How to Date a Dragon (5 page)

He slammed the lid shut. The card she’d made didn’t have a logo or company name on the back. Apparently, she’d whipped it up on the fly, so he had no idea which card company to call. The TV show wasn’t airing yet, and he couldn’t get any information on the candidates. You’d think they were protecting the next high-tech product from corporate spies.

All he knew was her first name and that she owned the struggling company.
Maybe
I
could
get
her
last
name
from
the
condo
association.

Since everyone in the small building had been displaced, he doubted that possibility. Even if he did locate someone, the idea that they’d just hand over personal information about one of the residents to a total stranger was remote. He literally sagged in defeat.

With nothing else to do unless the fire alarm blared, he went to the online version of the daily newspaper. He checked the back issues until he found the one from the day after the fire. Maybe an article in the local news about the structure burning would provide a clue.

Fortunately, it must have been a slow news day and the paper had a photograph of the mayhem. There he was on the side lawn, kissing—or rather, being kissed by—the beautiful but elusive Bliss. Her back was to the camera, so he couldn’t even show her picture around the neighborhood.
Damn.

But the timeliness of the photo brought up another question. Could it be arson? Where did the picture come from? Was it provided by a citizen with a camera phone or a local reporter with a cameraman? If the latter, how did they get there so quickly? Did someone tip them off? Drake didn’t remember seeing anyone. Bystanders were kept at a distance. The picture may have been taken with a telephoto lens, but the angle suggested the photographer was nearby.

An arson investigator would have been assigned to the case. Even if it wasn’t arson, a fire investigator would try to determine the fire’s cause and point of origin.
Maybe
I
could
talk
to
him. You never know what kind of clues might wind up in the rubble.

Drake knew he was reaching, but one of his double-edged traits was his tenacity. He wouldn’t give up the search for her easily.

***

“Claudia, my mother is driving me crazy,” Bliss stood on the porch and whispered loudly into the phone.

“Ugh. What is she doing?”

Bliss let out a long sigh. “One minute she’s treating me like a kid, and the next she’s begging me to get married. Aren’t there laws against marrying off little kids?”

“It sounds like you need a night on the town.”

“Oh, yes, please!”

Bliss’s mother opened the front door. “What are you doing out here, Blissy?”

“Argh. I told you not to call me that anymore.”

Her mother shrugged. “It’s your nickname, isn’t it?”

Bliss pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ma, I’m on the phone.”

“I can see that. Who are you talking to?”

Bliss thrust the phone into her mother’s hand. “Here. Why don’t you ask her?”

Her mother made a sound of disgust and pushed the phone back toward Bliss. “I don’t want to interrupt. I was just curious.”

“It’s not your future son-in-law, okay?” Bliss took back the phone and waited while her mother returned to the house and shut the door.

Whispering frantically to Claudia, she said, “Do you see what I mean?”

“Oh, Lord. You need more than a night out. You need to go shopping for a new apartment.”

“No kidding. Have you heard of any?”

“I’m asking around but so far the only places I’ve heard about are too expensive.”

“I guess I’ll have to empty my savings and pay a Realtor to find a decent place I can afford. It was good of you to look, but I can’t stay here much longer.”

“How did you hear about your last place?” Claudia asked.

“My printer told me about it. Her neighbor was going to China and needed to sublet.”

“So you just kind of fell into it. It could happen that way again…” Claudia didn’t sound as confident as her words.

“I’m afraid I’ll wind up committing murder if I stay here. If I look at it that way, the Realtor will be a bargain.”

“True. So when are you coming into the city again? I’ll make dinner reservations at that place we wanted to try on Prince Street.”

“How about now?”

Claudia laughed. “Oh, brother. You’re really desperate.”

“Did you not hear my interfering mother? At least I got a new greeting card out of it.”

“Cool. Let me hear it!”

“Mother, dearest, I know you mean well, but knock off the nagging—it’s a guilt trip to hell.”

“It’s not your best, but you’re probably off your game right now.”

“Probably?”

“I know. I sympathize.”

“What do you know about it? Your parents live in Florida.”

“Thank goodness. So, let’s pick a night when you can come into the city and stay at my place overnight.”

“I may never leave…”

“Threatening me won’t help your cause.”

“Sorry. Listen, I’ll call a Realtor.” Bliss shifted from foot to foot. “Then I’ll call you back when I have some appointments and we can get together the night before, if I can stay with you.”

