Page 10 of Hot for the Dragon (Saltwater Grove #3)

10

ARCHER

A rcher kept his distance as he and Daphne followed Ned through the winding streets. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows that made trailing their target easier, though Archer had to constantly slow his pace to match Daphne's shorter strides.

"Would you hurry up?" he whispered, tugging her behind a parked car as Ned glanced over his shoulder.

"Some of us don't have supernatural speed," Daphne shot back, stumbling against his chest. The light floral scent of her shampoo tickled his nose before she stepped away.

They tracked Ned to the edge of town where rows of identical orange storage units stretched out before them. The metal doors gleamed in the setting sun, numbers painted in black on each one. Ned approached unit 247, fumbling with his keys.

"Perfect," Archer muttered. His muscles tensed, ready for action.

"Wait." Daphne grabbed his arm. "We can't just barge in there. What if it's trapped? Or there are other dragons inside?"

"That's why I'm going in first." He shrugged off her grip. "You can either back me up or stay here and watch for trouble."

She crossed her arms. "I’m not staying here alone."

"Then keep up."

They crouched behind a neighboring unit until Ned emerged empty-handed and walked away. Once he was out of sight, Archer moved toward unit 247, Daphne close behind.

"This is a terrible idea," she whispered.

"Most of my ideas are." He flashed her a grin. "That's what makes them work."

"That makes zero sense."

"It doesn't have to make sense. It just has to work."

Daphne rolled her eyes but stayed by his side as they approached the storage unit. The metal door loomed before them, its contents a mystery that Archer was more than ready to unravel.

Archer made quick work of the lock on the storage unit, his enhanced strength snapping it with a satisfying crack. The door rolled up to reveal stacks of crates, boxes, and what looked like military-grade equipment.

"Jackpot," he said, stepping inside. The unit smelled of metal and gunpowder, with an underlying scent of dragon - multiple dragons had been here recently.

"We need to move fast." He grabbed a heavy crate. "I'll take the-"

"Don't even think about it." Daphne was already hefting a box that had to weigh at least fifty pounds. "I'm not some delicate flower."

"Could've fooled me, given your occupation." But he had to admit, she handled the weight well. Her determined expression as she carried the box outside made him smile despite himself.

They worked in companionable silence, establishing a rhythm. Every time he tried to take the heavier items, she'd shoot him a look that brooked no argument. The woman was infuriatingly stubborn.

"You know," he said, hauling out another crate, "most people would let the dragon shifter do the heavy lifting."

"Most people aren't me." Sweat gleamed on her forehead as she lifted another box. "Besides, you're not as intimidating as you think you are."

"I'm plenty intimidating."

"Sure you are." She patted his arm as she passed. "Keep telling yourself that."

The casual touch sent an unexpected surge through him. He covered his reaction by focusing on the task at hand. They'd cleared about half the unit when he decided it was time.

"Stand back," he warned, moving to an open space. The shift rippled through him, familiar and powerful. His body elongated, scales erupting across his skin as wings unfurled from his back. In seconds, he towered over Daphne in his true form, red scales glinting in the fading light.

"You know," Daphne said, tilting her head back to look at him, "you're much more manageable when you can't talk back."

He snorted, a puff of smoke curling from his nostrils. If she only knew the comebacks he was holding in. She began securing the supplies to his back, her touch gentle but efficient. The sooner they got this done, the sooner they could figure out Carmen's next move.

Suddenly, the flash of a security guard's flashlight beam caught Archer's attention. His enhanced dragon vision picked out the guard's uniform as the man rounded the corner, heading straight for their storage unit. Archer's muscles tensed, ready for action, but with the supplies strapped to his dragon back, any sudden movement would send their evidence scattering across the pavement.

"Don't move," Daphne whispered, her hands already weaving through the air. The ground around them erupted in a surge of green growth. Thick vines spiraled upward, creating a dense canopy that blocked them from view. The rapid plant growth surrounded them in a cocoon of foliage, complete with blooming night flowers that masked Archer's distinctive dragon scent.

"Evening!" The guard called out, his boots crunching on gravel. "Anyone there?"

Archer held perfectly still, fighting his natural instinct to take flight. The supplies were too vital to risk dropping. Besides, he refused to admit it made him nervous being trapped in such close quarters with Daphne. Her shoulder pressed against his scaled foreleg as she maintained her magical shield of vegetation.

