Blue Moon Dragon Read Free

departed but couldn’t concentrate on anything except the concept of capable hands. A mental picture popped into her mind, aided by fertile imagination. Masculine hands cupping her naked breasts, fingers plucking her sensitive nipples.
    Oh, my . She subsided into a chair in case her legs buckled. Without warning, her cotton blouse felt several sizes too small and her face glowed with enough heat to cook a batch of pikelets for morning tea. She fanned her cheeks vigorously with her notepad.
    “Are you feeling all right?” Emma’s head snapped up to find Jack’s enigmatic gaze settled on her. “You’ll be as useful as a war canoe without a warrior to paddle if you fall sick.”
    “What…what do you mean?” Emma thought she understood but wanted clarity and confirmation.
    “George wants you to help me with my case.”
    Emma jumped to her feet and pumped her fist in the air. “Yes!” She did an impromptu jig before noticing his gaze on her bouncing breasts. Emma froze then dropped into her chair, striving to keep embarrassment from crawling across her face. She must work on maintaining her cool.
    “Don’t get too excited. You’re along on a trial basis. You help out with the grunt work. Do what I say, when I say with no questions asked. Is that clear?”
    “No problem.” Emma restrained her celebratory grin and the urge to give him a cheeky salute. Hot damn . She was gonna be a private dick. “What’s the case?”
    “We’re investigating at the Mahoney Resort over on Waiheke Island. We think there’s a drug ring running out of the resort. Sports-enhancing drugs.”
    “Sounds great. Are we going for the day? When are we going?” Emma was finding it difficult to sit still instead of dancing in celebration. Her first case and closer contact with Jack all in one hit. Life couldn’t get much better.
    Jack scowled, a fierce frown, no doubt in an attempt to burst her bubble of enthusiasm. “We’re going for a week. You’ll need to pack tonight since we leave for Waiheke tomorrow. Here’s the file. Read the documents carefully and let me know if you have questions.”
    Emma nodded eagerly. Their hands brushed during the file transfer and a frisson of pleasure zapped down her arm. Surprised, she jerked away, almost dropping the info in her haste. “I’ll read it,” she promised, her gaze lowering to screen her reaction. Her stomach swooped and plunged as if she were attached to a bungee cord. Aware of the burgeoning silence and Jack’s disapproval, she hurried into speech. “What time do we leave?”
    “The ferry departs at ten tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at nine thirty.”
    “I live at—”
    “I know your address. Don’t be late.”

Chapter Two
    Anticipation heated her cheeks and zipped to her belly as they joined the queue to board the ferry to Mahoney’s island resort. She swallowed, hoping to settle the swarm of butterflies inhabiting her stomach. It was happening. She was actually taking part in an investigation.
    Emma shuffled from foot to foot, picking up her bag then putting it back down while she tried to take in everything and quell her impatience to get started. She glanced at Jack. Calm. Uninterested even. He acted so unaffected while everyone else radiated excitement. Very strange.
    Animated chatter filled the covered walkway where they waited to board. A hostess dressed in black shorts and a tight pale blue T-shirt emblazoned with the word Mahoney’s in navy blue over her left breast, checked people off her list and allowed them to board. Couples of all ages and sizes lined up, shuffling hand luggage and making friends with strangers in the line.
    No one talked to them.
    Not that Emma blamed anyone. Jack could appear scary to the uninitiated with his unruly dark hair and the dragon tattoo that wound around his left biceps.
    Of course, there were some who saw past the tough-guy disguise. Emma knew he gave up his time to help out at a local foster home. She knew there was