Tornado_A Paranormal Romance Read online

  A checklist followed, where Seph had to mark his personal preferences, interests, and other random facts. Be honest, he told himself, when he found himself hesitating over the question “Do you have difficulty making decisions?” He remembered his brother telling him he spent too much time analyzing everything. That habit had always made him cautious, never one to rush in. Does wanting to weigh all your options carefully mean ‘difficult?’

  He finished the questionnaire and returned it to the receptionist. “Thank you, Mr. Vovin,” she said, glancing at the chart for his name. “I’ll give this to our coordinator to look over, and then she’ll call you back for a one-on-one interview.” She stood and motioned to a table with a single-cup coffee maker in the corner. “Please help yourself to a refreshment while you wait. There’s also a selection of bottled waters and juices in the mini-fridge below.”

  “Thank you,” Seph said. He watched her go before wandering over to the coffee maker. Selecting one of the white ceramic cups stacked beside it, he perused the flavors before opting for one of his favorites. With steaming mug in hand, he strolled around, looking at the paintings and thumbing through the various magazines on the glass tables. He found a stack of pamphlets about Wings of Love and took one. The lilac-colored, tri-fold paper had the logo on the front and the company’s catchphrase, ‘Where happiness and harmony take flight!’ Seph sighed and shook his head. “God,” he muttered under his breath, “what am I doing, here?”

  “Mr. Vovin?”

  Seph turned around and saw a beautiful, curvaceous woman standing in the doorway to the back offices. Her skin had the same dark brown hue as his coffee, a lovely contrast to the form-fitting peach dress she wore. She smiled at him and offered a hand with manicured nails painted like Mother of Pearl. “Hello,” she said, her voice low and husky. “I’m Asha Hamilton. Welcome to Wings of Love. How can I help you?”

  Seph set his coffee down and moved toward her. His fingers curled around hers as he clasped her palm. Immediately, he found her touch to be cool, soft, and pleasant. “Hello, Ms. Hamilton,” he said, returning her smile. He knew that some Humans had trouble making eye contact with Dragons; Asha did not seem to have this problem. He looked into her dark brown eyes as she gave his hand a brief but firm squeeze. “And to answer your question – well.” He shrugged. “I need a wife.”

  Asha grinned. “You’ve come to the right place, then,” she said. She jerked her head, her long thin braids swaying across her rounded shoulders. “Come on in, and we’ll discuss this further.”

  He followed her back through a short hall, past a few doors – some closed – to a cozy room at the end. Seph found it reminded him somewhat of his own office, with an inviting, comfortable sofa and two armchairs set up facing it, a decorative area rug, and aesthetically pleasing décor consisting of vases, small statues, and framed art on the walls. Sunlight poured through the vertical blinds on the windows overlooking the small city park Seph had noticed when he first arrived at the address.

  “All right, Mr. Vovin,” Asha said, as she sat down on the sofa and reached for a laptop on the coffee table in front of her. “Or would you prefer I call you by your first name?”

  “’Seph’ is fine,” he replied, settling in next to her when she indicated he should join her. He watched as she opened the computer and tapped the screen. The gold bracelet on her wrist caught the light as she moved, reflecting off the colorful gems set inside the charms dangling from it. Birthstones, he surmised, judging by the way they had been arranged in order of correlating month. He gestured to the jewelry. “That’s a very pretty bracelet. Do those stones represent your children?”

  Asha chuckled. “I guess it’s true how they say Dragons are attracted to gold,” she remarked, peering at him sideways in a playful manner. “I know it looks like a mother’s bracelet, but it actually represents the women in my family.” She paused to hold up her wrist and flick through the charms. “The amethyst is my mother, who was born in February; the diamond is me, because I was born in April. Two emeralds are for May and my sisters who are twins. And the topaz is my late grandmother, who had a November birthday.” She smiled. “I carry them in my heart, of course, but this is just another way of having them with me. Every time I look at it, I think of them.”

