Dragons Prefer Blondes (5 page)

Jake reached out and touched my shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

I stopped and leaned against the wall next to the kitchen. “What is it?”

“I know I said this earlier, but I wanted to apologize again. I—There’s no excuse for the way I behaved last night. It’s my job to keep you safe, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

I couldn’t keep from smiling. He really was sweet, and he smelled so good. A mix of sandalwood and some other scent I couldn’t define. Very manly man.
Jeez, get a grip Al.

“I deal with dragons. Tempers don’t bother me much. Besides, you were right. I should have used the comm to tell you guys where I was going. I could have walked into a trap, and you wouldn’t have known.”

His face relaxed. “Then we’re good.”

I shrugged. “Sure.” Something dawned on me. “You know, there is one way you could make it up to me.” Then I came to my senses and shook my head. The very idea was insane. “Oh, never mind.” I turned to go.

He touched my shoulder again. “You can ask me anything.” The soft concern in his voice made me turn so fast I tripped over my own feet.

Jake caught me in his arms just as I slammed into his hard chest. Holy crap, the guy could give Ginjin a run for his money with those abs. I pushed myself away and pulled down my T-shirt, which had ridden up.

I caught Jake looking at my belly, and it made me smile to think at least he wasn’t all robot.

I leaned back against the wall, more to get away from his hotness than anything. “Listen, I don’t think anything will come of it, but—”

“What?” Jake crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“I told Ginjin that I was with someone already. But the problem is, I’m not. If he goes to my mom and she asks, I’ll have to tell her the truth. I don’t think she’d pawn me off on some nasty dragon, but I wouldn’t put it past her. She’d do most anything to keep the peace these days. I—This is nuts.” I waved a hand. “Never mind. Really. I’ll see you later.”

Oh, my God. What are you doing?
I wanted to bang my head against the wall for my stupidity. Poor Jake. He’d run into a crazy woman.

“You want to tell her you’re dating me?” Jake asked. It sounded even more ludicrous when he said it out loud.

“No. Well, yes. Just temporarily until I can con some guy into asking me out.” I looked up at the ceiling. “I’m kind of between relationships right now.” I realized that I was doing the same thing Ginjin had. “Great. Now I’ve put you in this horribly awkward position, the same way that damn dragon did to me. I told you it was ridiculous.”

He shrugged. “I consider us friends, at the very least work associates. I don’t mind. If you need me to do it, I will.”

“We are friends, but it’s too much to ask. I’m tired and not thinking straight.” I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “Well, and maybe I’m just a little desperate.”

Jake grinned, and a thousand tiny fireflies lit my insides.
He should do that more often.
“I’m going to tell you something you can’t repeat.” He held up his right hand as if I were to be sworn in.

“I promise.” I held up my right hand in response.

“This is top-secret stuff. I don’t share it with just anyone.” My curiosity was piqued.

I held up both hands. “I swear on my death.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You know what I mean. Tell me.”

He watched me for a second as if sizing me up. “Several years ago I was at a club with a buddy, and I had to pretend to be his gay boyfriend so his psycho ex would leave him alone. Wouldn’t be much more different than that.”

The idea of Jake being anywhere this side of gay made me laugh. “Man, you really do go all out for your friends.”

“Never leave a man down. So, let me know if you need me. I don’t like the idea of lying to your mother, but my job is to protect you. I’ll do whatever is necessary.” He really didn’t look so happy about the lying to my mother. Any kind of wishful thinking on my part that he might have had a slight crush on me went right out the window.

“Uh, great. Thanks for that. Hopefully, it won’t happen. I mean, how embarrassing would that be to have to pretend to be a couple?” I laughed, but it sounded nervous and weird.
Could you be a bigger goober? You’re Alex friggin’ Caruthers, cool club owner and girl about town. Quit acting like an idiot.

He frowned. “Yeah, embarrassing.” He turned and left.

Crap. He took that wrong.
I started to run after him to explain, but I didn’t think it’d do much good. My mouth was more trouble than it was worth some days. A little rest always helped with perspective, so I headed to my room.

I picked up the phone from the nightstand to check messages. Six voice mails from Aspen and one from Penelope. I skipped through Aspen’s desperate pleas for me to call her right away to Penelope’s rant.

