Zelda Primrose's world comes crashing down when a family crisis calls her back to her hometown. A town she hates. Everything she’s ever wanted is under threat, but Zelda’s used to heartache and disappointment. This time, she isn’t backing down. She’s been through too much to quit. Determined, she sets her sights on her goal. A goal that definitely does not include falling for the tall, handsome man who keeps popping up at just the right time.

Stone Barlow’s not a complicated man. If he can buy up land and turn a profit, then it’s a good day. If he can invest in a lucrative business, even better. He doesn’t have time for love or finding his mate. Especially not when he sees how it’s turned his buddy into a domesticated dragon. But when Stone is invited to Beast’s place for a family barbecue, he’s immediately taken by the curvy red-headed bombshell. She’s aloof and quiet, but Stone can see a fire inside of her. The flame calls to him.

Unfortunately, Silver Springs is a dangerous place to be when you owe money to the wrong people. Zelda’s on the hook for her father’s debts, and life just keeps throwing her curveballs. Stone’s willing to do anything to protect her, but Zelda’s too used to fixing her own problems. If she gives Stone a chance she just might get everything she’s ever wanted.

Chapter 1

When Zelda Primrose saw the caller ID blowing up her phone, she panicked.

Her hands went cold, and her heart raced in her chest. She didn’t want to pick up. Not in the slightest.

But she knew if she didn’t, he’d just keep calling until they talked. She sat forward on the end of her chair, ready to bolt from her office cubicle if the conversation got out of hand. The material on the gray faux-walls didn’t exactly equate to privacy. Especially not since Zelda knew how nosy her coworkers were.

“Hi, Dad.” She didn’t mean to sound so exasperated. She couldn’t help it, though. He just got her all kinds of upset.

“Zelda, thank god you answered. I need your help.”

So what else was new. He only ever called to say those four little words to her. “What’s happened now?”

“I can’t buy my medication this month.”

“What?” Zelda jumped out of her seat, whisper-shouting in surprise. “Hold on,” she hissed into her phone.

She headed toward the break room on shaky legs. Thankfully the small space was empty at that time of the day. Those who took mid-morning breaks usually went out for a coffee or a smoke. Zelda should be able to have what she knew would be an infuriating conversation in relative privacy.

“What is going on?” she demanded

“I don’t have my meds,” her dad told her.

And there she was, hoping she might have been without a father-fueled crisis this month. 

“Explain to me how is that even possible. I sent money directly to the pharmacist.”

That was the only way to do things when raising a gambling-addicted parent.

“Well, see...” he cleared his throat nervously. “I had Robert issue me a refund.”

Zelda pinched the bridge of her nose against the headache sure to start.

“Explain to me how the pharmacist gave you a refund without my credit card present for the transaction.”

“He gave me cash. I told him I needed it real bad.”

“More than your meds? What lie did you tell him?”

He didn’t say anything, but cleared his throat again.

“I don’t have any more money to give you.” Not to support his gambling addiction, anyway.

“Zelda, come on. You have to help out your old man. What am I supposed to do without my pills? I don’t want to have a seizure.”

She took a very deep breath and held it for five seconds, then slowly exhaled. She was being played by her own father. He knew Zelda would fold like a cheap lawn chair. If he had called her to bail him out for whatever debt he had accumulated with his bookies, she would have hung up the phone.

But he didn’t have his medicine. Zelda knew there was no way she could ignore that.

“Dad, how much do you owe this time?” She had to ask, even if she was terrified of the answer.

He coughed, and there was a shuffling sound. “Not much. Just a few hundred. But the guys have been to the house, and they want their money.”

“Of course, they do. They’re criminals.”

“I’m a wee bit scared, Zelda.”

Ah, fuck. She could feel the ice around her heart melt.

“I’m not sending you money,” she said with a shaking voice. “I’ll come down for a few days. Get you your meds and make sure you’re taking them.” 

“No, Zelda. You can just call Robert and pay him. I’ll be fine.”

Anger boiled in her insides. Was he serious? He’d just told her he had the pharmacist issue him a refund for the pills she had paid for, and he wanted her to do that again? No way in flaming hell.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m fresh out of trust today. I’ll head over after work and pick up what you need before I come to the house.”

“Zelda...” There was a warning edge to his voice.

“Try not to gamble or bet anymore in the next few hours.”

“Ah, that’s not fair,” he whined.

“Bye, Dad. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up the phone and laid her head against the ugly faded-yellow wall of the breakroom. Her eyes focused on the mystery stains on the tiles of the dropped ceiling. She inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm the shaking that started deep inside of her.

She was so mad, it ached. Zelda swallowed the emotion. There was nothing for it. No amount of anger would help her feel better. With a resigned sigh, she walked down the carpeted hall to her boss’s office.

“Hey, Stewart,” she said, knocking on the door frame since his door was always open. “I have a bit of a family emergency.”

Her boss lifted his head from his computer screen. His tiny brown eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

“No, Zelda. I’m sorry. I’m not going to give you a few days off so you can bail your dad out from whatever trouble he’s gotten into this time. If you can’t say no to the man, then I’ll deny your request for time off.”

Stewart crossed his arms and stared her down. He was a nice guy, about ten years older than Zelda. He had a good heart, but he didn’t get it. Gambling addiction was a real thing.

“I don’t have a choice,” she shrugged.

“Sure you do. That man needs some tough love.”

“He’s a sick old man. In more than one sense of the word. I can’t just ignore him. If something bad...” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she cursed herself for the weakness. “I’d blame myself.”

Stewart sighed and shook his head. “Fine, Zelda. Go save the guy. But you’re not walking out of here without promising me that you will not pay off all of his debt. You’ve finally managed to get enough money set aside for your dream. Don’t let him rob you of that. Promise me you won’t touch the Dream Fund.”

Zelda bit on the inside of her cheek. 

How fucked up was it that her boss knew more about her dream, and was more supportive, than her father?

“I promise,” she said.

But even as she uttered the words, she knew she could be lying.