  “That’s a very nice way to honor your loved ones,” Seph said. “Family is as important to you as it is to Dragons.”

  “That it is,” she agreed. “Now, Seph – I went over your application. We’re going to need to get a DNA swab so we can find your genetic matches first and foremost. These will be the women who will be able to bear your children.”

  “Got it,” Seph said, trying not to feel like an animal in a breeding program. “What else?”

  “After that, we’ll also take photos and video, where you can introduce yourself and let prospective Human women see and hear you. This isn’t just about making babies – although we all know that’s the main reason why people come to us.” Asha paused and sat back, hands folded in her lap. “I founded Wings of Love for a Dragon friend of mine, someone who was like a brother to me. He would always talk about how hard it was for his kind to find mates capable of having a family. My late grandmother was an old-fashioned matchmaker back in her day, pairing up Human folks.” She shrugged. “So, I thought, ‘maybe I should follow in her footsteps, and help Dragons and Humans get together.’” She gestured around the room. “And here I am. Wings of Love is one of the most successful Dragon/Human dating services in the country. We’re not only responsible for many happy couples finding one another, we’re also helping the Dragon race to flourish.”

  Seph smiled at her. “That’s why I’m here,” he said. “My father told me and my brothers that it was time to settle down and make heirs. His grandfather had come from that generation where Dragons almost died out completely, and would always tell Father about it when he was a boy, stressing to him the importance of having at least one male in a clutch.” He chuckled. “Father got lucky and sired five. But now he’s pressuring us to continue the family line – and you know, I can see his reasoning. I’ve given it some thought and I’ve started to realize that maybe I should settle down. I counsel Dragon and Human couples, and some of them have families of their own, and there are days when I listen to them share stories about their children that I start to feel…” He trailed off, searching for the word.

  “In the mood for a brood?” Asha supplied, and they both laughed. “Oh, Seph – I know what you mean. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard the same thing from my clients. There comes a time in every Dragon’s life when he feels the urgency to have a family; when he wants to help bring his eggs into the world, and open them up, and release those sweet little bundles of joy nestled inside.” She patted Seph’s knee. “You’re starting to feel that, too, and it’s a good thing. The women who come to us are just as eager to get started. It’s as if the genetic component within them that allows them to bear Dragon children knows. Mother Nature has set that old Biological Clock inside them, and they hear it ticking, telling them to get ready.”

  “So, after you get all the information you need,” Seph said, “what happens, next? How long does it take to find someone for me?”

  “Well, once we have your genetic results, we run them through the computer system and the program flags every woman who would be a good match for you. We then sort them by personality, mutual interests, until we have a nice list.” She reached for the laptop again, and pulled up a list of couples who had been matched successfully. “Typically, you would then go out on dates with these women – one at a time, of course – and once you’ve met them and had a chance to spend some time together, you’re both expected to fill out a review and give your opinion. We then narrow it down to the highest scores on both sides, and voila! You’ve got your mate.” Asha smiled at him. “So, is this something you would still like to do?”

  Seph nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Yes, this sounds good. I’d like to give it a try.”

&n
bsp; “All right, then.” Asha got up and ran her hands down over her full hips, smoothing her skirt. “We’ll get that swab from you, now, and then if you’re up to it, we can take some photos and do an introductory video for your profile page. Oh, and so you know – all this information is kept confidential within our company’s private database. We will not share anything without your consent.” She nodded to the laptop. “The couples I’ve shown to you today all agreed to let their stories be used, to demonstrate that our method works.”

  “I’m not worried about that,” Seph assured her. He stood up, too, and faced her. “Let’s get started.”

  Chapter Three

  It took another month before the results came back. Seph soon found himself with a list of potential mates. They all looked good on paper, so he watched all of the corresponding videos on the Wings of Love website through a private account he set up with the company as part of his membership. He picked one prospect at random and sent her an email, asking to meet somewhere for coffee on his next day off. The woman had been quick to respond, and agreed to join him at a café on the city’s north side the following week.

