Dragon Heat by Charlene Hartnady

Excerpt: Dragon Guard

“Why do you need to take another vacation?” her boss asked. “You just took one.” He shook his head, looking irritated. “You know how anxious I get when you’re not here.”

More like, her stingy-ass boss didn’t like having to pay a temp. Losing cash made him anxious. It had nothing to do with her not being there.

She pushed out a breath, trying not to look or sound upset, because she sure as hell was feeling a little upset. “I took two days a couple of weeks back.” Two measly days! “I needed to go to a training class, so it wasn’t a real break.”

“It’s just that…well… it’s a bad time of year.”

It was always a bad time of year. “I understand. I have so many days owing to me though. HR advised…”

“I will speak to Tamara.” Sheldon rolled his shoulders, looking stressed. “Couldn’t you postpone for two weeks?” It was always the same. The only time he ever signed off on her leave was when Shaun intervened, which wasn’t happening this time. He went on before she could answer. “Just think about it. It would be a great help to me.” Funny how he was making it sound like she actually had a choice in the matter.

She wanted to scream the word ‘no’. To tell him to go to hell. Erin had always bent over backwards for the Jones family. Her whole life had changed after meeting Shaun. Things would have been so different if they hadn’t gotten together. They’d be different now too if he hadn’t— She pushed that thought aside. “Okay,” she conceded. “I’ll think about it.” What choice did she have?

Sheldon’s face lit up. “I’m sure that nephew of mine will come to his senses really soon. You’re a catch, Erin. A real catch.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled. This was definitely a conversation she didn’t want to have. Certainly not with her boss, who just happened to be her fiancé…her ex fiancé’s uncle. She needed to stop thinking of Shaun as hers. He wasn’t! They might never get back together.

“I just put a pile of orders on your desk.” He pointed to her already cluttered work surface. Hinting that she should hop to it and right then.

“My lunch hour started a few minutes ago.” She forced a smile.

“They’re urgent.” He widened his eyes.

“I’m sorry.” She shook her head. “I have plans that I can’t cancel. I will get it done by the end of business.”

“Fine,” he groaned, looking hard done by.

Erin turned and walked out, holding back an eye-roll of epic proportions. It was rare for her to take lunch. She normally ate at her desk, working between bites. Yet he was acting like he was doing her a favor by letting her go.

Once she made it to her car, she dug in her purse and pulled out the burner phone tucked away in the side pocket. There was only one number programed into the device. Erin dialed it.

“Hey,” a voice on the other end answered after a couple of rings. “How are you? I’m so looking forward to…”

“I’m postponing the mission.”

“What? I thought we had everything all planned out. We were looking forward to seeing you…both of you. To having you join our group.”

“Me too,” she said. “I’m having trouble getting off work.”

“Leave. Pack a bag and walk out. There’s nothing keeping you there anymore, is there?”

That made Erin think of Shaun. Was she being silly holding out? Maybe Deborah was right. Maybe she should just walk out. Start over.

“I’d prefer to do this my way,” she finally said. “My boss has promised I can take the time I need in two weeks. I’ve done the training. The prep. I’m ready. Two weeks is all I’m asking for. Unless there’s been some news?” She heard a desperate edge to her voice.

“No. It’s like she’s in the wind.”

“That’s good though, isn’t it?”

‘Yeah, no news is good news.

“Two weeks,” Erin said.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Okay.”

“We’ll talk soon.”

“Definitely.” The line went dead. Erin tucked the phone back in her bag, still wondering if she was being stupid. Shit! She checked the time. At this rate she was going to be late.

It was Jenna’s birthday. Her best friend was celebrating with her family that evening, so it was now or never if she wanted to spend some time with her. She did! She didn’t have many people in her life. In fact, Jenna was ‘it’ right then. Her eyes stung, and her chest felt tight. She blinked a few times, holding back tears.

She headed for her car and drove to Java Hut, which was a few blocks up the road. Her phone buzzed with a message as she pulled into a parking space.

Jenna: Be there in one. Please wait for me.

Erin typed back that she would. She couldn’t help smiling. Of course she would wait. She would never think of going in without her friend. Jenna had always been like that. She didn’t like walking into a place alone. Erin worked hard at being on time for their get-togethers because invariably Jenna would end up sitting in her car until she got there. She’d once waited for almost half an hour for Erin to arrive. It was just a quirk. Jenna had never given any real reason, just that she didn’t like going into places alone.

Almost a minute later, Jenna pulled in next to Erin who grinned and waved. They got out of their cars and hugged. “Happy birthday,” she said.

“Thank you! Although, this is a birthday I could’ve done without.” They let go of one another. “I’m thirty next year. Did you know that? Thirty!” Jenna widened her eyes. Like it was the worst thing ever. Erin was twenty-eight and single…well, sort of. Lately, she’d heard the ticking of her clock. Especially late at night while the world was sleeping. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Erin pushed her glasses back into place and laughed. “Of course I know your age. It’s just a number though. No biggie.”

“You’re right.” Jenna smiled. “It’s just that I’m a year older and still have this bucket list that’s a mile long.” Jenna gave her an odd look. “Talking about things on bucket lists, I still can’t believe you know how to fly a helicopter.”

Erin shrugged. “Yeah…well…”

“Don’t say it’s no biggie because it is. Not many people can say they know how to fly one of those things.”

She almost wished she hadn’t told Jenna about it, but her friend had asked about the training class she was taking and well, she’d told her. It was a two-day pilot refresher training program. She needed to be prepared. “I haven’t flown in years. I didn’t want my license to expire, that’s all,” she mumbled, hoping Jenna would change the subject. Thing was, her friend knew very little about her past. Like the fact that she not only could use a gun but could disassemble one in under ten seconds. She allowed her eyes to drift over the parking lot and stiffened as she caught sight of the white Range Rover a few spaces over. Surely not?

“What is it?” Jenna followed her gaze.

Out now!