Page 18 of Dragon in Boots

He went outside to his car and opened the door, sliding behind the wheel.

“Heya!” Pet said from the passenger seat.

“It was too good to be true,” he mumbled to himself, starting the engine.

“Not was.Is.You’re lucky to have me along,” she said with her squeaky voice. “Did I ever tell you about the time I banged a dragon?”

“No. And please do not start—”

“Start telling you until we’re on the plane? Good idea!” Pet clapped. “That way I can take my time and give you all the details. Oh look! A stick shift!” Pet jumped on top of it and began licking.

Classy.

CHAPTER EIGHT

After a long day at the sanctuary, Jac showered, put on her freshly washed Pink Pit of Pleasure T-shirt, her jeans, and her favorite black-and-red cowboy boots, and then headed to the bank to make a deposit at the ATM. Afterwards, she bought some snacks to tuck into her purse for energy and then prayed Dash would let her work tonight.

As she drove, Jac played through possible outcomes of her impending conversation with Dash—such as him laughing in her face or demanding his cat in return—and came up with polite, yet firm replies that might appeal to his sense of decency.

After all, the man appeared to care very deeply about his animal, Heebie, so it stood to reason that he wouldn’t be a complete crap-tart once she explained how many animal lives depended on her at the sanctuary.

She pulled up to the club and parked, repeating her mantra:I can do this. I can do this.

“Okay. Here goes.” She marched inside, heading straight for the theater. She hadn’t gone backstage yet, but one of the entrances was just off the main hallway.

Jac entered what looked like a mix between a common hangout area and a costume closet, noting the scent of caramelized sugar and something fishy.

“Dash? Mink? Is anyone here?”

No one replied, but the first show wouldn’t start for two more hours.

Maybe it was best to find Dash’s dressing room and wait for him. At least she could grovel in private there.

Jac turned the corner down a short hallway with several doors. The last one had Dash’s name on it. She went inside and flipped on the lights. The room was small with a red couch against one wall and a vanity on the other. Behind the door hung his white robe and his little black thong.

“Oh boy.” She leaned in, checking to see if there was any padding in the thong. A package that big couldn’t be real.

To her shock, the tiny banana hammock was made of thin fabric. Zero enhancements.

I wonder if he has a prosthetic hidden around here.She walked over to the vanity and slid open a drawer. Inside was a big bottle of lotion called Glitter Man, “for the man who’s unafraid to sparkle.”

That explains his glowing tan. She picked up the bottle, giving it a whiff. It smelled like caramelized sugar.And that explains part of what I keep smelling around here.The fishy smell was still a mystery though. That and the bulge.

She put back the bottle and moved to the next drawer. Inside was an oval chunk of blue leather about the size of her hand.

A codpiece. I knew it!She leaned in to inspect it closer, noticing the thing had a strange texture, like alligator skin or something. “What a weirdo.” She closed the drawer.

“May I help you?” said a deep, unhappy voice.

Jac jumped and turned to find Dash’s towering, six-three frame in the doorway. He wore snug black jeans that caressed his powerful legs and a black T-shirt that hugged his strong pecs. His tanned arms were works of art, equipped with two brawny biceps and ropes of muscled forearms. The man just oozed strength and virility, right down to the tousled caramel-brown hair and groomed stubble.

Oh shit.“That wasn’t—I mean—I didn’t come here to snoop. I was just…”

“Snooping through my things?” he snarled with those perfectly plump lips.

This was not going as she’d planned, meaning she hadn’t prepared any thoughtful dialog to explain why she’d just invaded his privacy and how she should get her job back anyway.

“Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me,” she said.

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