11. Gemma

When my husband says "trust me," I kind of do. I mean, can you blame me? So far, the guy has paid off my mountain of medical debt, landed us a swanky hospital suite, and charmed the hand-crocheted slippers right off my kid's feet. To say he"s exceeded expectations is the understatement of the century.

And somewhere along the way, yours truly has fallen head over heels for her Prince Charming. Oops.

Is it too soon for the L-word? Probably. But it is what it is, so I might as well admit it, at least to myself. I"m in love with the man, hook, line, and sinker. What can I say? He's amazing. The total package. I couldn"t have dreamed up a better guy if I tried.

But...

"What in the everlovin" hell?!" The undignified squawk leaves my lips as I stand there on the hospital rooftop, clinging to Jewel"s little hand for dear life. Because right before my eyes, my gorgeous husband is doing a major Jekyll and Hyde act.

Sebastian"s entire body stretches, morphs, and grows to the size of a freakin" monster truck as his clothes shred right off him like tissue paper. Black scales ripple across massive muscles, wings sprout from his back, and a damn tail whips behind him. I"m talking a full-on, no holds barred transformation into... Into...

"A dragon, mommy!" Jewel squeals in absolute delight, bouncing on her toes as she takes in the larger-than-life creature that"s apparently replaced my spouse. "Daddy Sebby is a dragon!"

"Uh... Huh..." I mutter weakly, wondering if this is what an aneurysm feels like. I rub my eyes and blink hard, but nope. Still a dragon. There"s no way this can be real. It defies all logic and reason. And yet...

"Come on!" Jewel tugs at my hand insistently, her eyes alight with excitement. "Dad said it"s safe, remember? We"re not in danger."

I must have rocks for brains, because my feet actually start moving, propelling me closer to the enormous winged beast that may or may not be my husband. My knees wobble and my head spins, but I keep putting one foot in front of the other, praying I don"t face-plant on the tar paper.

The dragon—er, Sebastian?—exhales twin puffs of smoke from his nostrils and makes a sort of chuffing sound. Is he...laughing at me? Before I can work up a proper glare, he crouches down, lowering his great horned head and extending one gleaming obsidian wing like some twisted version of a theme park ride platform.

"We get to fly now, right? Can we, can we?" Jewel is practically vibrating with anticipation, her smile so big I worry her cheeks might cramp. And damn it all, there"s no way I can refuse her this. Not when she"s more alive and animated than I"ve seen in ages.

Swallowing back a whimper, I help her scramble up onto Sebastian"s back, using his spikes as footholds. Then, with a mental pep talk to my screaming survival instincts, I hoist myself up behind her, trying not to think too hard about the fact that I"m straddling my dragon husband.

Is this really happening? Or am I just having the most lucid dream ever?

One second I"m white-knuckling it as we adjust ourselves on his smooth, warm scales, and the next, Sebastian is launching us into the air with a mighty flap of his wings. The wind whips at my hair and steals my breath. The ground drops away. The hospital shrinks to a miniature model below us.

My stomach relocates to my toes as we rise higher, and I make the mistake of looking down. Oh, lordy.

But then Jewel lets out a full-bellied, utterly joyful laugh. When"s the last time I heard her laugh like that? Untainted by pain or worry? Too damn long.

"This is way better than a rollercoaster!" she squeals.

My heart clenches when it dawns on me that Sebastian just gave my baby girl a priceless gift.

As we wheel and glide through the cotton-candy clouds, Jewel throws her arms out and whoops like the world"s most adorable daredevil. And the tight knot that's been in my chest for years unclenches.

Warmth spreads through my veins like liquid sunshine. I recognize the feeling. It"s the same one I got this morning in bed when Sebastian wrapped me in his arms and nuzzled my neck sleepily.

Tears sting my eyes, the wind blurring my vision. We really are zooming over LA on the back of a dragon.

You know what? Even if I am losing my mind... It"s worth it for this perfect moment.

By the time Sebastian touches down on the roof again and Jewel and I give him privacy to turn back into a man and throw on the scrubs that are a size too small for his massive frame, my legs are jelly.

"That was SO COOL! You"re the best dragon dad ever!"

He chuckles, patting her head affectionately. "Glad you enjoyed it, Rare Jewel. Maybe we can take another spin soon."

My knees are still wobbly and Sebastian steadies me with a hand on my elbow, his eyes searching mine.

"You okay there, hot mama? You look a little shell-shocked."

"Oh, I"m great. Totally fine, Puff. Just having a low-key existential crisis over here," I quip breathlessly. He barks a laugh and I elbow him. "Thanks for the heads up on the whole "watch me turn into a mythical creature" thing, by the way."

He has the good grace to look a little contrite. A very little.

Jewel tugs at his hand, her little face scrunched in confusion. "Who"s Puff?"

"Never mind, sweetie. Mommy's making a silly joke." I shoot Sebastian a wry look over her head and he grins back, shrugging those broad shoulders.

Sebastian scoops Jewel up, tickling her until she shrieks with giggles. "You can't tell anyone about the dragon thing, okay?"

"Duh." Jewel flashes him a look that says she's not stupid.

As we make our way back down to the hospital room, my mind spins with approximately a bajillion questions. But one look at my baby's beaming smile and cheeks flushed with exhilaration...and I decide the interrogation can wait.