A spark of hope ignited deep in my core and I stilled, holding my breath as I stared at his lips, praying the next words he spoke were what I wanted to hear.
“I think I may have stumbled upon your dragon at the rest stop, Calla. I knew someone would be missing her, so I brought her back with me and Nanny J, who you’ll meet tomorrow, took care of her, gave her a bath and administered some first aid. Moses is here now with her.”
Excitement thrummed through me and I spun around on Eric’s lap so fast I nearly slipped.
“Easy, sweet one.”
Eric’s large hands gripped either side of my waist before I could fall to the floor, the zing from his touch added to the elation I was already feeling as he steadied me on his lap. A tall Native American man walked slowly toward us, but I hardly noticed him because in his hands was my Kimori. He held her reverently, as though he understood how precious she was.
Desperate to get to her, I stood from Eric’s lap, his hands slipping from me, as I rushed forward, arms outstretched toward Kimori. The moment my fingers wrapped around her soft arms, I pulled her in against me, clutching her to my chest. Lowering down to kneel on the carpet I held her out in front of me to look her over. Eric had said Nanny J, whoever that was, had washed and tended to Kimori. My sweet dragon certainly looked fresh and clean. I pressed my nose to her head, inhaling. Soap and a hint of lavender. Kimori had definitely had a bath.
Remembering how Jack had thrown her under the car, I proceeded to check all her joints. I stopped to rub my finger over a row of new small, neat stitches across one side of her neck. More tears came at the thought of Kimori having been injuredso badly. Moving down to her belly, I pressed firmly against the crocheted stitches, relief coursing through me when I felt the hardness of the bag of treasure I’d added when I’d made her.
Movement in front of me had me looking up at Moses. I cocked my head to the side at the way he was moving his hands. Was he using sign language? Dr. Stringer had mentioned it to me as an option for communicating non verbally, but I’d never actually seen anyone use it.
Eric’s voice came from behind me, confirming that the man in front of me was in fact speaking with his hands. I wondered if he’d be willing to teach me.
“Moses is wondering what is in your dragon’s tummy. Nanny J could feel that there was something hard in there, but since it was tucked in so deeply, she concluded it was meant to be there, not something that had been picked up from the rest stop.”
Frowning, I tried to work out how to tell them without speaking when I caught the glint of Moses’ wedding ring. Rising up to stand, I reached out and tapped my index finger against the gold metal band. Moses frowned down at his ring, obviously trying to work out what I was trying to tell him. Then his expression cleared and he pulled his phone from his pocket, unlocking it and pressing a few buttons before turning it toward me. Wondering what he was up to, I looked at the device. He’d opened a notes app to a blank screen, the keyboard buttons ready to be used.
Switching my hold on Kimori so I held her under one arm, I gently tapped at the letters, spelling out just one word.
Treasure.
Moses’ face broke out in a broad grin, making me smile in return. Tucking his phone away he signed to Eric, who chuckled in response as he stood from the couch and came over.
“Ah, of course. Every dragon needs to have some treasure.” He leaned over and softly ran his finger over the top edge of one of Kimori’s wings. “Did you make her, Calla?”
I nodded, holding my breath as I waited for his reaction.
“Well, you are clearly very talented with a crochet hook because this is the finest dragon stuffy I’ve ever seen. And it was a clever idea hiding her treasure away in her tummy so she’d always have it.”
Pride swelled inside me and I reverently held Kimori out from my body so both the men could admire her too. She’d taken me months to make, and I’d had to redo several bits before I got everything the right size and shape. But it had been worth all the work. Kimori was perfect.
With a happy sigh, I hugged her to me, rubbing my face over her head, letting the tips of her spikes scrape my skin, the familiar sensation instantly grounding me. Warmth enveloped my back a moment before Eric’s palms slid over my waist again. Immediately butterflies swirled in my tummy, then he stiffened and muttering under his breath, started to withdraw, but I didn’t want to lose the connection. I quickly shuffled back, until my spine was pressed against his front. He stilled, holding his breath for a moment, like I’d shocked him, before he relaxed and his hands slid forward, wrapping around my waist and holding me against him. Enclosed in Eric’s embrace was better than being wrapped up with a weighted blanket. Pleasure threaded through me, landing low in my belly, heating me in a way I’d never experienced before. Keeping my face lowered, I continued to nuzzle Kimori as I tried to process both what Eric’s possessive hold on me and my reaction to it meant for my future.
Eric’s voice was deeper than normal, and the sound sent a shiver down my spine in a good way. “Thanks, Moses. And pass on our gratitude to Nanny J for us. I’m sure Calla will thank her in person tomorrow, after she’s had a good night’s rest.”
My breath caught and I held it as I peeked up at the man I’d forgotten was in the room. He was grinning broadly as he signed to Eric. He winked at me when my gaze reached his face, causing warmth to fill my cheeks while he turned and strode from the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Eric tightened his hold before pressing a kiss to the top of my head. When he then loosened his hold, I turned to face him, grinning like a loon. Elation bubbled through me. I had Kimori safely back in my arms, was free from Jack’s influence, I even had a princess carriage bed to sleep in. And I owed all of it to this man and his magic.
He ran his knuckles lightly down my cheek, an amused grin curving his mouth.
“You, my sweet girl, are too precious for words. C’mon, let’s get your face washed, teeth brushed then into bed.”
Chapter Ten
Calla
When I woke up warm and safe in a princess bed with Kimori next to me, I’d been unsure if I’d actually woken up. Especially when after I’d showered and dressed, Eric had been there waiting to usher me into the main room of the suite where a trolley with dome covered plates sat. He fussed over me as I sat and he moved things from the trolley to the table. Tears had pricked my eyes when he’d lifted the dome to reveal a sectional plate. It was exactly like what I’d used at Pieces to Peace. Poached eggs in one part, crispy bacon strips in another… so much food and none of it touching. Perfection. Too perfect to be real. I’d honestly wondered if I was still asleep, but the food had been so delicious I stopped worrying and ate.
But now, as I followed Eric out of our room, my hand in his, on our way to meet with Derek, the owner of Rawhide Ranch, my thoughts sped up. It was a struggle to process the rollercoaster my life had been over the last twenty-four hours. The bad parts were easy to believe, those followed the pattern of my life, but this part, where I was accepted and cared for? This was all more like some elaborate dream my subconscious had come up with. Maybe I’d gotten the back of that SUV open after all, and afterhitting the road ended up in a coma. That would make more sense than somewhere like Rawhide Ranch, with men like Eric being real.
Suddenly I had to know, to prove if this was real. Frowning, I stopped walking and pulled my hand from Eric’s. As soon as I did, he turned to face me, concern radiating from him.
“What’s wrong, Calla?”
So focused on my mission, I barely heard him, I stretched out one arm in front of me. I took some of the tender flesh on the inside of my bicep and pinched it as hard as I could. Wincing at the pain, I dropped my arms down by my sides and turned in a circle. I frowned when it all stayed exactly the same, didn’t morph into blackness or a hospital room. The afterlife… anything.