The guard's footsteps drew closer. The beam of his flashlight played across the vines, but the dense growth prevented it from penetrating their hiding spot. Archer's keen hearing picked up the guard's radio crackling.

"Unit 7 checking in. All clear in section D. Just some overgrown landscaping by unit 247. Maintenance should really trim these plants back."

"Copy that," crackled the reply.

The footsteps retreated, but Daphne maintained their cover for several more minutes. Finally, she let out a relieved breath and the vines began to recede.

"That was too close," she whispered, wiping sweat from her brow.

Archer bumped her shoulder with his snout in silent thanks. He'd never admit it out loud, but her quick thinking had saved them from a potentially messy situation. Though he could have handled it himself, of course. Probably.

She scratched under his chin, making his scales tingle. "You're welcome."

He pulled his head back with an indignant snort. He was a fearsome dragon, not some household pet to be coddled. Even if her fingers had felt nice. Which they hadn't. At all.

Archer soon felt Daphne's hands resume securing the last of the supplies to his scaled back. Her touch was quick but careful, making sure everything was firmly fastened.

"Done," she whispered, patting his flank. "Let's get out of here before he comes back."

Archer crouched low, allowing her to climb onto his back between the secured boxes. Her weight settled against him, warm and surprisingly comfortable. With one powerful thrust of his wings, they shot into the darkening sky.

The wind rushed past them as he soared over the town, his powerful wings carrying them effortlessly through the cooling evening air. The thrill of their narrow escape coursed through him, making his blood sing with an excitement he hadn't felt in years.

Landing in the sprawling backyard of his mansion, he waited until Daphne dismounted before shifting back to his human form. The rush of adrenaline followed him through the transformation, and before he could stop himself, a deep laugh bubbled up from his chest.

"Did you see that guard's face?" Daphne's eyes sparkled with mischief as she joined in his laughter. "He was so confused by all those plants!"

"Quick thinking with that vegetation shield." Archer ran a hand through his windswept hair, still grinning. "I haven't had that much fun in..." He paused, realizing he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually enjoyed himself this much.

"See? Not all of us need brute strength to get the job done." Daphne's smile was infectious as she helped him carry the supplies to his garage.

"You're not such a bad partner to have after all," he admitted, surprising himself with how much he meant it.

"And you're not as terrifying as everyone says." She bumped his shoulder playfully.

Their eyes met, and Archer felt something shift inside him. The evening air crackled with possibility, making him suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.

"We should probably finish getting these inside," he said, gesturing to the supplies, not ready to examine why his heart was racing faster than during their escape.

Archer helped Daphne stack the last of their stolen evidence in his garage when headlights swept across the driveway. Her brother's sedan pulled up, right on time to collect her.

"That's my ride." Daphne brushed dirt from her hands. "Thanks for not getting us arrested tonight."

"Pretty sure I did most of the heavy lifting." He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with practiced nonchalance.

"Oh please, you were useless until you went all scaly." Her eyes danced with amusement. "I'm the one who saved us from that guard."

"By growing flowers. Very intimidating."

"Those were very aggressive flowers." She paused at the door. "Same time tomorrow?"

His heart tightened at the thought of her leaving. The sensation was foreign, unwelcome. He'd spent years cultivating his solitude, perfecting the art of keeping others at arm's length. Yet here was this stubborn witch, slipping past his defenses with her quick wit and fearless spirit.

"If you think you can keep up," he said, fighting a smile.

"Please." She waved as she headed to her brother's car. "Try not to brood too much while I'm gone!"

Archer watched until the taillights disappeared down his winding driveway. The garage felt emptier somehow, quieter without her presence filling the space. He told himself it was just the lingering adrenaline from their heist making him feel off-balance. Nothing more.

But as he shifted and took to the sky to retrieve his Corvette from town, her laugh echoed in his mind, bright and genuine. The memory of her pressed tightly against his side as they hid from the guard sent an unexpected warmth through him.

"Get it together," he muttered to himself as he landed near the side street where he'd left his car. "She's just a temporary ally. Nothing more."

But even as he slid behind the wheel of his Corvette, he couldn't quite convince himself it was true.