Dragon Warrior (Midnight Bay)

by Janet Chapman

  Maddy sighed. “William is having a small cottage delivered for him to live in while they’re building his house, and I will bet you a manicure, a pedicure, and a facial that a white picket fence goes up around it in less than a week.” She grinned. “And the stone on the engagement ring he’s going to give me will be so huge I probably won’t be able to lift my hand.”

  “He asked you to marry him?” Eve squeaked.

  “Not yet. But every time I walked into a room at work this morning, everyone suddenly stopped talking. I think William has already enlisted my residents to help him plan a romantic evening to propose to me.”

  “So what are you going to do about his stealing your diary?”

  “Absolutely nothing. If it makes him feel all smart and devious to grant my every desire, who am I to spoil his fun? Can you imagine having every one of your childhood dreams come true, including having a man get down on his knees and ask you to marry him?” She straightened with a laugh. “My God, if I remember correctly, I actually wrote down exactly what my dream guy would say. Talk about making it easy for him; William won’t even have to come up with the right words.”

  “And when he finally asks, will you say yes?”

  “Are you kidding? I’ve already started looking at bridal magazines!”

  “But Maddy, you can’t marry a man who can never love you.”

  “Haven’t you been listening to me? He does love me; he just doesn’t know it.”

  “And he’ll never be able to say it,” Eve snapped.

  “Hell, Billy said he loved me all the time when we were first married, and he didn’t have a clue what love was. William says he loves me a hundred times a day in a hundred different ways without uttering a word.”

  Eve jumped up from her stool and ran around the counter, nearly knocking Maddy over when she threw her arms around her. “I knew there was a reason I love you,” Eve said, hugging her fiercely. “You are such a wise woman.”

  Maddy hugged her back even as she sighed. “If I’m so wise, then why can’t I come up with a plan to make William realize he loves me?” She leaned away. “I can’t just tell him he does; he’ll never believe me. So help me figure out how to get him to figure it out for himself.”

  Eve walked back to her stool with a thoughtful look. “Why not try using his tactics?”

  “How?”

  “You said William is sneaky and devious, so why don’t you get sneaky and devious, too? You just have to find out his secret desires and give them to him.”

  “But how? He doesn’t exactly have a hope chest I can snoop through. And I’ve already given him everything I have, including my heart.”

  “You haven’t given William his heart, have you?” Eve asked softly.

  Maddy blinked at her. “Huh?”

  “You said he thinks he doesn’t have a heart anymore, so give him one.”

  “But how?”

  When Eve merely shrugged, Maddy jumped off her stool, grabbed her purse, and started to leave.

  Eve ran around the counter and dragged her to a stop. “You can do this,” she said sternly. “You just have to think like the man. And you have your residents. If he can enlist their help, why can’t you? And don’t forget Sarah; you can’t tell me William isn’t already in love with her, too, and that he doesn’t already care for your mom and Rick. You sort of all come as a package, Maddy. The family he lost can’t ever be replaced, but there’s no reason all of you can’t become his new family.”

  “But what if that only scares him even more?” Maddy whispered, clutching her purse to her chest. “He’s having a hard time believing he loves me. What will happen if he starts feeling responsible for everyone else’s happiness as well?”

  “Maybe he’ll find out he’s got so much heart that his chest just might burst.”

  “Or he might run off and marry Carolina Oceanus.”

  “William Killkenny is a lot of things, but he’s not a chicken,” Eve said. “I believe he is in love with you, and I’m confident you’ll find a way to prove it to him.” She nodded at Maddy’s purse. “Just point your gun at him, and make him admit he loves you.”

  “I can’t. Mac turned it into tiger fur.”

  “He what?”

  “Speaking of turning things into something, how is Fiona doing?” Maddy asked softly. “What little bit I saw of her . . . well, she looked terrified. William told me some guy had raped her in the eleventh century, but then she died giving birth to her son and came to this century as a hawk. He said Fiona hates men and was quite happy as a hawk, and now everyone is upset that Mac made her human again.”

