I Dream of Dragons (Boston Dragons) (6 page)

He hopped off his bike, abandoned it in the sod beside the road, and strode toward the ruin. As his view became clearer, he realized the projection resembled a turret and he quickened his pace. At last he ran toward the outcrop and halted in time to keep from tumbling off the grassy cliff.

Gazing down, he spotted a few openings in the cliff. Seeing such a thing wasn’t unusual in Ireland, but for stone arches to be built right into the side of a cliff like this… The caves looked more like doorways. How did the ancient residents get into it? And why hadn’t modern fishermen spotted it?

“What magic is this?” he muttered.

The sound of a throat clearing behind Finn startled him. He whirled around and came thighs to face with a small man. He was larger than a midget, but perfectly proportioned, unlike a dwarf. Wearing a green suit and a hat with red curls peeking out from under it, he looked like a…

“Top o’ the mornin’,” the little man said.

Hmmm… Nobody in Ireland says that anymore.
Finn scrambled to remember all he’d ever heard about the little people, specifically leprechauns. They had gold and powerful magic to protect it. They liked to play tricks. His throat went dry. “Good mornin’,” Finn croaked politely.

“Can I help you?” the little man asked.

“I—um…” He had to find Shannon, and if the little people weren’t just a myth and had her, he had to find a way to ask.
Careful now, Finn
, he told himself.
Legend says the leprechauns are easily insulted. Don’t accuse him of anythin’.

“Does your tongue work?”

“Ah, it does. I was just wonderin’ if in your travels you mayhaps have seen me friend. About yea high.” He held his hand out straight, level with his nose. “Hair as red as your own, but long and wavy. Lips like a perfect cupid’s bow, and eyes as blue as the sky this fine day.”

The little man scratched the short beard on his chin. “I can’t say as I’ve seen a lass like that.”

Finn hadn’t said she was a lass. The man was either lying or assuming her sex.

“I can see you love her,” the mysterious gentleman added quickly. “I’m sorry if she deserted you.”

Now Finn was insulted. He straightened his spine. “She would never desert me. Never. That’s why I’m afraid somethin’ terrible has happened.”

“Oh. Somethin’ terrible, is it? Let’s hope that’s not the case. Mayhaps you’ll find her—eventually.”

Finn was almost paralyzed with indecision. Should he grab the little man and, instead of demanding his pot of gold, insist that he return his ladylove? Not yet. Not until he knew who or what he was dealing with.

“We’ve not been properly introduced,” he said at last. “My name is Finnegan Kelley, but everyone calls me Finn.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Finn Kelley. You can call me Lucky.”

“A rare name. Does it apply?”

Lucky tittered. “Sometimes.”

Finn kicked at a clod of earth in front of him. “I wish I had a bit of luck right now. I must find Shannon. She was to be me wife someday. I miss her somethin’ fierce.”

Lucky reached out and laid a hand on Finn’s arm. “Close your eyes. See the lass in your mind,” he said.

Finn did as he was told. After all, he pictured her several times a day. When the small man removed his hand, Finn had a sense of peace and calm. It was as if he just knew she was all right.

“Well, I must be on me way,” Lucky said. “I have some business to conduct.”

Finn nodded. “It was good to meet you, sir.”

The leprechaun—or whatever he was—grinned. “No need for such formalities. I’m not a knight, after all. Not that you can tell from me appearance.” He chuckled and strode away toward the road.

Finn gazed at the castle again. He only turned his head for a moment or two, but when he looked back, Lucky was gone.

* * *

“Brandee,” Amber whispered as quietly as she could.

When no one appeared, she tried the other one. “Bliss? Bliss can you hear me?”

She figured if she could get someone to find Mother Nature for her, she’d gladly take the goddess up on her offer. Being the muse of air travel actually sounded interesting—depending on what the job entailed. And her actual job was getting so rote that she was thinking of switching to one of the bargain airlines just to have a little fun over the PA system.

When Bliss didn’t show up either, Amber decided to try the goddess herself.

“Mother Nature?” she called out quietly.

Rory’s voice answered her from the living room.

“If nature is callin’, the bathroom is free.”

“Crap.”

