Travis Monroe was the Date-A-Wolf bachelor.
My mind swirled with confusion. This had to be a mistake. Or a joke. Wasn’t Travis engaged? Where was his fiancée? Did sheknowabout this? Maybe Travis had an identical twin brother. But then, how do you explain the crutches? Werewolves weren’t polyamorous, were they? No offense to the polyamorous community, but that wasn’t really my thing.
Stepping into the circle with him, I tried to make light of the situation with an awkward little wave. “Hey, Travis.”
He glared at me, arms crossed, brows pinched together over golden, very wolfish eyes. “What are you doing here, Daphne?”
I was taken aback at his grumpy response.Hewas ticked off? Because of…what?Me?
Anger prickled at the back of my neck, and I could feel my cheeks getting hot. He thought this wasmyfault? “I should be asking you the same thing,” I snapped.
Travis opened his mouth to say something to me, then evidently changed his mind, because he turned abruptly and stepped out of the circle. “Cut the cameras, Jada. I want a word with you. In private.”
I stood there, not knowing what to do. Was this some sort of joke? Was I being punked? If Ashton Kutcher popped out right now, I was seriously going to hurt someone.
“Why don’t you head to the confessional,” said the cameraman, interrupting my chaotic thoughts.
I managed to cobble something together for the cameras, then I proceeded to the bar, squeezed between Sarah and Mia, and ordered a mango margarita. At this point, I honestly didn’tcare about my proximity to a hungry vampire, although I assumed she’d eaten something by now. “Make it a double, please.”
With a flick of his wrist, the bartender set a margarita down in front of me. He had a sweet smile despite the sinister-looking patch over his left eye. Holding the tiny umbrella to the side with a finger, I wasted no time taking a huge sip. It was strong, but very mango-y. Perfect.
Mia fanned herself with the happy hour menu. “I had no idea we were going to be dating Drake Valentino, did you? It literally felt like a stake to the heart when I saw him.”
“Drake Valentino?” I was more confused than ever.
Mia looked at me as if she’d never seen me before. “Donottell me you don’t watchSecret Shadows.”
“I…I’m afraid I don’t.” I wasn’t sure if admitting that was breaking some sort of paranormal code. I chugged down another gulp of liquid courage and decided I didn’t care. “Never heard of it.”
“Girl, are you serious?” Mia held up her hands as if blocking herself from my ignorance. “I can’t even!”
“I don’t watch it either,” Sarah admitted, clearly emboldened by my truthful admission of my cluelessness.
Mia looked equally disappointed in both of us. “Hello!Secret Shadowsis only the hottest show on the Paranormal Network. Travis plays Drake Valentino, a sexy werewolf cowboy who is renovating an old hotel in Deception Harbor. He was an Army Ranger, stationed overseas and has all kinds of PSTDs now after being injured.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I didn’t have the courage to tell her she’d mixed up the letters. At least I hoped she’d mixed up the letters. If not, that would be a show I wouldn’t care to watch, no matter how hot the leading actor was.
She continued without taking a breath. “He was dating thisskanky ho for a while. She cheated on him left and right. I’m so glad he dumped her.”
I wasn’t sure where the line between Drake stopped and Travis started.
This explained everyone’s reaction to him around town. Their hometown boy literallywasa celebrity.
I took another sip of my drink. “Listen. I…uh…thought Travis was engaged. In real life.”
“Engaged?” Mia raised an eyebrow. “Why would he be doing Date-A-Wolf then?”
Guess it meant werewolves didn’t have a social structure involving multiple partners. I was mildly comforted by that. “I heard someone mention they’d read it in one of the tabloids.”
Mia flicked her hand. “That’s old news. He’s single now.”
So, the guywasengaged, but not anymore, and now he was dating in the most public manner possible. Okay, then. Who was I to question the dating habits of supernatural creatures?
I was about to ask Mia where the food was—I was starving—when a deep, masculine voice behind me stopped me in my tracks.
“Can I talk to you out on the veranda?”
I turned to find Travis right behind me, and I nearly knocked over my drink. He wore a light gray suit, a dress shirt open at the collar, and tan loafers without socks. The tailored jacket clung to his broad shoulders, barely caging his raw masculinity. I’d been too distracted earlier to notice these details, although I seemed to recall he’d been wearing a tie then. Damn, he was hot.
