I Dream of Dragons (Boston Dragons) Read Online Free PDF Page A

tablecloths and happy diners. Mismatched bone china was set on the tables, but everything meshed in a cohesive design. Flickering candles helped illuminate the room, which added to the relaxing ambience.
    A young woman with blond-highlighted hair greeted her. “Will you be having lunch?”
    “I’m supposed to be meeting someone, but I’d love to order tea and a scone while I’m waiting.”
    The hostess swiveled back toward the cash register where a very pregnant brunette was standing. “Is this the lady you’re looking for, Bliss?” she asked.
    “Oh!” Amber said. “I probably should have asked for her by name since I was told… Never mind. Yes, I’m looking for her. I’m Amber,” she babbled.
    The brunette’s smile and graceful walk, despite her advanced pregnancy, should have put Amber at ease, but knowing she was meeting a minor goddess had her more on edge than she’d realized. She mentally rolled her eyes at herself. She had met Mother freakin’ Nature. Why should a minor goddess scare her?
    Bliss surprised her with a warm hug…or as close as she could get to one.
    “Nice to meet you, Amber. It’s funny…”
    “What’s funny?”
    “Your hair matches your name. It’s Amber.”
    “Oh.” She chuckled. “Yes, I guess it does.”
    “Let’s sit in the back.” Bliss hooked a hand around Amber’s elbow and swept her over to an empty table in an out-of-the-way back corner.
    Now Amber was nervous again.
    “There’s no need to be nervous,” Bliss said.
    “How did you know… Oh, never mind. You probably know everything about me.”
    Bliss raised her pretty, perfectly matched brows. “I know almost nothing about you. Here. Sit and make yourself comfortable. I heard you wanted tea and a scone. I’ll get us some. Any kind in particular?”
    “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can wait.”
    “I can’t. I’m starving,” Bliss said. “Besides, I used to work here. They think nothing of me going to the kitchen and serving myself.”
    “Oh. Well, then, I’m not picky.”
    “Okay. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
    While the minor goddess was gone, Amber tried to mentally shake herself. A muse giving her a hug and waiting on her wasn’t at all what she’d expected, but how would she know what to expect? Try to relax, Amber. She felt like a pile of nerve endings, all crackling and snapping at the same time .
    A few moments later, Bliss returned with a tray. She set two plates of blueberry scones and a pot of fragrant tea on the table between them.
    Amber tried to appear nonchalant, which was sort of the opposite of how she felt. “So…”
    Bliss smiled. “So I imagine you have some questions.”
    Amber laughed nervously. “I do, but I don’t even know what they are yet. Thank you for taking the time to see me though.”
    Bliss waved away the polite nonsense. “I was excited to hear that Brandee had someone to recommend for the job. Gaia has been nagging the… Well,” She lowered her voice and leaned closer. “I shouldn’t speak out of turn, but the Goddess of All isn’t very patient.”
    Amber snorted. You think? “I’m glad I’m meeting you, because I was told you refused the muse job at first. Mother Nature said I’d regret it if I refused. Why is that? Did she do something awful to you?”
    “Oh, heck no. She might sound threatening, but she’s a pussycat, not the monster she wants you to believe she is. But just FYI, you probably shouldn’t piss her off. She might whip up a blizzard just to prove a point.”
    “But winter is over.”
    “Exactly.”
    “She can do that?”
    “She’s Mother Nature. She can do pretty much anything she wants.”
    “That’s frightening.”
    “Tell me about it.”
    Amber tried to get her heart rate under control again. “So is that why you refused?”
    Bliss cringed sheepishly. “No. She doesn’t scare me—anymore. I guess I’m not the most forward-thinking person sometimes. My husband is a firefighter, and there’s a whole bunch more