Cherry: Dragon Isles, #2

By Shelley Munro

Love is a mystery, but dragons are real.

 

Cherry is gutted when her friend Liza disappears, presumed drowned. She has no time to mourn, however, since she must keep Liza's daughter safe from Liza's ex. Cherry sneaks away to Holy Island, where she meets a big, sexy, tattooed man washed up on the beach. A big, sexy, deluded man since he insists he's a dragon.

 

Accused of a crime he didn't commit, Martinos has escaped the dungeon only to wash up on the mainland. Returning to the Dragon Isles is not his most immediate problem, though, since his dragon is bound, and he cannot shift.

 

Unlucky in love, Cherry is surprised when Martinos returns her growing lust and camaraderie. While the man has a flawed mind, he's excellent with Liza's daughter and not one of Cherry's internal alarms ping. With Martinos, her life is stimulating, and she's falling for him. Then, everything she thought she understood about dragons pops like a balloon, and her real adventure begins.

 

You will love this second book in the Dragon Isles trilogy because it introduces a courageous and curvy human, a sexy dragon suffering through hell through no fault of his own, and an unfamiliar world full of mystery, magic, and mayhem. Plus one or two dragon-caused incidents when tempers race out of control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelley Munro
• Release date: Oct 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9780995139510

Shelley Munro

  Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads. A treasure hunter who is skilled with weapons, she's currently filming a TV series based on her world adventures. Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination who lives in New Zealand with her husband and a naughty puppy.

Book preview

CHERRY, DRAGON ISLES 2

Shelley Munro

Table of Contents

Introduction

1 – Liza Disappears and Cherry Flees

2 – Freedom—Feel the Wind in My Beard

3 – Escape to Holy Island

4 – Dragon Overboard

5 – He Thinks He’s a Dragon

6 – Dragon Trapped in a Human Body

7 – Time For a Disguise

8 – Temptation Tiptoes into the Room

9 – Of Beer and Burps

10 – Hard Chest. Warm Arms. Sexy Times

11 – Holy Island Happenings

12 – The Dragon Seizes Control

13 – A Power Struggle

14 – The Reunion

15 – The Best-Laid Plans

Want More Cherry?

Afterword

About Shelley

Shelley’s Titles

Copyright Page

Introduction

Love is a mystery, but dragons are real.

Cherry is gutted when her friend Liza disappears, presumed drowned. She has no time to mourn, however, since she must keep Liza’s daughter safe from Liza’s ex. Cherry sneaks away to Holy Island, where she meets a big, sexy, tattooed man washed up on the beach. A big, sexy, deluded man since he insists he’s a dragon.

Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Martinos has escaped the dungeon only to wash up on the mainland. Returning to the Dragon Isles is not his most immediate problem, though, since his dragon is bound, and he cannot shift.

Unlucky in love, Cherry is surprised when Martinos returns her growing lust and camaraderie. While the man has a flawed mind, he’s excellent with Liza’s daughter and not one of Cherry’s internal alarms ping. With Martinos, her life is stimulating, and she’s falling for him. Then, everything she thought she understood about dragons pops like a balloon, and her real adventure begins.

You will love this second book in the Dragon Isles trilogy because it introduces a courageous and curvy human, a sexy dragon suffering through hell through no fault of his own, and an unfamiliar world full of mystery, magic, and mayhem. Plus one or two dragon-caused incidents when tempers race out of control.

1 - Liza Disappears and Cherry Flees

Cherry Lawford grinned as she listened to Liza Carrington rave over the panoramic view. Her best friend was driving along the coast after a trip to interview a couple in a small Northumberland village.

I have the top down, and the wind is blowing in my hair. It’s such a gorgeous day. I can see Lindisfarne in the distance. You know—Holy Island. We should visit the island one day soon. Liza’s voice sounded distant because she was using her speakerphone while driving.

We can have a Tony-free weekend since the crossing over to the island depends on the tide. Imagine. Any drama will be of our own making.

And here I am stuck in the bookstore, Cherry said.

You love your books and your store, Liza countered, her affectionate tone curving Cherry’s lips to another smile. It’s one of my favorite places too.

I’m up for a weekend trip. Mum won’t mind filling in for me for two days. You’re right. We deserve a break from your ex. I can’t believe the dick move he pulled at Joanna’s school.

I’m not surprised. Liza blew out a frustrated sigh, her irritation transparent even though they couldn’t see each other. Tony is escalating after I categorically refused to pay him off. I mean, if I cave and give him cash, what’s stopping him from approaching me for more in six months? He wasn’t capable of holding onto money during our marriage. I doubt he’s changed.