  “I don’t think Kenzie’s all that upset to have his sister back. And Matt arrived at our house around midnight last night, and he was so overjoyed that he couldn’t stop hugging her.” Eve’s eyes turned pained. “It’s just that they can’t stand seeing her so distressed. I don’t think Fiona hates men anywhere near as much as she’s afraid of them. She felt safe being a hawk, but now that she’s a young woman again . . . well, last night she acted sort of . . . ashamed in front of them.”

  “Ashamed? But being raped wasn’t her fault!”

  Eve shrugged. “I know that, and you know that, but you have to remember what century she’s from. Back then, a woman’s chastity was a strong part of her identity.” She shook her head. “Nobody knows exactly what happened to her. Both Matt and Kenzie had already left home, and when they finally returned their mother and sister and nephew were dead, and their father had gone quite mad. And Fiona certainly isn’t going to tell them any of the details. Personally, I think the guy did more than rape her.”

  “Maybe being thrust into this century is as overwhelming for her as being alive again is,” Maddy suggested. “And once she gets used to everything, she might confide in you or her other sister-in-law, Winter.”

  “That’s our hope. And being around modern women should help.” Eve smiled. “Fiona did perk up when she realized that she was going to meet her niece and namesake. Remember, Winter and Matt named their new baby after her.”

  “Oh, that’s right! And there’s nothing like a newborn to get a person’s mind off their own problems.”

  “So, did I hear that your cousin wasn’t interested in having a drùidh for a brother-in-law?” Eve asked.

  “Omigod, are you kidding?” Maddy said with a laugh. “I honestly thought Trace was going to faint when Carolina said she intended to marry him and have lots and lots of babies, and they would live happily ever after for a thousand years.” She sobered. “I’m afraid Trace might be just as bad as William when it comes to matters of the heart, and that like Fiona, he has a few secrets of his own he’s hiding.” She gave Eve a hug. “Okay, I really have to get back to work now.”

  “But how are you going to make William realize he loves you before you two get married?”

  Maddy opened the door and looked at her. “I’m sure as hell not waiting for him to say it before we get married, or I’ll be rolling down the aisle in a wheelchair. They’re just words, Eve, and I don’t care if I ever hear them. It took more courage than I knew I had, but I gave William my heart with no conditions attached.” She smiled. “And I happen to have a friend who just happens to be a powerful drùidh, and if William Killkenny starts giving me too much grief, I’ll sic Mac on him.”

  “I don’t think drùidhs are allowed to interfere in people’s lives like that.”

  Maddy laughed at that. “Mac doesn’t seem all that worried about playing by the rules—look what he did to Fiona. And William said we don’t have to worry about those wolves coming back, because Mac’s going to make sure the guy who sent them will be too busy looking over his shoulder to cause any more trouble.”

  Maddy suddenly ran her gaze up and down Eve and frowned.

  “What?” Eve said, looking down at herself.

  “I’m trying to picture how big your belly’s going to be in October.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can pick out a really nice dress for
you.” She chuckled. “It’ll be refreshing to have the bridesmaid pregnant instead of the bride.”

  “Maddy, he hasn’t even asked you yet.”

  “I was thinking Columbus Day. Um . . . you’ll understand if I don’t ask you to be my maid of honor, won’t you? I’d like to give Sarah that honor.”

  “Of course Sarah should stand up with you!”

  “And what do you think about my having the wedding at River Run? We have that beautiful gazebo, and the maple trees will be in full color. It shouldn’t be too cold for an outdoor wedding in October, should it?”

  “You think you can plan the wedding of your dreams in six weeks?”

  “No. But I can plan the wedding I really want—one that’s intimate and personal, with all the people I care about in attendance.” She grinned. “Maybe I’ll invite Mac.”

  Eve laughed. “I’m sure William would love to have the man who tried to buy you come to your wedding. You’re not afraid when the preacher asks if anyone has any objections that Mac might raise one or two?”

