I Married a Dragon: Para-Mates, Book 2 Read online

  Kaine’s limo pulled out of the parking lot and sped down the street. The limo rounded the far corner and my gaze fell on the woman standing in the alley outside a trendy boutique. Miss PP slinked back into the shadows of the alley seconds before the limo whisked past her.

  “Looks like someone’s trying not to be seen.”

  “Who?”

  I held Mini-Pam up and faced her screen toward the boutique and its skulking visitor. “See the woman in the shadows? Miss PP, that’s who.”

  “Oh, you mean the beautiful woman with the long red hair? The one in your photos?”

  Did she have to emphasize the beautiful part of the description? “Yeah. Her.”

  “Miss PP? Do you know her?”

  Once Kaine’s car was a dot on the horizon, she stepped back into the light, then entered the upscale boutique. “Yes and no. I don’t know her know her, if you know what I mean. That’s just the name I gave her.” The limo disappeared from sight. So much for tracking him now.

  “Oh, I see. I think.” Mini-Pam made a soft whirring noise. “Are we going home now? Forgive me for saying so, but you don’t seem quite…right.”

  “Nope. I’m fine. In fact, I suddenly feel much better. I’m going to bite the gun and meet this mystery lady. Maybe she’ll tell me how she and Kaine know each other.”

  “I believe the phrase is bite the—”

  “Mini-Pam?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Delcaluca?”

  “Bite me.”

  “Oh!”

  I’d placed my hand on the car door handle when, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a familiar face.

  “Holy crap, it’s Tuo Chow.”

  Tuo skulked down the sidewalk, staying in the shadows of the canopies as though the sun would burn him. My thoughts immediately turned to vampires, but even after the day I’d had, I wasn’t about to go down that crazy path. When Tuo ducked into the boutique, however, I almost fainted away. Could this day get any weirder?

  I zoomed across the street in ten seconds, all while keeping out of view of Miss PP and the odd Mr. Chow. I flattened my body beside the frosted door of the boutique, edged around and peeked inside.

  At first, the boutique’s wonderful clothes and accessories dazzled me. I’d only seen merchandise like this on celebrities in the movies. Are those Manolo Blahniks resting on the glass display shelf? Is that the bracelet I’ve seen Paris Hilton wear? One of her own designs? For a moment, I felt like I’d walked into an alternate universe—the one where all the beautiful and famous people live. In fact, my first impulse—after my delighted shock wore off—was to cross my arms over my T-shirt and jeans, turn around and hightail it outta there. Damn, how I wished I’d worn one of the fabulous new outfits hanging in my huge walk-in closet at home. But those clothes were just too fancy for DeBunkers’ work. For a moment, I forgot why I was there.

  Or at least I did until I saw Tuo grab Miss PP’s arms and yank her to the side of the room, out of view of the other customers. I, however, had a front row seat.

  Tuo’s face was a mask of anger and Miss PP’s wasn’t a delight of joy either. She whipped her arms around in a circle, using a breakaway move I recognized from defense class, and pushed the small man away. He flailed his arms, gesturing and literally spitting his words. Although they were obscured from view, the other patrons heard them arguing and turned toward the clothes rack the two had hidden behind. Not being able to read lips, but still wanting to hear everything, I had no choice except to crack open the door.

  “Sabrina, you stupid bitch, do you really think I’m going to believe that load of crap?” Tuo flicked his hair over his shoulders in a gesture that would’ve made Cher proud. “I know for a fact that he’s going insane looking for the scepter. The Dynasty is calling for him to step down if he doesn’t find it. Don’t insult me by telling me he still has it.”

  Sabrina. Damn. Even her name was beautiful. I filed the name away for future use. But what was this stuff about a scepter?

  Sabrina crossed her arms and arched an imperious eyebrow. “I don’t care a whit for what you believe. I tried and I failed. The Scepter of Fire remains with the Dragon Dynasty.”

  Scepter of Fire? And a dragon dynasty? Were Sabrina and Tuo sci-fi fans? Were Kaine and these two involved in some role-playing game? Their conversation was getting stranger by the second.

  Tuo’s scoff sounded more like he’d blown his nose. “Zeiwacians don’t fail. That’s why I hired you.” His eyes narrowed. “But they do double-cross their clients. Tell me. Is someone paying you more than I am?”

