Page 31 of The Last Bachelor Dragon

“Oh, yeah?” he asked. “And what would that be?”

“Well, it occurred to me the other day that all the girls are pregnant,” she said, studying him carefully. “That seems like a big coincidence, all seven of them at once. It just makes me wonder…”

Max had the good grace to look embarrassed. “Oh, did I forget to mention that?” he asked. “I guess it must have slipped my mind.”

“I see,” she said. “Then I guess it’s not that important.”

He didn’t say anything for a second. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. The thing is, it might be the bond,” he finally said. “We don’t know that for sure, heck it could be the island. There’sno way of knowing for certain, but…I guess I should have told you.”

“That might have been nice,” she said. “A woman should know these things.”

Max was silent for a second, a look of worry on his face. “Do you mind?” he finally asked. I really should have told you, but with everything else going on, I don’t know. It really did just slip my mind.”

“A baby is a big deal, Max,” she said, trying to look upset. Then she saw the disappointment on his face, and she smiled at him. “But I can’t think of anything I would love more than to have your child.”

The look of relief on his face was quickly followed by a smile that lit up his entire face. “Really?” he asked. “Maybe we should work on that right now.”

She laughed. “Maybe we should,” she said. “After all, we wouldn’t want to get too far behind the others.”

The sun had been up for over an hour when they finally emerged from the tent to find the big banquet table gone and in its place a table for two with breakfast waiting for them. “I guess we get just a little more pampering before we go back,” she said, smiling at the pretty little arrangement. “The island is going to spoil me rotten if this keeps happening.”

“Maybe it wants to make sure you want to stay,” Max said, then hesitated. “We’ve never talked about it, but you do want to stay here, don’t you?”

“I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” she said, turning to face him. “But home for me will be wherever you are.”

He pulled her into his arms with a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad to hear that. For a second there, I was afraid that you’d want to go back to the way you used to live,” he said. “We’re not exactly living in the lap of luxury around here. There are a lot more challenges living on the island full-time.”

“I don’t want anything to do with that world back home; Iran away from all that,” she said. “I don’t mind a challenge, I married you, didn’t I?”

He laughed. “I should have known better,” he said, then leaned down and kissed her. “Now, let’s go see what we’re having for breakfast, then we’d better get back. We have two days until Adaloni shows up, and there’s still a lot to do.”

After breakfast they took a quick swim, then dressed and made the hike back to the village, the glow of their love radiating off of them. But as soon as they walked into the conference room, the weight of what they were facing settled back over them, and they both settled down to work, knowing that their future depended on the next few days.

CHAPTER 20

***MAX***

Carla was sitting in the booth in the back of the kitchen when Max and Nora walked over. She looked up then shook her head. “I hear congratulations are in order, but I’m mad at you for stealing one of my best people,” she said. “I should have known it would happen, but silly me, I was still hoping.”

“Carla, I’m not quitting, I love this job,” Nora said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here the last few days, I should have talked to you. Everything just happened so fast.”

“You’re not quitting?” Carla asked, perking up. “Then I’m very happy for you two.”

“Of course not, I’m not going to sit around doing nothing,” Nora said. “I’m going to keep working for Marie, too. I’m not sure yet which one I like better.”

“Oh great, now I’m competing with Marie, that’s not fair,” Carla said, but she was smiling. “I guess I’ll just have to be on my best behavior.”

Max snorted, “That day will never come,” he said. “But that’s what makes you special.”

“Oh no, you just complimented me. That means you wantsomething,” Carla said, narrowing her eyes at him. “What is it now?”

“Carlos Adaloni is going to try to take the island in two days. I need your help,” he said. “He’s planning on attacking the south shore in the middle of the night. He’s got enough guns and men to do it if we don’t fight back.”

“But we’re fighting back,” Carla said, a hard edge to her voice. “No scummy drug dealer is going to take over this island. What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to get all your people together for a staff meeting over at the new staff village tonight. It’s time everyone knew what’s going on,” he said. “I can’t put them at risk without giving them a full picture, and just to forewarn you, I’m going to let anyone who wants to leave go home.”

“What about the guests?” Carla asked. “Are you going evacuate everyone off the island?”

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