After the bellhops moved their luggage, they checked out their new suite and were treated to a special lunch, courtesy of the director: steak and lobster, with chocolate cheesecake for dessert. She gave them a list of couples’ activities, such as a dinner cruise out in the bay, a candlelight dinner on the beach, and surf lessons, but as far as Mack was concerned, he’d gotten his prize in the form of a beautiful dragon shifter. As long as they were hanging out, they could attend a spelling bee and he’d be in heaven.
Miracle held his hand as they walked on the beach at dusk. She swung her sandals in her other hand, and he’d rolled up his trousers and was carrying his shoes. The sand was still warm from the afternoon sun, and the breeze blowing off the ocean smelled like salt and sunshine.
“Tell me about your tattoo,” he said.
“My friend Tonya drew it for me. She’s a freelance artist, and she’s always drawing in a sketch pad. She said that the phoenix was perfect for me, because it symbolized the freedom I’d been given. Dragon skin is impossible to tattoo, so I had to get tears to add to the ink beforehand.”
“Tears?”
“Dragon tears.”
“I…what?”
She laughed as she stopped and he turned to face her. She looked even lovelier in the golden glow of the setting sun. Her hair was windswept and her cheeks were flushed with happiness.
“I shifted into my form and I thought of something really sad. Basically, that I’d wasted my youth on a jerk who couldn’t have cared less about me. Tonya collected the tears in a vial, and I gave them to the tattoo artist, who added them to the ink. It made the tattoo permanent. No matter how many times I shift, it will never fade.”
The phoenix tattoo was very pretty. The feminine design was outlined in black, and beautifully colored with orange, red, and yellow. It was such a detailed tattoo that he expected it would fly off her shoulder at any moment. That her tears were mixed in with the ink made the image even more special.
“It’s a lovely tattoo. Your friend is very talented. I’ve never gotten a tattoo; maybe it’s time. Would your friend draw something for me?”
“I’m sure she would. We can talk to her when we go to pack up my things.” She made a face. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“What part?”
“About packing me up.”
“You told me that you couldn’t stay in your clan’s mountain if you mated a non-dragon. I expected you would come to live with me in the pack.”
She let out a relieved breath. “Okay. I know we just met last night, and you said we could take our time to get to know each other. We have the month here.”
“I was thinking we could stay here for a week or two and then go pack up your belongings. If the clan would let me stay for a while, you can spend time with your parents.”
“I’ll check in with my mom and dad, but I think you’d be able to stay in the mountain if it’s only for a short time.”
Mack wanted to make a studio for her so she could continue to do her glasswork, which she spoke about animatedly. She’d shown him photos of her beautiful glassware. He couldn’t wait to watch her create things.
“Are you comfortable living in my house? I would understand if you wanted us to have a place that’s just for us.”
“Your past has made you into the amazing male before me. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but where you call home.”
“There’s room for a studio for you, we’d just have to clear some trees.”
“I can do that. My dragon is super strong.” She flexed her arm and made a muscle, giving him a light growl and waggle of her eyebrows.
He kissed her with a laugh. “You’re precious, babe. Every inch of you.”
“Aw.”
“Tomorrow we’ll call your parents and make plans to visit them when we’re done here. And I’ll call my kids and share the news with them. They’ll love you, I’m sure. Who wouldn’t want a gorgeous dragon as their step-mom?”
“I can’t wait to meet your family, Mack, and for you to meet mine. My parents will adore you, and that’s not just because you saved my life. You’ve already treated me a thousand times better than my ex ever did. Leaving the mountains will be hard because of my parents, but they’ll know it’s for the best because I’ll have you.”
“They could come to Beyton,” Mack said, thinking of the rental homes that were available in town.
“I don’t think they’d be happy anywhere but the mountain. I always knew I’d be happier somewhere else. I should’ve left years ago, but I didn’t want to lose them and be alone. Now you’re my family, too, and I won’t be alone.”
“And neither will I.”
They kissed again, a sweet, soft one, as the surf rolled against the beach, the breeze rustled through the palm trees, and the sun set on the first perfect day of their new life together.
Chapter 7
Miracle watched as Mack searched his contacts on the video app for his daughter’s name. She fidgeted with her clothes and wondered if she should’ve put on lipstick.
“I see you being all twitchy. These are my kids. They want me to be happy, and you make me happy.”
“I know, I’ve just never been in this situation before.”