  Was Zeiwacia a minor third-world country? I crept closer.

  Sabrina gave the Wicked Witch of the West a run for her money with her cackle. “Well, my dear Tuo, the only way to find out is to up your offer. Then, perhaps, I’ll increase my efforts to procure the prize.”

  Tuo scrunched his features even tighter, meaner. “Why, you little whore-hound. I ought to—”

  An employee, presumably the manager by her demeanor, worked her way over to the dueling clients but kept a safe distance. “I’m sorry if there’s a problem, but I’m going to have to ask you to—”

  Sabrina shot her hand out and pointed a finger at the woman. Immediately, the manager clutched her throat and gasped for air, her eyes bulging. Sabrina and Tuo, however, barely noticed as another worker pulled the manager away and shouted for someone to call for an ambulance. I gasped and went to my knees, trying to make myself smaller. What the hell happened to the manager?

  “Tuo, you’d better stay away from me or I’ll—”

  “You’ll what? Choke me? Please, I know your powers are in limited supply while you’re here. You’d better save them for when you really need them. Like when you don’t hand over my merchandise and I have to forcibly take it from you.”

  Powers? What kind of powers did she have? Wasn’t being drop-dead gorgeous enough? I sniffed derisively. No way. She probably knew some kind of tricky mind-control thing. No one could actually choke someone by pointing at them.

  If Sabrina got any redder in the face, I thought she’d explode. Instead, she screamed at Tuo, startling everyone except him, then turned and stormed toward the door. I fell backward onto my butt and quickly remembered how to do the crab walk. I made it around the edge of the building a split second before the door slammed open and she stomped out.

  With my back as flat against the building as I could make it, I tried to breathe without making any noise. I could no longer see Sabrina, but I heard the sound of a car roaring off. Trying to slow my heart down, I decided to wait until I thought I could scurry away safely.

  “Mrs. Delcaluca. How good to see you.”

  Instead of slowing down, my heart skipped a beat. I was surprised it hadn’t stopped altogether. Bracing myself, I glanced up to find Tuo smiling down at me. “Oh, hi, Mr. Chow. Fancy seeing you here.” I smothered a wince but, hey, it was the best I could do.

  Fake concern replaced the smarmy smile. “Did you fall? Please, let me help you.”

  I stared at the hand inches from my face and resolved that there was no way in hell I would touch it. Instead, I continued my ungraceful maneuver on my own, bracing my hands against the brick wall and shimmying my way to a standing position. “Uh, no thanks. I’m fine. No fall. I, uh, simply decided to take a breather from all the walking. You know, I shopped ’til I plopped.” Did that sound as lame as I thought it did? The expression on his face gave me the answer. A-huh-a-huh, a-yup. But, since I was already caught, I figured what the hell, I’d just plow on and hope for the best.

  “So you were shopping? Is that your story?” His smirk grew.

  “Story? I don’t know what you mean.” I tried, but I couldn’t hold his gaze. Instead, I edged toward the sidewalk and into the sun. If he was a vampire, then he’d get one helluva sunburn if he followed me. “Well, gosh, it was good to see you. Goodbye, Mr. Chow.”

  Damn. He was by my side and walking me to my car. I glanced up at the sun and frowned. For once I’d wanted
to believe in the supernatural and it had failed me. Vampire, my ass.

  “Please, call me Tuo.”

  “Okay. Tuo.” Urgh. I picked up speed, hustling toward my car. For a minute, I left him a few paces behind me. But only for a minute, damn it.

  “If I were in your place, I would follow her too.”

  The man definitely knew how to get my attention. “What’re you talking about?”

  His beady gaze bored into me, but I stood strong. “I assume Kaine told you about his relationship with Sabrina?” He held up his palms, stopping me before I could challenge him. “Former relationship, of course.” His smirk hit an even higher smirk level. “Or at least, she told me it’s a former relationship. But one can never trust anything Sabrina says.”

  I wanted to snatch his hair right off his head. Instead, I put on my best poker face and hoped I could pull off the bluff. “Of course.” I’d let him figure out if I meant the relationship or trusting her.

