Dating a Dragon Page 4

  * * *

  “You look hot, and you know it,” said Selene. “Now go.”

  Kat checked her appearance in the mirror, ruffling her hair with her fingers. She wore it down, the platinum-blonde blunt ends cut just above her shoulders. She’d given up trying to tame the mane, but the messy beach look suited her fine. Her halter-neck top skimmed her willowy figure, leaving her back bare. If people didn’t like her flashing a bit of flesh, then that was their problem. Could she help it if she had great skin that never wrinkled no matter how many past lives she’d lived?

  She went braless too. If this Egan guy was a boob man, he was out of luck, but what she lacked in that department, she made up for with legs that went on forever, clad in skin-tight black jeans, which showed her rounded backside to perfection, and killer heels that made her almost six feet tall.

  “The half-dragon better be tall, or I’ll tower over him.” She couldn’t bear short men, always puffing their chests out and tilting their chins upwards to make them appear taller, as if they had something to prove.

  Selene laughed.

  She’d arranged, through messaging on the Love Bites website, to meet Egan in a pub on the edge of town. Further out than her usual haunts and not far from the woods where she’d seen fantasy Greek god guy. What if, by some stroke of luck, he was at the pub too?

  And there she was, thinking of him again. Kat was looking forward to her date with Egan, really she was. And while his dragon side fascinated her, she was more intrigued to know why she’d had the weird feeling she knew him. The same feeling she had for fantasy guy. Surely it couldn’t be a coincidence?

  Perhaps she knew both of them in one of her past lives, or perhaps they knew each other. Granted, she was clutching at straws, but it was all she had, a gut feeling that Egan could offer clues about who or what she was. And the naked guy in the woods might, too.

  And so her thoughts returned to him again.

  Kat finished applying her ruby-red lipstick and headed for the door. “Wish me luck,” she said to her friend, giving Toby’s ears a ruffle as she passed her dog in the hallway. “And no growling at Selene.”

  “Looking like that, you won’t need it. Have fun.”

  “I intend to. Bye. Don’t wait up.”

  * * *

  The taxi pulled into the pub car park. The quaint country pub was bathed in evening sunlight and had an abundance of purple petunias cascading from hanging baskets and an old-fashioned cartwheel adorning the white-washed walls. Not the type of place she usually went to, but the car park was almost full, and the chalked A-boards promised a variety of flavoured gins and cocktails, so there was hope for it yet.

  Kat paid the taxi driver, entered the crowded pub and searched the bar area where she was supposed to meet Egan.

  She gasped, stopping mid-step.

  Even before he turned around, she recognised him. But it wasn’t Egan.

  No, the guy perched on a barstool had blue-black, wavy hair.

  She weaved through the crowds, her gaze focused on his broad shoulders. The last time she got a glimpse of those shoulders, they’d been bare, not covered by a turquoise-blue casual shirt she was sure would bring out the striking colour of his eyes.

  As she approached the bar, his back stiffened. He turned around slowly. The same sugary scent of magic wafted around her as it had in the forest.

  Yes, it was him all right.

  Kat blanked him, reminding herself she was here on a date with Egan. The half-dragon. If she could find him.

  She searched the crowd. No sign of this Egan guy. He was late. She hated people who were late.

  Hyperaware of fantasy guy’s gaze boring into her, she tried to grab the attention of the barman. Did he recognise her? She’d been wearing a hood yesterday, and his view had been partially obscured by the bush he hid behind.

  Naked.

  Her cheeks warmed, much to her annoyance.

  “Hello,” he said. The mere sound of his voice made her belly flip.

  She gave him a fleeting glance, pretending she’d not noticed him until now.

  “Hi.” Kat swallowed, then tried to get the barman’s attention again. She needed a drink.

  “Do you remember me?”

  She went for total ignorance. “No, should I?”

  “In the woods yesterday? I rescued your dog, Toby. How is he after his little adventure?”

  The barman served someone else. What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?