“I swear to Jesus if you make me plan this crazy woman’s wedding, I’ll quit. I mean it. She’s called me four times because she can’t get hold of you. It’s three in the morning.” Penelope’s voice mail continued on. “Look, boss. I’ll do anything for you. You know that. But if she calls me again, I can’t be responsible for my actions. I hate her. Do you hear me? Hate her. Argh. How can you be friends with someone like that? She is a piranha in Prada. Okay. So. Done with the rant. I’m turning off my phone, but not before I call Jake and tell him to get in touch with you. God. I hate her. Do you hear me?”

The tirade ended there, and I clicked the Off button. Aspen had that effect on people. Damn if I hadn’t planned to pass her off on the usually patient and always understanding Pen.
Crap.

I texted Aspen. “Sorry. Family business. Will call late tomorrow. Please, don’t call Pen. She’s on vacation. -A.” It would have to do.

I set the phone on the nightstand, kicked off my boots, and didn’t bother with the clothes. I thought about how Jake’s face had looked when he thought I’d insulted him. It bothered me, more than I wanted to admit, that he’d think I’d be embarrassed to go out with him.
Doesn’t he know he’s a hottie?

I’ll fix it. I will. Tomorrow.
I yawned and scooted down so my head rested on the pillow. I willed myself to sleep, but I couldn’t control the dreams that began with a sexy, dark-haired man touching me in a way that made me burn hotter than any dragon could.

CHAPTER 5

“Hey, Bucket for Brains, wake up. There’s a plane waiting on the runway for you.” My brother, Bailey, loves to mess with me, so I didn’t believe him when he pulled my hair to wake me up.

“Stuff it brainnerd,” I mumbled. “Not funny.”

“I’m serious, sporn queen.” That was a slang word from one of dorkozoid’s computer games. It sounded even nastier than porn queen, which I quite honestly preferred. He started calling me that when some idiot with a video camera caught me making out with two guys in one of the alleys outside my London club and had it plastered all over You-Tube before I made it home that night. My brother never let me forget it. “Aspen’s private jet is waiting on the runway for you. She says you have five minutes to get your butt in gear before she drives over and kicks you out of bed herself.” Bailey had the nerve to laugh.

I thought she was on her way to London.
Ack
. “I hate you.” I threw the pillow I’d been hugging at him.

“Hey, I’m not the one with the needy friends. With everything we have going on, why in the hell would you agree to plan that maniac’s wedding?” Bailey had dated Aspen one time, and it had taken him a month to get rid of her. When she wanted something, she had a hard time letting go.

I sat up and shoved him out of the way. “I didn’t. She hung up on me before I could say no.”

“Well, then just tell her you’re too busy.” Bailey watched as I splashed water on my face.

“I can’t. It’s friggin’ Aspen. I feel sorry for her. She doesn’t have any other friends.”

He made a
tsk
ing sound. “That’s because she’s a psycho bitch.”

I threw the towel at him. “Stop being an ass. She’s just messed up.”

He smiled. “Well, since you’re her only
real
friend,” he made quote marks around that last part, “you’re the only one who can go dress shopping with her in Paris.”

I raised my head so fast something popped in my neck. “What?”

“That’s why she has the plane waiting. Seems you two are going to pick out two dresses, and then that will help her decide what type of wedding she wants. At least I think that’s what she said. When she mentioned she was getting married again, I sort of zoned out.”

Paris!
“I can’t just jet off to France. I’ve got dragons to slay.”

My brother shrugged. For the first time since he woke me up, I took a good look at him. His blond curls were messier than usual, and his clothes were a crumpled mess. “Dude, did you sleep in your clothes again?”

He gave me a blank stare. Took me a minute, but I glanced down and realized I’d done the same thing. “Whatever.”

“You better hurry up and change. I have a feeling if you don’t show up soon, she’s going to come in with a whip and chain. She seemed very determined.”

“Damn. I should have called her instead of texting. This thing is so out of hand.”