  “Naw, I think he’s actually happy for William. Although it sure was fun having two men haggle over me.” She started walking backward down the sidewalk. “I’ll call you tonight. Maybe we can get together and go over my wedding plans.”

  “You need a proposal first!”

  “I’ll give him a week, and then I’m going to propose to him,” she said with a laugh, giving a wave and spinning around to head toward the side street.

  Maddy smiled to herself as she marveled at how not scared she was. William was right; sometimes fate did give second chances, and she wasn’t about to blow this one. She was marrying the man of her dreams, and they were going to live happily ever after for forever—because she sure as hell wasn’t going to let William blow his second chance, either. He’d fought too hard to become human again to settle for anything less than full-blown love.

  Maddy suddenly stopped walking. When William had entrusted her with the box containing his dragon claw, he had handed her his heart!

  Which meant she could give it back to him.

  Only not the way it was now—representing his years of anger and despair—but somehow reshaped into a symbol of his love.

  When she got home, she had to find that claw, and then use it to show William that six years of being a dragon hadn’t stolen his heart but had, in fact, made it stronger.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  He asked for her hand in marriage three days later; during a candlelight dinner, surrounded by enough flowers to make a bee sneeze, and he even got down on both knees. A table had been set up in the center of the large gazebo overlooking the river, little white lights had been hung from the rafters, rose petals had been strewn over the floor, and every window of the nursing home had faces peeking out of them.

  William had been dressed in a perfectly tailored suit—although just before getting down on his knees, he’d taken off the jacket, given her a wink, and rolled up his cuffs.

  Maddy had been wearing her scrubs.

  His proposal had been practically verbatim to what she’d written in her diary, except the word cherished had replaced love. And the diamond ring he’d held out to her was absolutely beautiful; the stone tastefully sized instead of garishly large, two shiny pink tourmalines nestled on either side of it.

  That was why Maddy was sitting on Sarah’s bed right now, staring down at her empty left ring finger as she waited for her daughter to finish brushing her teeth. God, she hoped she’d done the right thing. She hadn’t said yes when William had asked her to marry him; she’d said . . . maybe.

  Maddy took a shuddering breath, remembering how shocked he’d been—that is until she’d reminded him that she came with a daughter who would also be affected by her decision, and that he needed to ask Sarah, too.

  William’s beautiful marine-blue eyes had turned downright pained; obviously appalled that he hadn’t thought to include the girl. Rick had already given his blessing, William had told her, since of course he’d had to ask the man of the house for her hand. Then he’d felt honor-bound to ask Patricia, and the woman had hugged him and kissed him and said yes through a small river of tears.

  But when Maddy had only said . . . maybe, William had jumped to his feet, shoved her beautiful ring in his pocket, and grabbed her hand with every intention of driving to her house to ask Sarah immediately.

  Maddy had pulled him to a stop, this time reminding him that the girl was only nine and that he couldn’t expect a child to make that kind of decision in two minutes. She had instead promised to tell Sarah that night, and then they would give her time to get used to the idea before he personally asked if she’d like them to become a family.

  “Where’s Mr. Killkenny?” Sarah asked, running in and jumping up on the bed. She grabbed the book off her nightstand and slid under the covers. “We still have two chapters left of The Chronicles of Narnia. Isn’t he staying with us anymore?”

  “No, he’s camping out on his land on Dragon Cove. He was only staying with us until his arm healed enough that he could take care of himself. Don’t worry; you’ll finish your story with him. But right now you and I need to have a little mother-daughter talk.”

  Sarah suddenly took on a mutinous look, her chin lifting defiantly. “I don’t care if I am in trouble,” she said. “If you make me take it back, I’ll just say it to her again.”

  Maddy arched a brow. “Excuse me? Who is the her you said something to, and what did you say?”

  Sarah blinked in surprise, her cheeks turning pink at the realization she’d just tattled on herself. “Sissy,” she said, lifting her chin again. “I told her that if anyone was a gold-digger that she was, and that she’s also a tight-assed, man-trapping hussy with the brains of a chipmunk, because everyone knows you’re supposed to get pregnant after you get married, not before.”

