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“Of course I have a credit score. How else would I get a credit card?”
“I didn’t realize dragons had credit cards,” Paige admitted as Dewey flew to a shelf far above her head and deposited an item.
He floated back down and narrowed his eyes at her, his ears wiggling. “How else would I purchase things?”
Paige shrugged.
“Let me guess.” He poked a stubby finger at her. “You think dragons still horde gold and trade for necessities in gems and silver.”
He wrapped his paws around the cart’s handle and pushed it forward. The wheels squeaked as he zipped down the aisle away from her.
She hustled to catch up to him, shoving her glasses up on her nose. “Of course not,” she said, as though the concept was ridiculous. She cleared her throat again. “I just– I’ve never met a dragon before. I have no idea what kind of life you lead.”
He slid his eyes sideways and studied her.
“Can I see your nest?” Paige asked.
“I don’t have a stack of gold up there.”
“I don’t expect that you do, but if we’re going to work together, I’d really like to get to know you better.”
Dewey dumped the cart at the end of an aisle. “Do you drink tea?”
“Yes, I love tea!”
He spun and stared at her for a moment before he motioned for her to follow him. “Come on. We’ll have a cuppa.”
Paige clutched at the straps of her tote bag, hurrying to follow the flying dragon. As they reached the tower again, he spun to face her, waving a finger in her face.
“I’m inviting you into my home. My sanctuary. I’m not looking for your opinion. Understood?”
“Ah, yep,” Paige answered with her eyebrows hiked high. She held her hands up in defeat. “No judgment here.”
He waved for her to follow him. A circular set of stairs wrapped around the outside of the tower, rising upward to a loft high above the floor. She climbed the stairs, circling around the tower twice as they ascended.
They arrived at the loft above. Paige stepped onto a thick burgundy carpet with gold swirls. A canopy hung overtop, and wide windows offered a panoramic view of the archives below.
Dewey fluttered his wings, sailing over to a kitchen across the space. “Have a seat,” he called over his shoulder, waving to one of the comfortable-looking chairs.
Paige settled into a thickly cushioned gold armchair. She swiped her hand over the velvety fabric as she scanned the living area. A few chairs were positioned near a fake fireplace. Across from her, a chaise with a well-worn seat stretched across the space. In front of it, a flat-screen television was mounted to the wall. The circular side table next to it held a laptop.
“Cream and sugar?” Dewey called as he dumped a teakettle on his cooktop and swiped it on.
“Just sugar, thanks,” Paige answered, her eyes drawn to the decorative bookcase next to her.
“Hmmm.” The dragon huffed as he retrieved two teacups and placed them on a tray along with a container of sugar cubes. “You’re in luck. I just baked snickerdoodles.”
Paige snapped her gaze to the odd scene of the small dragon laying out cinnamon cookies on a decorative plate. “You bake?”
“Sure do. Hope you like cinnamon.” The kettle whistled, and Dewey poured the water into a ceramic teapot decorated in navy plaid.
“I do,” Paige assured him as she continued to study his nest.
A framed plaque hung on the wall behind her. She rose to read it, shoving her glasses farther up her nose.
In gold lettering, the plaque announced ten years of service to the Shadow Harbor Library.
Dewey Decimael