“You could just tell her to get—”

“Bailey. It’s not an option. She doesn’t have anyone else. At least, anyone who cares. God, what am I saying? I don’t care, and I’m supposedly her best friend.” I pushed past him. “I can’t tell her no. I just can’t.” I knew it sounded crazy, but Aspen had grown on me over the years. Annoying as she could be at times, she as least tried to be a decent friend when she was around me.

At the door he paused, and glanced back. “The guys in security are right; you really are a masochist.”

“What? What guys in security?”

“They take bets on how many nights you’re going to come home half-dead.”

That made me stop in my tracks. “Quit lying. You know it screws with your karma.”

He held up his hands. “Hey, Sis, I say live and let live. If pain is your thing . . .”

“Bailey, get the hell out of my room!” I shook a fist at him. “If you don’t, I can’t be held responsible for my actions—which will include sticking your poodle head in a toilet.”

He laughed at that. “Hey, just callin’ it like I see it. Have fun playing dress-up with your
BFF
.”

I threw a hanger at him, but he was out the door before it could hit him. It bounced onto the floor, and I stared at it for a moment.

He had to have been joking about security taking bets.
He’s messing with your brain. It’s Bailey, for Christ’s sake.

I thought about Aspen waiting on the plane.

God, maybe he’s right about enjoying the pain.

Fifteen minutes later I pulled up at our private hangar at the Austin airport. Sure enough, Aspen’s jet was on the runway. I climbed aboard, forcing a smile on my face.

She came running forward, her blonde hair piled on top of her head in a mass of curls. Her fake tan was darker than I’d ever seen it. She loved being bronze but never wanted to age, so the spray-on tan was her compromise. “Oh my God, I thought you’d never get here.” She air-kissed my face. “I can’t wait to go shopping.”

I held up a hand. “Aspen, it’s great to see you, but I have bad news. I can’t run off to Paris today. I have too many appointments.”

“But—” Her bottom lip quivered. “I have to find my dresses.”

I put on my best
I’m not going to kill you but don’t push me
smile. “I know, and you will, I promise. I have a plan B. I need to go to New York to check on BoDu, and I thought maybe we could start the hunt there. Junko Yoshioka has a new store in SoHo, and so does Saison. I checked, and the designers are around today, so that would be a great place to start.”

Her frosted lips formed a pout. “I guess, but I really had my heart set on—”

“I know, but they have some fabulous designs that you just don’t see anywhere else. I know how much you love to set trends, and buying your wedding dress in Paris is such a cliché.” I touched her arm. “Girl, you’re a lot of things, but a cliché isn’t one of them.”

“Pete,” she yelled over my shoulder. “Change of plans. We need to go to SoHo.” I thought I heard a small groan from the cockpit, but not long after that we were up in the air. I pretended to listen as Aspen showed me one wedding magazine after another. She’d decided to hold off on making any decisions regarding a color scheme or locale for her stateside party until after she found the dress.

Logically, it would have made more sense to pick the place first so she’d know if she needed a dress for the beach or a high society Manhattan soirée, but the whole wedding day ensemble was very important to her. Plus, logic and Aspen don’t really gel.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll never find one.

Her jet was tricked out with all the amenities, so we had a nice breakfast cooked by her personal chef. After some eggs Benedict, Aspen was much easier to take.

She seemed genuinely excited about marrying Huff. “So tell me how he proposed.” I didn’t really care, but if she showed me a picture of one more dress, I was going to puke up the great breakfast I’d just inhaled.

Sighing, she put her hands on her cheeks. “It was so right out of a romantic movie.”

Huff, romantic?

Now I truly was interested.

“We were in Belize. He’s been teaching me to scuba dive. That’s something he loves to do, and since he loves it, well, I wanted to learn. Anyway, he pretended to be tired one night and said he wanted to eat in. Huff had this whole meal planned with Cheffy.” She pointed to the back of the plane, where the large Frenchman sat hiding behind a newspaper. I wondered how he felt about being called Cheffy.

“We’d been out in the boat all day, and I’d been on my first two-hour dive. I have to admit my brain was beyond tired. I wasn’t really paying very close attention. By the time dessert arrived, I was ready to crash. But when I saw we were having cream puffs, well, I couldn’t resist. That’s when it dawned on me that Huff had arranged for me to have all my favorite foods.