Flirting Under a Full Moon - By Ashlyn Chase Page 0,69
you can do to make me leave you.”
“Really?”
“Honest and truly.”
He heard her sigh on the other end of the phone. “Hurry home.”
***
Mother Nature ambled into Boston Uncommon and took a good look around. It appeared fairly ordinary—like any other neighborhood watering hole. Low lighting gave it an intimate feel. Several high stools surrounded a well-polished wooden bar. A few tables took up some of the floor space between the bar and the booths. It wasn’t very large. It would only seat about thirty if it was packed.
She slid onto a stool. It might have been difficult had she’d worn her flowing robes, but she dressed in twentieth-century casual clothing. Big blond hair and a white suit with shoulder pads. The last time she had been out in the world was the eighties, so she hoped her getup was still in style.
A male bartender spotted her and came right over. “Wow. You look just like that chick on Dynasty reruns. What was her name? Crystal something?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh. Sorry. What would you like?”
“I’d like to get polluted.” She smiled to herself. Mother Nature walks into a bar and says, “I want to get polluted.” All I need is a punch line.
“I hope you’re not driving.”
She snorted. “I don’t use cars—ever. Now get me…” She glanced around at what the other patrons were drinking. A girl at the end of the bar held a martini glass with bright green liquid in it. Green is my favorite color. I’ll go with that. “One of those green things.” She pointed to the girl’s drink.
“One appletini coming right up.”
Mother Nature turned to the guy beside her. “So, what’s your story?”
“I’m kind of new in town. The name’s Drake Cameron. I’m a firefighter.” He stuck out his hand.
She grasped it. His hand was so hot it could have burned her, and she dropped it right away.
“Yikes, you’re hot.”
He smiled. “Thank you. You’re not bad yourself.”
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean hot-looking, you idiot. I meant actually scorching.”
He lowered his voice. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“I’ll survive. You must be a dragon. And you need to get laid.”
His eyebrows rose. “You know?”
“Well, duh. Your skin is excessively warm and your name is Drake. Plus you have those yellow streaks.”
“Yeah, it’s a family trait.”
Who do you think gave them to you, stupid? “So, new in town, huh? Where did you come from?”
“My family is from Scotland and Ireland, originally. I came here when I was a lad. Now I’m back for good.”
“I see.” Why was I not aware of a dragon in Boston? And what’s he doing here? I thought they were all in places that reminded them of home—like the mountains and rocky coast of northern New England and the Maritime provinces. That cretin Balog is falling down on the job.
A waitress dropped her tray on the bar a few feet away. “Another White Russian for Sadie and a dirty martini for her customer,” she said.
Dirty martini. That’s what I should have had to get polluted. Gaia chuckled to herself.
The bartender set Mother Nature’s appletini in front of her and glanced over at the waitress. “Sure thing, Brandee.”
Ah, there’s the human I’m looking for.
***
Brandee sensed someone staring at her. She expected it to be a guy about to make a pass. It wasn’t unusual, especially if a patron had had too much to drink.
She stuck a hand on her hip and whirled to meet the person’s gaze. Oddly, this time a female was staring at her.
“You like working here?” the woman asked outright.
Who is she? Some kind of activist who thinks waitresses are demeaned? The satisfaction police? Or just a retro-looking lesbian?
“Yeah. I like it fine.”
“Liar,” the woman said.
“Excuse me?”
At that moment, Nick strode in and hurried over to her.
“Miss me?” he asked.
Before she had a chance to answer, he swept her into a bear hug—or was it a wolf hug? When he released her, she smiled up at him. “Yes, I did.”
“When are you free? I want to track down Angie before…”
He didn’t have to finish his sentence. She knew what he wanted to say, but he seemed to have stopped talking for another reason. His eyes were opened so wide she could see the white surrounding his blue irises, and he was staring at the retro woman as if in shock.
Brandee looked from one to the other. The woman was glaring at Nick. An audible gulp emanated from his throat.
Oh, crap. Is this an ex-girlfriend? Wait a minute…he