Chapter Twenty-Seven
Laurie
I stared at his outstretched hand.
There was more to Rip’s offer than it seemed. I easily saw that in his eyes. For the first time I could recall, he truly looked worried. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Laurie?”
“My jacket,” I said, looking behind me.
Winston immediately grabbed my jacket and boots from the nearby closet. Rip didn’t look happy about the delay, but he didn’t protest. My parents waited by the door, frowning.
“Are you sure?” my mother asked.
“I’ll explain everything later,” I assured her. “It’s … complicated.”
That was one way to describe they were going to be grandparents. But I was not having that discussion at that moment.
“Thank you, Winston,” I said, dressing hurriedly.
“You’re welcome, Miss Laurie,” the butler replied.
“Sorry for doubting you about Eric,” I added, clapping him on the shoulder before taking Rip’s hands and running out into the snow.
“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked. “It’s horrible out here.”
“We’ll be fine. I can’t explain it, but you just have to trust me.”
“Okay.” How else could I respond?
Eb, who was driving the car, spluttered and protested as I got in. “Sir!” he said.
“Not now, Eb,” Rip said. “Go.”
The SUV turned, and Eb accelerated at what felt like far too fast a pace. Yet I noticed never once did the tires slip or fail for traction. We were glued to the road, even on the corners, as if there were no snow.
“Good tires,” I observed.
Rip chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’ll explain … I don’t know.” He frowned. “I don’t know how to do this best.”
“Do what best?” I asked, shifting uncomfortably in the seat next to him.
“Explain.”
I stared at him. Again, he was discomforted. Which wasn’t like Rip at all. He was so sure of things, so confident in everything. What had him on edge all of a sudden?
Was he about to tell me something bad?
“Please tell me you aren’t a mafia boss,” I said, coming to a sudden conclusion about why he might have to sneak away in the middle of the night.
“What?” He laughed, setting me at ease. “No. Nothing like that. It’s not bad news, Laurie. Just … unbelievable, I guess.”
“You already tried to convince me you’re a prince,” I pointed out.
“I am,” he said.
“Of what?” I challenged.
“Sir,” Eb said warningly.
Rip waved him off and locked eyes with me.
“Dragons,” he said levelly, his gaze never straying from mine.
I snorted incredulously. “Dragons. Right. That’s impossible. Nice try. This isn’t HBO.”
“Everything is impossible, Laurie,” he said in a grave voice, still never looking away. “Until it isn’t.”
“You expect me to believe you’re a prince of dragons? How on Earth?” I said, looking at him. “Come on, tell me the truth.”
“I am,” he said softly.
I sank back into my seat as I watched his face, slowly regretting my decision to get in the vehicle with him. The seriousness of his tone, the expression on his face … There wasn’t a twitch of his lips as if he were hiding a joke. To Rip, it was real.
And that was the problem as far as I could see it. He believed what he was saying. For that matter, Eb seemed to be under the same delusion as well. Or maybe Rip just paid him enough to disregard it.
Great, the father of my child is crazy.
I would have to raise this child on my own, wasn’t I? My child might not have a father.
“I’m not crazy,” Rip said, interrupting my internal monologue.
“So, you’re saying what? That I have a dragon growing in my stomach?” I challenged.
“No. Shifting generally doesn’t start until the onset of puberty,” he revealed.
“Shifting?”
“I can change into a dragon,” he said.
“Now I’ve heard it all,” I said, shaking my head and falling into silence as we drove.
I shouldn’t have gotten into the car. Still, I had my cellphone stuffed in the back pocket of my pants. I could feel it sticking into my butt. If I could get free, I could call my Dad to come to get me.
“You’re thinking about jumping out of the car,” Rip said as he watched me.
I stared back, more time passing. I had no idea where we were.
“I’m not crazy,” he repeated, the car slowing, making a turn into a driveway.
“And I can prove it. But if you don’t want to know more, if you don’t want to see the truth and would rather never deal with me again, then stay in the car.
Eb will take you home, and that will be that.
I’ll stay out of your life, both of your lives. Forever.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “And if I get out of the car?”
Eb pulled the vehicle to a halt out front of a large manor house that rivaled my family’s in size.
Rip unbuckled and grabbed the door handle.
“Then I’ll show you the truth,” he said, stepping out of the vehicle and leaving me to decide for myself what to do.
Did I get Eb to take me home or get out of the car and risk it all?