How to Date a Dragon

job.

“Okay, I get that, but you seem so driven. How are you having any fun? I haven’t seen you with Drake in days.”

“Drake’s been crazy busy at work. Haven’t you noticed all the fire engines whizzing past and sirens blaring lately?”

“Yeah… Hey, if you need someone else to hang out with, we could do something together.”

Crap, how can I make her understand?

“I have an important deadline. I’ve got this huge finale coming up. When my building burned, all my work went up in smoke. Actually, it melted, but that’s beside the point. I still have a contract with the show, and if I don’t make good on my promise of delivery, I’ll screw up their ending, lose all credibility—and probably have to pay back the advance money they gave me to produce the designs.”

Angie shrugged. “Okay, I guess I can see what you’re up against. If I can help out in any way… take over some of the chores or anything…”

“Aw, that’s sweet of you, but I’d never take advantage of a roommate that way. I need to pull my weight.”

“Well, it seems like you’re pulling a lot of weight everywhere. You’ll burn out if you don’t give yourself a break.”

“Actually, there is something you can do.”

“Really?” Angie perked up. “Name it. I’d love to help.”

“The producers are coming to check up on me in a couple weeks. A little less than two weeks, actually. They like to meet the important people in the finalist’s life. That’s usually the people they’re living with.”

Angie gasped. “Are you saying I might be on television?”

“You’ll have to sign a waiver, giving them permission to use the film with you in it.”

Angie whooped and jumped into the air. She looked like she was headed for Bliss with a headlock of a hug.

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. Phew, saved by the fist.

“I’ll get it,” Angie volunteered. She was still grinning from ear to ear. “Anything I can do to help out a TV star.”

Bliss rolled her eyes.

When Angie opened the door, Drake was leaning against the door frame, looking soaked and haggard.

“Drake! We were just talking about you,” Angie said. “Come in.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You were?”

He entered slowly as if they might have been berating him.

“Yeah, I mentioned to Bliss I hadn’t seen you around much, and she said you’ve been really busy.”

He shrugged out of his raincoat. “Not my choice. It’s been crazy lately. Believe it or not, this rainstorm is a welcome relief. A good soaking like this might keep fires from starting and give us a few minutes of peace.”

Angie took his coat and hung it on the coatrack. “Thank God it’s not snow, or we’d be buried!”

Bliss came over to give Drake a kiss and noticed Angie had pulled on her own raincoat. “Are you going somewhere, Ange?”

“Oh, yeah. I have stuff to do, and then I think I’ll go in to work early. You two will have the place to yourselves.” She winked.

“Just don’t tell anyone what we were discussing, okay? I don’t want it to turn into a circus.”

Angie pulled an invisible zipper across her lips, then mumbled as if she couldn’t talk if she wanted to.

Bliss smiled, and even though she was grateful, she didn’t want her roommate going out into a driving rainstorm just to give them privacy. “Do you really have ‘stuff to do’ or are you making yourself scarce and giving us the apartment?”

Angie grabbed her backpack and slung it over one shoulder. “I really have ‘stuff,’ so you can have the place to yourselves for the evening. I’ll just toss my work clothes in my backpack so I won’t even have to come back to change.”

It took her about two seconds to run to her room and back, still stuffing her black pants and white blouse into the zippered compartment.

She waved. “Have fun.”

“Thanks, Angie.” Drake grinned. “Just knock loudly if you decide to come back.”

Bliss slapped his arm. “Drake, she lives here. She doesn’t have to knock.”

Angie laughed. “Don’t worry. I will.”

* * *

The minute the door closed, Drake pulled Bliss into his arms and kissed her ravenously. When he finally let her lips leave his, he breathed heavily. “God, I missed you.” He bent his head so his forehead rested against hers.

She smiled and looked up at him through her long, dark lashes. “I missed you too. All those fires… Does anyone know what’s going on?”

He hesitated, not knowing what to tell her. Should I share my suspicions or wait until there’s more evidence?

She stepped away. “You must be frozen. Come in and sit on the couch. I’ll get you some coffee. Or do you prefer tea?”

“Whatever’s easiest for you.”

She smiled softly and left for the kitchen while he found a comfortable spot on the sofa. Maybe, depending on how the evening progressed, he’d know if he should talk about Zina or not. The last thing he wanted to do was spend one precious minute discussing that cow when he could and should be making love to this wonderful, patient woman.

“How have you been?” he called out toward the kitchen.

“Not bad. Keeping busy.”

“How’s the greeting card competition going?”

She rounded the corner. “Snarky, but that’s a good thing.”

“Had lots of inspiration lately?”

She chuckled. “I haven’t started a new line of ‘why haven’t you called’ cards, if that’s what you mean, but I did think it might be a good idea.”

He hung his head. “I’m sorry about that. Last night I was so tired I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.”

The microwave dinged, interrupting their conversation, and Bliss returned to the kitchen.

Drake sighed. I guess I’m getting instant coffee. It’s probably all I deserve.

When Bliss returned, she set two mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table. Just picking up and holding the warm mug, then smelling the soothing aroma, relaxed him.

He took a sip. “Ah… this is good. You’re the best, Bliss.”

She shrugged. “I know.”

He chuckled and leaned over, giving her another quick kiss.

“I need to ask you something,” Bliss began.

“Ask away.”

“Well, the TV host and producer are visiting a week from Tuesday. They’ll bring a camera crew and will want to talk about how it’s been for me… you know, working on my designs for the finale.”

Drake leaned back and scrutinized her. “And you needed to ask me something?”

“Yeah. They like to meet the people who have been important to the finalist during their time at home.”

Drake felt the tingles at the back of his neck. Did she want him involved in the interview? He’d like to be supportive, but would he be able to with everything else going on? Hopefully, by then, he’d have found and contained Zina, but what if she was still running him ragged? He wished he knew at what point Zina was in her fertility cycle. If she missed her window, maybe she’d forget about him and leave, but somehow he doubted that.

“Would you be willing to sign their release form and let them film you along with me and Angie?”

“I—I will if I can. My schedule isn’t something I can count on right now. I’ve worked a heck of a lot of