Ruby Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 3) Read online

  He didn’t.

  He was much more drawn to the fiery blue eyes and freckles of the little waitress next door. “I’m sorry, Angela. I’m just not looking for anything right now.”

  She took an irritated breath. “It doesn’t have to be serious. You’re hot; you know it. Come on. Just have some fun with me.”

  “I said no,” he said firmly, wanting to recoil from her touch but needing to block the door sufficiently. “Look, I appreciate you being friendly, but I—”

  He didn’t get to finish because Pumpkin let out a hiss and launched at the doorway.

  He grinned, thinking maybe she was going to rescue him, but instead, she sent him a satisfied glare and took off into the hall. If he could hear her thoughts, she’d probably be saying, “Freedom at last!”

  He shook his head and kept trying to edge Angela back. Then he heard the door next to him swing open.

  It was early in the morning, so his neighbor must be leaving for work.

  He took his eyes off Angela long enough to see the blonde coming toward him in her uniform, her hair damp with little curls escaping, her blue eyes fiery.

  She was holding Pumpkin. “I was trying to leave for work and this thing came running into my place. Want her back?”

  He hesitated.

  She sighed. “Take her.”

  He looked at Angela, who was still pressing into him.

  “Okay,” he said.

  Fiery neighbor strode up to them and tapped Angela on the shoulder. “Move.”

  Angela stepped out of the way, looking offended. She tossed her red hair over her shoulder and stormed off. “You know where to find me,” she called to him, and he let out a sigh of relief.

  “Something tells me you aren’t going to take her up on that,” fiery neighbor muttered. She shoved Pumpkin into his arms but couldn’t resist giving the cat a little rub on the head that made Pumpkin purr.

  “Admit it,” he said. “You like her.”

  She sighed. “Maybe.”

  “She’s cute,” he cooed.

  She raised a thin eyebrow. “Is she?”

  He supposed one-eyed puffballs weren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they were his. At least Pumpkin was. “Yeah, I think so. I think she’s irresistible.” He tried to hug her close, squishing her, and she yowled and scrambled out of his hands and back inside.

  “There you go again,” his neighbor said. “Smothering her.”

  He leaned on the doorway in a position he knew put his body at good advantage. He folded his arms, making sure to flex as many muscles as possible. “Maybe you should come over sometime. Help me figure out what I’m doing wrong.”

  She snorted. “In your dreams.” She pulled her purse strap up over her shoulder. “And now I’m off to work.”

  “Hey,” he called out. “What’s your name?”

  “Faye,” she tossed back to him.

  She didn’t even ask for his. Rude but in character for her. He watched Pumpkin sulk under the table again, nibbling at her food, and an idea began to take root in his head.

  Perhaps there was a way to get to know this Faye person better and get her help with his cat.

  Seduction wasn’t the only way to win someone over.

  When Faye got home that night, it was at least fairly quiet. Who knew what the man was up to next door with his crazy cat.

  She smiled slightly at that, remembering how happy Pumpkin had looked when she snuck into her house.

  She supposed there was something charming about her. Like how much trouble she gave the man who presumably never had trouble with women in his entire life.

  She hung up her coat and purse and got changed into a comfy pair of sweats and a worn-out hoody. After letting her hair out of its tight bun, she massaged her tired scalp. Then she plopped on the couch, exhausted and hungry but too tired to cook.

  If Braden hadn’t left her with so many debts, she could just get takeout. As it was, she had to save everything she made. So that meant either Ramen tonight or something she cooked, and both sounded too tiring.

  She should have just picked something up after her shift, Braden’s debtors be damned.

  She checked the clock and wondered if she should just call it a night and go to sleep, where she wouldn’t feel her tummy rumble.

  She stood, her joints aching, and smelled something wonderful coming from the hallway. She sniffed, smelling it again, and sighed.

  Pepperoni pizza. Freshly delivered. Her stomach growled, and she tried to ignore it as she headed in the direction of the bedroom, but a knock on her door stopped her.

  Who would be here this late?

  She opened the door, brushing her hair back, and saw her hottie neighbor, accompanied by his orange cat hissing in one arm, holding a giant pizza box in the other.

  She bit her lip, weighing her options, and then begrudgingly opened the door wider, letting him in.

  He strode in like he owned the place, looking around before setting the pizza on the table. “Looks much nicer than mine.”

  “That I don’t doubt,” she said. With the noises she heard coming from his apartment, she doubted there was anything that wasn’t scratched up.

  “No, not scratched,” he said. “I just had no idea this was where everything should go. It makes sense now.” He was staring at the furniture.

  She bit her lip. The way he’d answered, it was almost like he’d heard her thoughts.

  But that was impossible, even if he were as good with women as he thought.

  He sat on the couch as Pumpkin jumped out of his arms and waddled over to her.

  She noticed the cat wasn’t just perpetually winking, but actually only had one eye. Her scruffy, uneven fur in that orange color just added to her overall look.

  Faye had to admit, just to herself, she actually did find the little thing charming.

  “Come here, kitty kitty,” she said, pulling a can out of her cupboard and opening it with a can opener.