“Don’t stink it up,” he called out.

She marched over to the bedroom door and opened it. “You are the most disgusting man!”

He had the nerve to laugh. “Aren’t you glad we’re roommates?”

As gorgeous as he was, she would not tolerate bad behavior. This guy seemed to think he could do no wrong. “Arrogant Irish prick,” she muttered.

“Oh! That’s hardly ladylike language, me darlin’.”

“I never said I was a lady.”

He grinned and spread his arms across the back of the futon. “Is that so?”

She blushed and quickly added, “I don’t usually talk like that, but you deserved it.”

He laughed. “Perhaps you’re right. I’ll try to be less—what was it you said? Ah,
disgustin
’
, I believe.”

“Good. And while you’re at it, maybe you could try to be less arrogant too.”

He crossed his long legs at the ankles. “That’s unlikely. Where I come from, a little arrogance is a positive trait. We call it self-confidence.”

“Oh, is that what it is? I thought it was
over
confidence, conceit, and false pride.”

His big hand pressed his broad chest. “You wound me, luv.”

“I’m not your love or your darling. Let’s get that straight right now.” She crossed her arms and tried to look tough. The smattering of freckles across her turned-up nose made that a difficult task, and she knew it.

So did he, apparently. He just continued to grin at her, his green eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Why don’t you come and sit next to me? We should get to know each other if we’re to be livin’ together.” He patted an empty spot on the futon. He hadn’t left much room on either side, and she suspected that was on purpose.

She made a noise of repulsion and stared to her left. With no retort coming to mind, she shuffled into the bathroom and locked the door. She
had to
get some of those muse powers—and soon. Sure, she could have groceries delivered, but she’d prefer to pick the freshest items herself. She was used to being trapped in small spaces, but off the clock, she loved the feeling of being in an open space all her own.

She could barely breathe in Rory’s presence, but the enclosed space wasn’t entirely responsible. The handsome, infuriating Irishman filled the room with his presence and took her breath away.

Then Amber remembered something. When she met Brandee’s husband, he’d introduced himself by first and last name.
Maybe he’s in the phone book.
But she’d left her phone in her purse in the bedroom.

Panic seized her.
Rory wouldn’t invade my privacy by going into my purse, would he?

She tore out of the bathroom and was relieved to see he was still on the futon.
Whew.
As soon as she grabbed her purse off a hook in the bedroom closet, she glanced through the contents. Everything seemed to be there.

Now, how would she explain needing her purse in the bathroom?
Aha! Two can play the gross-out game.

Chuckling, she slung the purse over her shoulder and returned to the bathroom. “I needed something
important
. Something I use
on a monthly basis
.”

He laughed. “You didn’t even have to hint at it, me darlin’. I have sisters. You may think that’ll put me off, but it won’t a bit. Now, go take care of the responsibility Mother Nature gave you.”

Hmmm…Mother Nature. Interesting that he referred to
her, specifically.
Amber hoped the deity wasn’t too hard to reach. If she didn’t take this job… Her posture sagged.
Nothing
was going to discourage this stubborn Irishman.

“Why do you want this place so badly?” she asked.

“Because it feels like the right fit for me and me family. What’s your reason?”

She didn’t answer him—just humphed and shut the door.

Why
did
she want it so badly? Sure, she’d always wanted to live in the beautiful, historic Back Bay area. She’d grown up in the suburbs, but they were meant for families. This area was full of young, urban professionals. Okay, so that could mean a yuppie, but she really didn’t care. Someday she wanted to marry a well-paid guy and transition to being a
dink
—short for “dual income, no kids.”

This was the perfect area to meet someone of that caliber—when she was ready to date again. At the moment, she was still smarting over the pilot she’d dated for about a year. They’d only flown together a few times, but on the last flight, she’d overheard his outrageous flirting with one of the other flight attendants. He hadn’t realized she was listening, and when she confronted him, he admitted to having a little something on the side. Correction…
a lot
of little somethings.

Ouch.

With her luck, the hunk in her living room would be the same way—but probably not if the guy never left the apartment. She chuckled to herself.
That’s one way to keep a man’s eye from roving.