Why won’t he sign the divorce papers? I don’t get it, Cherry said.

He lives to mess up my life, Liza said, this time her tone one of defeat. I—popsicles!

What’s happening? What’s wrong? Cherry demanded at the awed note in her friend’s voice. Liza, talk to me.

The next second, Liza screamed. The screech of metal against metal squealed down the phone line. Alarm roared through Cherry, a burst of adrenaline, and her pulse raced in a gallop.

Liza? What’s happening? Liza!

Their call cut off without warning, and through her panic, Cherry saw spots in front of her eyes. She disconnected to still the beep-beep-beep of her phone and redialed Liza.

Nothing happened.

The phone rang and rang and rang.

Liza didn’t answer.

Cherry gripped her phone, staring at the screen and willing it to sing in her Robin Hood ringtone. A businessman wove through her store seating area and placed a bestselling novel and a self-help book on the counter. She rang up the sale and sent the customer on his way with a forced smile.

Cherry locked the door of her bookstore and flipped the open sign to closed. That done, she darted to her phone and called Rena, Liza’s half-sister.

What’s up? Rena asked, her mind obviously elsewhere.

Liza! I was talking to her. She screamed, and it sounded as if she crashed. I tried calling, but the phone is dead on her end.

Where was she? Rena sounded more alert.

Heading back from her last dragon interview. She drove the coast road to enjoy the sun and sea breeze.

Call emergency services while I collect Joanna from school. Rena snapped out instructions in her usual take-charge way.

What about Tony?

I spoke with the headmistress. She’s watching Joanna until I arrive. The headmistress told me to park in the rear staff car park.

All right. Bring Joanna here. If Tony is pissed, he’ll loiter at Liza’s cottage. He won’t come here straightaway, and by that time, we might’ve heard from Liza.

Have a pot of tea waiting, Rena ordered. I’m not sleeping well. Weird dreams.

You can tell me when you get here, Cherry said. I’ll ring Liza again before I contact the cops.

Cherry disconnected, and her hand shook as she tried Liza’s phone. Nothing. Someone knocked on the door, but Cherry ignored her prospective customer and rang emergency services, a coldness prickling across her skin and tears smarting her eyes.

It’s my friend, she said. She’s had an accident.

An hour later, she opened her shop door to Rena and Joanna and led the way up the stairs to the second level and to the compact kitchen. While she was waiting for news—any news—she’d made sandwiches and arranged biscuits on a plate. She boiled the kettle and poured the water into her china teapot.

Joanna, a glass of milk today, or do you prefer juice?

Milk, please, Aunt Cherry.

As always, Joanna’s sweet voice calling her Aunt mushed Cherry’s insides and tightened an invisible band around her chest. She’d always wanted children. Her fiancé hadn’t. Cherry had hoped to change his mindset, but he’d stood firm.

Shoving away the past, she reached for a glass and filled it with milk.

There you go, poppet. How was school today?

Bradley pulled my ponytail.

Rena rolled her eyes. Do boys still do that shi…ah, stuff?

He had scissors, Joanna informed her aunt, full of indignation. Mrs. Canter shouted at him.

Cherry restrained her inappropriate grin. I hope he got a detention.

Joanna’s head bobbed, setting her ponytail in motion. A big one. His best friend, too. Sam got in trouble for pushing Evelyn. Her knees were bleeding.

Rena rolled her eyes, a tsking sound whistling through her teeth. What is wrong with parents these days? They’re raising little monsters. She helped herself to a sandwich and bit with an appreciative moan. Yum! Ham and mustard. My favorite.

Cherry stared at her watch. The police constable had promised to contact her by four. It was after that now. She rose on shaky legs. Back in a few minutes. I have to make a call. And hear excellent news. She crossed her fingers, before glancing at Rena and trying to communicate everything she felt and feared in that one look. We’ll talk then.

Amid her bookshelves—the self-help section and the top one hundred fiction—Cherry worked her throat, a stupid lump damming her voice. She hit return call.

Police Constable Merrick speaking.

Yes, it’s Cherry Lawford here. You told me to ring you for news of my friend.

The constable took an audible breath. Ms. Lawford, you indicated your friend drove a red car. We’ve discovered a broken roadside railing and flakes of red paint.

Cherry pressed her free hand to her chest and leaned against a shelf to bolster her shaky knees. Liza?