“Of course. Maybe you can look up the hottie fireman you were telling me about.”

After a sad pause, Bliss said, “He’s tall, blond, heroic, and did I mention absolutely gorgeous? What would he want with a broad like me?”

“Stop it. Using the word ‘broad’ makes you sound like you’re from the nineteen-thirties.”

“Great. My mother thinks I’m a kid one minute and an old maid the next. Now you think I’m a grandmother from the nineteen-thirties. I’m getting a little messed up.”

Claudia sighed. “Don’t worry. We’ll sort you out.”

“I hope so. Well, I should go and call a Realtor.”

“Okay. Oh, and Bliss?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t be too hard on your mother. She just wants what she thinks is best for you.”

“Well, homicide isn’t best for either of us. Unless a nice homicide detective shows up. Then I’m sure her spirit will forgive me.”

***

“Maybe I’ll have better luck with the
B
’s,” Drake muttered. “After all, her name is Bliss.” He drifted off into a fantasy of how blissful it would be to make love to her.

He had called every greeting card company beginning with A and had to stop to recharge his phone. He felt like a dork asking for Bliss each time and being told he had a wrong number, or worse. Some people treated him like a pervert! But if that was the only way to find her, he’d keep it up until he reached the last
Z
or his phone died permanently.

As he was about to check his battery again, the alarm went off and the firehouse sprang to life. The guys put on their gear and used the pole to get to the garage quickly.

“Any luck?” Benjamin asked.

“No, but I’ve just started.” No one had to know he’d made sixty calls already.

Drake was glad for the distraction. He could drive himself a little crazy when he became obsessed with something or, in this case, someone. He really had to learn to let go.

He jumped up into the ladder truck and leaned out the window. Before long, they were rolling out onto the road.

They were heading to Boylston Street. Not far from the area where Bliss had lived before the fire.
Maybe
she
still
has
friends
in
the
neighborhood
and
… He shook his head hard, as if to sweep her out of his mind.
Knock
it
off, Cameron. Chances are slim that she’s still nearby. She said she was going to be living with her parents and they could be anywhere.

When they rolled up to the school building, nothing seemed amiss except for the smoke alarm going off inside and dozens of people standing around on the sidewalk.

The chief ordered the public back, clearing the area.

Drake grabbed an ax and led his comrades inside. No smoke on the first floor. They continued up the stairs and did a sweep of the second, then the third. So far, nothing. Must have been a false alarm. It happened, especially in schools. Probably a student didn’t want to take an exam until he or she had more time to study.

Little
bastards. Why can’t they give up a night of partying and study like they’re supposed to?

When the building had been thoroughly checked and the alarm turned off, he trudged out onto the sidewalk. Suddenly, in the crowd across the street, he thought he caught a glimpse of her.
It
couldn’t be. It’s
probably just…

A couple with a stroller moved and he got a better look.
Holy
shit. It
is
her!

He charged across the street and grabbed the surprised, elusive woman by the arms. “Bliss. That’s your name, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” She was staring at him as if she had just seen a ghost.

“I’ve been…”
Whoa. Play it cool, Cameron.
“I was hoping to run into you again. Thanks for the creative card. Where are you staying?”

The chief yelled over at him, and Drake held up one hand as if to say, give me a minute.

“With my parents. I’m going crazy there and came back to look at apartments today. Is this neighborhood prone to fires? If so, I’d better look elsewhere.”

“No! I mean, no, it’s plenty safe.”

She smiled and something inside him melted. The chief yelled at him again and started walking over.

“Listen, before I go, can you give me your number? I’d like to ask you out sometime.” He started to back away.

“Sure.” She grinned and rattled off her cell phone number.

The chief yelled out, “Hey, Cameron!”

“Wait! Is Cameron your first or last name?” Bliss asked.

“Last. My first name’s Drake.” He glanced in the chief’s direction. “Uh, I’d better run.”

Benjamin called after the chief. “Give him a minute, boss. That’s the girl he’s been looking for.”

The chief threw his hands in the air. “Seriously? Everything is supposed to stop so Drake can talk to a pretty girl.”

“Better than having him talk to your daughter, chief,” Mike yelled out.

The chief snorted. “As if I’d let that happen.” Then he focused on Drake and said, “Get her number and come on.”

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.”