  He looked over at her, green eyes narrowed in shock, and then stood and cleared the distance between them in seconds. So tall.

  He stared down at the can opener in her hand and then took it from her, looking baffled. “What is this?”

  She took it back, not liking the electric response her body experienced just having him within a foot of her. “It’s a can opener, obviously. You’ve seen them before.”

  He hesitated. “Obviously…”

  She finished opening the can and poured the food on a plate for Pumpkin. “I used to feed a couple stray mama cats around here, until they got spayed and adopted. I need to use the food anyway.”

  He sat back down on the couch. “I need to get me one of those can openers.”

  She laughed. “What are you using, then?”

  “My fingers,” he said grumpily.

  She raised an eyebrow. “You’re joking, right?”

  “Obviously…?” he said.

  She didn’t know what to say to that, so she pulled out plates and brought the pizza box over to set on the coffee table. “Thanks for bringing dinner, but FYI, this is not a date.”

  He nodded, letting his perfect hair shimmer. “Of course not. This is me thanking you for rescuing me earlier.”

  “I wasn’t rescuing you,” she muttered. “I was just returning your cat.”

  “And rescuing me,” he repeated, nodding, his mouth full of pizza. “Which is more than I can say for Pumpkin.” He sent a playful glare at the cat, who looked over her shoulder and hissed.

  “She really hates you, doesn’t she?” Faye asked, amused.

  He shrugged. “She hates everybody. I didn’t take it personally until I saw she actually likes someone. You.”

  “Hm,” she said, looking at the pizza before taking a bite. “So this is what it’s really about? You want me to help with her?”

  He nodded. “You do seem to understand cats. And you told me to get help.”

  “Professional help,” she retorted.

  “Are there professiona
l cat tamers?” he asked. “Because they were just going to put her down at the shelter.”

  She frowned, her appetite lessening at the thought of that happening to Pumpkin. “I guess I can help. I’m sorry I’ve been so grumpy. I haven’t been sleeping…”

  “My bad,” he said. “Our bad.” His full lips pursed, and she found herself staring at the curved dimple at the center of his top lip, wanting to press her finger into it.

  Ugh, this was how every woman probably reacted to him.

  “Did I do something to you?” he asked. “You know, other than have a demon cat?”

  He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt over a blue tee, but it was rolled up, exposing tan, powerful forearms and long, elegant hands. Plus, the tee shirt looked like it probably hugged his chest deliciously.

  Like every woman in the world most likely wanted to hug his chest.

  “Why?” she asked, distracted.

  “Because you seem to hate me,” he said. “And I’d really like it if we could be friends.”

  She set down her third slice of pizza. She was feeling warm and full inside, and he’d totally turned her night around. She had to admit maybe she’d been too hard on him at first. “I mean, I don’t really have time for friends.”

  He let out a shocked gasp. “No time for friends? Sadness.”

  She laughed. “I don’t know. I guess so. Most of the time I find people aren’t worth it.”

  He slid a hand over hers. “They can be.”

  She jerked back, hating the touch. Hating what it did to her. She stood, feeling her temper fire up. “Get out.”

  He raised his eyes to her but stayed seated. “I’m sorry. I’m used to using touch to comfort. I’m sorry.”

  She sighed and sat again.

  “So can I stay?” He looked like a lost puppy that had wandered into her home.

  A very large, good-looking lost puppy.

  “Fine.” She relented. “But keep your distance. No touching.”

  “Are you this way with everyone?” he asked. “It would explain why you don’t have any friends.”

  “I don’t have any friends because I don’t want any friends,” she exclaimed, irritated. “What don’t you get about that? I work all day with people, and I don’t feel like consorting with them at night.”

  “I do,” he said. “But all I meet are women who want to bed me.”

  “Bed you? What are you from, the eighteenth century?”

  He opened his mouth to correct her and then shut it. “What is the proper word?”

  She shrugged. “Do you. Fuck you. Sex you. Screw you.”

  “They want to screw me,” he said. “Not be friends.”

  She laughed. “Sounds like a problem most men would like to have.”

  “I’m trying to be better,” he said. “I’m trying to understand people beyond sex.”

  She sighed. “You have the oddest way of talking.” She looked at Pumpkin. “All right. I guess we can be friends. And you can come over.”

  “Every night?” he asked.

  “If you bring food,” she said. “Keeps me from having to cook anything and saves me time.” She fought back a smile. “Plus, I guess you’re right. It’s not so bad having people around.”

  “And cats,” he said.

  “And cats,” she agreed, reaching out a hand toward Pumpkin, who came over, sliding herself under her hand and purring.

  “She really does like you,” he said, still astonished.

  “Maybe she relates to me,” she said, running a hand over Pumpkin’s soft fur and inviting her into her lap. “We’re both grumpy.” The cat settled in, warm and heavy, and Faye thought this wouldn’t be a bad arrangement after all.

  Except for the intimidatingly beautiful green eyes staring at her, heating her up.

  She set Pumpkin down. “Anyway, I gotta get to bed. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Red picked up Pumpkin and looked surprised that she didn’t yowl this time. She seemed calm. Faye couldn’t help but be flattered she could have such an effect on the cat.

