Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
I stared out the window for the umpteenth time, but the sudden tropical storm had yet to ease. Even if it did, my car, the rust bucket I’d bought new more than fifteen years ago, would likely never run again. Smoke pouring from the hood after lightning? Not a healthy sign.
“I can’t believe I’m stuck here.” Initially, when Tigger declared he needed a bed, I’d planned to join him despite the early hour, but Jameson whispering, “Going to run away?” had been a challenge I couldn’t ignore.
While I’d prefer to avoid his presence—which rattled me in ways that made no sense—my grandfather hadn’t raised a coward.
“Is my company that unpleasant?” Jameson lounged on the couch, his arm stretched across the back.
Wish I could feel so at ease. The man discomfited, but not because he’d done anything creepy.
The more time we spent together, the more I caught myself staring at his handsome features, noticing—and even lusting after—his perfectly shaped body.
I admired the way he moved with lanky grace, even how he smelled.
To add even more annoyance to my attraction, I didn’t hate talking to him.
Unlike other rich guys I’d met, Jameson didn’t come across as pretentious or flaunt his wealth—other than the whole “my chef will prepare us a meal,” which, I hated to admit had been pretty damned good. I especially liked the part where I didn’t have to prep, cook, or clean up after it.
“You’re actually a decent guy,” I said finally in reply to his query. “Unlike some jerks who come here, buy the nicest properties on the island, and treat the locals like crap.”
“Having met a few of my neighbors, I wish I could disagree with your assessment. Some of them are genuine asshats.”
I bit my lip lest I giggle. I wasn’t the type to giggle. “Why did you move here?”
“Why relocate to paradise? Gee, I don’t know.” He rolled his eyes.
“But didn’t that mean leaving family and friends behind?”
“Don’t have any. Or, at least, none that could have swayed me to say.
” Said with a shrug. “Mom died when I was young, and my dad’s keeping busy chasing the ladies in the retirement community.
As to friends, the ones I had before I struck gold in the gaming industry struggled with my success and we no longer talk.
The folks I’ve met since have been fairly superficial, more interested in what I can do for them than me as a person.
I should add, I haven’t gone out of my way to really try and make any true friends.
When I’m not working, I enjoy my alone time. ”
Sounded a lot like me, minus the alone part. “I’m envious. Tutu isn’t exactly peaceful to live with,” I replied with a wry twist of my lips.
“How long have you lived with your grandfather?”
“Since birth. Mom couldn’t afford her own place plus daycare, so it made the most sense to live with her parents. And before you ask, my dad was never in the picture. Guess he didn’t want to be reminded of his summer fling.”
Jameson’s phone pinged. “Give me a second. That doctor I mentioned at dinner answered my message.”
I turned from the window. “You already contacted him?”
He replied without looking up from his screen and fast typing fingers. “While you were tucking in Tigger, I pulled up the list of speakers for that event. Once I had his name, it wasn’t hard to acquire his contact info.”
“What did you say in the message?”
“Not much. I asked if he still researched proof of the existence of mythical beasts, and if yes, what did he think of those dragon videos that had been surfacing?”
“And?”
Jameson held up his phone. “He says he has reason to believe they might be real.”
“No way,” I huffed.
“Apparently, he’s been gathering data on them but hasn’t yet had a chance to fly out in person to verify their authenticity due to a lack of funds.”
“Let me guess, he wants you to finance him.”
Jameson shot me a grin. “Can’t blame him for asking. A billionaire happens to contact you out of the blue asking about your current project is a prime time to put out a hand hoping for a donation.”
“You going to tell him to fuck off?”
“Not yet. I want to know more about why he thinks those videos might be legitimate.”
“He could be lying just to get some cash.”
“A distinct possibility, but I pride myself on having a pretty good bullshit meter. Can’t hurt to hear what he has to say. He’s going to compile a file that includes footage not being publicly disseminated, along with other information for me to browse.”
More videos proving the existence of dragons? Maybe reaching out hadn’t been a bad idea after all.
“Thanks for reaching out to this doctor. This whole dragon thing took me off guard, and you’re not wrong when you say we might need help dealing with the ramifications.”
“Even if he’s the only one, his existence will cause a furor.”
“Again, not something I’d really thought about yet.” I grimaced. “I better not end up with paparazzi camped outside my place.”
“I think they’ll be the least of your problems. The chances of you being able to hold on to Tigger will really depend on how well we can keep his presence a secret.”