Amber took a seat on the edge of the bathtub. It wasn’t the most comfortable place, but all she wanted to do was look up the muse’s family in the phone book.
What did he say his name was again?
“Nick Wolfensomething…” she muttered.

Her phone’s automated voice answered her. “Nick Wolfensen. Wolfensen Investigations. 555-4321. Do you want me to call the number for you?”

Stunned, Amber stammered, “Y-yes.”

“Calling Nick,” her phone said, and before long a male answered.

“Wolfensen Investigations. Wolfensen here.”

“Hi, um…Nick?”

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Oh, um. It’s Amber. I met you earlier today. Is Brandee around? I really need to speak with her.”

“Oh sure. She’s not here right now, but I can get in touch with her. It sounds important.”

“It is. Can you call her for me?”

“Sure. Brandee…” he yelled. Amber thought he was being a smart-ass.

“I’ll give you my number and— Eep!”

Amber startled when red-haired Brandee joined her in the bathroom…seemingly out of thin air.

Nick chuckled. “I guess she found you.”

When Amber could breathe, swallow, and make sounds again, she said, “Um, yeah. She’s here. How did you do that?”

“It’s our little secret. If you’re all set, I’ll let you go.”

Brandee pried the phone from her hand and spoke into it. “I’m here, hon. Thanks for the message.” After a couple of murmured endearments, she clicked off and handed the phone back to Amber.

Then Brandee sat on the opposite edge of the tub, facing Amber. “So, what’s up?”

“I—um…I think I’d like to take Mother Nature up on her generous offer, but I can’t seem to get in touch with her on my own.”

“Oh. Sure.” Brandee rose and said, “I’ll take you to her.”

“Wait.” Amber held on to the lip of the tub as if she might be swept away against her will. “I can’t leave yet.”

“Oh?”

“It’s hard to explain, but here goes…” She took a deep breath and launched into her view of the situation at hand.

Brandee nodded, but the crease in her forehead made it look like she either wasn’t getting it or didn’t approve.

At the end of Amber’s long-winded explanation, Brandee held up one finger. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a flash.”

A moment later, Mother Nature took Brandee’s place, sitting on the edge of the tub. Her expression seemed grim.

Huh? I thought she’d be happy to know I want to be a muse.

“Amber,” the Goddess of All said.

“Yes, Mother Nature?”

“Call me Gaia. If we’re going to be working together, you may as well use my name, not my title.”

Whew. At least it sounds like I’ve got the job.
“All right. Thank you for coming, Gaia. I imagine Brandee didn’t have time to fill you in on my situation…”

“Actually, she did. We discussed it at length.”

“You did? But I only told her a few seconds ago.”

“Yeah. We’re good at cutting out the baloney and getting right to the point.”

“Oh. I guess I’ll have to learn how to do that.”

“You’ll have to learn a lot of things. I have Brandee on another assignment, and Bliss is busy with a new baby. That’s why I’m assigning you to Euterpe for training.”

“You-what-e? Who is she?”

Mother Nature rolled her eyes. “Yoo-
tur
-pee. You weren’t paying attention during your class on Greek mythology, were you?”

Amber shrugged and grinned sheepishly. “I guess not.”

“Well, according to my horny son Zeus, he
bemused
young Mnemosyne and slept with her for nine consecutive nights. The nine muses were the result of their encounter. When the muses grew up, they showed their tendency toward the arts and were taught by Apollo. Ever since, the muses have supported and encouraged creativity, enhancing imagination and inspiring artists.”

“Okay. So Euterpe is one of the nine?”

Mother Nature snapped her fingers and a beautiful brunette woman appeared, wearing a white off-the-shoulder maxi-dress that barely covered her boobs. She was holding a small flute.

“This is Euterpe. She discovered several musical instruments and dialectic.”

“What’s a dialectic?”

“It’s like a debate… Considering the situation you’ve gotten yourself into, I thought she’d be the best possible fit.”

Amber had to admit that Euterpe seemed like the perfect muse to help—or hinder—her goal of being the sole occupant of the apartment. She simply had to persuade the muse to see it her way.

“And don’t think that because she’s training you, she’ll be partial to your side of the argument.”