Page 5 of Serving my Dragon (The Dragocracy Chronicles #2)

Kayleigh shook her head. “It’s okay. My mom always taught me to look for the positive in the world because life’s too short to dwell on the ugly.”

“A good philosophy to have.”

“I guess. It drives Sally nuts that I always try to see the glass half full.” She giggled. Again. It should have annoyed.

It didn’t.

I unlocked the front door and let her inside where she proceeded to ooh and aah over just about everything.

The rag rug my aunt knotted for me: divine.

The pottery scattered around the place courtesy of cousin, Sophia: exquisite.

My furniture, heavy wooden pieces that came from the factory my father and uncle worked in?

Quality stuff, unlike the pressboard furniture most places back home sold, according to Kayleigh.

Everything delighted Kayleigh except for my kitchen. She stared at it, blinked, then looked at me. “You can’t tell me you cook in here?”

The simple galley kitchen had the basics.

Stove, rarely used. Fridge, usually holding a container or two of food for me to reheat in case I couldn’t make it to Mama’s for dinner.

The tile counter holding my sink had a curtain to hide the shelves with dishes underneath.

My bookshelf pantry had a few boxes and bags of snacks.

“I don’t cook,” I admitted sheepishly. “Between Mama and my aunts and cousins, I always have a meal.” Not to mention the few times I attempted to make a meal on my own not only ended in disaster but led to my mother wailing I didn’t love her.

“Hmm. I do like a cooking challenge,” Kayleigh murmured. “But even I need some ingredients to cook with. You don’t even have eggs.”

“I can get some from the bodega up the street,” I offered. Then added, “Why don’t you have a shower and freshen up while I grab a few things.”

“A shower sounds heavenly,” Kayleigh squealed, clapping her hands and bouncing. Being a man, yes, I noticed her boobs jiggle. Not my fault. They acted like magnets for my eyes.

“I’m going to leave Pollita here while I run to the store.” It occurred to me, eyeing Kayleigh’s dirty clothes, she couldn’t exactly put them back on. “Before I run out, let me grab you a t-shirt and shorts from my room so you have something clean for after.”

I got Kayleigh set up with clothes, fresh soap, and towels in a bathroom that sparkled.

I might not cook, but at least I had a clean home thanks to Maria.

As I went to leave to buy some groceries, Pollita stopped her exploring and scurried to the door.

The lizard stood in front of it, blocking my passage.

Knowing she didn’t understand didn’t stop me from crouching and saying softly, “I won’t be gone long.

I’m going to get food.” I mimed putting stuff in my mouth.

Those big orbs widened and the head bobbed.

I’d fight anyone who claimed she didn’t understand.

Pollita scampered to the living room and used her claws to climb the plant rack placed in the front window for sunlight.

The top pot went toppling with a crash, and I winced only slightly.

Sophia would be peeved, but I’d hated the clay shaped to look like a monster’s head.

It creeped me out when I came home at night and caught it peering at me from the window.

As I left, I glanced back and waved at the little lizard watching. She waved back. It made me happier than it should have. Perhaps having a pet wouldn’t be so bad. At times, living by myself got lonely.

The bodega had the grocery basics and a nosy owner. “Since when do you buy actual food?” Pedro asked as he rang up my purchases. “Did your mama go on vacation?”

“I wasn’t supposed to be back from my trip until later today so thought I’d grab a few things.”

“A few?” Pedro queried with an arched brow. A dozen eggs, some bacon, bread, fruit, a few veggies, cheese, three nice picanha steaks, some chips, peanuts, half a dozen chocolate bars, two boxes of cereal, a gallon of milk. Hunh. Yeah, that was a lot more than I usually bought.

“I have a guest staying for a few days,” I admitted. “I came across a tourist who lost her passport. I’m helping her out until she can make other arrangements.” Why couldn’t I shut up? I knew better than to blab my business. Especially to one of the biggest gossips around.

“Her, eh? Pretty?” Pedro less than casually inquired as he took the cash I offered.

“I guess. Hadn’t really noticed.” I lied so hard I expected my nose to grow. My abuela used to claim it did when I tried to tell a tall tale as a little boy.

