Page 5 of No Room at Dragon's Landing

“Gotcha. We’re waiting for a new card slot. The one out there broke.”

Made sense to me. I held up my debit card. “Okay, where do I stick it?”

He laughed, fair skin reddening with his guffaws. “Now there’s a question.”

We talked a while before I finally gassed up and left for home—currently a room in a motel in the next town over—secure that I would not be the only dragon in town. According to my new friend, there was also a bakery owner and school teacher who shared our lineage. He didn’t seem to know why the town was so passionate about us but said they were overall good folks, and he loved living here.

But that was months ago, right before the sale on the house closed and I began remodeling. Looking around the lobby, I marveled at the changes wrought in the months leading up to our opening. Fortunately, the place had been structurally sound, but in the interests of making it a B&B, it took more than just cosmetic remodeling.

For example, not every bedroom had an en suite. That plumbing alone had taken a good chunk of my savings. Then lighting and sanding and refinishing the gorgeous original floors, updating the kitchen…the list went on and on. Some days, I thought we’d never get done.

But we did, and the day came when I had the webmaster make our online site live, and I unlocked the front door and took my place behind the desk to welcome our guests. I’d saved up a long time dreaming of having my own business, trusting the Goddess to lead me where I needed to be.

All leading up to my very first Dragon Fest.

“Ready?” Gertrude took her place beside me at the check-in desk. “It’s almost time.”

I bounced on my toes. “I hope so. I kind of feel like the entire time leading up to now was a rehearsal for this. Dragon Fest!”

The door opened and a man came in, followed by his partner and three children. He was laden with enough luggage for a year—or so it seemed to me. Of course, as a single dragon, I was able to travel much lighter than a family of five humans. I’d learned over the past six months that humans always overpacked.

“Welcome to the Dragon’s Landing B&B!” Gertrude was always the best greeter. “The Willow family, I presume?”

“That’s us.” The unladen fellow came to the desk. “Is our room ready?”

“It is for sure.” She checked her screen and lifted her face, wearing a broad smile. “You reserved the family suite, and I know you’re going to love it.”

I lost track of their conversation at that point because there was already a line forming, and everyone looked anxious to get settled in. One of my rules was that nobody had to wait more than ten minutes from arrival to getting to their room, provided they didn’t arrive earlier than check-in time. Today, that was proving to be a challenge.

As my anxiety level rose, an elbow in my ribs drew my attention back to Gertrude, who gave me a “tsk.” “It’s Dragon Fest, Cyrus. Do you think anyone in town is doing any better?”

My shoulders sagged. They must have been up around my ears. I laughed weakly. “Showed, huh?”

A brisk nod was the only thing I received in return, but it was all right. My aunt had always had a level head, very useful when things got busy. One by one, we checked in each guest or group of guests until every room was filled and the lobby empty.

“Well, that’s that.” I sank into one of the chairs behind the desk. “Now we can take a breath.”

“I’m going to get something to drink. Bring you a water or coffee?”

“Nothing for me, thanks.” I had been sipping from a water bottle all afternoon. “I’ll step out when you get back.”

She wasn’t gone more than ten seconds when the door opened and another human walked in. But this one…this one stole my breath. And my dragon’s.

“Hi.” He approached the desk, his smile revealing a dimple in one cheek. “I’m here for the fest.”

There was not a room left to be had. Oh shit.

Chapter Four

Boen

“You have a reservation?” the towering man asked. His voice rippled across my skin and raised goose bumps all over me.

“I do. I have the confirmation number here.” I jutted my phone toward him. As he took it from my hand, our fingers touched, sending zings of pleasure through my body. Weird.

The man searched the screen, using his finger to move up and down. A frown line took shape on his forehead, making him appear even more serious and handsome.

“Forehead lines are hot,” I blurted and then slapped my hand over my mouth. One day, this mouth of mine was going to get me hurt or in jail. Something.

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