  Kat turned to face him, deliberately taking her time in appraising him. He wore smart jeans, the navy denim clinging to barrelled thighs, and she’d been right about the blue shirt bringing out the colour of his eyes. Topaz-blue eyes that hinted at wickedness and sin.

  “Oh yeah, I do remember now,” she said nonchalantly, arching a brow. “I didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.”

  His face broke into a smile, producing the dimple that dented his cheek. “Yeah, sorry about that. Please, let me buy you a drink by way of an apology.”

  That was it? He wasn’t going to explain why he was naked? “No, thanks. I’m supposed to be meeting someone, but he’s not here yet.”

  “No, he won’t be. Egan can’t make it.”

  “Wait, you know Egan?” Sexy, mysterious, fantasy guy suddenly got even more interesting.

  “Yes, I know Egan.”

  “Couldn’t he have sent me a message?”

  “It was a sudden thing. A bug, I think, or something he ate.”

  No, what he meant was, she’d been stood up, and the half-dragon had sent his friend to soften the blow. She had no complaints. “Okay, no big deal.”

  “Since you’re here, would you like to have a drink with me instead?”

  Hell yes. “Won’t Egan mind? Do you two not have a friend's code?”

  “I don’t know what that is, but no, Egan won’t mind. In fact, he suggested I come in his place.”

  Yep, definitely stood up. “He did? You must be close.”

  “We are. Like brothers, you might say.”

  Kat regarded him for a moment, trying to think of why she shouldn’t have a drink with him, but she had nothing. Nothing except the same weird feeling of knowing him. “Okay, I suppose one drink won’t hurt.” Famous last words.

  “Great!” He grinned. “What will it be?” He raised his hand, and the barman came over instantly.

  Typical.

  “Surprise me,” she challenged, glancing at the amber liquid in a glass tumbler on the bar in front of him.

  His grin widened. “A whiskey for the lady, please, Adam. And another for me.”

  She pulled a face. Whiskey? “Whiskey is an old man’s drink.” She preferred vanilla martinis, Jagerbombs, and tequilas. A good night always went well when she had a tequila sunrise or two.

  “Mock all you like, but have you tried it?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. Who knew what alcoholic beverages she’d liked in her former lives?

  “I have a feeling you’re going to like it.”

  The barman handed them the glass tumblers.

  Yeah, she had a feeling too, but it was nothing to do with whiskey. She shrugged. “All right, I’ll try anything once.” Kat downed a large mouthful.

  “Whoa, steady on.”

  She blew out a breath. “Wow, that’s good stuff. I’ll take it back—why should old men have all the fun?”

  The guy—she still didn’t know his name—held up his glass, chuckling. “Here’s to trying new things. Cheers.” He clinked his glass with hers.

  “Here’s to being stood up.” She downed the rest in one go, savouring the silky burn in her throat.

  “Egan didn’t—”

  “Hey, no worries,” she interrupted. “It’s cool. Buy me another drink, and I’ll forget it ever happened. I’m Kat, by the way.”

  “You got it. I’m Nicholas. Nick.” He ordered the drinks as more people crammed around the bar. “Would you like to take them somewhere a little les
s crowded?”

  “Sure.”

  The barman served the spirits. Kat grabbed her glass and scanned the pub. As luck would have it, a couple vacated a small table in one corner.

  “Over there, before someone else gets it.” He cupped her elbow and steered her towards the table. His hand was hot, deliciously so, and his touch gentle, like he was afraid he might break her. Static electricity zapped along her arm.

  He was taller than her by at least three inches, even with her killer heels. Those belly flips turned into somersaults. Mr. Fantasy was ticking every box.

  She sat down and sipped her whiskey this time, relishing the amber liquid as it breathed fire into her soul. “I’m glad I got stood up.”

  He sat opposite. “You are? Why?”

  “Because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met you, Nick.”

  Now they were out of earshot of the crowd, she had to ask him, “Since you know Egan, I’m assuming you know, err, what he is?” It wouldn’t hurt to be a little cautious. Just because Egan was a half-dragon didn’t mean his friend knew.

