The Dragon’s Brave Nanny (Mysteries of Dragon’s Island #4)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

M ax stood on the beach looking up into the jungle, trying to imagine what the little collection of staff cabins would look like when it was finished. He was excited that the next phase of his plan was about to begin. It had been an uphill battle to get the resort built, but with the addition of lodging for his staff and their families, another part of his dream was coming true. His perfect little utopia on Heart of the Ocean was slowly becoming a reality, and he couldn’t have been happier, even if a few strange things had happened since his friends started visiting.

Forcing the negative thoughts from his mind, telling himself that everything had turned out just fine, he looked down at the plans in his hands, then down the beach, wondering if Mateo was going to show up for their meeting. The man had been driving him crazy since the moment they’d met, but he respected the job he was trying to do and had done his best to stay on his good side.

He wasn’t looking forward to the lecture he was going to get about leaving the island, a common thread between the two of them, but the government had given him permission to be there, and he wasn’t going to throw that away just because of a few superstitious people who believed the island was more than just a pile of rocks. What happened to his friends was just a coincidence, not a pattern that would continue like Mateo kept saying. It was just time for them to fall in love, not some big conspiracy between fate and the island.

Mateo came out of the jungle a second later, clearly in no hurry even though he was late. “Sorry to keep you waiting. My phone call went a little long,” he said. “Those government people sure do love to talk.”

“Did we get clearance?” he asked, suddenly anxious. “This project is really important to me. I want this island to be a home away from home for the staff and their families, and I can’t do it without a place for them to live. I hope you made that clear to your contact.”

“I have good news and bad news,” Mateo said, shrugging his shoulders. “You’ve got permission to build, but there are a few more requirements than there were when you built the resort. A few of the government people are worried that adding more cabins might do some damage to the island.”

His heart sank, “I was hoping we’d just get the green light,” he said, suddenly suspicious. “What did you tell them?”

“Hey, this wasn’t my doing,” Mateo said. “For a change, I like your idea, and I fought on your side this time.”

Not sure if he believed him, he studied Mateo for a second, then let out a long sigh. “That’s a surprise, considering how much you don’t want us here,” he said. “You’ve made that clear from the beginning and never shut up about it.”

“Well, you have to admit that I was right. Strange things happen on this island, and you’re just playing with fate,” Mateo said, shrugging his shoulders. “But if you insist on being here, I like the idea of the staff having their families close by if they want to. Do you want to hear what the government wants, or are we going to stand here arguing all day?”

“Arguing with you never gets me anywhere,” he said. “You always seem to come out on top. I suppose that’s why they chose you to watch over the island.”

“I just want what’s best for the island,” Mateo said. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”