“Have fun with your guest .” Pedro winked and I could have groaned because I knew the moment I left he’d be on his phone, talking about me.

The problem with living in the same neighborhood I grew up in was everyone knew each other’s business.

I could only hope I got hold of Mama before the rumor mill did.

Of course, when I got home, I completely forgot to call Mama, distracted by a lizard bouncing up and down the moment I walked as well as a sexy blonde wearing my shirt—braless, my dirty eyes noticed—looking decidedly soft and happy to me.

“Oh goodness. How did you manage to carry all that?” she exclaimed.

If I were Emilia’s husband, Manuel, I’d have held up my arm and flexed a bicep. Instead, I shrugged. “Bah. It’s nothing.”

I heaved the many bags of groceries onto my kitchen table, hardly used as the rare times I ate at home I did so in front of the television on the couch.

In my defense, a guilt tripping mama always kept a plate waiting for me.

It didn’t hurt she also slapped my hand if I dared to offer to wash the dishes.

Okay, maybe I was a little spoiled.

“Look at this haul. I’m going to make you the best bacon and egg sandwich ever,” Kayleigh declared before shooing me from the kitchen.

“Um, can you make one for Pollita too?”

“Of course I can.” Kayleigh eyed my lizard who stared at her intently—not hissing for once. “Lizards eat sandwiches?”

“This one seems to eat anything.” Kind of like Tía Carmelita’s chihuahua, Paco. Angry, barky little thing who adored me, mostly because I snuck him scraps whenever I went over. Drove my uncle nuts that the dog liked me more than him.

“Three epic egg sandwiches coming up.”

“Can I help at all?” I asked from the kitchen doorway.

“Shoo.” Kayleigh waved a spatula at me. “You’ve done enough for me. Time for me to repay the favor.”

I never argued with a woman in the kitchen. A lesson learned young.

Seeing my phone reminded me to call the police information desk and inquire if any tourists had been reported missing.

To my surprise, they had nothing. Maybe Kayleigh hadn’t been missing long enough.

Before I could ask how to open a case file, the line disconnected and redialing got me a busy signal.

I dialed the embassy next and got sent to voicemail where I left a message detailing the problem and my number to call back.

“Hey, do you use email?” I asked from the living room as I spotted my laptop.

“Duh. Who doesn’t?”

“And what of your friend, Sally? Do you know her email address?”

A beaming Kayleigh appeared in the kitchen archway. “You’re a genius. I might not remember her phone number but I sure as heck would never forget her email, seeing as how it’s kind of funny. It’s notaredheadtomesswith at gmail.”

I arched a brow. “Nice.” I typed in the address and then stared at the blank subject line and body of the email. “What should I say?” I yelled out since Kayleigh had gone back to the kitchen.

“Give me a second. I don’t want to burn anything. We’ll craft something after we eat. Speaking of which, it’s just about ready.”

No need to tell Pollita as she’d not left the kitchen the entire time Kayleigh cooked. My flushed human rescue looked happy bustling in my kitchen and it sure smelled good to someone who’d not eaten in a few hours.

“First sandwich is for the little lady who patiently waited.” Kayleigh bent over and offered the plate to my lizard. “Hope you like it, Polly.”

Pollita chirped before taking some bites and immediately hummed in approval. My sandwich got served next, and my mouth watered. Good thing Mama couldn’t see this or she’d probably sob and wail that I tried to replace her. That would never happen.

Although… one bite and I knew the women in my family had competition. How could something so simple as egg, bacon, and cheese on toasted bread taste so savory with a hint of?—

“You put some spice in it?” I asked.

“Yes. I hope that’s okay.”

“Delicious,” I mumbled through my next bite.

“What’s delicious?” repeated Mama. She appeared in the kitchen, eyes round as saucers, jaw on the floor. “?Que está pasando aqui?”

Panic filled me. “I can explain, Mama,” I said switching to Spanish.

Only I didn’t get a chance because Mama saw Pollita next and uttered a scream. “Lizard! Kill it!”