  He nodded. “For a few centuries, yes.”

  Okay, got that sorted. She leaned across the table. “So, are you half-dragon too?”

  The thought kind of excited her. What was this sudden interest in dragons?

  “No, I’m not a half-dragon.” He didn’t elaborate, but he had to be something supernatural since he’d mentioned he was centuries old.

  “What are you then?”

  He drew in his breath and looked away. “I can’t tell you. Not yet.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” The guy was getting more intriguing by the second.

  He didn’t answer.

  “Okay, can you tell me why you were naked in the middle of the woods?”

  He met her gaze, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. “Wow, that’s been on your mind a lot, hasn’t it?”

  “No, I…” Guilty as charged. “Why were you then?”

  “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

  “Nope. Can you blame me? It was kind of weird.” Understatement.

  He lowered his voice. “I can only tell you this; I had an accident while flying, and I fell to the ground.”

  She pondered for a moment. “So, you’re really old, and you can fly. Are you an angel?”

  “No.” Again with the clipped response.

  “A vampire?”

  “Vampires can’t fly.”

  She held up her hands. “Okay, touchy subject, I get it.” Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, came to mind. He can’t be.

  No, of course not. Gods didn’t fly either, not that she knew of.

  Maybe he was a demon. They had wings, didn’t they? And this Nicholas—if that was even his real name because somehow he didn’t look like a Nicholas—certainly had a hint of wickedness in those blue eyes, along with a sadness she found alluring.

  Or maybe he was the fire dragon, cursed to spend an eternity pining for his soulmate.

  Maybe I’m the ice dragon…

  Kat dismissed the idea. She couldn’t fly.

  She put it down to her overactive imagination after reading a romantic fantasy in an ancient book. It was strange how she remembered the book said the sorceress was never to be seen again, but she couldn’t recall what happened to the fated dragons. Didn’t Jim say everyone thought they died without ever being reunited with their soulmate?

  That story must have really got to her if she was still thinking about it now.

  “It’s not that,” said Nicholas, interrupting her thoughts. “I hoped…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. What about you? What are you?”

  She focused. Her own fantasy guy sat before her—who needed myths and legends and ancient curses?

  “I’m not sure. That’s why I’m so curious. I woke up from a car accident two years ago and have no memory. Except I have odd flashbacks of previous lives like I’ve been reincarnated or something.” She paused before adding, “And you might think I’m crazy, but I have this feeling we’ve met before.”

  He met her with an intense gaze and didn’t speak for what felt like a whole minute. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy, Katarina.”

  She gasped. The way her real name rolled off his tongue brought on another flashback. His striking blue eyes, gazing at her like he was now, but as she stared back, the pupils elongated into black, vertical slits. Holy shit, I am crazy. “I never told you my real name,” she whispered. “Do you know who I am?”

  Nick averted his gaze again, glancing around the pub at nothing in particular. A tiny muscle by his temple pulsed. “Egan must have told me. It’s on your profile on the Love Bites website thing.”

  Kat’s self-defence mechanism chimed in. Being mysterious and sexy was one thing, but now he was downright evasive—not to mention her vision was still freaking her out because his pupils were round now. What the hell was he, and why wouldn’t he tell her that he knew her? Because he did know her, that much was certain. “No,” she said slowly. “It’s not. I put my name down as Kat.”

  “Well, there you go then. Kat is short for Katarina, isn’t it? A lucky guess.”

  She took a gulp of her whiskey. She hadn’t had anywhere near enough to drink yet. Since she’d woken from her car crash, she’d longed for answers, and that same gut feeling told her this guy had them but faced with knowing the truth, did she really want it? Could she handle it?

  Only one way to find out.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” she demanded, feigning bravado.

  Chapter Six

  Phoenix scrubbed his neck. What the hell possessed him to let Egan talk him into this? He hated lying to her, but what choice did he have?

