Page 3 of Curvy Girl and the Single Dad Dragon
I should probably think about it, maybe consider other options or sleep on such a major decision. But looking at Ember's hopeful face and feeling the strange pull I have toward this unusual family, I already know my answer.
"I'd love to accept the position," I say, and Ember lets out a squeal of delight.
"Can I show Luna the guest house, Daddy? Please?"
"Sure, princess." He sets her down, and she immediately grabs my hand.
As Ember pulls me toward the back door, chattering excitedly about all the things we'll do together, I glance back at Damon. He's watching us.
What am I getting myself into? I wonder. But as Ember's warm little hand squeezes mine, I realize I'm eager to find out.
Chapter 2 - Damon
I watch them walk away, my daughter's tiny hand wrapped around Luna Hayes' delicate fingers, and something hastens in my chest. A feeling I haven't allowed myself in two years—hope.
"And there's a little garden outside where we can plant flowers, and Daddy built me a swing, and sometimes at night we can see deer..." Ember's excited voice trails off as they head toward the guest house.
Running a hand through my hair, I exhale slowly, careful not to let any smoke escape my nostrils. The control comes naturally after decades of practice, but my emotions are running high today. Finding a nanny for Ember has been my top priority since moving to Cedar Falls a month ago, but I never expected someone like Luna to walk through my door.
Someone so human. So gentle. So obviously unsuitable for a family of dragons.
And yet.
The way she looked at Ember, with genuine warmth instead of the thinly veiled apprehension most humans show around children, gave me pause. And when Ember mentioned our "special secret" and showed her those damning drawings, Luna didn't flinch or look concerned, she simply thought it was imagination.
Which is exactly what I need people to think.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I check the screen to see a text from Cole, my boss and now friend at Blackwood Construction.
*Need you on site tomorrow. Johnson project hitting delays.*
I text back quickly: *Got it. Hired a nanny today. Starting tomorrow.*
Three dots appear immediately, then: *Female?*
I roll my eyes. *Yes. Professional relationship only.*
*Sure, Sure. Whatever you say.*
Ignoring his last message, I pocket my phone and head upstairs to Ember's room to assess the damage. The scorch marks on her desk are minimal this time.
Nothing a bit of sanding and refinishing won't fix. I'm relieved it wasn't worse. Her fire is getting stronger as she grows, and her control is still developing. A common developmental issue for young dragons, but a nightmare for maintaining our cover in the human world.
I run my finger over the blackened wood, remembering the panic in Jenny's eyes the first time it happened. Our daughter was only four, throwing a tantrum over bedtime when a tiny flame escaped her lips and singed the carpet. Jenny had backed away from her own child, terror written across her face.
"She's just a baby," I'd said, trying to calm my wife while simultaneously soothing our confused daughter. "She doesn't understand yet. I'll teach her control, just like my father taught me."
But Jenny never recovered from the shock of realizing that our daughter had inherited my dragon nature. Six months later, she was gone, leaving a note explaining that she loved us both but couldn't live with the constant fear of what we were.
I understood. I've always understood. Humans aren't equipped to handle the supernatural world that exists alongside theirs. It's why my kind stays hidden, why we've developed such strict rules about secrecy. But understanding didn't make it hurt anyless when Ember asked for her mother every night for months afterward.
From the window, I can see Luna and Ember exploring the garden outside the guest house. Luna kneels down, examining something Ember is showing her, probably one of the unusual stones I've collected over the years. Ordinary rocks to human eyes, but special to dragon-kind for their mineral properties that help regulate our internal fire.
The sunlight catches in Luna's brown hair, bringing out golden highlights I hadn't noticed before. She's beautiful in an understated way, with curves that her modest clothing can't quite hide. I force my eyes away, annoyed at myself. She's here to care for Ember, not to become a distraction for me.
Besides, I learned my lesson with Jenny. Humans and dragons don't mix, not romantically. Not when revealing our true nature risks not only rejection but exposure to the wider world.
By the time they return to the main house, I've made myself busy in the kitchen preparing dinner—a simple stir fry with extra protein. My kind needs significant calories to fuel our higher metabolism.