  Winter had begun to draw ever closer, bringing with it colder temperatures. All the beautiful autumn foliage that had colored the city’s trees with bright yellows and scarlet now lay in damp, brown clumps along the gutters of every street. Like most Dragons with European origins, Seph enjoyed the chilly months, and looked forward to the first snowfall that would turn the world a pristine white. Although a lot can be said for curling up in front of a nice, warm fireplace, he thought. He sat at a window table at the appointed time and place, and watched the pedestrian traffic outside the coffee shop. For his first date, he had chosen a pair of light wool slacks, a black turtleneck, and a tweed coat, looking like he should be standing in front of a university classroom.

  His shoulders straightened when he saw her arrive. Seph recognized her from her dating profile: a tall, willowy dentist in her mid-thirties, she stepped out of a taxi and tossed her long, knit scarf over her shoulder before making her way toward the shop’s door. Putting on a cheerful smile, he held up a hand to signal her and then rose to greet her when she came to the table. “Crystal? Hi, I’m Seph.”

  “Yeah, I know,” she said, her laughter light and almost musical. She matched Seph’s height with just the slightest wedge heel to her boots. She had a narrow face, a slender nose, and sleepy, sultry blue eyes. Her mouth curled up at one corner when she smiled. “Sorry I’m late.” She unbuttoned her long coat and removed it, along with her scarf and hat, giving her thick hair a quick shake as it cascaded around her shoulders in luxurious, wheat-colored waves. “I had an emergency with a cracked molar that needed filling.”

  Our children will look like Norse gods, Seph thought, admiring her high cheekbones and fair skin. Towering, golden-maned things with blue eyes. “Sounds painful,” he remarked.

  “Nothing a little local anesthesia and a lot of painkillers can’t cure,” Crystal joked. She draped her wraps over one of the vacant chairs before settling in the seat opposite Seph. “And right before him, I was putting braces on a little girl who has a little phobia when it comes to visiting the dentist.”

  Seph chuckled. “I’ve had clients like that,” he said. “In my case, they’re afraid to open their mouths to share their feelings.” He looked around and caught the attention of one of the waitresses moving among the other tables, signaling her to come over. “I’m glad you agreed to meet me, here. I thought we could start with coffee and if things go well, maybe move on to a nice restaurant for dinner.”

  “Isn’t that a little backwards, though?” Crystal asked, planting her elbows on the table and lacing her long fingers together under her chin. She arched a fine eyebrow at him. “Most people start with dinner and then have coffee afterwards.”

  “Yes, well,” Seph said, “I like to mix things up.”

  “Hm, that’s nice,” Crystal said, looking him over. “It appeals to my desire to keep things fresh and come at situations from different angles.”

  “So I gathered from your profile,” Seph said. “That’s one of the things about you that I liked, the fact that you respect routine but that you also like to challenge it from time to time.” They took a moment to order their drinks; Crystal went with a sugar-free mocha frap with a double shot of espresso, while Seph settled on a chai latte. “I also noticed that you’ve been a member of Wings of Love for over a year, and that you had actually met someone when you first joined and quit the program, but after a few months you came back.” He gave her a quizzical frown. “If you don’t mind my asking, what happened with that?”

  “Oh, nothing,” Crystal said, leaning back in her chair and waving a hand in a dismissive manner. “We were compatible on the genetic level – the same as you and I – and we had a lot in common in other areas, too…but…” She sighed and shook her head. “After three months of dating, I realized it just wasn’t going to work out.”

  Seph noticed the immediate change in her body language, how she had shifted from open and forthcoming to self-conscious and withdrawn. This intrigued him. Cocking his head, he pressed gently for more information. “How so?”

  She looked down at the table and then around the room, classic evasiveness, before giving a reluctant response. “Alex was very…complicated. He was very sensitive, and his artistic soul spoke to me. Likewise, he said he admired my stability and level-headedness.” Their drinks arrived and she murmured her thanks to the waitperson. Instead of tasting her frap, she wrapped her hands around the cup and stared down into the frothy cream floating on top of its hot, liquid contents. “As much as I admired his Bohemian lifestyle, I told him if we were going to be together that he would have to get a serious job.”

