Page 41 of Daddy Billionaire Dragon

My eyes dart to the elevator yet again. This time when the doors open, Nic steps out. She looks stunning! I know my jaw is hanging open and I’m staring wide-eyed, but I don’t care. She’s wearing an emerald silk gown that clings to her curves and goes all the way down to her knees, leaving her shoulders bare. The slit on the side of the gown gives a tantalizing view of her gorgeous legs when she moves. Her gorgeous red hair is piled on top of her head in a loose bun from which a few stray strands have escaped. Other than the gold studs at her ears, she isn’t wearing any other jewelry. I can tell that she feels my gaze on her. When our eyes meet across the room, the air around us sizzles. Neither of us is able to look away. I am totally oblivious to everything around me, and I think so is Nic.

She finally looks away from me when the older woman who is accompanying her tugs on her arm to get her attention. The older woman is dressed in blue and looks a lot like Nic. She must be her mother.

I hurry forward to meet them.

“Nic, you look stunning.” I am unable to keep the note of awe from my voice.

“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself,” she says, flashing a smile at me, straightening the bow tie of my tuxedo.

“Who is this handsome young man?” the woman standing next to Nic demands.

“Mom, this is Lex, my boss. Lex, my mom, Pamela Roberts.”

“Now I know where Nic gets her stunning looks from, ma’am. I thought you were Nic’s sister,” I say with a grin, shaking Pam’s proffered hand.

“You are a charmer and a sweet-talker. I had Nic when I was terribly young, so I can understand why you confused me for her sister. And call me Pam. Ma’am makes me feel about a hundred years old,” Pam says with a wink.

“Lex, who are these wonderful people?” My mom is standing behind me with a glass of champagne in her hand, smiling at Nic and her mother. Dad has also broken away from the group and is heading towards us.

“Mom! I thought you were still with the others,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her. I haven’t told either my mom or my dad about Nic yet. Because there is nothing to tell. My dragon whines. I wonder what caused my mom to come over.

“Hi, I’m Eva Hutchinson,” she says, extending her arm towards Pam, shooting me a look. “Uh, Mom, this is Pamela Roberts and Nicola Roberts. Nic is my executive assistant.”

Mom’s brows rise up her forehead slightly as she shakes Nic warmly by the hand. Dad soon arrives and I make introductions again.

“Nic, why don’t you introduce your mom to the others? Get a drink, both of you,” I say, guiding them away from my parents. Nic looks at me strangely, but nods and walks off with her mother. When I return to where my parents are standing, Mom fixes me with a stare.

“What?” I say, stuffing my hands in my pockets. The tips of my ears go pink under her scrutiny. She knows.

“You didn’t tell us,” she says, raising one eyebrow.

“Tell you what?” I pretend innocence.

“You’re in love with her!” she says, her eyes suddenly bright.

“No! I’m not!” I deny vehemently. Dad places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

“It can be difficult coming to terms with finding your mate, but she is The One, son,” he says kindly.

“I can never claim her,” I say, turning away from them to lean on the parapet and fixedly stare at the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance.

“Why?” my dad asks, coming to stand on one side of me while Mom stands on the other. The top of Mom’s head barely reaches above the wall. She leans her back against it, facing the crowd, whereas Dad and I are facing away.

“Dad, you’re the one who told me the story of the Carnelian, remember?”

“You’re focusing on the wrong thing,” Mom says, placing her hand over my rigid forearm.

“What is the right thing, Mom? What could be more important than preserving my sanity? And it’s not just the Carnelian. Liam is sane, functional, and well-adjusted today only because he didn’t claim her,” I say. glancing over my shoulder at Liam and his parents, who are laughing and having a good time. I rarely think about Liam’s past, but seeing us all together has me think how cut up Liam was when she disappeared.

My parents are silent.

“Well? So what is the right thing?” I whisper, looking straight ahead.

“Love,” they both say together.

After a few minutes, Mom and Dad are pulled into the throng of guests by Aunt Henrietta. I stand alone, mulling over what they’ve told me. Love? Could it really be that simple? Then I glance at Liam again. I am right and my parents are wrong.

When I turn to face the crowd, everybody seems to be having a great time. Laughter and conversations are flowing easily all around me. My gaze inadvertently is pulled toward Nic, no matter how hard I try to avoid looking in her direction. I want to dance with her. Hold her in arms, feel her soft skin under my fingers.

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