Free Dangerously Charming by Deborah Blake

their delicate woodsy aromas.
    â€œYour friend Barbara really lives in this and travels around the country?” Jenna asked, gazing around with wide eyes, probably wondering where the owner was.
    â€œShe did,” he said, patting the couch affectionately as they walked to the door. It didn’t do to ignore the Airstream; it had a personality and magic all its own, and was capable of making an unwanted visitor very uncomfortable. Luckily, it had always had a soft spot for the Riders, Day in particular, so it probably wouldn’t even bother to sound the alarm. Which was just as well, since he didn’t want Barbara running out here, shiny silver sword in hand, and scaring the crap out of an already nervous Jenna.
    â€œShe lives in the house now, and just uses the trailer forBaba Yaga business,” he explained as they walked up the driveway and arrived at the front of the house.
    â€œGo ahead,” he said to Jenna, who stood there, one hand hovering over the door, clearly intimidated by the idea of who or what might answer. “I’ll just be over here to the side.” He was curious as to how these two strong women would react to each other, plus, just maybe, he needed one more minute before he talked to Barbara for the first time in almost a year.
    Jenna finally started to lower her hand, only to have the door open before her knuckles could touch the wood, as if by magic.
    A woman stood there, wearing black jeans and a long-sleeved black tee shirt with a picture of a dragon on it. The caption underneath read DO NOT MEDDLE WITH THE AFFA IRS OF DRAGONS, FOR Y OU ARE CRUNCHY AND G OOD WITH KETCHUP .
    The woman was strikingly beautiful in a way that no one would ever mistake for merely pretty, with a cloud of long dark hair, piercing amber eyes, and a slightly hawkish nose. There was a scowl on her oval-shaped face and a huge white pit bull at her feet.
    â€œWhat?” she asked, with the air of someone who might agree with the sentiments of the dragon on her shirt.
    â€œUm, I’m sorry to bother you so early, but I’m looking for Barbara Yager?” Jenna smiled at the dog. “Your dog is very handsome, by the way. Would he mind if I petted him?”
    The expression on the woman’s face became a fraction less severe. “He’d probably love it. His name is Chudo-Yudo, by the way. But I have to tell you that if you’re trying to sell me something while I’m attempting to get a small child ready for school, I will probably let the dog bite you.”
    A tall, attractive man with dark blond hair appeared in the doorway behind her. “Honey, how many times do I have to tell you that you can’t threaten to sic the dog on perfectly innocent strangers?” He grinned at Jenna, looking decidedly friendlier than his companion. “I apologize for my wife. I’m afraid we’re still trying to get her house-trained. The dog, on the other hand, is perfectly harmless.”
    â€œUnless you’re trying to sell something,” the woman muttered. “Or hand out religious pamphlets.”
    â€œI wouldn’t think of it,” Jenna said. “I don’t even want to borrow a cup of sugar. The Queen sent me and Mick to see the Baba Yaga. Is she home?”
    The woman exchanged shocked glances with her husband and then stood on her tiptoes to look over Jenna’s shoulder. Even the dog perked up, sticking his black nose in the air and snuffling.
    â€œMick? Do you mean Mikhail Day? Where is he?” she asked eagerly, amber eyes glowing. “Did he bring you?”
    Day stepped forward out of the shadow of the house. “Hello, Baba. Hello, Liam. You’re looking well.”
    Barbara narrowed her eyes at him. “What was this, some kind of test?” She punched him on the arm, not all that gently. “It’s about time you came to visit.”
    â€œWait. What?” Jenna stared at Barbara. “She’s the Baba Yaga? The