I’ve called in a dive team from the nearest town. The wind is whipping up the waves, and the conditions have deteriorated this afternoon. The divers will investigate first thing in the morning. He paused, the pregnant silence full of kindness and unspoken sympathy. I’m sorry the news isn’t better.

A sob burst from Cherry. W-where…um…did my friend…the accident happen?

I’m sorry, the policeman said.

Where on the coastal road?

Close to the Lindisfarne causeway, the constable said.

I…thank you. You’ll ring if—

The moment we have information, the constable promised.

Thanks, she whispered, unable to push out another word. She disconnected, and tears shrouded her vision. She sniffed and knuckled away the moisture.

Keep yourself together.

No point in upsetting Joanna. Not yet.

Mask your emotions. You can do this. For Liza and Joanna. She brushed away a tear that spilled onto her cheek and shuffled up the stairs and back to the small kitchenette, immeasurably older under the ominous burden.

Cartoon voices spilled from the television in her snug, and Rena appeared in the doorway.

I know you don’t approve of television for kids, but I’m going crazy with not knowing what’s happening. Did the police find Liza?

Cherry shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

Tell me everything from the beginning, Rena demanded.

Cherry sniffed and reached for a tissue from a travel packet she kept in her handbag. I was talking to Liza, and she told me she was driving along the coast road. In the middle of our conversation, she saw something, then screamed. The local cop checked the road. He didn’t locate Liza but discovered a spot where a vehicle had breached the guardrail. They found flakes of red paint. She swallowed hard. He didn’t say it, but he implied Liza drove off the cliff.

Any sign of her car? Rena’s poker face signaled she didn’t care and was merely showing polite interest. Cherry knew better.

A dive team is going to the spot tomorrow morning.

Why can’t they go now? Rena checked her wristwatch. It’s summer and light for hours yet.

The sea is too rough. It’s not safe.

Holy f-frogs, Rena spluttered.

They tried not to swear around Joanna, determined to set an exemplary example.

Cherry sniffed and swiped at yet another escapee tear. What should we do? We have to tell Joanna something. She expects Liza home tonight. And Tony? When this hits the news, he’ll try to grab Joanna. As Joanna’s father, he has more rights than us.

Rena frowned, lines digging deep into her forehead. She yawned without warning, slapping her hand across her mouth a fraction too late. Now that Cherry focused on Rena, she spotted the shadows her makeup failed to conceal.

Joanna can stay here with me, Cherry said.

That won’t work. Not for long. Tony followed me from the school. He was furious because we whisked away Joanna.

Cherry grimaced, her mind racing with the obstacles Tony might throw in their way. Her friend had sounded so carefree. Happy in a way she hadn’t revealed for months. She’d moved on, as much as she could while dragging Tony’s bullshit behind her. Tears spilled over Cherry’s cheeks.

Please stop, Rena said in a plaintive voice. If you cry, I’ll start. We need to hold it together for Joanna, at least until we have solid info from the cops.

The policeman told me the accident occurred near Holy Island or at least the turnoff to the causeway.

That’s weird, Rena said.

Cherry plucked another tissue from her handbag. She blew her nose.

What’s weird?

Doesn’t Holy Island have an old abbey? I’ve been dreaming of an abbey and a man in a robe for the last two weeks. That’s why I look so haggard. My sleep isn’t restful.

She paused, and Cherry watched a hint of pink climb into Rena’s cheeks.

What aren’t you saying? Cherry asked. You’re blushing.

Ah, the man walks into my room and shrugs off his robe. He’s naked. Dream me holds out my arms in invitation, and he climbs into my bed. You’d imagine a monk wears a robe to hide a skinny physique and knobby knees. My robed man is built. He’s strong and muscled and has these weird blue tattoos on his arms and chest. He kisses me, starts making love, and let’s just say the man has skills. I have the most amazing climax, but every single time I wake, the sexual tension almost breaks me. A battery-operated boyfriend is not doing the job.

Cherry sighed. Join the club. I’d appreciate even a sex dream to get me revved.

Thought you were going out with James or Jim. Whatever his name.

Tim. And no. He told me there was no spark. His mother informed him love is a magical thing, and he’s not feeling it with me.

Rena snorted. Any adult male who lives with his mother is best avoided.

I hear you. Cherry heaved out a miserable sigh. Popsicles, what should we tell Joanna?

Nothing at the moment. If she asks, we’ll say Liza had to overnight at the village where the last dragon died. We’ll tell Joanna Liza needed to do more research for her dragon book.

Cherry gulped. Okay. We’ll learn more tomorrow, I guess. Are you telling your father?

