“What? I don’t think so,” blustered Tutu.
Before it could turn into a true spat, Apollo cleared his throat and loudly said, “Who wants breakfast?”
“Me!” A synchronized cry.
“Then out. Give me and Iolana a minute to get dressed.”
“No hanky-panky,” Tutu warned, shaking his finger. “We’re hungry and don’t want to wait.”
My mortified ass thought about hiding away in bed all day.
Apollo chuckled. “Not exactly how I planned to wake up.” He tossed me a naughty grin. “A good thing they didn’t walk in five minutes later.”
I almost dragged him back to bed, but, given I’d rather not be interrupted, sighed. “Guess we’d better get moving before the hungry ones return.”
As we headed downstairs a few minutes later, Apollo leaned close and whispered, “I’ll have a lock installed on the door before tonight.”
Guess I didn’t have to wonder if he’d enjoyed last night as much as I did. But damn him for making me impatient for the day to end.
Chapter Fourteen
My servants wouldn’t stop staring at each other and grinning. It nauseated to the point I almost lost my appetite. I rallied. After all, I couldn’t let the bagels smothered in a cream cheese and lox, the hashbrowns that emerged crispy from the oven, the toast, buttered and with the option of adding jam, eggs in three styles—boiled, scrambled and over an English muffin with hollandaise sauce, a new favorite—the fruit cut into pieces, or the bacon go to waste.
While I chewed and scowled at my servants who couldn’t compose themselves, Keanu, on the other hand, beamed in pleasure. It seemed his ploy to forbid Iolana from being with Apollo worked. Something about reverse psychology. Whatever the case, the pair had copulated, but rather than clearing up their lust for each other so they could better focus on me, it appeared to have made it worse. Perhaps I’d have Keanu toss them in the pool to cool their hormones.
After the repast, which had my belly swelling, me and the old man chose to lay outside basking in the sun. He and Iolana wouldn’t be working in the shop today, a decision Iolana made, given her concern the intruders would return, and Keanu didn’t argue. She planned to purchase a camera that would spy on anyone who set foot on the property, and she was going to invest in a proper lock for the doors. However, when her grandfather also suggested they get a gun, she shook her head.
“I’m not shooting anyone, and neither are you.”
Humans could be so squeamish. A dragon tended to be simpler. Hurt me, I kill you. Touch my things, I kill you. Annoy me too much… We didn’t get our fearsome reputation by being kind.
The morning passed without drama, unless the fact we ran out of iced tea counted. Lunch at least proved satisfying. Burgers and something called hot dogs—which I’ll admit didn’t make sense since no canines were used in the making of them—along with fries, salty crunchy hot sticks that I couldn’t eat enough of. The fruit for dessert disgruntled, though. “Why can’t I have ice cream?” Such a delicious frozen treat.
“Because a growing dragon needs his vitamins,” Iolana stated.
An irritable dragon also needed sugar. Thankfully, Keanu located a bag of cookies, which we destroyed.
Mid-afternoon, after a leisurely swim and a snack consisting of buttery popcorn, Iolana rushed outside. “Tigger, you need to hide.”
“No.” I didn’t even open my eyes as I replied to her ridiculous suggestion.
“What do you mean no? You have to. Someone’s here.”
“Is it the chef?” Apollo had given her the day off, leading me to worry about the evening’s repast. My protector claimed he’d be ordering in a large amount of Asian food, which Keanu declared some of the tastiest take-out you could get. We’d see about that.
“It’s not Francine, but the doctor Apollo contacted the other day about the dragon videos.”
“The man who is aware we exist.” I sat up on the lounger. “I will meet with him.”
“No, you will not!” Iolana shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not yet at least. Let me get a feel for this guy first.”
“Won’t Apollo be upset if you’re groping another male in front of him?”
Her mouth rounded, and she laughed. “I’m not actually going to touch him. I meant I’m going to have a chat with him and see what my gut says.”
Damned pesky English language with its strange nuances. “I wasn’t aware Apollo planned to meet with this doctor.”
“Because Apollo didn’t arrange this meeting. The doctor showed up without warning at the gate. Claims he decided to combine his two weeks of holiday with business. Now if you’re done arguing, you really need to move. Apollo can only stall him for so long.”