  “Ah,” Seph said, nodding. “You know, that’s one of the main problems in most relationships – not just Dragon and Human, but all couples. Financial security is a serious concern. I have clients with a two- and even three-income household, just to make ends meet. Usually, they’re the ones with multiple clutches of children, but I know a few who had just two eggs and are struggling. Unless one partner has a good-paying job, it’s difficult to survive in today’s economy on just one paycheck.”

  “I know!” Crystal said. “And that’s what I tried to tell him.” She grimaced. “But I wound up insulting him, instead, and said a few things in anger that I didn’t mean.”

  “Did you ever apologize?” Seph asked, looking at her directly.

  Crystal could not hold his gaze for long; she looked away. “No,” she muttered, sounding defeated. “The problem is that I don’t know how. So many times, I’ve wanted to call and talk to him.” Her hands curled into fists and she pressed them to her heart. “I just…I felt such an instant connection to him.”

  Seph smiled. He knew what that meant, as he had heard it enough in his line of work. “You were already bonding with him, when this happened.”

  “Yes,” Crystal said. “Even if we never got back together, I still feel like I should clear the air with him.” She sighed. “But I’m sure he hates me.” She let out a bemused snort. “You know what’s funny? Right after we broke it off, I got my own practice. I’m now doing very well for myself. But at the time, I couldn’t see how we were going to start a family with just my salary to support us while he spent all his time painting.”

  Seph leaned back in his seat and tilted his head. “Do you know what I’m hearing, Crystal? I hope you won’t think this too presumptuous of me, but I think you’re still in love with Alex.”

  She looked startled at this. “What? No…”

  “Yes,” Seph insisted. “I can hear it in your voice. You still speak of him with genuine fondness and deep regret.” He pointed at her. “I believe you really do want to patch things up with him, that you bonded with him more than you realize – or maybe you do realize it, and that’s why you’re just going through the motions of finding someone new. You don’t want just any man; you want a Dragon. But I can tell y
ou right now, you may find someone who is genetically suited to you, but you will never find anyone who connects with you the way Alex did. Your best bet is just to swallow your pride and go to him, apologize, and then see if he’s willing to put this matter in the past.” Seph rested his elbows on the table and gave her a warm smile. “Personally, I’m willing to bet he’s been just as unhappy as you are, too.”

  Crystal appeared to consider this before choosing her next words. “Well…I did hear from a mutual friend, about two months ago, who told me that Alex had stopped painting and found a nine-to-five job. She said that he was miserable, though.” Crystal swept her hair back from her face with both hands and gripped the top of her head, her eyes going wide as another realization struck her. “Oh, God – you don’t think it’s because of what I said to him, do you?”

  Seph shrugged. “Possibly. But that’s not your fault. He made that decision on his own.”

  “But I put the idea into his head,” Crystal insisted. She groaned in dismay. “I never wanted him to give up his art! That would kill him! And I would never expect him to get a job that he hated!” She brought her hands down over her face. “Oh, shit. What have I done?”

  Before Seph could assure her – again – that she was not to blame, Crystal had pushed her chair back, gotten up, and began to gather her things. “Where are you going?” he asked, surprised.

  “I have to see Alex,” she replied bluntly. Shrugging into her coat, she looped her scarf around her long neck. Her hat fell on the floor and she bent to retrieve it. Looking at Seph, she shook her head. “I’m sorry about this, I really am. I know we were supposed to hook up, but you’re right – about everything. I am still in love with Alex. I’ve been trying to deny it for months, and yet I know once a bond is formed with a Dragon…that’s it.” She pulled her purse around and fished inside until she produced a wallet. “I need to make things right with him. He can’t give up his painting. He’s a brilliant artist; that’s one of the things I loved about him the instant I met him. I never wanted that for him, and no matter what you or anyone else says, I feel like this is my fault.”