Page 2 of The Dragon’s Surprise (Tahoe Dragon Mates #7)
Chapter Two
L exi watched Ethan as he colored the dragon picture with some crayons.
A heavily pregnant human named Jenny Torres filled in another picture next to him, chatting about everything and nothing.
Ethan seemed to relax around her, which was good seeing as Lexi would have to leave Ethan with Jenny when she went to meet with Kyle Baker alone.
At least now, she wouldn’t have to worry about Ethan being scared.
Jenny smiled at her and said, “You haven’t been to MirrorPeak for as long as I’ve lived here, which is about seven months.
Are the other clans the same with how they’re set up and run?
I want to visit them all someday, but Daniel says not yet.
Something about the clans wanting to make alliances, but ADDA is making it difficult.
” She bit her lip and sighed. “I wasn’t supposed to say that.
I mean, you’re sort of tied to ADDA, aren’t you? ”
ADDA was what most people called the American Department of Dragon Affairs, the agency that ruled over all dragon-shifters in the US. “Yes and no. Although my older sister, Jennifer Sakamoto, works for them formally.”
“Well, she has the best name, so she must be a good person.”
Jenny grinned, and Lexi couldn’t help but smile. Something about the woman made her feel as if she’d known her forever and hadn’t just met her. “We argued like all sisters do, but I love her, and she really tries to help the dragon-shifters. She’s friends with Ashley Swift.”
Jenny’s eyes widened. “I know Ashley! I’ll have to see if she’ll bring your sister around. The more good and dedicated ADDA employees I know, the better, I think. Especially as I’ll need them on my side if I’m to write my dragon textbooks for human children.”
Lexi was about to ask for more information when Jenny’s mate, Daniel, knocked and entered the room.
He gave a loving look at Jenny, and Lexi tried to ignore the twinge of jealousy that shot through her.
Like a lot of girls, she’d dreamed of living with the dragons and finding her own dragonman as a kid.
However, after years of dealing with unwanted children from dalliances between the dragonmen and human women, she’d become rather cynical.
Daniel looked at her and said, “Come on. I’ll take you to him.”
Standing, Lexi asked Ethan, “Will you be okay here with Miss Jenny?”
He glanced down at his crayons, and before he could answer, Lexi added, “I’ll be back, I promise. And I’ve never broken one yet, have I?”
He shook his head.
Jenny reached over, put an arm around his shoulders, and hugged him to her side. “We’ll have tons of fun, Ethan. I have paints and colored paper and all kinds of things. I used to be an elementary school teacher, so no one can craft like me.”
He glanced at Jenny. “Okay.”
Lexi wanted to hug the boy. And yet, as Daniel motioned for them to go, securing Ethan’s future was more important. “Have fun, Ethan. I’ll be back soon.”
She followed the tall dragonman down the hallway until he stopped and gestured at a closed door. “Kyle’s inside. Go in whenever you’re ready.”
After taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I’m ready.”
Lexi turned the knob, entered, and stopped as she crashed into something hard and stumbled.
Hands gripped her shoulder to keep her from falling, and she looked up.
Green eyes, the exact shade of Ethan’s, stared down at her, pupils flashing between round and slitted.
He had long, brown hair pulled back from his face, pale skin, and a slightly too-long nose.
Not that it detracted from his strong jaw or firm lips, or pretty eyes.
He grunted, released her, and Lexi stumbled until she could stand on her own two legs. The man spoke up. “Alexis Sakamoto, I presume?”
His calm, almost impatient tone snapped her back to reality, reminding her of how he’d ignored both her and the poor boy in the room down the hall. “Yes. And you, Dr. Baker, are in some trouble.”
Kyle didn’t like to sit still if he could help it, so he’d paced around the small room, wondering what was taking so long when the door opened and someone barreled into him. He stopped her from falling and was about to tell her to be careful when she looked up at him.
He couldn’t look away from her dark brown eyes. She had light tan skin, short black hair, and was quite possibly the most beautiful female he’d ever seen.
Then his dragon spoke up. If this is the DOCS employee, then she can scold us all she wants.
Don’t start.
Why not? She’s pretty, and definitely has some backbone, if her emails are anything to go by. And you need that.
Alarm bells rang inside his head, and Kyle released the female quickly. She stumbled slightly, but regained her balance. He forced his voice to be calm and detached as he asked, “Alexis Sakamoto, I presume?”