  Maddy didn’t know if she was shocked or downright proud of the girl. “Mind telling me what compelled you to say that to Sissy?”

  Sarah’s mutinous glare turned uncertain. “I was watching TV in the living room Sunday, waiting for Dad to bring me home, when I heard Sissy tell him that everyone in town knows the only reason you’re chasing after Mr. Killkenny is because he’s rich. But when Daddy said it was about damn time you started dating again and that he was happy for you, Sissy exploded and started shouting at him. She said the only reason you divorced him was because he hadn’t been getting rich fast enough. Then she said your best friend, Eve, snatched up Mr. Gregor before you could, so you went after Mr. Killkenny before anyone else could get him. But instead of calming down when Dad told her to, Sissy started calling you nasty names and said it was obvious you were jealous of her because Daddy’s construction business finally started making money.”

  Maddy opened her mouth to say something, but Sarah rushed on with her confession. “Sissy said you must really be desperate, since everyone knows Mr. Killkenny is crazy because he drives like a madman and is building a big ugly castle down on Dragon Cove.”

  “Do you think Mr. Killkenny is crazy?” Maddy asked softly.

  “No! That’s why I ran into the kitchen and told Sissy he wasn’t. I told her Mr. Killkenny is smart and nice and polite, and that he doesn’t treat me like a baby. But when she called him a caveman, I called her a tight-assed, man-trapping hussy with the brains of a chipmunk,” she finished on a whisper, her cheeks bright red.

  Maddy tried but couldn’t stifle her smile. “And how did that go over?”

  “Sissy burst into tears and ran upstairs, and Dad just quietly told me to get my stuff and get in the truck.”

  “Did he say anything to you on the ride home?”

  “He asked me if I felt comfortable around Mr. Killkenny.”

  “And you said?”

  “I told him I like Mr. Killkenny, and I explained how he taught me about using misdirection when somebody says something I don’t like.” She gave Maddy a sheepish grin. “I guess I should have tried using it on Sissy, but she made me so ma
d that I just forgot. I told Dad you’re not chasing Mr. Killkenny because he’s rich; that he’s been chasing you because you’re so pretty.” Her smile broadened. “And Dad agreed with me. He said your new hairdo makes your eyes look as big as saucers and that maybe I should get my hair cut just like it. Can I?”

  Maddy arched a brow again. “I thought you wanted to keep it long to bug Sissy because she’s been trying to talk you into getting it cut for the last three months?”

  Sarah got a mutinous look again. “If I had, everyone would have thought I was trying to be just like her. But I only want one mom, and . . . and that’s you,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “Can you tell Sissy to quit trying to make me call her Mama? It’s not disrespectful for me to call her Sissy, is it, if that’s her name?”

  Maddy pulled her into her embrace. “No, sweetie, you can call her whatever you want.” She chuckled. “Except a tight-assed hussy.”

  Sarah sighed and wiped her face on Maddy’s shirt. “When Sissy has her baby, can I get a puppy?”

  Not quite sure if she was being misdirected or simply manipulated, Maddy chuckled again. “I’m afraid that’s something you’re going to have to ask Mr. Killkenny.”

  Sarah pulled away in surprise. “What’s he got to do with my getting a dog?”

  “William has asked me to marry him, Sarah, and if I say yes, that means you and I would be moving in with him.”

  “We would?” she squeaked, her eyes growing huge. “In his castle on Dragon Cove?” Her huge eyes suddenly turned worried. “Wait, does that mean we’d have to leave Gram?”

  “That’s how it works, Sarah—children grow up and eventually move away from home. It’s what you’re going to do someday, too.”

  “But if Rick moves out, too, she’ll be all alone!”

  “We’d only be six miles away, not six hundred. You’ll still see Gram whenever you want. And you can have sleepovers with her.” She brushed back Sarah’s hair and tucked it behind her ear. “And we might not be moving at all. I haven’t agreed to marry William yet.”