I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to rein in my anger. I should’ve known that Jada—the successful businesswoman that she was—would try to capitalize on every aspect of this insane contest. She was attracted to money-making ideas like a shark on chum.
“If you lose the ranch, I guess there’s always reality TVproduction,” I grumbled as I reluctantly followed her down the hallway. I was only partially kidding.
“I’m not going to lose the ranch,” she assured me. “The women are going to love you.”
That was what I was afraid of.
CHAPTER NINE
Daphne
The Darkaway Island Resort Spa turned out to be much more beautiful than it was in the brochures. Not in a huge, opulent sort of way that would appeal to someone who was into flashy displays of wealth, but in a peaceful, luxurious way. I sat in front of my own lighted mirror along with eleven other women, while Portia made the final touches to my hair and makeup. She’d been thrilled when I called her to take her up on the offer to help.
While staring at my reflection, I had to stifle a yawn. I just had the best massage of my life, which made me want to curl into a ball and take a nap, but I also hadn’t slept well last night. And not just because I’d been worried about this Date-A-Wolf business. George, who’d taken his standard spot on the pillow above my head, kept putting his paw with slightly retracted claws on my face as if to say, “Don’t force me to scratch you.” I really should look into all the cat-whisperer services the resort offered. Maybe he needed some therapy.
I was ashamed to admit, even to myself, that thoughts ofTravis had kept me awake as well. His incredibly protective nature even for a complete stranger. His nervousness in the hospital and how my presence had somehow made him feel better. It was charmingly sweet. If it was even possible to call a man that hot—charmingly sweet.
As I’d tossed and turned, I told myself to not let my thoughts go there. He was a supernatural creature and very much taken. But sometimes what youshouldthink about and what youactuallythink about lived in very different places in your sleep-addled mind.
Sarah, the woman seated to my left, was a quiet, red-haired shifter of some sort. I wasn’t sure if it was polite to ask what kind. Maybe paranormal creatures automatically just knew this about each other and asking would show my ignorance. Or maybe it wasn’t something you asked someone. Not wanting to be rude, I kept my questions to myself.
She had luminous skin, green eyes and a narrow gap between her two front teeth. Given how many times she dropped something—her handbag, her phone, the rolled-up itinerary—I figured she was pretty nervous too. Which made me feel marginally better about my own anxiety that liked to hang out just below the surface. But being on my own for almost two years now had taught me I was stronger than my fears.
To my right was a gregarious half-vampire named Mia. Half because she was a daywalker, she’d explained to me enthusiastically when she introduced herself, clearly proud of that fact.
“My daddy is full-blooded and my mama is human.”
Although I knew zilch about supernatural biology, I nodded as if I did. I didn’t tell her that she was the second vampire I’d ever met. That I knew of anyway. It was weird to think that I could’ve run into other supernatural creatures back home without realizing what they were.
Mia turned around to examine every angle of her reflection in one of the full-length mirrors. She looked really pretty in that strapless, red cocktail dress. A bold move given how big her breasts were. No doubt, the bachelor would think she was smoking hot. I wondered if wolves panted while in their human forms.
“I hope there’s food at this thing,” Mia said, plopping down dramatically in her chair. “Because I’mfamished.”
I swallowed nervously, not sure how wise it was to be sitting next to a hungry vampire. But then, maybe half vampires didn’t drink blood?
“The itinerary said drinks and heavy appetizers for a variety of dietary requirements,” I told her.
What that meant for paranormal creatures, I had no idea. Instead, I recalled the nuns saying how everyone here was delightful and that crime against humans wasn’t tolerated. I was fairly certain they weren’t shitting me.
“Mr. Hotty McHotstuff better not get there right away,” Mia said. “I hate eating in front of men.”
I didn’t have food hang-ups like Mia, but even if I did, I didn’t give a hoot about making a good impression on the star of this show. I had no interest in dating a wolf—frankly, the idea was a little scary—so I wouldn’t be going out of my way to impress him tonight. Kind of like sitting through a time-share presentation. I would go through the motions, then spend the rest of my vacation doing whatIwanted to do.
Portia did my makeup with a variety of brushes she kept in a tool belt at her waist. Then she spent an agonizing amount of time on my hair, twisting strands around the barrel of a curling wand and spraying them. I’d never been able to achieve beachy waves like this myself. I liked the look, although it was too much work in my opinion.
“How long have you lived on Darkaway,” I asked her as she painstakingly arranged a strand of my hair in the back.
“Born and raised,” she replied. “I left for a few years, but I soon found my way back. The island—it kind of gets under your skin, you know? I couldn’t imagine living and raising my kids anywhere else.”
“There’s no place like home,” I said, but the sentiment rang hollow for me. I’d never felt attached to a place, so I couldn’t relate. As a kid, we moved around a lot. And since breaking up with Gavin, I hadn’t set down any real roots. I think I’d moved, like, three times.
“Ladies, are you ready?” Jada stood in the doorway, flanked by a cameraman and a woman holding a large, fuzzy mic. “It’s almost showtime.”
I steeled my shoulders that I was about to meet my second werewolf ever. Glancing around, I realized that some of the other women could be werewolves too.
There were a lot of excited yesses and murmurs of affirmation as we got to our feet and gathered around her.
Jada reached into a basket and gave each of us a small organza pouch. “Please put this bracelet on your left wrist. At the ceremony tonight, if you’re selected by the bachelor to move on, he’ll ask to put a charm on your bracelet. No matter how far you make it in the contest—” She gave me a pointed look “—you’ll have a lovely token of your time here. The bracelet and all the charms have been handcrafted on the island by one of our talented artisans.”