He’s in Los Angeles for a business meeting. If he calls, I’ll tell him, but otherwise, I’ll wait for details. It’s not as if we can make decisions right now.

Oh, heck! It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have called her.

She didn’t need to answer. Liza could’ve pulled over to take your call. Besides, doesn’t she use her hands-free?

Cherry sniffed and searched for another tissue. Yes, but that doesn’t make me feel less guilty.

For the rest of the evening, Cherry ran through the motions while wearing an upbeat mood for Joanna. After Rena left, Cherry cooked fish fingers, oven chips, and peas for Joanna’s supper.

Mum never told me she was staying in the dragon village, Joanna said after swallowing a mouthful of peas. Her brown gaze speared Cherry, and Cherry bit her lip to stem a babble of unnecessary details.

Instead, Cherry reached for her glass of wine. If she kept her mouth busy, she couldn’t blurt extra explanations.

She’d always hated secrets.

Preferred to tell the truth.

She was excited to visit this village. Truth. She wanted to gather extra information for her book. Fact.

But it’s my art show tomorrow at school. Will she be back in time to see my pictures? I have two projects in the show.

I’m not sure. Truth. Did you mention the art show?

Joanna’s lip shot out in a pout. I forgot.

Well, I’ll send a text and hope the message reaches her. Also, the truth. Cherry intended to pray hard, even though she wasn’t a religious person.

Tony had cheated on her friend and hounded her after he’d followed Liza to England from New Zealand. Reading between the lines, Cherry suspected Tony had hit Liza too. No way he loved his daughter. The man used her as a tool to lever Liza into submission. He craved money, loathe to let Liza walk without earning his payday. The man was a bastard. Handsome and charming when it suited him, but still a mean scoundrel. Cherry had no compunction in lying to Tony and messing with his plans to jerk around Liza. It was her twisting of truth with Joanna that bothered her more.

Can we ring her? Joanna asked.

We can try, but the telephone reception is spotty where your mother is staying tonight.

Joanna stabbed her fork into her remaining fish finger. Okay.

Please, Liza. Please come home to us. Cherry took another sip of wine and sent yet another prayer winging skyward.

Liza hadn’t died. She couldn’t have.

The next morning, Cherry helped Joanna prepare for school. She tugged a comb through Joanna’s chocolate brown curls. Which hairstyle for today?

Something important? For our art show.

I suggest either a braid or a bun at the back of your neck. A bun will stop the boys from messing with your hair again.

Yes, Joanna said decisively. None of my friends ever have buns.

Cherry combed and twisted and pinned, then pulled a red scrunchie over the top to hold her hair construction in place. There you go. How does that look? She held a mirror for Joanna to inspect her hairstyle.

Ooh! Joanna beamed and clapped her hands. Cool! It’s perfect, Aunt Cherry.

Relief struck Cherry. She’d added a slice of happiness to the girl’s day. My work here is done, poppet. Let’s have breakfast, then we’ll get you to school.

So far, Cherry had heard nothing from the local police station. She’d rung and left a terse message to call her as soon as possible. The police hadn’t contacted Rena either, but Tony had left several angry diatribes. It was his weekend for Joanna, and he’d wanted to pick her up a day early.

The ring of a doorbell told Cherry of Rena’s arrival. At least, she hoped it was Rena. She pulled a box of cornflakes out of the cupboard and reached into another cabinet to grab a dessert bowl.

Joanna, take a seat and pour out the cornflakes into your bowl.

Yes, Aunt Cherry.

As Cherry had suspected, Joanna jumped at the chance to complete an adult task.

The bell rang again for longer this time. Cherry opened the door once she’d confirmed it was Rena.

Any news? Cherry asked.

I rang the number you gave me and got the answerphone message. Tony, however, is a real arse-hole. He has blown up my phone with messages and texts, and in the last few, he threatened to call the cops on Liza if she doesn’t hand over Joanna. What should we do?

We can’t cave to Tony. He doesn’t love Joanna.

We need to drive past the accident site. Maybe we’ll learn something.

A sob burst from Cherry, and she pressed her lips together to stem the sound. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a hanky to dab her eyes before she focused on Rena. But that will mean telling Joanna the truth. That her mother is missing, presumed d-dead.

Rena closed the distance between them and embraced Cherry.

Reviews for Cherry

[Ntombezinhle Prudence Shabalala · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely loved Cherry and Martinos. He's strong and a bit broken and she's shy and together they discovered their strengths.