Her dazed look faded away, replaced with a scowl. “Yes. And you, Dr. Baker, are in some trouble.”
His dragon laughed, but Kyle ignored him. “As I’m sure you know, I didn’t know about the child’s existence. So what am I in trouble for?”
“Ignoring me for two weeks. Two weeks where that boy has been alone and scared and trying to understand what to do with his inner dragon. It’s all new to him, and frightening.
I’ve done what I could, but I’m not a dragon-shifter.
” She walked over and poked him in the chest. “You need to help him. And quickly.”
Ignoring the heat that flared at her touch, he narrowed his eyes. “My clan will help him, of course. But I only found out that this boy existed half an hour ago. Give me a little grace.”
“Why? You’re the one who slept with a human, knew this could happen, and now you have to be the adult and face the consequences.”
“I am an adult, one responsible for the health of the entire clan. Are you saying they don’t matter?”
“Of course I’m not saying that! But as soon as you put your dick into someone, you were possibly signing up for this.”
She gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth, clearly mortified.
On a better day, maybe when he hadn’t just found out he had a son, or hadn’t nearly lost a patient in the morning, he would’ve been more diplomatic.
But his usual restraint snapped, and he moved closer, lowering his head toward her. “So you’ve been celibate your whole life, then? Or were you embracing possible motherhood every time someone fucked you?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Kyle regretted it. What the hell was wrong with him?
His dragon spoke up. She knows how to break your carefully constructed walls. Good.
Stepping back, he murmured, “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded.
“It was.” She unfolded her arms. “But I was also out of line, so I’m sorry.
It’s just been tough because Ethan is kind and curious and is constantly wondering why his mother left him.
And as someone who was abandoned at an early age—when my mother left my sister and I at our grandmother’s house one night, never to return—it’s become rather personal.
More so than the ones who are surrendered as babies, with no memory of their birth moms.”
At the vulnerable look in her eyes, Kyle wondered if she’d planned to share that much.
But at least her overreaction and anger made a lot more sense now.
After taking a deep breath, he asked, “Shall we start over? I’ll help with what I can, but I also want what’s best for the boy.
As the sole doctor here, I’m not sure me taking him in and raising him is it.
Even now, I barely have enough time to sleep. ”
Tilting her head, she studied him a few beats before replying, “I get that, but please, at least meet him. I didn’t tell Ethan that his father is here, just that he’d stay with MirrorPeak and learn how to handle his inner dragon from other dragon-shifters.”
“You didn’t tell him about me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course not. I wouldn’t get his hopes up like that. This is far from my first rodeo, Dr. Baker.”
His dragon spoke up. Just meet the boy. We need to help him, if nothing else. Because if he can’t handle his inner dragon, it won’t end well.
You know I don’t teach the young ones how to handle their inner beasts.
Maybe not, but we all went through it. Besides, you’ll need to examine him and run tests soon, to make sure he’s healthy since the human doctors might’ve missed something. The less anxious he is around you, the better.
I know what you’re doing. But don’t expect anything, dragon, because I don’t have time for anything but being a doctor.
His beast sniffed. I didn’t say anything.
Resisting a sigh, Kyle replied to the human, “Fine. But don’t share that I’m his father because I’m not. Not in any of the ways it matters.”
“Very well. But one last thing before I take you to Ethan—I’m staying with your clan for at least two weeks, to ensure Ethan transitions well into MirrorPeak’s care, and I’ll be watching you.”
His dragon spoke up. Good. I like her. Maybe we can rile her some more. That was fun.
Behave, dragon.
Why? You never go anywhere, see anyone, or do anything. So I take what I can get.
Ignoring his beast, he opened the door and motioned. “Understood, Ms. Sakamoto. Now, come on. I’ve been awake a long time and I need to go home and rest before another emergency crops up.”
Then he walked out without a backward glance.
Lexi was still berating herself for being unprofessional when Kyle strode out of the room and she struggled to keep up.
Why, oh why, had she told him about her mom leaving her and Jennifer? Her sister would no doubt chew her out for that later, as Jennifer liked to keep her private life private.
Thankfully, the walk was short, and she quickly met up with the dragonman who stood waiting for her at the door. She glanced up, willing herself not to notice his remarkable eyes again, and said softly, “Be nice to him. He’s gone through a lot lately.”