  “Interesting.”

  The twinkle in his eyes nearly drove me to commit murder. “He is my husband, after all.” As if that explains everything. Ha!

  “Good. Then I’m sure I’ll be congratulating you both soon.”

  I gritted my teeth, desperately trying not to ask. But damn it, I had to. “Congratulating us?” Why didn’t I keep going, get in my car and get the hell away from this freak?

  He feigned his surprise. “For the little one on the way, of course. For your pregnancy. After all, I’m sure you’ll be giving him the heir he so desperately wants. You wouldn’t want to suffer the Sabrina’s fate.”

  I’m sure the stun in my heart reflected on my face. “What are you talking about?”

  All pretense of civility fell away. Instead a stone-cold mask covered his features, icing his words. “When she didn’t, wouldn’t bear his spawn, he kicked her out. Dumped her.” His lip hiked into a sneer. “Good luck, Mrs. Delcaluca. You’re going to need it.”

  He pivoted quickly and walked away from me at a good clip. Hell, he couldn’t have made a grander exit if he’d had a cape to twirl.

  Is That Your Torch Pressed Against Me? Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?

  Okay, I chickened out again. Instead of barging into my hubby’s office as I’d planned to do, I peeked around the doorframe. Kaine stood with his side to me, a frown on his face and obviously deep in thought. One look at him told me I’d better keep my yap closed and my questions quiet—at least for now. Besides, I didn’t want to risk him not coming to our bed tonight. I wanted sex and I wanted it tonight. After all, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta fix.

  So I tiptoed past his office and hurried to our bedroom. I took Mini-Pam out of my pocket, tossed my clothes on the bedspread and gazed forlornly at our bed. Sighing, I smoothed out Kaine’s pillow and sent a quick plea heavenward that the sheets would end up rumpled before tomorrow morning came. For a guy wanting to make babies, he sure had a funny way of going about it.

  Oh, damn. How had a baby thought popped into my head? Girl, if you’re thinking that the only way to get sex is to have a baby, you’d better knock some sense into your noggin. Unless… I had to wonder. Don’t I love Kaine enough to give him what he so desperately wants? After all, the man gives me everything I want, a life filled with riches and love, and I won’t give him the one thing he asks for? Ah, but was that part of the problem? That he didn’t actually ask for it? Instead, demanding I have a baby? Still, a part of me felt very bad—and yeah, even guilty—for refusing him.

  Irritated at myself for even thinking about a baby—and at Kaine for insisting we have one—set up a knot of tension in my neck and I decided right then and there to get something useful out of this night. My conversation with Tuo, albeit definitely interesting, hadn’t done anything except add to the growing number of questions I had about my hubby and one certain lady. I didn’t want this night to end on such a sour note.

  Gathering my determination like the robe I wrapped around me, I scooped up Mini-Pam and headed for my office. This time, I made it there without the help of a map or servant. Score one for the lady of the house. It was a small victory, but I was willing to take any encouragement I could get. I slipped into my leather chair and reached for the keyboard.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Delcaluca.”

  I’m not sure which jumped higher, my heart or my body. “Damn, Pam, scare the hell outta me, why don’t you?” Placing a hand over my chest, I leaned back in the chair and waited for my pulse to even out.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Pam’s remorseful face glowed against the screen’s dark background.

  “That’s all right. No harm done.” Unless you count heart failure. I frowned. Come to think of it, I’ve had a lot of jolting moments since moving into Kaine’s house. More than I’ve ever had handling debunking jobs. Between the offbeat business associates, the odd assortment of household servants, not to mention Fitz the Mouse Muncher and today’s run-in with Tuo, I’d turned into a regular jumping bean.

  I touched the mouse and clicked. Nothing happened.

  “You don’t need to use a mouse, Mrs. Delcaluca. I’m here to assist you.”

  Did I want Pam helping me? Could I trust her—it—to keep quiet? “Pam, do you remember what I said about whatever happens in my office?”

  “Of course. You told me that anything I see, hear or download in this office is strictly confidential.”

  “Good memory, Pam.”

  “I enjoy one-hundred percent accuracy.”

