“Yeah, I got that. Now, what about her is exploding?”
“Well, she claims to be a dragon. I ain’t seen her like that, but I’ve seen her apartment. It’s all scorched-like on the floors and furniture.”
Nathan raised his eyebrows again. “You said I might be able to help. How?”
“Well, she needs to blow off steam or she’ll sneeze fire. It’s like some kind of weird allergy to clean livin’, I guess.”
Nathan looked confused and shook his head. “I don’t get it. What do I have to do? Take her out drinking and gambling?”
Gwyneth laughed and patted his arm. “Bless your heart, no, silly. You need to have sex with her.”
Nathan reared back as if she’d slapped him. “What?”
“She says it’s the only way she gets rid of the fire. If you could just help out until she gets her call girl business set up…”
Nathan sprang off the couch. “No.”
“Well, shucks. There’s no need to be horrified. She’s not an ugly toad or anythin’. In fact, she’s quite pretty.”
He faced away from her. “I’ve seen her. Still not interested.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t know you was gay. I got the distinct impression you wasn’t when that paparazzi reporter tried to make it look like you an’ Jason…”
“I’m not gay.”
Gwyneth threw her hands up. “Then what’s wrong? If y’all ain’t gay and she ain’t ugly—is it some kind of bird thang?” She stood. “Birds of a feather fuck together?”
“No, I can have sex with humans when I’m in my human form.”
She crossed her arms. “Then enlighten me. I’m tirin’ of this guessin’ game.”
He took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Gwyneth. I’m in love with someone else.”
“Oh! Well, I’ll be jiggered! You got a girlfriend. I had not one clue. Who is she?”
He snorted. “She’s not my girlfriend. I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to ask her out for a long time, but…”
“Oh, you poor thang. You’re shy. How long have you been like this?”
He gazed up at the ceiling. “Give me strength.”
Gwyneth sidled up next to him and wrapped her arms around his. “Maybe I can help. I’m a girl. Y’all can practice on me.”
He turned toward her, slowly. “Gwyneth? Will you go out to dinner with me?”
She beamed. “You see? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Well, will you?”
She frowned. “You don’t want to be pushy with the woman. If she says yes, you make plans. If she says no, you say somethin’ nice like, ‘Well, maybe another time.’ Give her the option to change her mind.”
He hung his head. “Okay. Well, maybe another time.”
“But I didn’t say no.”
He looked up again, hope glimmering in his eyes. “Then you’ll go?”
She bit her lip and stepped back. “Wait a minute. You are confusin’ the heck outa me.”
