Page 1 of Dragon Daddy's Second Chance

PROLOGUE

Max gathered together the folders on the table, downed the last of his coffee, and then headed for the village to meet with Mateo. He wasn’t looking forward to another tense negotiation with the man, especially since working together the last time he wanted something from the government on the big island. This was a different battle, one they’d been fighting for over a month, and he didn’t plan to lose. They needed security on the island. The past had proven that clearly. He wanted his guests to feel safe when they came to Heart of the Ocean, wanted them to forget the outside world for just a little while.

Recent events had made it obvious that the island was too accessible, the wide sandy beaches too easy to navigate in a small boat. The coves were open to anyone who wanted to land on the island undetected. He hated to cover the island in cameras, but he was determined to put a stop to unwanted visitors. If Mateo refused to let him bring in security staff, he’d have no choice.

Walking down the path to the village, he ran through allof the arguments he’d come up with hoping to convince Mateo that people would be better than technology, but he knew how stubborn the man could be, how serious he took his job protecting the island. It was no secret that Mateo was against him being there, and he’d certainly tried more than once to convince him to leave, tried to blame all the strange things that happened on something supernatural with dire warnings about what might come next. It was all just a bunch of nonsense, a string of coincidences completely unrelated, and he wasn’t about to give up his dream because Mateo was superstitious.

The village was bustling with activity when he arrived, the stores and shops filled with guests, and he paused for a second to enjoy the sight, pleased that all the hard work that went into running the resort was being appreciated. Greeting people as he walked over to the food court, he kept a smile on his face even when he saw Mateo sitting at a table, a frown on his face.

“You’re late,” Mateo said when he sat down.

“Since when do you worry about stuff like that?” he asked. “Besides, I’m not late, you’re early.”

“I just want to get this over with,” Mateo said. “You know how I feel about the whole thing.”

“Yes, you’ve made that perfectly clear, but I can’t have my guests in danger, and for some reason, trouble just seems to find us on this island,” he said, then wished he hadn’t when Mateo opened his mouth. “Before you start lecturing me, let’s just get to it. We need security on the island in some form or another. I’m willing to be flexible, but I can’t do it alone.”

When Mateo didn’t answer, he shoved the folders across the table to him, then got to his feet. “I’m going to go get some coffee and let you look those over,” he said. “Do you want anything?”

All he got was a grunt as Mateo reached out for the folders, but he waited a second longer, sure the man couldn’t resist the offer. “I’ll take my usual,” he finally said. “And make it a double.”

When he came back with the coffees, there was one folder separated from the stack. Mateo shoved it back across the table at him. “I want to know more about this one,” he said. “If we have to have security, I think I would feel most comfortable with someone you know.”

“Harrison is a good guy, that’s why I chose him,” he said. “And he knows his stuff, he’ll keep the island safe.”

“Will he do it?” Mateo asked. “With a resume like that, guarding this island might be a little too sedate.”

“He’s been looking for a change,” he said. “How about I set up a meeting between you two?”

“Fine, I’ll be headed back over to the big island later this week,” Mateo said. “How soon can he start?”

“It will be a couple of weeks before he’s free,” he said, holding back a smile. “But I’m sure he can zip over to Bermuda before then. I’ll make it happen.”

“See that you do. It’s the only way I’m going to agree,” Mateo said. “Now, what disaster do we have to look forward to when your friend arrives today? We’ve had abusive exes, mobsters, and don’t even get me started about all the other strange things that have gone on, I’m too tired today.”

“I’m sure Blake’s visit will be nice and quiet,” he said, hoping he was right. “He’s a good solid guy, he won’t bring any trouble with him.”

“Yeah, that’s what you said the last time,” Mateo said. “Maybe you should postpone his trip until we get some security around here.”

“I can’t, he’s already on his way,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “Besides, I’m sure everything will be fine.”

CHAPTER 1

***BLAKE***

Blake watched Bermuda get smaller and smaller, then finally disappear. A pang of regret that he hadn’t been able to stay longer made him frown, and then he turned to watch as the boat sped into the open ocean. He knew that it was only a few miles to the island, but for just a moment, with no land in sight, he could imagine that he was far away from civilization. Someday, he told himself, closing his eyes for just a second to indulge in the fantasy that had been his saving grace for the last few years, a fantasy that was soon going to be reality.

The thought made him smile and when he opened his eyes, the captain, Montgomery, was watching him an understanding look on his face. “You’ve got a bit of the sea in your blood,” he said. “I can see it in your face.”

“I’ve been around boats for as long as I can remember. I’ve got a thirty-foot cabin cruiser back home, and there’s nothing better than taking her out on the weekends and just getting away,” he said. “Someday I’m going to buy a sail boat and travel around the world. My parents think it’s a terribleidea, but it’s become a bit of an obsession. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love just to have kids I don’t want, I want to do something exciting with my life.”

Shocked that he’d revealed so much to a stranger, he snapped his mouth closed before he said any more, acutely aware of how pathetic his life sounded. “I’ve made the trip a couple of times,” Montgomery said, ignoring everything else he’d said. “It’s a lot of work, but there are some really beautiful places out there in the world. How long have you been sailing?”

He didn’t answer right away, hating the fact that he’d exposed the biggest flaw in his plan. “I took a few lessons when I was a kid, but that’s about it,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “The people in my social group are more into the yacht scene, sailboats are too much work, but I’ve made up my mind to buy one. I’ve been saving for three years, I’m almost there.”

“Then you’d better learn to sail, and soon,” Mongomery said, laughing. “I give lessons every morning. I’ve got a ten-thirty open tomorrow morning if you’re interested.”

“Are you kidding?” he asked. “Max didn’t say anything about sailing lessons. Sign me up every day that I’m here.”

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