  “Thanks,” he said, giving her a genuine smile as he hugged Pumpkin close to him.

  “Not too close,” she said, and he loosened up, making Pumpkin happier. “There you go.”

  His grin widened, and she was unprepared for the full force of how gorgeous he was. She was tempted to put up a hand to shield herself from the brightness of it.

  So damn hot.

  She tried not to look at his tight ass, his broad back, as he turned to go out the door, but she failed.

  Oh well, she was human after all.

  Dragon Journal One:

  Faye, the human living next to me, has agreed to help me with Pumpkin. Oddly, she is not interested in my touch, or my person, though I do notice her watching me at odd moments.

  Still, I admit I’m beginning to feel an attraction to her that…

  Ugh, I can’t write this stuff in a journal. I just can’t.

  Signing off,

  Redmond

  Dragon Journal Two:

  After a severe and immediate chastisement from the oracle, I am attempting to write in this journal again.

  I like spending time with Faye, as I have the past few nights.

  We watch tee-vee, which are pictures on a screen. People mostly, doing things that I haven’t seen anyone do in real life. Faye especially likes to watch what she calls “reality” tee-vee, which espouses some of the most unrealistic behavior I have ever seen, making the name ironic.

  It is unlike time I have ever spent with a human.

  But Faye likes it, and I like watching her smile.

  I suppose this is what friendship is. The fact that she won’t let me touch her only heightens the part of our connection that is non-sexual, or at least it feels that way.

  Another part of me is hungry for her, growing more so every day.

  How can it be that the one woman I want is the one who doesn’t want me?

  This modern world is surely a strange place.

  3

  Red was checking out his hair, trying to make himself look as presentable as possible before going over for his third night with Faye, when he heard crashing coming from next door.

  For a moment, he hesitated, wondering what was going on. It was the kind of sound Pumpkin made while going on one of her rages around the house.

  But Faye didn’t have any cats.

  Giving himself one more quick once-over, noting his purple button-up shirt and jeans looked appropriate, he dashed out to survey the hallway.

  She’d only just gotten home, and he usually gave her a few minutes to collect herself before he brought over dinner.

  Tonight, he had cooked it himself, using dragon fire, and the meat looked perfectly seared, if he did say so himself.

  He’d go back and get it after he made sure everything with Faye was okay.

  The door to her apartment was ajar, but then after he heard someone yell, it slammed shut.

  A chill moved through him, and he rushed to the door, trying the handle. No luck.

  He listened closer and could hear a man’s voice. And Faye’s. She sounded distressed. He tried the handle again, shaking it violently.

  It wouldn’t budge.

  He eyed the door. With his dragon strength, it would be easy to kick in. But he’d been instructed to keep his powers under wraps as much as possible, and kicking the door in like it was a toothpick was likely to appear suspicious.

  He heard Faye let out a little scream and no longer cared what was suspicious.

  He stepped back, lifted his foot, and was about to kick the door when it swung open, and a red-faced, angry man was shoved out into the hall.

  The door slammed behind him, and the man looked up at Red, who was slowly lowering his foot.

  “What are you doing here?” he snarled. He had dark, greasy hair and was tall and thin.

  He looked like the type who tried to be too charming with girls but really just came off creepy.


  “What are you doing here?” Red asked, grabbing the other man and whirling him around to slam him into the wall opposite Faye’s door.

  “What are you, gay?” he asked, observing Red with fear and disdain at the same time.

  “Her boyfriend,” he said, knowing that was a lie. In fact, Faye had actually clarified the other night that Red was not her boyfriend. That he had no claim on her.

  But right now, staring at this man who had done something to bother her in her own home, he felt a possessive rage unlike anything he’d ever known.

  He was an easygoing guy. He liked to get along with people. But he was finding out he had a few hot spots. Things he couldn’t stand. Apparently, messing with Faye was one of them.

  “You are not,” the man said, but his voice was shaky.

  Red slammed him up into the wall, holding him there with one hand against his collar. The man’s legs dangled. “Stay the fuck away from her.”

  It was the first time he had cursed. He’d been hearing the words on the picture box at Faye’s, and they came tumbling out easily as he glowered at the man he’d love to turn into a charcoal briquette.

  As the red dragon, his fire was the hottest. He didn’t use it often. Didn’t like to fight.

  But when he did fight, he destroyed things. Perhaps that’s why he kept that part of himself locked down.

  But this guy was quickly changing his mind.

  The door opened, and Faye looked out, blue eyes wide with shock. She ran over to them. “Put him down. Oh my gosh, Red, put him down.”

  Red growled but did so, and the man adjusted his collar.

  “Your name is Red?” he asked snidely.

  Red made a move at him, and the other man nearly tripped over his own feet trying to get away. “Boo.”

  “I’ll be back,” he called out as he scurried down the hallway. “You better have my money, Faye!”

  Red leaned against the wall and looked down at her. “Why did you have to interfere? I could have gotten rid of him for you.”

  She looked up at him. “What do you mean get rid of him?”