foot on the concrete path, then looked up at her. “So, are you going to take the job?”
Audrey hesitated. She still wasn’t sure. The offer was tempting, but the reality was she knew she could find a similar job elsewhere if that was what she wanted.
If she was going to stay, it wouldn’t be because of the job.
“That depends,” she said.
“On what?”
Audrey stared at him, searching his face. “Where is this going, Hayden?”
He winced. “Um… Look, perhaps we should go somewhere a little more private to discuss this.”
So there was more. Audrey wasn’t terribly surprised. And looking around the beach, where a few couples were going for evening strolls, she knew this wasn’t the place. “Where?” She wasn’t quite ready to go out to his island again, she hoped he realised that.
Apparently, he did. “If you like, you can come up to the main house with me. I have a room there, and I don’t think Rowan will bother us.”
Audrey didn’t think he would either. She nodded, and followed Hayden up the beach and down a narrow path to a big house behind the resort. It had big, wraparound verandas and a view of the entire area. If she’d been in a calmer mood, Audrey would have liked to take in the view.
But for now, she was quite happy when Hayden lead her straight into the house.
What she wasn’t expecting, was to have to make it past his whole family. Rowan, who she’d already met, just looked at her curiously. But he wasn’t the only one. Another man, his looks even more similar to Hayden, sat on the couch with a young woman next to him, and this man’s gaze was a little more suspicious.
He stood up as they came in, and Audrey heard Hayden heave a sigh under his breath.
“Are you going to introduce us?” Hayrian’s other brother said, one eyebrow raised. The woman beside him looked interested too, though she didn’t say anything.
Hayden waved an arm. “That’s my other brother, and his mate, Zara.”
For some reason, both brother’s eyes zeroed in on Hayden, looking a little suspicious. This time, Rowan was the one who spoke. “You told her?”
“Not exactly,” Hayden said evasively. “Look, I’ll talk to you guys afterwards, all right. I need to sort things out with Audrey first. If that’s okay with you.” His voice held a trace of sarcasm that surprised Audrey a little. She would have expected, after all his talk of protecting his family, for him to be a little less antagonistic towards them.
Neither of them looked surprised though. They exchanged a glance, and Rowan nodded slowly. “We’ll be here.”
Audrey wasn’t sure if it was a threat, or a promise. And given Hayden’s earlier comments about the danger to his family if their secret was revealed, she wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t
a threat. Especially given their encounter with Mark earlier. Being associated with him probably didn’t help her cause. But she’d convince them she didn’t share Mark’s dislike for all things dragon.
Once she’d finished talking to Hayden. Before any of that, she needed to know what she was fighting for. Was there something between them, or not?
So she followed Hayden into a large, minimally decorated room. It reminded her a lot of his hut, actually, with the same white comforter, and the same view of the water through the big doors out onto the veranda.
Audrey wasn’t really interested in the view though, it was Hayden she stared at.
He sat down on the end of the bed and patted the mattress next to him. “Sorry about my family. As you can guess, we can be a bit overprotective and cautious about our mates.”
Audrey came over and sat down next to him. “Mates? Does that mean…?” She wasn’t even sure what he was asking, but she suspected it didn’t matter. She gave a shake of her head, and said, “You were about to explain where all this was going…?”
Hayden took a deep breath. “Well, I probably should mention, my name isn’t actually Hayden.” As Audrey stared at him in confusion, he said, “Well, technically it is, I guess. That’s the name on my birth certificate. But my dragon name is Hayrian.”
That made a kind of sense. Audrey remembered Mark grumbling about how all the dragons had similar sounding names. “That means you’re from Rian clan, right?” she asked him.
His eyes widened for a second. “Um… yeah, I guess so, though I’ve never met any of them. We’ve been separated from the clan since before I was born. Long story.”
It was a story Audrey wanted to ask him more about, but right now, she had more important questions. “So, Hayrian,” she tripped over the unfamiliar name a little, but it felt right to be learning about this part of him, “what do you want from me, from this?” She waved her hand, hoping he realised it encompassed everything between them.
He took a step closer, and Audrey’s breath hitched. “I want you,” he said, his voice soft and deep, sending her heart racing.