  What if he’d blown his chances with her by calling her Katarina? The name had slipped so easily from his lips.

  Suspicion clouded her eyes, and fear too.

  He’d had the whole story in his head before she walked into the bar, pretending his name was Nick, claiming Egan was only a friend and not his brother. He even had his chat-up line prepared, but one look at her in those skin-tight jeans and his brain had turned to mush. And her questions? He hadn’t expected her to be so forthright. The last time he met her, in the twenties, he imagined he’d seen a flicker of recognition in her eyes, but this was different. She was different.

  What if it meant there was a possibility of breaking the curse?

  Nix fixed her with a sincere stare. “Look at me,” he instructed. She did. “Do you trust me?”

  “You can’t ask me a question like that. I don’t even know you.” She pressed her lips and frowned. “Or maybe I do. That’s the problem.”

  He took her hands across the table. “What does your heart tell you?”

  She shook her head. “It’s doesn’t matter. My head is telling me this is crazy and I should leave.”

  “Tell me you don’t feel something between us, some sort of connection. Say the words, and you’ll never see me again.” He held his breath. He had to know for certain if she’d recognised something in him, however minuscule or vague that recognition might be.

  She didn’t move. Her gaze flitted down to his hands, holding hers.

  When she didn’t answer, he tried again. “I don’t wish to lie to you, but if you want to know the truth, you have to stop asking me questions I can’t answer truthfully. Not yet.”

  She met his gaze, her frown deepening. “So you do know me.”

  He knew everything about her. What made her laugh, what made her cry. He knew her smile, the way her eyes changed before she morphed into a dragon. Katarina was the most magnificent of dragons; her scales ice blue, they sparkled like a million diamonds—damn near took his breath away every time. He missed seeing her in her true form, missed her frosty breath as she whispered provocative words in his ear.

  Nix knew how much she loved whiskey too, and how they used to get sloshed on their homemade moonshine back in the late eighteenth century.

  The years apart fro
m her had taken their toll, and somewhere along the line, he’d lost a part of himself too. He’d forgotten how to laugh, how to have fun without a care in the world.

  Nix nodded, hoping against the odds that admitting he did know her, even though he didn’t speak the words, had not ruined the closest chance he’d had of breaking the sorceress’s dark magic once and for all.

  Katarina licked her lips and swallowed. “I don’t understand any of this. I just met you. I don’t know what to think. What if my memories come back and I don’t like who or what I am?”

  His heart went out to her. How selfish of him to wish for one second that he could forget everything. At least he had his memories of their beautiful life together. Guilt reigned. “I can’t answer that for you. All I can tell you is if I could ease your pain, I would do it in a heartbeat, and knowing I’m the cause of that pain is killing me, but…” He squeezed his eyelids shut to stop the sting of tears. “If there was any other way…”

  Composing himself, Nix opened his eyes. The last thing she needed was him being an emotional wreck; his turmoil was nothing compared to hers.

  Tears glistened in her eyes, gathered along her thick lashes. “I don’t know if I trust you or not yet, but for some weird reason I can’t explain, I believe you, Nicholas.”

  Calling him by his fake name only served to increase his guilt. He couldn’t bear the lies. She didn’t deserve that. She deserved to know the truth, a truth he could not reveal, but at least her belief in him was a start. “Thank you,” he uttered. “It’s more than I could have hoped for.” He inhaled and let go of her hands.

  She sipped her whiskey, her gaze never leaving his. “So what now?”

  “That’s up to you. If you want to go, I can’t stop you.”

  She put down her empty glass. “No, I don’t want to go.”

  He barely heard her whisper above the noisy crowd, but his heart pounded inside his chest, filled with more hope than he’d felt in a long, long time.

  Nix grinned, the relief overwhelming. “Great!” He didn’t care if he sounded too enthusiastic; he wanted to leap around the pub and sing out loud. His dragon wanted to scoop her in his forelimbs and soar into the sky. “How about I buy you another whiskey?”