Chapter One
A large, serpentine creature was gliding in the night sky. Its powerful wings were spread wide and its scales were iridescent in the moonlight. The creature searched the ground below before swooping downward, landing on four feet. It lifted its head, detecting the slight rustle coming from the bush ahead. It sniffed, gauging whether its company was animal or human. The source of the disturbance in the foliage emerged.
“Having fun?” the deep male voice drawled.
The dragon grunted, its shape contorting and shrinking into that of a man. Michael Pryce grinned at his longtime friend, Sloan Ryder. He reached for his clothes, neatly folded and tucked behind the thick root of a tree.
“I always have fun soaring through the night sky. What the hell are you doing here? I left to give you some privacy with your female friend.”
Sloan shrugged. “I got hungry. I sent her home to avoid having her for a midnight snack.”
In the process of buttoning his pants, Michael froze. “You didn’t choose to snack on any campers by any chance?”
A wicked grin spread across Sloan’s face, and he remained silent.
“Sloan,” Michael growled.
Sloan chuckled. “Relax, no humans were harmed. Okay, I’ll admit it, I followed you to make sure no one witnessed your little night flight.”
“Thanks, but I’m always careful. You’re the reckless one, remember?”
Sloan’s eyes narrowed. “Screw you, Michael. I’ve managed to keep what we are a secret just as well as you have.” He huffed. “You’ve had your fun, and I’ve had mine. Let’s go home, shall we? I need some shut eye before practice tomorrow.”
“Yeah, let’s go,” Michael agreed.
Both men strolled casually through the Colorado woods, at ease in the night. The area was their usual nightly playground. They could hunt smaller animals with a low risk of discovery.
***
“Mr. Carrington, don’t you think it’s time for me to start getting more serious assignments? No, that won’t work.” Clearing her throat, Rachel Forbes tried again. “Mr. Carrington, I have been with this paper for one year. It’s time I started getting more serious assignments. No, I demand that I get more serious assignments.” Rachel stared at herself in the mirror, putting on her fiercest expression.
She let out a groan. Who was she kidding? There was no way she could walk into her boss’s office and make demands. She didn’t have the balls. Her shoulders sagged in defeat.
“I’m going to be stuck writing the damn advice column forever,” she grumbled. Scowling at herself in the mirror, she huffed. She didn’t work her ass off for the four years of her journalism degree to write the advice column. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“I’m going to do it,” she declared. Luckily, no one else was in the ladies room to witness her talking to herself. She straightened her jacket and flipped her shoulder length black hair. Turning, she marched to the door and yanked it open.
Rachel walked at a brisk pace down the corridor to her boss’s office. The closer she got to Mr. Carrington’s office, the more her courage seeped away. By the time she reached his door, self-doubt had presented itself completely.
“Damn it,” she hissed, walking past the door. She headed to her office, cursing herself for being a coward. Rachel plopped down in her chair to stare at her computer. “Well, I guess the advice column isn’t too bad.”
“You need to get out of the habit of talking to yourself, Ray.”
Rachel glanced up with a smile at the sound of the familiar voice. “Hey, Oliver. Now that you’re here I don’t need to talk to myself. Sit, talk to me, save me from myself.”
Oliver James took a seat in front of her desk and crossed his legs. He flicked back the lock of burgundy hair that had fallen over his eye. “What are you bummed about this time?”
“My entire life,” Rachel replied dismally.
“Oh, don’t be so melodramatic.”
Rachel sighed. “I’m serious, Oliver. My life isn’t where I thought it would be.”
Oliver gave her a sympathetic look. He leaned forward. “Tell Aunty Oliver about it, honey.”
Rachel’s brows shot up in amusement. He always told her he was born the wrong gender. She sighed and commenced the whining. “I want to be free of this damn cubicle and the advice column. I didn’t get my degree to give sex advice to desperate housewives, for goodness sake. I can’t even get my own love life together. I don’t have a boyfriend, yet I’m giving relationship advice.” She sat back in her chair and huffed.
