Page 2 of The Last Bachelor Dragon

“I just assumed that since I’m being held prisoner I wasn’t allowed to leave,” she shot back at him without even hesitating. “I guess I was wrong; it’s only the island I’m stuck on.”

“Which is your own fault. If you’d just tell me who youare, you’d be free to leave,” he hissed at her. “The choice is completely yours.”

“I don’t see what difference it makes who I am,” Nora said, lifting her chin even higher in the air. I’m not a child; I’m a grown woman. If I want to go to Bermuda, then you should take me, no questions asked.”

He had to take a deep breath to keep from exploding. “It makes a difference when you don’t have a passport or a penny to your name,” he said through clenched teeth, wanting to throttle her with his bare hands. “I’m not going to dump you on the island with nothing and nowhere to go. I didn’t risk my life saving you from sexual slavery just to have you end up right back where you were.”

That shut her up for a second, but only for a second. “So I made a mistake, but I said thank you for saving me. It won’t happen again,” she said. “I just want to get off this island and get on with my life, I’m not your responsibility. What happens to me after I leave is none of your business.”

“You have no idea how much I wish that was true,” he groaned. “But from the moment you were plucked from that boat, you became my problem.”

“I don’t know why, you weren’t even there,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “You were waiting on shore like the spoiled rich boy you are and letting everyone else do your dirty work.”

He knew that she was baiting him, that she was just trying to piss him off, but it was doing something else, something he wasn’t prepared for. It started as a tingle deep inside him and slowly blossomed to life when he looked into Nora’s eyes. He had to take a step away from her, shocked by the wave of desire. She must have mistaken the look on his face for anger because she faltered for just a second, a look of doubt on her face, but lifted her chin to him again, the challenge back in her eyes.

Not about to let a five-foot-three blonde get the better of him, he stepped closer to her, then leaned down and put his face in hers. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, if it hadn’t been for me, you would be on your way to a very different future,” he said. “You missed a few things while you were blindfolded, sweetheart. Like it or not, I saved you. You’re my responsibility, and you’d better not forget it.”

Nora opened her mouth, a look of outrage on her face, but he turned and stomped away before she could say a word, afraid he might do something to ruin the day if she did. He could hear her huffing and puffing behind him, but he kept going off the terrace and into the community center, knowing he needed some space to cool off. The woman was exasperating, and she was going to drive him crazy before he was rid of her, but everything he’d told her was the truth. She’d become his responsibility; the dragon in him wouldn’t have it any other way.

***Nora***

Nora watched Max walk away, desperately wanting to go after him and pound on his broad back with her fists until he agreed to take her to Bermuda like she wanted him to, but held them clenched to her side instead. The man was more stubborn than any she’d ever met and more dangerous than anyone she could meet in Bermuda. At least that’s what she told herself as she watched him disappear into the building.

She didn’t exactly want to be left alone to fend for herself, but there wasn’t any other choice, not if she wanted to stay free. She’d have to make it on her own. It had come as a bit of a shock after they’d been rescued when she’d come face to face with Max St. Clair, and her first reaction had been to panic. When it had become clear that he didn’t know who she was, she’d been sure that she was in the clear, but thenhe’d decided to be all noble. Now she was stuck on the island, unable to tell him who she was and unable to leave if she didn’t.

“Hey, there you are,” Stella said, walking up to her. “I’m so glad you came.”

Looking over at the slightly older woman who had already been so kind to her, she managed a smile. “I was getting tired of looking at those four walls,” she said. “It was nice of Marie to lend me this dress. It feels good to be outside after being cooped up all this time.”

“You don’t have to be, you know,” Stella said. “The island is a really beautiful place, you should explore it as long as you’re here.”

“That doesn’t seem right somehow,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I just wish Max would take me over to Bermuda, I don’t belong here, not really.”

Stella studied her for a second. “You might be surprised,” she finally said, a knowing smile on her face. “But as long as you’re stuck here, you might as well take advantage of what the island has to offer.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “I guess I should go congratulate Juliet and Harrison, then I’m going to head back to my room.”

“Nonsense, you’ll stay and have something to eat with the rest of the guests,” Stella said. “You were invited like everyone else. You can sit with us, it will be fun, you’ll see.”

Stella looped her arm through Nora’s, giving her no choice but to follow her across the terrace to a table where Keith was waiting with an adorable toddler. “Nora is going to sit with us for dinner,” she said. “We’re just going to go congratulate the happy couple, then we can get some food. We’ll be right back.”

Feeling a little awkward as they approached Harrison and Juliet, Nora wondered if she should have stayed in her roomagain, but she was greeted with big smiles. “We’re so glad you came,” Juliet said, giving her a big hug. “I was beginning to worry about you in that room all alone, especially after what you’ve been through.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry, but I’m fine, really,” she said. “I’ve just been catching up on my sleep, and today isn’t about me, it’s about you two, so stop worrying.”

“That’s a deal,” Juliet said, smiling at her. “Now that I’ve seen you I feel much better.”

She was warmed by the other woman’s concern and felt herself beginning to relax. “It’s nice to have someone worrying about me,” she said, then she felt Stella giving her a nudge. “And Stella asked me to sit with them for dinner. I guess she’s worrying about me, too.”

“We have to stick together, don’t we?” Stella asked, grinning at her. “Now, let’s go get some food. I’m sure Harrison and Juliet are more than ready to eat themselves.”

At the buffet, Stella grabbed two plates and handed them to her. “Will you carry Jordan’s plate?” she asked. “I don’t think I can manage all three.”

“No problem, just tell me what to get him,” she said, following Stella toward the food. “I don’t know much about kids, I’ve never been around them.”

“Jordan is old enough to eat anything he wants, and he’s not a picky eater, which is nice. He just eats smaller portions than we do,” Stella said, then saw what she’d put on her own plate. “Is that all you’re going to eat?”

“I’m not very hungry,” she said, looking down at her plate. “I’m a little too nervous to eat.”

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