Page 41 of Knight of the Sword

“I hope you’re not dismissing me?”

“Don’t you have a temp agency to run?”

“Nope. Stephanie can handle the office,” Michael had said as he sat down in the recliner across from her. “I’m spending the night.”

Sophie shook her head at the memory. Michael had slept in the recliner and the dragon on the floor near the sofa where she lay. As much as she hated to admit it, she had felt a little bit special, like some medieval lady in King Arthur’s court. After all, how many modern females had both a hunky man who was a throwback to chivalry and a dragon guarding her?

She was startled by a persistent knocking on the door. The dragon snarled, on instant alert. Could it be that Adam Baylor had found her? Michael had set wards of protection around her house before he left this morning, but what did she know of magic? Would they hold?

“Come on. Open up, Soph!” Robert called.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s my ex-husband,” she said to the dragon. “You’ll need to hide in the office.”

“I’m supposed to protect you.”

“Robert isn’t going to hurt me,” Sophie replied as she eased herself into a sitting position and reached for her crutches. “He may be annoying, but I can handle that.”

She hobbled toward the door and turned to make sure the dragon was out of sight before she opened it.

He brushed past her before she could speak. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in the hospital?” he asked as he strode to the middle of the room and turned around, glaring at her. “I called the clinic several times and Janie always said you were out.”

Bless Janie. She might be a man-crazy twenty-something, but she was also a good hedge. Sophie made her slow way back to the couch. Last night, Michael had been at her side every time she moved, but Robert just stood there, looking annoyed.

“I wasn’t aware that I needed to report in to you, Robert.”

“You were in a car accident with broken bones. I certainly should have been informed.”

“Why? And how did you find out anyway?”

“I just came from the clinic. Your new girl, Morgan, told me. Of course, I had to flirt a little to get it out of her, but that didn’t mean anything.”

Just like old times. “Flirting never means anything to you, does it?”

“Oh, come on, baby. Let’s not fight.” Robert sat down beside her, giving her the confident smile he used in the courtroom. “She’s a hot little number, but she’s been around the block a few times, I think. She’s definitely not you.” He moved closer and put his hand on her good thigh. “Let me make you feel better.”

Before she could brush his hand away, Pendragon roared and flew across the room to land squarely on the coffee table in front of them. His spikes rose along his spine as he prepared to shoot a fiery flame at Robert.

“Stop!” Sophie shouted.

Pendragon growled and extended his claws like a cat.

Robert had jumped back, but quickly recovered. “Well, well, well. What have we here?” he asked.

Sophie sighed. How in the world was she going to explain a dragon? If only Pendragon had let her handle this! Dear Lord, don’t let him speak!

Pendragon growled again, but settled on his haunches, thankfully silent.

“You know I sometimes take in exotic species,” Sophie said, her mind racing for a really good explanation. “This is…um, a very rare Gila monster. He was scaring the cats and dogs at the kennel, so I brought him home.”

Pendragon blinked at her.

“Gila’s are orange and black,” Robert said suspiciously.

“Yes. That’s what makes this one so rare.”

“And they are also poisonous,” he added.

Pendragon drew back his lips to expose his sharp teeth. Tiny tendrils of smoke drifted from his nostrils.