How to Date a Dragon

Chapter 3

Drake had called! Bliss was still floating, but butterflies were getting the best of her as she got ready for their date. To avoid subjecting him to the scrutiny of her parents, she’d asked him to pick her up at Claudia’s apartment. Otherwise, her mother would have asked all kinds of embarrassing questions to see if he was good marriage material, and her father would have simply scowled and brooded because no man was good enough for his little girl. Yeah. His twenty-seven-year-old little girl.

“Why am I so nervous?” Bliss asked. “It’s not like this is my first date. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this right now. The card competition—”

“Can wait for one evening. You need this.”

“I know, but look…” She extended her trembling hand. “I’m practically shaking.”

Claudia stepped back and admired her handiwork. “You’re nervous because you really like this guy. If you didn’t care, you’d be your usual flippant self.”

“You’re probably right.” Bliss glanced down at her outfit again. “Are you sure I look okay?”

“You look beautiful. Come here.” Claudia dragged her over to the closet and opened the door. A full-length mirror hung on the inside.

“Oh,” Bliss murmured. She swiveled from side to side to take in the full effect. The crimson dress hugged her curves and fit perfectly. Claudia had done Bliss’s hair in soft waves. It looked shiny and touchable. Her black pumps accentuated her long legs. “I think you performed a miracle.”

“I had good material to work with.” Claudia smiled and went to hug her.

“No. Don’t touch me. I’m afraid the whole thing will fall apart if I move.”

Claudia laughed. “You have to. Would he be willing to come in here and watch you stand like a statue?”

“I suppose not.”

“Right. Now we just have to find some kind of outerwear for you. It’s spring, but it still gets chilly at night.”

“You mean I have to cover everything up with a jacket or sweater? Wouldn’t that ruin the effect?”

“No. How about a pashmina? You can drape it over your arm or around your neck until you need it. Then it just wraps around your shoulders. They’re thin but deceptively warm.”

“I know what a pashmina is, and that might work. It won’t add bulk. God knows, I don’t need any more meat on my bones.”

“Stop it. You’re fine.” Claudia reached into her closet and withdrew a black cashmere shawl with a subtle silky sheen.

“My mother’s pasta has added at least five pounds to my hips.”

“You’re nuts. You don’t look fat. Here.” Claudia thrust the shawl at her.

“Thanks.” Bliss folded the shawl and draped it over her arm. “Do I need a necklace, or are the earrings enough?”

“You don’t want to look like you knocked yourself out getting ready, even if you did. Besides, if you’re not wearing one, maybe he’ll take the hint and get you one for a gift sometime.”

“You must be dating much more observant guys than I am.”

“No, but I can dream. Hey, I just had an idea for another card you can make,” Claudia said.

“What’s that?”

“Something for first dates.”

Bliss laughed. “I can see it now. It can be a sympathy-type card.”

“I was thinking more of a good-luck card, but whatever. You’re the creative one.”

“You’re pretty creative too. That ad idea you put together for me was awesome. I loved the evil smile on the model’s face.”

“You would. Did it work as the introduction to your portfolio?”

“I haven’t had a chance to finish it yet, but yeah, it will. With the fire and trying to stay as far away from my parents as I can and still live there…”

“I understand. Hopefully you can find your own place soon.”

The phone rang and Bliss stiffened. It might be Claudia’s concierge alerting her to the presence of a certain hottie in her lobby.

Claudia strode into her living room and answered it. Bliss followed her, and by the short conversation, she knew Drake was here and waiting for her.

Smiling, Claudia hung up the phone. “It’s go time. Have fun tonight.”

Bliss took a deep breath. “If I can just keep myself from fawning all over him, I should be all right.”

Claudia laughed. “When have you ever fawned over anybody?”

“You’re right. I should probably worry more about insulting him and pushing him away.”

“Is that why you do it?”

Bliss gasped. “Hell, no. I just do it to be funny. I’m always surprised when people actually take offense.”

“Well, behave yourself. You don’t want to push this one away.”

“And now I’m nervous again.”

As soon as the waiter finished taking their orders, Bliss gazed at Drake with her big, brown eyes. “I’m curious about something.”

“What’s that?” Uh-oh. Is she going to bring up what she saw through the smoke?

“Something your firefighting buddy Benjamin said.”

“Oh, no. What did he say?”

“He didn’t say anything bad about you or anything. I just heard him yell over to the chief, ‘That’s the girl he’s been looking for.’”

