My Name is Rapunzel(57)

“You might be right.” I giggled nervously and looked off in the distance, toward town. If all went well, then I could go to town for the next five years without a problem. But what if someone did recognize me? Then what? My hands shook.

“Rapunzel, you're beautiful and unforgettable. I'll never forget you, that's for sure.”

“Unforgettable is basically the same as recognizable. If I'm unforgettable, as you say, someone could…” I wiped a stray tear away. Why did I let myself get so emotional?

“Someone could recognize you?” He whispered, finishing my sentence. I nodded in agreement. “Don't you worry your pretty little head about a thing. I'll be next to you the entire time, not leaving your side even for a moment. Besides, most people recognize me from the newspaper and I don't mind being the center of attention.” Out of nowhere, he lifted my hand and kissed it, just like a true gentleman. He held my hand close to his lips, waiting for my answer. I felt strange about this closeness.

What should a lady do when a handsome man kisses her hand? I supposed I should—

A loud roar sounded in the distance.

The dragon.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN




“What was that sound?” He startled, releasing my hands. His eyes searched the darkening sky.

“I need to go. You need to go, now! Hurry!” I said, trying to push him toward his car. We were in the open. Did the dragon see us? Did he see John kiss my hand? “It's dark! I'm not supposed to be out after dark. I told you that.” I needed to get back to the castle fast. I needed to light a candle.

He refused to budge. Stubborn man. “It isn't a wolf. I know the sound of a wolf or coyote very well.” He searched the space around us. The roaring grew closer.

There he was. I spotted the dark figure above the tree line, in the sky. I had told John about the dragon, but I wasn’t sure he was ready to actually see it. Besides, I wasn’t sure what the dragon would do seeing me with a stranger. If he hadn’t already.

The dragon was flying just above us now. I had to do something.

“What is that thing?” John ducked his head as he pointed at the dragon. Had he really not been listening to a single word I'd been saying to him?

“You need to leave! Now!” I said, trying to push him toward his car again. Why wouldn't he move?

“Seriously, Rapunzel, you can't honestly believe…” His words were cut off when I pulled him toward me and kissed him. Maybe that would distract him. The dragon swooped down close enough for us to hear his low growl of disapproval, but John was lost in our kiss. I had sworn I would never kiss another man, but there I was, kissing John.

The dragon was angry. He was, for all purposes, my protector. But even so, I’d never seen him this close before. He was beautiful. I wanted to reach out and comfort him. Tell him everything would be all right. But would it?

The dragon flew toward the castle and circled around my tower, indicating I should be inside. I never meant to upset him. I really needed to go.

I gently pulled away from the kiss. Though I didn’t want to.

John’s eyes were wide. “I'm not sure what that was for,” he grinned. “But I really enjoyed it.” John placed both his hands on the sides of my face and kissed me again.

This was entirely my fault. Why had I kissed him in the first place? Oh, yeah, so he wouldn't get a good look at the dragon. It might have been better if he had. I couldn’t deny that his lips had felt wonderful and that his kiss rekindled old memories.

John slowly pulled away and looked at me with promise. Could I ever dream of a future with him? No, that wouldn't be possible. It could never happen.

“Promise me, you won't say anything about the…anything about the kiss. Our kiss, that is.”

“Who would I tell? Besides, nobody would care.” He pulled me close to his body in an embrace.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “It's time for you to leave.”

He grabbed both my hands again and the dragon roared in the distance, but he ignored the sound. “Let me take you to town on Wednesday. Please? I'm not leaving until you say yes.” He wasn't moving. He was either crazy or stupid, but then again, he didn't know a huge threat loomed above my tower and that threat was an angry dragon.

“Yes, all right. Pick me up around noon.” I just wanted him to leave.

“Great! It's a date. See you then.”

What had I done? I had angered the dragon, kissed a guy I barely knew, and apparently agreed to go on a date. I should never have written that first letter.

The dragon called like a mother standing on a front porch at dusk.

I ran the whole way back to the castle. I’d hurry to my room and light my candle. Then I could think about John and my date.