Page 4 of Curvy Girl and the Single Dad Dragon
"Daddy, Luna loves the guest house!" Ember announces as they enter through the back door. "And I showed her where the best hiding spots are for hide and seek, and where the rabbits sometimes come to eat the clover."
"Did you now?" I smile at my daughter's enthusiasm. "I hope you didn't overwhelm Miss Hayes with too much information at once."
"Not at all," Luna says, and I notice her cheeks are flushed from the outdoor air. "The guest house is lovely. Far nicer than I expected."
"It was originally built as an in-law suite," I explain, focusing on the vegetables I'm chopping rather than on how the color in her cheeks enhances her natural beauty. "But it works well as a separate living space. You'll have your privacy."
"While still being close enough if Ember needs anything," she adds.
I nod, appreciating that she grasps the balance I'm trying to strike. "Would you like to stay for dinner? Nothing fancy, but there's plenty."
She hesitates, and I can sense her internal debate about professional boundaries. "I should probably get home and start packing if I'm moving in tomorrow," she says finally. "But thank you for the offer."
"Another time, then." I wipe my hands on a dish towel. "What time should we expect you tomorrow?"
"Would 7:00 be okay? That would give me time to settle in before you need to leave for work."
"Perfect." I resist the urge to extend my hand to seal our agreement, aware that I've already touched her once today and found the contact... unsettling. Her skin had been so soft, her hand so small in mine. "Ember, say goodbye to Miss Hayes."
"Do I have to call you Miss Hayes?" Ember asks, looking up at Luna with pleading eyes. "It sounds like a teacher."
Luna smiles. "You can call me Luna if your dad says it's okay."
They both look at me expectantly. "Luna is fine," I concede, and Ember beams.
"Bye, Luna!" My daughter wraps her arms around Luna's waist in an impulsive hug. I tense, knowing how unnaturally warm Ember's body temperature runs, but Luna doesn't seem to notice anything unusual.
"I'll walk you out," I offer, following her to the front door.
On the porch, Luna turns to face me, and I'm struck again by how short she is. The top of her head barely reaches my chest. Most humans find my height intimidating. I can smell their fear, hear the acceleration of their heartbeats, but Luna seems more curious than afraid.
"Thank you for this opportunity, Damon. I promise I'll take good care of Ember."
"I believe you will." And surprisingly, I mean it. There's something about Luna Hayes that inspires trust, despite my natural caution around humans. "There's just one more thing you should know."
She waits, her hazel eyes attentive.
"Ember's mother..." I pause, choosing my words with care. "Her leaving affected Ember deeply. She might test you, try to see if you'll abandon her too. It's not personal."
Luna's expression softens with understanding. "Children are resilient, but they still carry their wounds. I'll be patient with her."
Something in my chest loosens at her response. "That's all I can ask."
I watch her drive away, her small car disappearing down the winding road that leads back to town. Behind me, I hear Ember at the window, her small hands pressed against the glass.
"I like her, Daddy," she says when I return inside. "She smells nice, like cookies and flowers."
I smile at my daughter's dragon-enhanced senses picking up details no human child would notice. "She seems very nice," I agree, resuming my dinner preparations.
"And she's pretty," Ember continues, climbing onto a stool at the kitchen island. "As pretty as Mommy was."
The knife in my hand pauses momentarily. "Yes, she is pretty."
"Do you think she'll stay? Even when she finds out our secret?"
This is the crux of the problem, the question that's been nagging at me since I made the decision to hire Luna.
"Ember, remember what we talked about? Our secret stays secret. Always."