Busted. Drake grinned. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He reached across the intimate table for two and took her hand. “That clever card… No one has given me anything like that before.”

“Really? I should imagine you’ve had any number of girlfriends in the past.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder in a sexy, flirty gesture. “None of them ever gave you a card?”

She has no idea how hard it is for a dragon to date. “Not made especially for me. I probably received a card on my birthday but nothing memorable like that.”

Bliss smiled. “Well, I’m glad I did something memorable.”

“I would have remembered you anyway.”

“Why? I’m sure I’m not the only single woman you’ve carried out of a burning building.”

“You’re the most beautiful.”

Bliss’s olive complexion deepened with a slight flush of red and she dropped her gaze to her lap.

“I hope one little compliment didn’t embarrass you. I might want to give you more sometime.”

She chuckled. “No. I’m not embarrassed. Just not used to it.”

“Seriously? You must have been dating morons. I’m told women need to hear how beautiful they are every now and then.”

She was quiet for a moment. “How do you do it every day?”

“Do what?” Drake asked.

“Run into burning buildings. I’ve had nightmares about being trapped in another one ever since the fire.”

“Ah, you’re changing the subject.” Drake chuckled. “Well, first of all, it doesn’t happen every day.”

“Thank goodness. But why doesn’t it bother you? You seemed perfectly comfortable in the middle of it. You were even joking with me.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “I had protective gear. You didn’t.”

“It wasn’t just that,” Bliss said.

“I’m used to it, I guess. Although I’ve heard that lots of guys have dreams of fires and being trapped, especially in the beginning of their careers.”

She was quiet for a moment. “Is there anything that can be done about it?”

“Are you asking if there’s something you can do about your nightmares?”

“Maybe. I imagine it will fade, but now I jump whenever I hear a siren. The other day when I was looking at apartments and heard the fire alarm… even though I was in a different building altogether, I had to get outside. I never followed up on the apartment, either. It was too close to that stupid school.”

“I think that’s natural. Do you have claustrophobia?”

“No. At least I didn’t. Don’t tell me I’m going to develop it now.”

He leaned back in his chair. “Probably not. I just wondered if you had it and that might have contributed to your need to get outside.”

“I think it had more to do with how close together buildings are in this city. When one lights up, I’ll bet a whole block could go.”

“Not if we get there quickly enough. That’s part of the job… to keep fires from spreading.”

She was quiet for another moment. “What’s the safest type of building to live in?”

“You mean like brick or concrete, as opposed to wood?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, naturally wood is more flammable than brick or concrete. But your best bet is to have neighbors who don’t smoke or cook or let their children play with matches.”

Bliss rolled her eyes. “Oh sure. That’s practical.”

He grinned again. Bliss was beginning to love that grin. Drake certainly was a charmer. Even if he isn’t my future husband, he’d be great to practice on.

At that moment, she thought she saw his eyes glow. They were a golden color but had been green a moment before.

“Are—are you all right?”

He leaned away from her and straightened. “What do you mean?”

“Your eyes. They took on this gold glow for a second.”

He hesitated a moment, then chuckled. “It must have been the reflection of the candlelight.”

“Oh. Of course.” She felt like an idiot. Get it together, Bliss. You don’t want him to think you’ve lost your mind, even if you have.

Thankfully, he didn’t seem to think it was worth dwelling on. “So, how’s your house hunt going? Any other prospects?”

“I may have found a place on Michelangelo Street. I’m just waiting for my application to be approved.”

“That’s a great neighborhood. I love the North End.”

“At least it’s Italian. Mama will be happy. A lot of younger people are moving there now, so I’ll be happy too.”

“We’ll have to try out some of the restaurants in the area.”

Yay! Second date talk. “I’d like that.” She couldn’t help smiling.

“So, tell me about the apartment.”

“It’s small. Tiny, really.”

“A studio?”

“No. One bedroom. I don’t think I could handle a bed in my living space.”

“I have a studio. The high ceilings make it feel bigger, and during the day I have more square footage because I built a Murphy bed in the corner.”

“That’s the thing that folds up into the wall, right?”

“Exactly. And I built a desk into the underside so when I flip it up to put the bed away, I can simply unhook the desk and it folds down.”

“You sound pretty handy.”

“I like to work with my hands.”

I hope you do more than build furniture with them. “Let me see.” She turned his hand over so she was looking at his palm. Large, rough, oh yeah. I’ll bet those would feel good skimming all over me.

Putting on a fake Slavic accent, she said, “Let Madame Zola read you. Ah, I see you have a long lifeline.”