  “Good to know. Just remember that one-hundred percent belongs to me and no one else. Not even Mr. Delcaluca.” Guilt at hiding anything from my husband twisted my stomach, but I forged ahead. Sometimes a girl’s gotta try what a girl’s gotta do. Or however that damn thing goes.

  “I remember.”

  “As do I.”

  I jumped again. “Sheesh. Will you guys stop doing that?” I glared at Mini-Pam in my robe pocket. I took her out and placed her on the desk. “I’m serious. Maybe you two could beep or something before you speak.”

  Mini-Pam tilted her head to the side at the same instant Pam did and answered in the same moment. “If you wish.”

  “I do. Oh, I definitely do.” I nodded to emphasize my insistence.

  “Should I do the same?”

  Maybe it was the fact that it was a human voice or maybe I was simply all jumped out, but I wasn’t startled to find Missy standing in the doorway. I grinned at the diminutive lady. “Nah, we’ll put a cowbell on you.”

  She gawked at me, then imitated Pam and Mini-Pam’s quizzical tilt of the head.

  “Missy, I’m joking.” I glanced at the clock. “What are you doing working so late?”

  “Late?” She followed my gaze to the clock on the wall. “Oh, you mean after five. I don’t mind at all. Besides, mice are used to running around at all hours of the day.”

  That proved it. My heart must’ve jumped one too many times because now it wouldn’t even beat. “I’m sorry, but did you say mice?” Please say no. After everything else I saw and went through today, now I was faced with a mentally ill assistant. When had I lost control of my practical and logical life?

  She gave me a pitying look. “I’m sorry. I assumed Mr. Delcaluca or Fitz would have told you.”

  Told me what? That my assistant was wacko? “Uh, nope. I guess it slipped their minds.” Or, in actuality, you’ve slipped yours.

  She scurried into the room, coming to the edge of the desk. I tensed, ready to run for my life if this delusional doll of a woman went psycho-killer. She clasped her hands in front of her like a bad schoolgirl confessing to smoking in the bathroom. “It’s true. I…am a mouse.”

  Both Mini-Pam and Pam supported her. “It’s true. She is.”

  Their confirmation of Missy’s claim made sense. After all, they were programmed to be like her, right?

  I had to give it to her, though. She had me considering her incredible claim. She could pass as a cute little mouse with her lovable look
s and small frame. And hadn’t I thought of her as mousy? But I wasn’t ready to let my mind slip all the way down the crazy slope. Take it easy, Chrissy. Stay calm and she’ll stay calm.

  “I see.” I struggled to find words. “So you must’ve grown really big? I mean, the mice in Cinderella were very small.” I hoped she wouldn’t bring up Mickey and Minnie for a comparison. But once I’d thought of them, I couldn’t get them out of my head. I couldn’t help it. I had to ask. “Are you any relation to Mickey?”

  Cheese. I smell cheese.

  I squinted, spying the bit of cheese sticking out of her pocket. She carries cheese in her pocket. I swallowed, unnerved by the discovery. Get a grip, Chrissy. You’re tired and you’ve had a rough day. Besides, lots of people—human, sane people—liked cheese.

  I glanced up quickly, noted the annoyed expression on her face and decided changing the subject might be the safest route. “Sorry.” I had to fake a smile, but I managed it. Remember to tell Kaine about the crazy lady he sent to work for me.

  “No problem.” She pulled up a chair next to mine and waved at Pam. “Were you going to do some work? May I help you?”

  Nutty assistant or not, I had things I needed to get done. Besides, changing the subject really appealed to me. “I’m going to do some research. If I can figure out how.”

  All three of my assistants came to my rescue. The hard drive running Pam whirred while Mini-Pam beeped, signaling she was ready to help. Missy edged closer, eager to help. But only Pam kept talking after their initial attempts to explain how things worked had died down. “If you’d like to access the Internet, documents, or whatever, all you have to do is ask. Remember, Mini-Pam and I are voice-activated.”

  “So am I,” tinkled Missy.

  “Great. Then how about helping me get some facts on a thing called the Scepter of Fire?”

  The whirring ground to a stop, the beeping disappeared, and Missy turned to stone. All three assistants exchanged a telling glance. At last, Missy cleared her throat and asked, “Why do you want to know about the Scepter of Fire?”