Page 7 of Secrets of the Dragon's Heart

He studied her for a second, his brown eyes locked on hers, making her stomach do funny things. “I bet you’re one of those people who see the glass half full,” he finally said. “Do you always try to see the bright side of things?”

Surprised by the question, she had to think about it for a second. “I guess so, I’ve never really thought about it before,” she said. “Why, is that a bad thing?”

“No, I guess not,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “But it must be exhausting to always look on the bright side, that’s all I’m saying.”

“So, I should wallow in my pain and disappointments?” she asked. “That seems like a terrible way to live.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” he said, then hesitated. “I don’t know what I meant. Let’s just pretend we never had this discussion. I’m not very good at this stuff.”

“What stuff?” she asked, confused.

Cameron didn’t say anything for a second. “Talking to women,” he finally admitted. “I do fine at work, but this…here with you…”

“You’re doing just fine,” she said, reaching over and putting her hand on his arm, surprised when a tingle of electricity traveled through her fingers into her hand, up her arm and spread through her body. “Don’t give up so easily.”

“Okay, you two, we’re far enough out for the sails,” Montgomery said, cutting the engine. “Who wants to go first?”

She looked over at Cameron, who looked slightly miserable, and wondered for the first time if she’d made a mistake. He didn’t seem like a master criminal or a criminal at all. But she had the proof, she reminded herself: the invoices for special equipment and supplies, the mysterious trips Cameron took all the time, the locked door in the lab, it all pointed to something illegal. Just because he didn’t fit the profile didn’t mean he wasn’t up to something. In fact, this might all be an elaborate act he put on in public to keep people from being suspicious.

“I’ll go first,” she said when Cameron stayed silent. “I just hope I don’t sink us.”

“No worries about that while I’m around,” Montgomery. “Just listen to what I tell you to do and everything will be fine.”

CHAPTER 5

***CAMERON***

Cameron jumped over the side of the boat and helped guide it gently into shore, then held on until Montgomery secured it to the beach with a long line. Sailing had turned out to be more fun than he’d anticipated, just like Kennedy had predicted, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of knowing she was right, not after all the emotional upheaval she’d put him through that day.

Not that it was her fault that he was attracted to her. She couldn’t control that, but she’d made him open up to her, got him talking about things he never shared with anyone, and that was alarming. He'd almost told her his entire life story, but managed to stop himself at the last second, which was even scarier since he never told anyone but his closest friends anything about his life.

Wondering what it was about the woman that made him act like an idiot, he watched her climb out of the boat. The now familiar thrill shot through him, but this time, it was followed by a wave of warmth. Feeling his power beginning to stir as the creature inside him slowly began to awaken, helooked away, shocked by his reaction to just the sight of the woman.

“Well done, you two,” Montgomery said, a big smile on his face. “I hope I’ll see you both for another lesson before you leave. I think you’re ready to handle the current around the island. It’s a beautiful trip, and you don’t want to miss it.”

“Sounds great,” Kennedy said, a big smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “What about you, Cameron? Are you up for another sailing adventure?”

A strong stab of desire left him speechless for a second. “I don’t know…I’ll have to check my schedule,” he stammered, suddenly wanting nothing more than to get away from Kennedy and the confusion she had caused. But thanks for a great morning, Montgomery.”

“My pleasure. I love this job,” Montgomery said. “Easiest money I’ve ever earned, but don’t tell Max that.”

“I won’t,” he said, smiling at the man as he backed away. “I should really go. I’m supposed to have lunch with Max.”

He turned and started up the beach without even saying goodbye to Kennedy, but he didn’t care. He had to get away from her before he did something stupid. The woman had a way of throwing him off balance, making him think about things he had no business thinking about. He needed to be thinking about the lab. If he didn’t find the answer to why they could shift and other people couldn’t, if he couldn’t prove that there was nothing magical or mystical about it, his fate would be sealed.

This couldn’t be happening to him, not now, not after he’d made it all his life without getting tangled in a messy relationship with a woman he could never have. He wasn’t about to make that mistake now. He’d stay as far away from Kennedy as he could, walk the other way if he saw her coming, and banish the longing he felt around her to the deepest part of his brain.

Knowing that work would calm him, when he got to the village, he grabbed some lunch from the deli and headed for the clubhouse to claim his two hours of internet time. He found Max in his office, knocked on the door jam, and then sat down in the chair across from his desk, hoping his old friend couldn’t tell that something was bothering him.

“Was it that bad?” Max asked, after studying him for a second. “I know that you’re not crazy about water, but I thought sailing would be different.”

“Actually, I had a good time, and I’m thinking about going again,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I think I’m just tired. It was a big morning. I thought I’d work for a couple of hours before doing whatever you’ve arranged for my afternoon.”

“Maybe you should go take a nap instead,” Max suggested. “You’re supposed to be on vacation.”

“Don’t start in on me again,” he said. “I just want to check in with the lab and then if it will make you happy, I’ll go take a nap.”

“Make it a long one; I just heard from the fishing fleet that they’re bringing in a big catch,” Max said, a big smile on his face. “We’re going to have a crab boil tonight, which means a clam digging contest, live music, and some of the best fish you’ve ever eaten.”

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