20. Dragon #2
He batted his thick, dark lashes at me. “And now I see that you would look a gift Horse in the mouth.”
I glanced back at the glorious depiction. “I would.”
I walked past him, feeling more comfortable in the space with Horse who I was getting to know a little better.
He’d been embarrassed about the piano. He could have taken it apart if he really wanted to get rid of it, but if he played, that was something he should be proud of. Maybe I could help him see that.
I pushed through the door of the kitchen and stopped.
It was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen in my life.
The stove was something French, custom, like a Lacornu only expensive.
French doors were on the end that went out to the garden, where a little bistro set was surrounded by greenery with a newspaper on the table.
Inside, instead of pretty plates in the built-in shelves to the right, there were mechanics tools.
Like a full garage practically in that kitchen opposite the dented copper pots hanging over the stove.
I could live in this room. Cooking, building engines on that incredibly sturdy steel table, and then sitting out in the garden, where I could actually put together entire machines, because it wouldn’t be a huge deal to get a crane.
We did that for shows all the time. Not all the time, but enough that I was on good terms with the crane people.
I scratched my neck. “Good kitchen,” I said, while my mouth watered.
He cleared his throat. “Yeah. It’s…Good. I don’t really cook.”
“But you do tune engines?”
He looked like he’d been caught doing something illicit. “Yeah. Sometimes I like to work with my hands when I’m thinking about something else. You know, team strategy. How to outdo Nix.”
I liked that worked with his hands while he planned.
It reminded me of my dad. I smiled and headed for the doors.
The garden was crowded with plants that made the whole thing a jungle in the desert.
It blocked the view so you could be anywhere in the world, particularly since I couldn’t hear traffic or see the crowds.
It smelled like jasmine blossoms, and there were little nooks all over with couches and benches, places to lounge, and one spot had a half-done puzzle on the table with a chair on either side. The puzzle was of a Turner painting. Interesting.
“You like classical paintings?” I asked, turning to find Horse looking around like he’d never been to this part of the garden before.
“Yeah. It goes with the piano, I guess.”
I smiled at him. “Me too. I like classical paintings much better than velvet Elvis posters. Would you mind if I redecorated the room?” I sat down in one of the chairs and started sorting the colors. I hadn’t done a puzzle for a long time. I usually stuck to engines, but I’d always liked them.
His eyes widened as he sat down on the opposite seat and started moving pieces around absently, like he’d never seen a puzzle before. “Yes. I mean, you can have whatever you want, but I’m the one who will move furniture and stuff. What’s your favorite color?”
His watch buzzed, and he frowned at it, then held it over so I could see a video of Daniela, Felicia, and Minx standing in the hall outside Horse’s door. “It’s motion-triggered, so I know who’s out on my floor.”
They were here. Too bad. I was starting to get into the puzzle. And Horse being this real person instead of just a cut-out of masculinity with his clinging damsels. I wanted to get to know him better, but what I knew screamed easy to live with.
It was decided. I’d hang out at Horse’s place for a few days until we nailed the criminals who attacked me and my baby.
If I didn’t want to see him, I’d stay in my suite.
But ever since I’d kissed him in the elevator, he’d decided we were neighbors and that meant he was almost painfully polite. None of the man-whore from the lobby.
I stood and made my way through the jungle garden, trying to find the doors that led to the living room.
I almost fell into a pool that was camouflaged by greenery, but Horse caught me, slipping his large hand around my waist and pulling me against him for a moment until we were out of danger before he released me, smoothly, like he did that sort of thing often.
It left my heart beating too fast while my skin prickled.
He felt so good. Would that be a problem?
He cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. I really should have the bushes trimmed back, but I kind of like it wild.” His eyes twinkled as he looked at my hair.
I self-consciously tried to run my hand through the tangles, but it was a lost cause. I needed a shower and a detangler. He took the lead, making quick time to the living room sliding doors, and then we were in the guest suite with its velvet posters, Daniela pounding on the door.
I stopped and turned to Horse. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to them alone.”
He blinked and then nodded, pursing his lips. “Sure. But afterwards, make sure you tell me what you told them so we can get our stories straight.” He winked at me.
I stared at him. I didn’t lie. Except that sometimes I couldn’t quite talk about things, and that could lead to untruths.
Apparently. I pushed him towards his place and headed for the hall.
Weirdly, my heart started beating faster the closer I got to the door until I was almost shaking. What was wrong with me?
I stood there, two feet from the door while Daniela pounded louder and louder, just staring at the door while my heart got weird and my breathing got funny. And then I kind of passed out.
Horse scooped me up before I hit the floor, clearly not leaving me alone like I’d asked him to, but I’d needed him to rescue me. Again. With me in his arms, he opened the door with a scowl.
“Can you not knock so loudly? You startled Trixie.”
Daniela, Minx, and Felicia came in, Horse closing the door behind them.
“What are you doing to her?” Daniela demanded, arms crossed, asking Horse instead of me.
I sighed heavily and put a hand on Horse’s chest, but I was still dizzy. “He’s keeping me from falling on my face. He does that a lot. I’m having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby,” Horse said with a slight smile, shy about being a father for the first time. He really knew how to play a part for an audience.
I gave him a weak smile in return and felt sick. “I need to eat.”
He carried me to the bed and carefully tucked me in, then pulled out his phone.
“Room service, I’ll need a dinner. Delicious and nutritious.
Yes. I’m Horse. You know, the manwhore on the top floor.
” He winked at me and then headed to his living room door, slipping out and leaving me with the ladies.
I should get up, but I was still dizzy. My response at the door had been so weird, almost like I was afraid of opening it.
Fear meant you had something to lose. For a long time, I’d only had myself, and I wasn’t worried too much about death or pain.
But this was different. Everything was different.