He laughed. “You have no idea.”

Drake had walked Bliss back to Claudia’s place. He accompanied her up the elevator, and then the inevitable, awkward first-date moment arrived. To kiss or not to kiss.

It was not their first kiss. She had gotten that out of the way when Drake emerged from her burning apartment building after rescuing her laptop. She hadn’t even thought about what she was doing. She’d just dragged his head down and planted her lips on his.

This time, all she did was open her mouth to tell him what a good time she’d had, and he pulled the same move. He dove for her lips, and at the same time he crushed her against his chest. Then he cupped her head and held her in place.

As if I might object and pull away. Ha!

Not about to protest, Bliss threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back just as enthusiastically. Drake’s tongue met and swirled with hers. Her mind had emptied itself of every thought. All she wanted to do was feel… until suddenly, her lips were on fire!

Bliss pulled away and sucked in a cool breath. She touched her lower lip and it tingled with heat. Drake’s chest was rising and falling, and he seemed to be panting.

“Good Lord, I’ve heard of hot kisses but that was something else,” Bliss said.

“I know. I felt it too.” Drake shifted uncomfortably, and Bliss wondered if he had something against hot, passionate kisses. Come to think of it, she’d thought “hot” was just a metaphor. Now she wondered about other words describing passion. Smoldering. Scorching. Sizzling. Searing. Every word romance novels used to convey desire seemed to begin with the letter S.

“I—uh, I’d better get home. Got an early day tomorrow.”

What just happened?

“But let me know when you’re moving,” he continued. “I’d be glad to help.”

Whew. He’s not blowing me off. In fact, offering to help someone move is the definition of a true friend, isn’t it? “Thanks. I might do that.” Yeah, I’ll definitely do that.

Bliss had another true friend. As soon as she walked into Claudia’s apartment, the willowy woman rushed out of her bedroom and hugged her.

“Guess what?”

Bliss had expected her to ask about the date, but apparently Claudia had exciting news of her own. “Jeez, did you win the lottery?”

“No, but you did!”

“Huh? He’s a great guy, but what are you telling me? Is he a Kennedy who changed his name or something?”

Claudia waved away her question. “No, I’m not talking about your date. I’ll get to that later. Listen, your mother called and said the apartment in the North End fell through.”

“Aw, shit. How is that like winning the lottery? Except for her?”

“I’m sorry. Listen, there’s more. You got turned down because you don’t have a job. They found out about your business going up in smoke and didn’t think you could afford the rent while rebuilding your whole portfolio for the competition.”

“Damn! I can’t get a job right now. If I don’t deliver the designs for the final taping in three weeks, I’ll lose and then I really won’t be able to afford rent, or anything else. Will you please get to the part about the lottery? Or do you just have a very skewed version of good news?”

“Listen, listen!” Claudia was practically jumping up and down. “I knew you’d be bummed out, so I called my boss and asked if he could use a part-timer in exchange for the apartment over the bar. The waitress who left last fall moved in with her boyfriend. Well, he’s her husband now, but in any case, there’s a room for you, if you want it. He rents the apartment to his employees at a drastically reduced rate. He usually requires the person to be a full-timer, but I pleaded your case.”

“And he said yes?”

“Yes! Don’t you see? I solved all your problems. A part-time job gives you money to live on, time to work on your other project, a wicked cheap rent in an awesome place, and me as your manager. It’s a win-win-win-win.”

Bliss smirked. She wanted to tease her friend about having her as a boss… badly, but Claudia had done her a solid. She deserved better than a smart-ass remark.

“Thank you. I—um. I’ve never worked in a bar before. Does that bother you?”

“Hell, no. It’s easy. You’ll pick it up in no time.”

“Aren’t you worried about my so-called people skills?”

Claudia chuckled. “Not as soon as you realize that good service equals good tips. Now, do you want the job or not?”

“I want it! When can I move in?”

“Anytime. You’ll have a roommate. She’s the bartender, but it’s a two-bedroom apartment and quite roomy for the area. You won’t get in each other’s way at all.”

“Eww… a roommate. I don’t know, Claudie. It’s not that I don’t play well with others, it’s that so many others are jackholes.”

Claudia dropped her face into her hands, and Bliss thought she muttered, “Oh, crap. What have I done?” She lifted her face and glared. “Angie’s no jackhole, and we need her. If you can’t behave yourself, the deal’s off.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be good. Anything is better than living in my childhood bedroom while my mother demands I fill it with babies.”