Oliver shook his head. “Well, complaining about work and your love life isn’t going to help. It’s up to you to take action. Get your cute ass up, march into that old fart’s office and request a change. As for the boyfriend part, you need to put yourself out there.” He paused. “If I didn’t swing the other way, I would totally do you, sweet thing. That chocolate skin of yours and those big brown eyes are everything.”
Rachel snickered. “You always manage to cheer me up, Oliver. You’re awesome. What would I do without you?”
“Crash and burn,” he drawled, studying his well-manicured nails.
“You’re probably right,” she murmured. “You’re also right about me going to Mr. Carrington. Even if I get turned down flat, at least I tried. Right?”
Oliver nodded solemnly. “Right you are, sister.”
Rachel hesitated for a few seconds, nibbling her lower lip. Carpe diem. She pushed her chair back and got up. “I’m doing it this time.”
“That’s my girl. Go,” Oliver cheered on.
Rachel found herself in front of her boss’s door for the second time that morning. She knocked quickly, before she could chicken out again.
“Who is it?” The gruff, raspy voice called.
“Er, Rachel.”
“Come in.” She pushed the door open and stepped in with a gulp. Henry Carrington looked up. “Ah, Forbes. Just the person I wanted to see. Have a seat.” He pointed to the chair in front of his desk.
Rachel’s brows elevated. “Um, o-okay. Thanks.” Had she done something wrong? Oh no, I’m going to get fired. She tried to calm her nerves and keep her composure.
Mr. Carrington pinned her with shrewd blue eyes. “It’s time for you to move on from the advice column, Forbes. You would like to write more serious pieces, wouldn’t you?”
Her eyes widened a fraction. She nearly looked upward with a smile. It seemed the big guy upstairs was doing her a favor. “Um, yes.”
“Good. I’ve got something for you.”
Well, that was easy. Okay, maybe my life doesn’t suck that much, after all. If her luck held up for the rest of the day, maybe she would find a man by tonight. “Fantastic. Is it an interview with a public figure? Will I be covering the opening of the new school?” She couldn’t wait to hear what it was.
Mr. Carrington smiled slightly. “None of the above. You’ll be doing an article on Michael Pryce.”
She stared at him blankly. “Er, okay. I’m not familiar with him.” Was it someone she was supposed to know? She felt daft all of a sudden.
“He is an up and coming NFL star, Forbes. Don’t you keep up with sports? He plays for the Broncos.”
Rachel’s heart dropped. Sports? What the hell did she know about the field? The only sport she took part in was walking to her kitchen to get snacks. “B-but I- are you sure I’m the right person for the job? Maybe something in politics would suit me better.”
Mr. Carrington huffed. “Look, Forbes, I don’t have time for the debate. The usual sports writer is on vacation, and I have no one else to do it. You’re my last resort. Either you take it or get back to your office to give some ladies advice.”
The last resort? Well, don’t you know how to make a girl feel special? Jerk. Mr. Carrington continued, “What will it be, Forbes? You know, filling in for the sports column could mean a better post for you here in the future. Prove your versatility and the advice column will be a thing of the past. That is what you want, isn’t it?”
Of course it was what she wanted. There was no way she could refuse now, not with the promise of a promotion. She forced out a smile. “Yes, I’ll write the best darn piece about Michael-er- the football guy. Sports is great. I just love the MFL.”
“NFL.”
“That’s what I meant.”
“Good, you can head down to the stadium tomorrow. Mr. Pryce will be expecting you.”
Rachel smiled, got up and backed out of the office. “Alright. Thank you, sir.” Once on the other side of the door, her smile dropped along with her spirit. “The freaking sports column?” She strolled back to her office, no cubicle. Could she pull off a sports piece? She had no idea. But she had to make it fantastic so her skills could finally be recognized. If doing one measly article on a sports star was what it took to rise to the top, she sure as hell was going to pull it off.