“Which he isn’t making easy. He lacks any kind of subtlety.”
“I noticed. Is he really serious about trying to rule the world?”
My lips twitched. “Despite him fitting in the palm of my hand, he’s pretty insistent it’s going to happen.”
“He’s very strong willed.”
“Understatement,” I said with a chuckle. “Sorry if he freaked you out earlier with his claim we’d be moving in. That’s not happening.”
“You could. The place has more than enough space for several more people, even a dragon. Seven bedrooms, two of which are in their own separate wing with living room and kitchen.”
“No thanks.”
A smile tugged the corner of his lips. “I figured you’d refuse, but as your dragon’s new servant, I had to offer.”
“Guess I should apologize for that too.”
“Why? It’s not like you can control what he says.”
“Or to whom he says it.” I sighed. “He has no sense of self-preservation. I’ve tried explaining he can’t talk to everyone, but he isn’t listening.”
“Hence why I brought up the security of your home.”
“Let’s be honest, even if I locked the doors and put in security cams, do you really think that will stop someone determined to nab him?”
“Probably not. Even my home would be hard-pressed to stop mercenaries.”
My eyes narrowed. “Now you’re just trying to scare me.”
He met my gaze steadily. “Avarice is a powerful thing, and you currently have one of the rarest, most valuable things in the world in your possession.”
“I see what you’re doing. Trying to scare me into staying here so you can claim Tigger.”
Jameson snorted. “Hardly. I can’t imagine I’d find my oasis very peaceful if you moved in.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. Soon as this storm blows over, I’m going home.”
“Which likely won’t be until morning.” A statement that had me staring out the window again just as lightning illuminated the driveway out front and the ruined vehicles.
“I can’t believe lightning fried my car,” I muttered.
“And mine.”
“At least you can afford to replace it.”
“Surely you can as well. Don’t forget I’m aware how much you charge for your custom obsidian goods.”
“Most of the proceeds have been going toward paying down medical debt. Tutu insisted my grandmother try every single treatment available. It wasn’t cheap, and in the end, none of it worked.
” My lips turned down in remembrance of the moment when my grandmother said no more.
“I can’t live like this. Doctor appointments.
Chemo that leaves me puking and weak for days.
I’m going to die no matter what. I’d rather enjoy a few weeks to their fullest than suffer so I can live a few extra months. ”
Tutu railed and ranted, but my Lulu, my rock, held firm. We did everything that last month. Cooked together. Watched movies. Snuggled and watched every sunrise and sunset. The best and worst weeks of my life.
“Shit, I didn’t mean to bring you down.”
“It’s not you.” I wiped a stubborn tear trying to leak from my eye. “Just remembering the most amazing woman on Earth.”
“Your mom.”
“Grandmother. My mother wasn’t really cut out for the mom-thing. She wanted to be surfing and partying and doing everything but raising a kid. But Lulu, what I called my grandmother, she made up for it. When she died, she left a great big gaping hole in my life and Tutu’s.”
“Sounds like she was an amazing woman.”
Before I could reply, the lights flickered and went out.
“Figures,” he groaned. “My backup generator died last month and won’t be replaced until next week.”
“Afraid of the dark?” I teased. I didn’t mind it. Tutu’s cheapness meant we used minimal lights at home, those that had functioning light bulbs at least. The bathroom vanity might have room for three, but we had only a single one screwed in.
“The dark doesn’t bother me, but I’m still learning my way around this house. At least I can use the flashlight on the phone, otherwise I’d likely end up smacking into a wall or furniture.”
“Oh no, you might stub your toe or bruise that perfect face of yours.”
“You think my face is perfect?”
My mouth rounded in horror as I realized what slipped out. How to recover? By being even more bold. “Please. As if you don’t know you’re a walking Adonis.”
“I’ve been told a few times I’m decent looking.”
“Decent,” I snorted.
“I just wish those people would look past my face and realize I’m actually a pretty chill dude.”
Ouch. Not exactly a rebuke, yet it stung because I’d been that person.
“You’re not horrible,” I conceded. “I might even say you’re a decent guy.”
“Be still, my heart. A compliment.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” The darkness receded somewhat as he turned on his phone’s flashlight. “Let there be light!”
“I would if mine still worked.” My cellphone needed replacing in a bad way.
“Is this a bad time to mention I’m down to three percent battery?”